The Friday Five - 29th June 2012

Yep it's the end of the week, and here are this weeks five things we thought you might just want to take a look at.

 

1. Fanfunding Tip: Offer Imaginative Incentives to Entice More Fans

The DIY Musician have created a great list of pledge ideas to hook in new fans.

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2012/06/fanfunding-tip-offer-imaginative-incentives-to-entice-more-fans/

 

2. Musical ‘Stock Market’ TastemakerX Puts Your Money Where Your Ears Are

An Iphone app/game that allows you to invest in your favourite acts with virtual currency, sort of like the stock exchange meets the pop charts.

http://evolver.fm/2012/06/22/musical-stock-market-game-tastemakerx-is-now-public/

 

3. Get Venues to Ask You Back: 8 Tips You Can Use For Your Next Show

Nice small article from Reverbnation on how to get a venue to ask you back. Could be useful....

http://blog.reverbnation.com/2012/03/21/get-venues-to-ask-you-back-8-tips-you-can-use-for-your-next-show/

 

4. How To Make Your Facebook Timeline POP!

Ariel gives a whole bunch of tips on getting your Facebook timeline to work better for you.

http://arielpublicity.com/2012/06/19/how-to-make-your-facebook-timeline-pop/

 

5. Free Music Making Samples Download

There are beats and hits aplenty for you in this week's bundle, plus a collection of FX stabs.

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/sampleradar-13154-free-sample-downloads-217833/111

 

 

3 Legal Tips for Amanda Palmer-Style Crowdfunding

Here at Make It In Music we have been following with interest the Amanda Palmer Kickstarter story. It has definitely been a game changer. Indie musicians everywhere are now looking at the DIY approach in a new light. There is money to be had.

Earlier this month we took at look at this, with Crowdfunding - Beware of the Goldrush - 20 Things You Must Consider  looking at things that concern your commitment to the fans that have invested in your music.

But we forget there are other implications to suddenly having a million dollars fall in your lap.

Martin Frascogna has written an article covering possible legal and financial implications to consider when setting up a kickstarter project.

Martin states,

Raising millions via crowdfunding doesn’t come without questions, and more so, legal implications. Where does all the money go? Is there a legal obligation to investors? Because Amanda’s successful Kickstarter will inevitably inspire others to initiate crowd funding campaigns, artists can avoid future pitfalls by implementing the following techniques.

1. Treat It Like a Contract

2. Assure the Proper Entity

3. Transparency Is Key

You can read his full article in the Midem Blog here

Links

http://makeitinmusic.posterous.com/crowdfunding-beware-of-the-goldrush-20-things

http://blog.midem.com/2012/06/martin-frascogna-3-legal-tips-for-amanda-palmer-style-crowdfunding-success/

 

 

Rizzle Kicks' Top 5 Tips for Getting Noticed as an Artist

It was the BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend in London this weekend, the UKs largest free ticketed festival over two days on Hackney Marshes. 

Brighton based hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks played on the main stage on the afternoon of the first day, not even a year after the release of their debut album Stereo Typical (released on 31 October 2011). As of May 2012, Rizzle Kicks have sold 1 million singles and 300,000 albums in the UK. Not bad, they must be doing something right.

In a TV interview for BBC 1 Jordan (pic left) listed the top 5 tips for getting noticed as an artist, definitely something worth sharing with you, as he seems to be 'keeping it real' and looks like he has his feet firmly on the floor.

You can see the video here

 

link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00tx50c

Presskit.to - A New Online Mobile Presskit For Bands to connect with Industry Professionals

This looks like it could be a useful online application, Presskit.to, is the music industry’s first cross platform portfolio web app designed to aid individuals in organizing, protecting, & sharing their creative identities. Consider it a digital business card for the 21st century that houses all of your relevant career info and media without the clutter of social networks and official websites.

Presskit.to, the first product from Boston-based music-tech startup Indie Ambassador, was created after its founders, all of whom are lifelong music entrepreneurs in their own right (see below), realized there was no tool designed to allow their demographic to neatly and securely showcase their projects in a manner that was ideal for industry professionals to access and interpret.

The app allows users to grant select access to unreleased content (audio, video, images, & files) via private streaming and download, while assigning custom expiration dates from a mobile accessible dashboard. A recent integration with SoundCloud is the first of many third-party services that will be built into the app in the coming weeks.

Currently in private Beta, Presskit.to is optimized for use across all Internet connected devices, enabling users to proficiently network in-person and online. 

Link

http://presskit.to/

The Friday Five - 15th June 2012

We spend everyday at the MIIM Mansion scouring the web for news to bring to you. Usually we find top tips and guide you to things can be especially helpful for the DIY musician/Artist in the new music economy. But with all that reading we cover a whole lot of news, articles and nuggets that are equally as useful, informative and often downright funny.

So from now on, on a Friday, we are going to give you our Friday Five. Five cool things we found this week, that didn't quite get to our post of the day, but feel we just had to share with you in some way.

So in particular order....

 

1. Songstarters

Need help in starting to get that tune in your head out? Then try this....

http://servethesong.net/song-starters/

 

2. The Top 100 Must Follow Music Resources on Twitter

Seems like a useful continuing series from Chris Robley, broken down into groups of 10.

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2012/06/top-10-must-follow-music-tech-wizards-on-twitter/

 

3. Is Your Music In An Art Gallery Or At Ikea?  

Read this a while back, something to consider though...

http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/is-your-music-in-an-art-gallery-or-at-ikea.html

4. 8 Simple steps to Formating a Proper Press Release

Just incase you didnt know...

http://arielpublicity.com/2012/06/11/8-simple-steps-to-formatting-a-proper-press-release/

 

5. Free Music Making Samples Download

Yes summer is here, are you feeling Balearic? Fancy writing some downtempo/chillout? Music Radar are offering a free download of 253 samples to help you create the mood...

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/sampleradar-13154-free-sample-downloads-217833/109

 

And don't forget to check out our latest article on the Make it in Music website,

5 Rules of Fan Engagement in Social Media

 

see you next week,  Steve

Above image from Bjazz

 

New Fan Engagement Facebook App - ChatWithTheBand

I get the feeling this one could be a biggie! ChatWithTheBand is a new Facebook application, currently in beta brought to you by RockNRoll Digital. A live video chatroom to get upclose and personal with your fanbase.

Once you have installed it on your Facebook page, you can choose when to schedule and promote a broadcast through Facebook. When the chat is live, all participating fans can see and hear the artist on their Facebook page, and can chat to the artist and each other in a live text stream. 

When the artist wants to chat to a specific fan, they can  click that fan’s name to start a direct video chat with them in front of everybody, Alternatively click the “Chat With A Fan” button to randomly select a fan to do the same, bit like Chatroulette that, while rest of the audience can view and comment on the curent video chat.

The artist can also play tracks and get direct feedback, which has got to be good, directly giving the fan the kind of engagement we encourage here ar Make It In Music.

There's going to be a whole load of extra features when ChatWithTheBand finishes its beta phase. In the pipeline are Kickstarter and TopSpin (one of our favourites!) integration, email list embedding, broadcast recording, and page customization.

Sounds wicked.

For more information go here.

Written by Steve

 

Link

http://www.chatwiththeband.com/

Four Business Factors Needed For A Successful Independent Musician

They absolutely frustrate the hell out of me. Who? Talented Musicians, thats who. I know and have worked with many, they are highly skilled, some with beautiful and distinctive vocals, they create amazing tracks and albums, but their downfall is that they believe that after the music has been made, that the rest of the business happens by magic.

I put this down to their childhoods. And their own discovery of artists and music. There was mainly 3 mediums of music discovery, TV, Radio and Press. It was very easy to get excited about a new artist, because on TV new music was scarce, there was total wonderment when you discovered something that affected you, it became very much a personal experience, something that you invested in, and something that you treasured.

These feelings eventually inspired alot of people to take that path, to becoming artists in their own right. But they seem to carry with them that these feelings of their own personal discovery of music will be the same process for anyone that discovers their own music.

Well times have most definitely changed. There's a whole world of new music out there waiting to be discovered through countless websites and devices for music fans to find something new. 

We have mentioned this many times here at Make It In Music, that the Industry as we used to know it is no more. The machine that used to create the paths to success through TV, Radio and Press no longer exclusively control the ways and means to a successful music carreer, there are too many independent routes to take now that anyone can access for little or no cost.

The thing that has changed for the musician is that being a talented songwriter/performer/band is not the only skillset you need these days. You need to get to grips with embacing a whole different set of factors to improve your chances in geting your music out there and building up a solid fanbase.

You now have the same tools at your disposal as the majors labels and industry players have.

What you have to realise also it's not rocket science.

Writer Shaun Letang of Music Industry How To has noted Four Business Factors Needed For A Successful Independent Musician, and of course there are more but he belives that these four things are key to getting you on the right path.

 

1. They Realize That Marketing Is A Key Factor In The Music Career

 

2. They Have A Good Online Base

 

3. They Don’t Burn Bridges Out Of Frustration

 

4. They Aren’t Afraid To Invest In The Music Career

 

 

On building up your own online fanbase he writes...

 

 

 

The internet is one of the best places to both build up relationships with existing fans, and gain new ones. Because of this, it’s important you have your online presence strategically set up, and make yourself stand out from the crowd.

While online properties such as Facebook fan pages and Twitter accounts are important for your online presence, they really aren’t a substitute for having your own website.

Your own website should be the base of your operations. All other account such as Facebook and Twitter should link to your site, drive traffic to your site, and in turn direct people to sign up to your mailing list. Once on your mailing list, you can build up stronger relationships with your fans, and communicate with them directly and effectively.

 

I don't know how many times I have said that to musicians and bands, for me it is the number 1 thing to consider in this new music economy. The chance to have a direct personal relationship is the single most important factor you need to embrace if you want your music to get out there. Your fans are what make you, they are the best form of promotion could ever desire. Keep them engaged.

You can check out Shaun Letangs article in full here.

 

Written by Steve.

 

LInks

http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/4-key-traits-of-successful-independent-musicians.html

 

 

 

Crowdfunding - Beware of the Goldrush - 20 Things You Must Consider

The music industry has been recently turned on it's head. Who by? Amanda Fucking Palmer that's who.

She seems to of got what she wants just by asking for it, and she has made it look easy. One million dollars in just a few weeks is an incredible acheivement, and one many people are thinking they can replicate with ease.

Amanda came from the fortunate position of having a healthy sized fanbase to start with, and has obviously displayed a knack on how to entice and engage the crowdfunding public. Even to the point of managing to get a number of fans to part with 5000 dollars each for her and her band to perform in their living rooms. 

But there are many many things to consider.  Writer Scott Steinberg has written a free book, "The Crowdsourcing Bible"  and puts forward these questions that anyone considering crowdfunding should ask themselves for starting their project, music based or not, the principles and questions remain the same.

 

1.  How good is your idea – really? Are you certain that people will be interested in it?

2.  Why is your product, service or venture destined to sell – what value does it offer the customer?

3.  What differentiates your project from existing competitors, or alternatives that have come before? Are you utilizing an existing brand, IP or personality that has a pre-existing base of fans or consumers? (Using an existing, if perhaps older, brand or IP which consumers have fond memories of can be a very effective strategy.)

4.  Can you express your idea simply and at the same time get people excited about it?  If not, it may be that the idea isn't all that compelling, or that you may not be the right person to communicate or present it.

5.  Do you have something tangible to show when presenting your venture – some visual aspect of your project that can help other people visualize it?

6.  How well do you know and understand your target audience?

7.  Do you have confidence in your ability to reach out and connect with potential backers?  Have you planned which vehicles you will use to reach out and connect with them?

8.  Have you calculated just how much money you need – truly need – to get your ideas off the ground? 

9.  Have you factored in all financial variables, including the costs of reward fulfillment, payments to the crowdfunding service, and taxes?

10.  Have you been sensible enough to build a budget that allows for breathing room in certain areas, and factors in conservative projections?

11.  Are you positive that you can fulfill all your promises, including completing the project in the allotted timeframe, and delivering on all features and content covered in your pitch? Have you considered the impact on your product’s brand identity, or your own personal brand, should your campaign not succeed?

12.  Do you have some great rewards in mind to give backers and fans incentive to donate?  Have you mapped out your reward tiers? How will you offer these rewards, and what dollar amount will you attach to them?

13.  Can you offer meaningful rewards at a variety of investment levels to attract all potential patrons?

14.  What specific or unique rewards will you use to get people talking? Can you create any singular ones that can be utilized in social media campaigns or for press outreach?

15.  Do you understand all the personal and professional demands that the process of running a crowdfunding campaign demands from creators? Are you prepared to put 110% effort into making your crowdfunding project a success?

16.  Do you have at least some marketing, public relations and social media connections and savvy?

17.    What promotional campaign activities do you plan to pursue leading up to and during launch? How will you keep the buzz going after your crowdfunding project debuts?

18.    Are you ready and able to take a big personal risk?

19.  Do you – and at least a few other people you can look to for support, whether financial, emotional or otherwise – fully believe in your project?

20.   Who can you turn to for help, whether in terms of assistance with asset creation, financial backing, raising awareness or just help spreading the word?

 

With the forthcoming crowdsourcing boom, there are bound to be many failures, don't let yours be one of them. Luckily for you Scotts book is available to download for free.  Just click here.

 

Links

http://www.amandapalmer.net/category/news/

http://www.booksabouttechnology.com/

 

 

 

How To Spot 10 tell-tale Signs of an Amateur Mix

I've worked in recording studios most of my life, and also tutored Music production and sound engineering at Point Blank Music School. Over the years i keep getting asked the same question from musicians and students alike, "why doesn't my music sound like a professional record?"

Well this can be for many reasons, firstly as a music maker, I believe that just because you can add parts and infinite amounts of detail to a track, doesnt mean you have to. It's the point that just because he or she is a musician and can do it, doesn't mean that it has to be there in the track, it's not a contest!

Making a good tune is not about showing off your musical skills, it's about creating a track/song that people will love.

When asked to produce a tune I will take the parts supplied if its a song and strip it right down to its basics. Drums, Bass and Voice. Does it still feel like a vital tune? You should hope so, as good song should be able to rely on this basic interpretation, then everything else for me is production.

I have found people create tracks where they listen to it at a point in their production process, and think, 'hmm the tune ain't right, it needs something else'. So more parts are added and the production gets more layered and more complicated.

Well, over the years i have come to realise that the brain can really only handle about 5 components in a track, (drums/rhythm being 1), any more and the listener tends to find it complicated and hard to listen to.

So if you get to a point in your production, where you feel it isn't right and needs more, maybe you should be asking yourself, 'Are these parts I have the best they can be?' . Covering and layering more parts isn't a solution, and as a musician, dont think you're being a producer either. The sign of a good producer is know what to leave out of a production, and keeping what really works.

So what inspired me to pass on this nugget of information, is a very cool article and essential reading I found on the Music Radar website.

10 tell tale signs of an Amateur mix will help you find and spot faults with your production and help make your tracks stand out for the right reasons. Here they mention using the wrong sounds...

The wrong sounds

Sometimes tracks don't sound right because the constituent parts don't make a whole. This can be caused by using sounds that simply don't fit - synth brass being used in place of a real part, or a sample with slightly incorrect timing or pitch, for example.

It can also be down to the use of boring-sounding presets, too many or incorrectly applied effects, or roughly recorded samples. Don't misunderstand this last point, because rough, lo-fi audio can sound fantastic in the right context. It's all about getting the right sounds for the track.

The mix is also extremely important here. Of course, you want some sounds to stand out - the hooks, lead vocals and so on - but it can be jarring when other sounds that make up the arrangement are so poorly mixed that they end up taking over (we've heard tinny percussion loops that take your head off, and sub-basses that blow your speaker cones… we could go on and on!).

You can read the article in full here.

Link

http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/tech/10-tell-tale-signs-of-an-amateur-mix-547621

Stop Putting It Off! - Top Tips To Help Beat Procrastination

Come on, we are all guilty of it. Always finding a reason not to do the things we should be doing right now.

Why do we do it?  Thinkers philosophers and psychologists come up with many reasons why you and I don't do the things we need to attend to that can help us achieve more in our life, and our carreer goals.

A common one, especially in the music business is 'Fear of Success'.  Writer Steve Pavlina gives a good explanation on this aspect here,

Fear of success can be far more insidious because it’s almost always unconscious. But it’s not fear of success itself that is the problem but rather fear of the side effects of success, many of which may be genuinely unwanted. Fears that are never evaluated consciously have a tendency to grow stronger. The reason is simple behavioral conditioning — when you avoid something you fear (either consciously or subconsciously), you automatically reinforce the avoidance behavior. So when you (even unknowingly) avoid working on your goal because of a hidden fear of success, you actually reinforce the habit of procrastination, so as time goes by, it becomes harder and harder to get yourself to take action. Insidious!

It's like a self destruct button that completely screws things up, months, years of work completely wasted because of an inabilty to act when you need to.  It is a form of self sabotage that you as an artist can really do without, and if you suffer from bouts of procrastination there are ways you can beat it.

I did a bit more research on the subject and found this very interesting article with a whole bunch of cool explanations and tips on dealing with it. Leo Babauta wrote this for DesignTaxi.com, which i think is relevent for all creative types. My favourite tip from him follows....

Enjoy the process. When we dread something, we put it off—but instead, if we can learn to enjoy it, it won’t be as hard or dreadful. Put yourself in the moment, and enjoy every action. For example, if you want to go out to run, don’t think about the hard run ahead, but about putting on your shoes—enjoy the simplicity of that action. Then focus on getting out the door—that’s not hard. Then focus on warming up with a fast walk or light jog—that can be nice and enjoyable. Then feel your legs warm up as you start running a little faster, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. This process can be done with anything, from washing dishes to reading to writing. Enjoy yourself in the moment, without thinking of future things you dread, and the activity can be very pleasant and even fun. And if it is, you won’t put it off.

You can read the full article here

Links

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2004/12/fear-of-success-what-will-happen-if-you-succeed/

 

http://designtaxi.com/article/101868/The-Little-Book-Of-Procrastination-Remedies/