Digital Distribution is Going To Get One Step Easier for the DIY Artist

Digital distribution is going to get one step easier later this summer for the DIY artist. As you probably know here at Make It In Music we completely advocate 'direct to fan' marketing and love the facilities that Topspin have to offer artists, a comprehensive tool kit that help them to promote their art, connect with their fans, and build a solid business.

Well now we hear that Topspin are teaming up with Tunecore. Tunecore is a digital distribution company that has deals with iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, simfy, iHeartRadio and a whole bunch of other services around the world.

The two companies compliment each other perfectly, meaning you will be able to have your music auto-delivered from Topspin to TuneCore or from TuneCore to Topspin without having to re-upload.

This takes the pain out of numerous uploads in different formats and re-entering metadata and codes for both companies. And the data from your direct to fan sales at Topspin are merged with the data at Tunecore so you can see where you are with sales in a single glance.

Check out what Topspin has to offer the DIY artist here.

For more information on this merger you should go here.

Links

www.topspinmedia.com

www.tunecore.com

 

Where Do You Start Marketing Your Act and Your Music?

 Throughout the years I have known many many bands that seem to think that their music will do all the talking. That somehow their fantastic songs are all they need to win the hearts of the listener and convert that person into a lifelong fan. 

This in a sense is true conviction that any artist should have about their music, and that's no bad thing because inside that is also how we all feel we discover music, on a personal level, but the reality is we wouldn't hear anything if it wasn't for marketing, which is the first basic concept to understand in developing any career these days in the music industry 2.0.

The independent DIY artists really needs to embrace marketing, and Cyber Pr head honcho Ariel Hyatt has put together a cool set of posts explaining in 3 stages how to increase your fanbase and income. 

Ariel starts off saying that bands and artists seem to be more concerned with increasing the numbers and getting new fans, which is no bad thing thing, but also puts the emphasis on focusing on the fans that they already have.

  These fans don’t need to be found, because they are already your fans. Studies have proven that it is much harder to make a new client and get them to purchase something than it is to get a client that already knows you and trusts you to purchase from you over and over. 

It's all very well building numbers, but engagement is the key, and keeping your act in your fans mind. Building a solid marketing strategy is key to getting new fans and keeping old fans interested. 

You can read her full post here

Links

http://arielpublicity.com/2012/04/16/basic-marketing-principles-for-artists-part-1-3/

http://arielpublicity.com/2012/04/23/basic-marketing-principles-artists-part-2-increasing-frequency-purchases/

http://arielpublicity.com/2012/04/30/basic-marketing-principles-artists-part-3-increase-amount-money-charge/

 

The end of publishing

I just saw this in a tweet from @Buzzsonic who got it from Michael Hyatt's blog.

I'm posting it so that I can remind myself from time to time how we market to people in the internet age.

It's a very clever video which you'll only see if you watch it from beginning to end.

But, the message is really important.

Understand your audience, create great stuff for them to share and they can tell everyone for you.

It's ace living in an age with these possibilities.

Watch it:

The internet is a level playing field for artists

This is a great post on the Future of Music blog about how the Internet might develop into a two tier system with not all its functionality available to all. Maybe - I'm not convinced that we'd settle for it now that we're used to it.

But, the reason for linking to it is that the article looks at a bunch of ideas that artists are using to promote their music from allowing artists to remix their catalogue to filming daily versions of track performances around their house.

Use them for inspiration.

Read them here.

Use Internet Marketing techniques to sell music

Some of what we teach on our main site - Make It In Music - is the application of Internet Marketing techniques to the promotion, marketing and sale of your music.

Some of what people call Internet Marketing has a very cheesy image (rightly) and many people view Internet Marketers as con-men. Most aren't but they do find themselves peddling 'How to make money' ideas in order to make money - which is obviously circular and therefore feels wrong.

However, taking those methods that they have developed and using them to sell your music isn't cheesy or wrong - it's very right and it WORKS.

Building an email or friend list of people that like your music, giving them free stuff to show your appreciation and asking them to buy your artistic output when appropriate is the most valid way to work the diy musician route.

Seamus Anthony goes into more detail here.