Music Promotion: Why Every Artist Must Be Social Salespersons

 If you're an Artist, few things matter more than selling your music.  Fewer things are more frustrating than not selling your music. And nothing is worse than being unrecognized. 

So what is an artist to do to make sure that none of the above happens to them?  Become a Social Media Salesperson.  What is a Social Media Salesperson? Well, stick around and Today's Music Biz team will break it down for you.  Thanks for stopping by.

The Ugly Truth About Social Network Marketing

The ugly truth is, Social Network Marketing is a must for anyone in Today's Music Biz.Can you believe there are actually people who think that Social Media sites are a fad? Social Media sites connect with nearly a Billion people across the planet. 

There are an estimated 500 Million people on Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook.  In contrast, there are only about 200 Million people in the United States. What is the chance that there is a Fan out there for every conceivable Music Genre on the Planet?  I'd say chances are pretty good.

What is a Social Salesperson?

A Social Salesperson is the one responsible for creating connections.  The Music biz has always been about connections "who knows whom". Deals get done with people, and a Social Salesperson knows how to get deals done.

Social Salespersons are not spammers!  A true Social Salesperson is not interested in "pushing" a product into the market, they are more concerned with the people who make up the market.  For example, say you have 1,000 Twitter followers?  What are the "interests" of  your followers?

A Social Salesperson (generally) knows what the interests of their followers and Fans are.


A Social Salesperson defines the "Market" before they connect to it.  Many people believe that they can create a market for their offerings by simply telling people about it. That approach is like prospecting for gold in a trash dump. 

Sure, you could get lucky and strike gold, but really what are the chances of that happening? And would you really want search for gold in a trash heap? I hope not. On the other hand a Social Salesperson prospects for gold where it's more likely to be found.  Where is gold found in Today's Music Biz? On-line.

Myspace is self-described as "a place for friends".  Myspace is not called "a place to sell music". So why are at least 2 Million Music Artists on Myspace, trying to sell their music? Because there are an estimated 200 Million Myspace users.  And it just so happens that almost everyone likes some form of music.

A Social Salesperson realizes that to sell Music to even a fraction of the Myspace user community, the Social Salespeople have to first connect with them as friends.

To Learn The Secrets Of Becoming A (P.I.M.P.) "Professional In Music Promotion":Click here

MySpace, MSN Push Possible Music Promotion Partnership

Kara Swisher of The Wall Street Journal Blog, "All things Digital" reported that MySpace and MSN Music are discussing a "possible" Music Promotion deal. 

What will this deal mean for Artist on MySpace? 
Well it could mean even greater reach for Artists currenly on MySpace. It certainly means that every Indie Artist should have a MySpace page.

Today's Music Biz discussed 7 MySpace Music Promotion Best Practices earlier this week.  The news of a possible partnership between the number #2 Music Website (MySpace) and the #6 Music Website (MSN) backs up our MySpace article perfectly.

Although the talks between MSN and MySpace are in the early stages, just the idea of this partnership provides MySpace.com with even credibility on the internet.



To Learn The Secrets Of Becoming A (P.I.M.P.) "Professional In Music Promotion":Click here

Exclusive: Microsoft

Exclusive: Microsoft’s MSN Is in Early Talks With MySpace About Music Tie-Up

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7 Myspace Music Promotion Best Practices To Ignore At Your Own Risk

Forget the negative thoughts you may think about Myspace. 


Myspace.com is still one of the hottest music promotional tool available to anyone in the Music Biz.  Sure there are other social media networking sites out there, but few have the reach of Myspace. 


In fact, many popular recording artist still use myspace to market and promote their latest singles or releases. 


Did you know there are over two million Music Biz Artists on Myspace?  


That is a lot of competition for Fan's. So how do you stand out among 2,000,000 competitors on Myspace?  Short answer, use methods that work. In business, methods that work are called "best practices". 


So what are the best practices for successful music promotion on Myspace? 


There are 7 Best Practices of successful Myspace music promotion.  Do you know what they are?  If not keep reading as Today's Music Biz Staff counts 'em down.

1. Get a myspace.com music page. 


Getting a myspace.com music page is free so there is no reason not to have one. We've been using Myspace to educate people for years. Feel free to friend us here (right click to open in a new window or tab).

2. Make sure your page is user friendly.

There are many would-be music business professionals who have myspace pages take too long to load. If your myspace page loads too slow, you could be losing potential fans. Mega bandwidth graphics and images will prevent your page from loading quickly. Your myspace page should take no longer than 20 or 30 seconds to load.

Many artists on myspace use layouts that emphasize their creativity but are a nightmare to navigate. Refrain from using dancing cursor's, raining text, and distracting images on your myspace music pages. Other myspace artists have "about me" blurbs that go on forever. Keep about me blurbs short (no more than 1000 words), if people want to know more about you, they will ask.

3. Have you-own music on your myspace page.

Don't put someone else's music on your myspace page unless you were involved in the creation of the music. How can you be discovered if your music isn't on your page?

4. Reach out for friends.

Networking on myspace is one of the most powerful tools you can use to build your fan-base. Take advantage of the opportunity to reach out to people with like interests. Never ignore or decline a friend request (unless you are sure it's spam or a scam). You never know who can help your music career.

5. Treat your friends like friends. 

Common courtesy applies on myspace just as in real life. Be willing to thank your friends for adding you as a friend. Respond to friend's when they reach out (if appropriate). Never post your ad as a comment on someone's myspace page without acknowledging them. Limit the size of your "ad comments".


6. Promote yourself in appropriate ways.

Noteworthy career updates, or new music added to your page are good reasons to promote yourself on myspace. List your tour dates on your page and use bulletins to let people know where you are performing. Limit the number of bulletins you post. Posting irrelevant bulletins, or posting bulletins too often, will force your friends to ignore you or "un-friend" you.

Let people know about your myspace.com page. Putting your unique myspace.com address on your website and business cards will make it convenient for you to build your network and fan base faster.


7. Provide ways for people to purchase your music from your myspace page.

If you sell your music anywhere online make sure there is a direct link from your myspace page to the location where people can buy your music. Follow our rules and you will have fun and make many friends on Myspace.


Click here to become our friend on Myspace. 

To Learn The Secrets Of Becoming A (P.I.M.P.) "Professional In Music Promotion":Click here

No Offense, Kanye West Produces Bad Press (Video)

This Video Is Too Funny!  

Before Kanye West dissed Taylor Swift, he dissed Drake and Josh, a Nobel Prize Winner and Little Abigale Winters.






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How Kanye West VMA Outburst Will Help Taylor Swift Sell More Downloads

Last night at the 2009 MTV (VMA's) Video Music Awards, in 30 seconds, Kanye West stole the show and the press coverage from Micheal Jackson, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and even Beyonce. If you didn't catch the VMA's but want to know how Kanye West stole the show, click play on the video below.



Why We Shouldn't Be Shocked?

No one should be shocked that Kayne West upstaged Taylor Swift.  Kanye West knows that any publicity (good or bad) is publicity. As I write today's blog, Kayne West has already received mentions on Good Morning America (on ABC), and on every Radio Station in America.

Last week, I would have never thought, that when I wrote about how Taylor Swift makes songs that sell that Ms. Swift would win a VMA.  But I'm not surprised she won.  Nor am I shocked that Kanye West stunned the audience by bum-rushing the stage to give Beyonce her props.

How Will Kanyes' Outburst Help Taylor Swift?

No Musician can ever go wrong by taking a stand on an issue.  As I said earlier, Kanye West is getting major mentions in all major Media.  Taylor Swift, on the other-hand will get the sympathy vote.  Not like Taylor Swift needs sympathy. She was recently on Oprah, where it was announced that Taylor Swift was the best selling Recording Artist of 2008. But there will be million's of Fan's who like Taylors' music but have never purchased her songs, that will go to their computer and download her album.  

On the flip-side, hard core Hip-Hop and R&B Fan's will go out and download Kanyes' and Beyonces' latest albums. 

What's The Moral Of  This Music Biz Story?

A few weeks ago, Kasondra Kay and I did a Podcast, titled, "How A Diss Can Help Increase Downloads".   This is a win-win-win for Kayne West, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce.  Kanyes' diss of Taylor Swift will help all three sell more music.   

The moral of the story is, you can't please everyone - every time.  If you try to please everyone, in Today's Music Biz, you'll find yourself pleasing very few.  Take a stand on an issue, even if you're wrong, people will remember you for standing up and speaking out about what you thought was right. In addition, you might sell a few thousand more downloads.

Click Here to Discover the Secrets of Success in Today's Music Business. Or log onto www.simbiz.info.

3 Beatles Music Marketing Tricks To Sell More Music To Mainstream America

Why are the Beatles considered America's most popular Rock Band ever?

Stick around for the reason's and use them to effectively market and sell more of your music to Mainstream America.  But first, take a look at the new commercial for the Beatles Rock Band video game below.



How Did The Beatles Take America By Storm?

John Lennon of the Beatles knew insitinctively what I'm about to share with you about marketing music to American's.  So in the spirit of coming together, I'm going to share top three music marketing tricks that the Beatles used to market music to mainstream America.

1. K.I.S.S. "Keep It Simple (for the) Stupid".

If you're a Beatles Fan you know that their music was composed dynamically and produced excellently.  But the Beatles lyrics were very simple. "She loves you yeah yeah yeah", "Let it be, let it be, let it be yeah let be",  Those are two of the choruses ('hooks') of the song's 'She Loves You' and 'Let It Be' .  Now let's take a look at how the Beatles kept their verses very simple.

Here's The First Verse From The Beatles 'All My Lovin'

"Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, Tomorrow I'll miss you, Remember I'll always be true, And then while I'm away, I'll write home every day, And I'll send all my loving to you."

It doesn't take a Music Scholar to see that the verse above is simple enough for even the most stupid listener to understand.  Many Musician's make the major mistake of choosing abstract lyrics and complicated story-lines in their songs.  Those songs my receive critical acclaim, but rarely sell more than a few hundred copies.  Keep it simple and you'll keep them coming back for more.

2. Using Pictures Can Be Worth A Thousand Record Sales.

Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.  In the Music Biz, a picture is worth a thousand record sales.  When the Beatles first started performing in Germany, every other Band was wearing two-piece suits and trying to look like the Guy every parent would approve of.


The picture to the upper-left is of  (left to right) John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Pete Best in the early in 1961 (before Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr).

The Beatles Image:"we're the Guy's your Parents warned you about"

 John Lennon was the Beatles Image Coach.  John was always fashion-forward because he knew that listeners paid attention to how Musician's looked as well as how they sounded. John Lennon had the Beatles ditch the suits and wear leather jacket's and jeans.

The Beatles goal was to differentiate the Beatles from all the other stiff-suit Rockers in Europe.  The message the Beatles meant to send was "we're the Guy's your Parents warned you about" .

When the Beatles came to the United States, every Rocker was wearing leather.  The Beatles seeking to be seen as different, started wearing the two-piece suits. And again it worked.  The Beatles again were seen as different and made an instant impression with Fan's, male and female alike and went on to become the greatest Rock Band of all time.

3. Sell-Out To Sell More Music


John Lennon admitted to Rolling Stone Magazine that he and the Beatles "sold out".  What was the result? Billions on sales of the Beatles music and a legacy that lives on nearly 40 years after they broke up.

I hear today's Artists and Musicians ranting and raving that they'd rather die broke as opposed to selling out.  And that's what a majority of Indie Artists and Musicians do - die broke because they wouldn't sell out.  The Beatles, made simple music that the whole family could sing along to.  The Beatles image was one that was compelling.  The Beatles knew that if they made their music too abstract, no one would listen or buy their music.

The Ugly Truth Of Music Marketing

The Music Biz is not the art of music - it's the business of music.  The ugly truth is, if you as an artist are not willing to sell out you are not willing to sell many records.  The Beatles knew this fact and used it to sell more music to more fans more than any other artist.  The good news is you can do the same if you are willing to follow the three music marketing tips of the Beatles.

What is your take on this topic?  Feel free to place your comment below.  In the mean-time, here's to your success in Today's Music Biz.

Click Here to Discover the Secrets of Success in Today's Music Business. Or log onto www.simbiz.info.

The 2009 iPod Nano With FM Radio (Video)

People who thought that Radio was a dying form of Media were dead wrong! At least that's what Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple seems to think.  If you haven't heard yet, the new Apple iPod will have an FM Radio.



New Radio Features On the New iPod Nano:


The new iPod Nano will take Radio to the next level with the following features:

• Live Pause; the listener will be able to pause live radio and play it back.
• iTunes Tagging; when the listener hears a song they like, they can tag it in the Itunes Store 

Why Should Musicians Care About the New iPod Radio Feature?


Radio takes unknown Musicians and makes them Superstars.  In fact over 70% of the music purchased on-line is heard first on the Radio.  I'm certain that Steve Jobs is aware of this fact.  Apples' goal is to sell more products (music) to more people more often.  That is the mantra of every successful marketer.  

What better way to sell more from the iTunes Store than to allow listener's to hear a song on their iPod, tag it, and then buy the download from the iTunes Store?

As a Radio Expert, few things frustrate me more than people assuming that Radio Airplay doesn't matter.  I've  heard people say, "the Internet is where the Fan's are" or, "Radio Airplay doesn't matter, because I can sell my music to Fan's on Myspace".  I know Radio hater's and naysayers to be dead wrong about Radio.

What Does the New iPod Nano Mean for Music Marketer's?

The new iPod Nano Radio feature makes it essential that every Music Marketer learn the secrets of getting Radio Airplay. No one wants to leave potentially millions of dollars on the table because they ignored Radio Airplay.

Click Here to Discover the Secrets of Success in Today's Music Business. Or log onto www.simbiz.info.

Lil Wayne Finds Success In On-line Learning

If You Missed "Lil Wayne" Wayne on the view today, I've dugg up the Video that I favored on Today's Music Biz's YOUTUBE Channel. Why Would I Give Prop's To Lil Wayne? Because in the interview, 'Young Weezy' discussed education.  In fact a large portion of the interview on "The View" was dedicated to Wayne's quest for higher learning. At Today's Music Biz, we've been encouraging Musicians to educate themselves on-line. Wayne is studying Psychology, but I bet a big part of his college courses deal with "Music Business".  We offer various real-life courses and discussions on how to succeed in Today's Music Business. I could go on all day about the libraries of Musician's who failed to educate themselves on the business aspects of the Music Business. For example, did you know that TLC the biggest selling female group of all time, sold 11 million units? TLC ended up having to file for Bankruptcy Protection because they were taken advantage of.  "TLC was shafted because they didn't educate themselves about the Business of Music."  The Music Biz is not all about platinum grills, big rims and sexy fan's. The Music Biz, now more than ever It's about Accounting, Marketing and a bundle of other intelligence that every artist must have to succeed.  I hope after watching an objective source (Lil Wayne) discussing his education goals, you'll consider enrolling in the best music schooling. Click Here to Discover the Secrets of Success in Today's Music Business. Or log onto www.simbiz.info.

Click Here to Discover the Secrets of Success in Today's Music Business. Or log onto www.simbiz.info.

Music Marketing: Top 5 Reasons To Have A Fan Page On Facebook

What Do Kings Of Leon, and Ani DiFranco Have In Common?

They have large Facebook.com followings. If you're a musician, singer, songwriter, producer in Today's Music Biz and you don't have a Facebook Fan page, you're missing a huge opportunity.

According to Entrepreneur Magazine (September 2009), Facebook has 200 million users, beating Myspace.com by 100 million. For that reason, Facebook is Today and Myspace "is like, so yesterday".


Top 5 Reasons To Have A Fan Page On Facebook

1.  Facebook allows Public Figures to have a 'Facebook Fan Page'.


A  Fan page is different from your profile page and allows people to comment  and  'like'  your  latest  updates. It also allows Fan's to show you some love without you having to worry about deleting spam comments.


2. Skanks stay away from Facebook.


I hate friend generators.  The good thing about Facebook is that it doesn't have any friend generator applications.  So people who become Fan's of your Facebook Fan Page, are usually not attention whores, trying to pad their friend counts.  I've been on Facebook for about a year now and I've never gotten a request from a 'Spam Skank' inviting me to come watch her sexy vid's.  Facebook allows you to truly build your fan base without the skanks and spam.


3.  Facebook makes Music Marketing easier

Facebook allows you to get more traffic to your website, YOUTUBE Channel, blog and even your MySpace and Ilike pages. For example, if you have a gig coming up, you can update your status and inform your fans. Kings of Leon have over 1 million fan's (which I'm one of a million).  Ani DiFranco has over 30,000 devoted fans on her Facebook Fan Page.


4, Facebook also allows 3rd Party applications.


If you're already on Twitter, there's good news.  You can have Twitter automatically update your Facebook Page.  Facebook allows many 3rd Party Applications.


5. Facebook makes viral marketing easy.


On Facebook, if someone likes what you're doing, they can share it with as many friends as the want.  I know from experience that friends like to pass on stuff their friends send them.  Facebook makes sharing easy.  Viral Marketing is just a savvy word for sharing and Facebook is a simple way of marketing.

Click Here to Discover the Secrets of Success in Today's Music Business. Or log onto www.simbiz.info.