Promoly

Author: pete

  • Introducing MethLab: Client Case Study

    Introducing MethLab: Client Case Study

    Introducing Methlab – a cutting edge label boasting a stern reputation representing artists from the the tech-heavy electronic spectrum. Focusing on the exploration of obscure and sonic concepts, they’re known to push aphotic electronic bass music in a futuristic and forward thinking manner. Albeit a fairly new label, MethLab were quick to whip up a prolific roster of artists releasing on the label, including, Broken Note, Current Value, Audeka and Woulg.

    MethLab uses Promo.ly to distribute their Inner Core service. Members of the Inner Core receive (depending on which subscription you choose) MethLab releases exclusively 8 weeks in advance of the release date. The Inner Core service also includes exclusive private previews of MethLab projects, exclusive MethLab clothing, discounted entry for MethLab label events, sticker packs and physical release artwork delivered to your door and more.

    [perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Promo.ly is an essential part of our Inner Core subscription system, and is really efficient in both delivering music to our fans and analysing their feedback about the music.” – Jeff Lab[/perfectpullquote]

    Throughout their short yet vastly effective 24 month expedition of growing the label from scratch, their promotional techniques have played an integral part of the labels growing success. We spoke with head honcho, Jef Lab, about the label and the logic behind their savvy marketing techniques.

    Lovely to meet you, Jef. First thing’s first, can you give us a brief overview of how exactly Methlab run their PR / Marketing?

    For us, it was important to take responsibility for our own PR, and establish the necessary relationships ourselves, so that we can better angle and promote our releases. As such the independent Sonicode entity was set up, which is owned by one of the co-founders of MethLab. We use Sonicode to distribute music and work with content writers, DJs and radios.

    Amazing. Your content is very sci-fi-esque, it gives your branding an obscure and interesting look. How have your promotional/marketing techniques changed since you started the label?

    Actually the label is only 2 years old, and we’re really only just getting started in terms of outlining our vision for the kinds of music we work with. I wouldn’t say our techniques have changed much in this time, we work with creators with the intention of making unique output, which as a result naturally has the kind of interesting promo points that writers can find something interesting to explore. We’re certainly an outfit with a strong multi-media approach, and past releases have had videos, interactive experiences, 360 videos and cutting edge artwork to support them. We have plans in progress with VR for future projects too.

    You’re sure hitting every angle in terms of creating content in ways that is new and exciting! How quickly did you grow the label and what in particular do you think really helped push the brand forward?

    The label grew pretty quickly to be honest, and we’d put that down to 3 things: we had an established and popular radio show for a few years before launching, which meant that our Soundcloud follower base started strong, and also we attracted the kind of audience who would be interested in the type of music our label would put out. The 2nd thing is that we spent many years building up our base and considering our aesthetic and the vision we wanted to manifest, which meant that from the outset we had an established idea and identity in mind. Finally, we also paired up with Bad Taste Recordings for the first couple of releases we compiled, which came out as MethLab Vol.1 & 2 on their label, as they liked our vision and the music and visuals we were bringing to the table and supported our concept.

    What advice would you give your younger self when you first started the label? What important things have you learnt on your journey that would be interesting for new labels starting out to learn earlier on in the game?

    Keep things professional, reward the creators as early as possible, with advances and similar incentives. Build a family and crew that both believe in the united vision and also are the kinds of people and personalities that will be stable in the long run. Working in the creative industry comes with many stresses and pressures, and not everyone can cope with that – if you surround yourself with those people who get negatively affected by the pressure and start to act out badly on that, it will drain you very quickly. It’s important to have a team of proactive, positive creators and workers and all be working towards an optimistic vision, which is exactly what MethLab has these days. Also, whilst it can be useful to have a personality behind a label in the early days, there comes a point where it’s better to withdraw so that the focus is on the ideas represented by the entity, and not the individuals behind it.

    Check out MethLab’s official trailer for Inward, Hanzo & Randie // Memory Check:

    https://www.facebook.com/methlabrecordings/videos/322512961879492/

    Thanks Jef! Make sure to keep up to date with MethLab on their socials:

    Facebook
    Twitter
    Instagram

     

  • 5 Music PR Mistakes Musicians Make When Promoting Music

    5 Music PR Mistakes Musicians Make When Promoting Music

    When looking at other people’s music PR there is often a critical problem. There isn’t a strategy or plan. Musicians believe a last-minute promotional post across Facebook is adequate, or they’ll promptly send the music to their entire mailing list the day before release.

    They are disheartened when they don’t see results and annoyed that blogs don’t pick their music. However, this can work when the musician is well-known with a vast audience with media relationships already established. For example, when Daft Punk unleashed Random Access Memories, their music pr publicists kept it as secret and announced right before the release date. Daft Punk can get away with this because of their stature, their audience size and because every EDM blog and magazine would feature their content. Although Daft Punk’s publicists only announced the album a few days before release it was executed extremely well. I’m sure it took months of planning.

    5 mistakes musicians make when promoting music

    Not having a plan

    You must have a plan when promoting music. I’m talking about a music PR plan that is eight to ten weeks long and will have a strategy from start to finish. Beforehand, you must work out who you would like to receive your music and then you need to work out how you will deliver your music to those people. What are you trying to achieve when promoting music?

    I suggest you look at your release date and then work out who you would like to support the music. For example, if your release date in 8 weeks you need to work out how you will gain YouTube, Spotify and magazine coverage. This takes time and needs a solid strategy in place to accomplish it.

    Getting itchy

    Now we’ve all been guilty of this one. When you have a release planned, you want everybody to hear it and keeping it contained can be difficult. If you’ve written a good piece of music or you are a record label and signed a good piece of music, don’t show the world months before the release date. You need to keep it locked away until it is the right moment. Or if you’re in contact with some top end DJs give the music to a handful of them and ask them to test it to gauge the reaction of the audience.

    Sending music to everybody

    Now my experience this is where every single young independent label goes wrong. They schedule the release, created a mailing list and before you know it they blast it off to 1,000 contacts. This is where things get a little messy and their music PR becomes ineffective. They can’t remember who they sent it to and now not sure who’s listened to it or going to feature it.

    To resolve this issue, you must segment the mailing list. What this means is you have to split your mailing list into manageable chunks. If you’ve got a contact list of 1000 DJs, blogs and journalists, divide them up into categories. Once segmented it can be used to your advantage. This will assist you in the long run and keep you organised throughout the promotional period. Using software like Promo.ly will help streamline this and capture excellent results.

    Forgetting to include important details

    When I used to run a blog, record labels would forget to include vital information. This made my job difficult, and I was forever chasing the person who sent it. Top end blogs receive hundreds of emails per day all of which ask for features. If you forget to include the release date, artist name, album name or forgetting to include any information at all will slim down your chance of gaining features. You need to make it easy, and it should be a simple transaction. You should be able to send your music to the blogger without the blogger asking several basic questions about the release. I know this sounds basic, but it happens time and time again.

    Sending the same music to multiple YouTube channels.

    When seeking premieres on YouTube don’t send all the top channels the same music at the same time. Most channels would like an exclusive and won’t feature your music if another channel already has it. As I mentioned earlier, this needs to be in your plan. Start by making a list of your top 5 YouTube channels where you could see your music fitting with their audience. Start with your number one channel and contact them directly. If you don’t achieve a response or they decline the track, send it to your number 2 channel and so on. By working in the linear approach it will solve many disagreements and grant you a higher chance of getting featured.

    To summarise: With music PR you need to plan and segment your mailing list accordingly. It’s crucial and shouldn’t take long to come up with a strategy. Don’t send your music to everybody at the same time and send your music over several days to your different segments. Using applications like Promo.ly will keep you music PR organised and on track. Ensure you incorporate all the relevant details like artwork, release date, artist name, album name and press release. Having a strategy during your promotional period will help attain further results.

     

  • How to Be a Music Manager That Actually Gets Results With Musicians

    How to Be a Music Manager That Actually Gets Results With Musicians

    From Brian Epstein to Albert Grossman, there’s no shortage of myths surrounding great band managers and what they did for their artists. It’s easy to imagine their lives being half stern, no-nonsense deliberators and half witnesses to great art in its conception.

    It takes a special person to manage The Beatles or Bob Dylan, and those managers may have just been in the right place at the right time. Becoming a band manager is a difficult thing to do, and it takes a while to work with great bands.

    If you’re trying to learn how to be a music manager, though, there are some surefire things you can do to get results. We’ll cover a little bit about how to become a manager and what to do in order to get results for your clients.

    How to Be a Music Manager

    There are a couple of ways to enter the field of band management. The first, and most romantic, is to befriend a group of people who happen to be in a band. Maybe you’re the closest person to the music and you can understand each member enough to gel with them.

    You could also do your own research on the logistics of managing a band, gravitate toward musical people, and try to get in with them. There’s a better option, though.

    Here’s the process that gives you the best chance of getting a good job as a band manager:

    Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Management

    Students of music management take a lot of coursework pertaining to the industry as well as the music itself. The programs are usually four-year and will require that you take general education courses as well.

    On top of the business-end coursework, you’ll get a deep appreciation for music and music theory. It takes a great ear to seek out top-tier musicians, so it’s important that you understand their craft.

    You’ll gain specific knowledge about how the music industry works. This is an insight that those who just decide to befriend a band will not have. You’ll understand what is required to establish positive relationships with industry people and make your band known.

    Business administration is also a big element of music management school. You are essentially running a business when you manage a band. Finances, scheduling, and human resources are all integral to the process.

    Additionally, there’s a lot to do with copyright law, business law, music marketing, and publishing rights. You are the main liaison between your band and the world, and it’s unlikely that the musicians will want much to do with the business logistics that is required to spread their music.

    Get Practical Experiences

    You’re likely to get an internship while you’re in undergrad. That is going to be the best way for you to get a foot into the industry. Many people refrain from getting internships while they’re in school.

    This could be for many reasons– maybe they don’t have enough time, don’t think it matters, or are intimidated by real-life industry experiences. It will pay to overcome those fears and look for an internship while you’re in school.

    It’s hard to find paid internships when you’re out there in the real world and a lot of companies won’t look at you unless you have legitimate experience. Colleges have connections to high-quality internship positions that the average person wouldn’t be able to access.

    Utilize the college’s connections and squeeze everything you can out of your undergraduate experiences. The more real-life work experience you can get, the better.

    Doing the above will give you an excellent foundation to start working in the music industry. Beyond that, though, there are some things you can do on your own time.

    Become a Music Buff

    Learn everything you can about music’s history, present, and future. Keep up to date on the current happenings of the music industry, but do your due diligence and nerd out on some history.

    Look deeply into the great managers like Epstein and Grossman, as well as the bad ones like Brian Wilson’s manager, Eugene Landy. Also, research the greatest bands of history, generate a deep knowledge of various genres and artists.

    Learn their personalities, understand what certain people did for music, and remember it. Having this knowledge will give you a good baseline to relate with other people in the industry and inform you of what you could do in your own career.

    It helps to know where you fit in the grand scheme of the industry.

    Develop Your People Skills To Be A Better Music Manager

    The industry is all about networking and making connections with everyone you meet. You are the face of the band, and they’re not going to understand why they’re paying you if you aren’t working to connect them with the best people in the industry.

    You have to be relatively confident (or appear to be), assertive, and deliberate with your social decisions. Those who can network tend to succeed. Beyond this, there’s one really important thing.

    If you are still wondering how to be a music manager, it’s worth bearing in mind you will need to keep a professional and casual attitude. It’s not only important that people know what you’re about, but it’s crucial that they like you on some level. In other words, make sure you’re tolerable to the people you’re working with.

    The bands should feel comfortable disclosing information to you and trust you enough to build solid relationships. Don’t treat some people more important than others, don’t overstep your bounds, and do your best not to cause problems within the group.

    Interested in Learning More?

    Whether you want to know how to get your music out there effectively or are trying to learn more about how to be a music manager, you should digest all the information you can.

    There’s a lot to learn about the industry in the new age, and you’ll be better off if you’re in the know. If you want to learn more about how to make it in the music industry, visit our site to get the information you need.

     

  • How to Start Pitching Music and Getting Featured On Big Music Blogs

    How to Start Pitching Music and Getting Featured On Big Music Blogs

    If you think creating your first album or EP was a challenge, get ready for your next steps into promotion.

    Carving out a spot for yourself or your band in the music industry is no small feat. The competition is thick, and standing out from the crowd takes a significant amount of effort.

    Thankfully, you have a mighty tool at your fingertips. Digital promotion is huge for pitching music. In fact, streaming has become the industry’s largest source of revenue as it makes up 41.1% of it across a whopping 176 million users.

    But how do you tap into that? First, you need to get noticed. Below are some essential steps for pitching music to well-read blogs covering your genre’s niche.

    4 Steps for Pitching Music Features to Popular Music Blog

    If you’re serious about getting your music covered by influential voices in the blogosphere, here four steps to help you make it happen.

    Step One: Research Content Creators

    Before submitting music to blogs, you have to do some background research. Look into what blogs are trending in the music industry. There is more out there than just Stereogum and HipHopDX.

    Make a point to find online publications relevant to your genre, as well as writers relevant to your genre. Most quality blogs have multiple contributors writing for their website.

    Don’t just email them right off the bat. Take the time to follow them and read their work. Get to know the publication or writer you are planning to send your pitch.

    Doing this may take more time than you anticipated, but your odds of success will be greater. Establishing a personal connection goes far in increasing your odds and getting future exposure on new projects.

    Step Two: Tempt The Publisher with a First Look When Pitching

    There is nothing better than an exclusive in the publishing world. Any time you can offer exclusive content, such as a new, unreleased song, do it. Aim for publications with influence and tempt them with the first look.

    This will create a sense of urgency as they aim to be first to publish. If you already have a strong audience for your music, this is a great piece of bait for scoring an interview while debuting a new single.

    Step Three: Avoid Mentioning the Blog’s Competition

    Bringing up a competitor blog is like referencing someone’s ex in the middle of an introduction. Avoid planting bad vibes by leaving out any references to features or content covered by “the other guys”.

    Instead, focus on other moments of merit, such as spotlights you’ve had on other forms of media or recent awards. Remember our advice about serving up exclusives that give the blog you’re pitching to a leg-up on their competition.

    Step Four: Be Clear About What You Want

    Don’t beat around the bush when pitching music. Make it a point to state what you want early and clearly. Whether that’s an interview, a feature, or a review, make sure you make your request specific.

    Simply saying, “Hey, check out this music!” isn’t enough. Remember, this blog or writer probably receives an overwhelming amount of emails and requests. If you wait on them to think of a way to use the content you sent them, you’re losing leads.

    Also, don’t be vague. Add whatever information you can to your pitch, including any press kits or audio that is relevant to your request. They may not have time to schedule an interview, but if you provide everything upfront they may reward you with a quick write-up.

    Those who aren’t used to reaching out and asking for press may feel rude using a no-nonsense approach. However, busy writers and blogs love it when you reach out prepared and get to the point. It makes their job easier.

    How to Draft a Short and Compelling Pitch

    Now that you know how to approach today’s hottest music blogs, you need to craft a compelling pitch. We’ve broken down three main tips below in order to help you put together a strong request.

    A Brief Message Gets Read

    Time is a commodity in the journalism or blogging industry. You are one of the numerous requests the publication or writer must sort through on a daily basis. The odds are slim they’re going to do more than skim what you have to say.

    Keep your message brief. You can attach or link to more information if your pitch hooks them. However, your call-to-action and your pitch should be within the first two sentences.

    Think about what it is you’re offering the publication. What’s in it for them? Why would they say “yes” to your request?

    Tempt them enough to make them want to know more, then give them the means to get that information.

    Be Creative in Your Approach

    “Hey, how are you? We are a band with a new album…” is not a unique pitch. New albums release every single week from musicians of all stages of experience and popularity.

    What sets you apart? How is your pitch unique? Use creativity to sell it in a way that tells a story worth reading.

    It doesn’t have to be paragraphs of poetry, but a few lines resonating the unique flavour of your music can be enough to give the reader pause and consider what you have to say.

    Keep Your Quality Top-Knotch

    Creativity is great, but don’t forget to apply some good old-fashioned quality control before you hit send. Poor grammar and typos convey the message that whoever you’re emailing wasn’t worth the time to edit and craft an original message.

    Check your hyperlinks and make sure nothing is broken and make sure your tone is that of someone doing business. Using slang in your email isn’t going to win you any cool points. Be creative, but keep it professional.

    Are You Ready for Your Music to Be Heard?

    If you’re serious about pitching music, getting exposure, and hearing what people have to say about it, then it’s time you tap into our digital promotion tools. Here at Promo.ly, we make creating and managing campaigns a breeze.

    Take a look at our packages to discover how easy and affordable it is to get your music out there. Sometimes the right move is just an e-mail away.

     
  • 8 Genius Record Label Marketing Tips for Smaller Labels

    8 Genius Record Label Marketing Tips for Smaller Labels

    How do you get noticed in the digital music marketplace? That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? The irony of the internet is that, while it’s never been easier to release music, it’s become harder and harder to get noticed.

    Gone are the days when a major label would dump millions into promising young acts. Radio exposure doesn’t carry the same weight it did. And how long has it been since MTV was known for playing music videos?

    That doesn’t mean that aren’t ways to stand out. It just means that you have to consider your approach a little more carefully. Keep reading for eight actionable record label marketing tips.

    Record Label Promotion:

    1. Define Your Brand

    While it can be fluid, you should establish what your act is. Using the music as inspiration, build a visual motif that supports your themes. Decide on a logo and a colour scheme that will reinforce the music. Good music branding is vital, so ensure you take the time and consider it carefully.

    This can develop as the band or artist does, but it’s helpful to build an identity that goes beyond the music. It’s something that the fans can latch onto. It also lends itself to merchandise and artwork for releases.

    2. Know Your Audience

    This may seem obvious, but that’s only because it’s so important. The better you understand your audience, the better you can reach them.

    If you’re just getting started, it can be difficult if your fanbase is still in its infancy. Instead, look to similar artists and learn who their audience is. As you build an audience, continue to monitor their interests and habits.

    As you start to utilize paid advertising, apply the data you’ve gathered about your target audience. The better you can target them, the further you can stretch your ad dollars.

    3. Collect Email Addresses

    The power of an email list is often overlooked and should be included in your marketing plan. It may seem quaint to some, with direct messages and texts being the preferred way to communicate. However, if you’re in the business of digital marketing, email is king.

    There are many different free email list managers that will help you with this. Sign-up for one and put it to use. Collect emails at any point of fan interaction. You can use download gates that require fans to enter their email before downloading your music.

    4. Build a Release Schedule

    It’s not important that you release music but that you release it consistently.

    If you look at it as a curve, any song will attract immediate interest which will then taper off. If you have enough material, post another track a few weeks later, just as interest in the first song wanes.

    This helps you ride the momentum your songs build. You want to keep offering new material when you know people are still interested.

    5. Free Downloads

    This was touched on above, but releasing free music is a great way to garner interest within your music genre. People are always searching for new music, so providing them tracks for free is an excellent opportunity. Placing it behind a download gate makes sure you get something in return. Like an email address.

    It’s fine if you have music that you don’t want to give away. Save it for a proper release. Instead, offer demos or cover songs. Not only does this build awareness, but it develops your acts personality in the eyes of the fans.

    6. Make Music Videos

    Know where most music fans find their music? That’s right: YouTube. The video-sharing platform has become an integral part of many indie label marketing plans.

    If you have a phone, you have a video camera. There are many different approaches you can take, from a performance-based video to something more abstract. Lyric videos are another great option.

    7. Run Contests

    One of the most powerful parts of being in a band is the relationship you develop with your fans. Any time you can include them in a project, you’re deepening this relationship.

    Ask your fans to help spread your music. Invite video ideas and t-shirt designs. If you incentivize these projects, you can utilize the collective power of your supporters.

    As effective as a marketing campaign can be, nothing matches the power of word of mouth. Having fans that will tell others on your behalf carries a level of credibility that money can’t buy.

    Just be sure to properly reward the support you get. This can be access to limited releases or behind the scenes videos. Whatever it is, it should make the fans feel even closer to the acts.

    8. Find the Right Partners

    Social media offers so many new opportunities. The ability to partner with the right people and businesses is one of it’s greatest.

    The most immediate benefit is getting your artists exposed to a new audience. This reason alone makes this a no-brainer.

    But there’s more benefit than just that. It allows you to further develop your brand.

    If you’re a label with an interest in social justice, find activist organizations that reflect your ideas. If you’re more into sports and athletics, find a team or apparel company that matches what you’re offering.

    The important thing is to find the right partners. Not only do you want ones that reflect your interests but ones that have an audience that would be interested in the acts you represent. There’s no point in approaching an energy drink brand if your label releases classical music.

    Record Label Marketing Made Easy

    The need for a record label isn’t as pronounced as it once was. The ability to record and release music has never been easier.

    Instead, what you can offer as a label is the insight into effective marketing practices. Record label marketing incorporates a few key tasks applied correctly. If you can prove that you can practice these effectively, you can offer real value to bands and artists.

    This frees the talent to focus on what they do best. Knowing that they have the support of a record label that can get results is incredibly empowering. It’s also to the benefit of both them and you as the label.

     

  • What You Should Know about Email Marketing for Musicians

    What You Should Know about Email Marketing for Musicians

    What You Should Know about Email Marketing for Musicians

    Musicians choose their career because they have a passion for music and they want to share it with the world. Then they find out just how difficult that sharing can be.

    One of the greatest promotional strategies for musicians is email marketing. After all, what better way to make your music heard than to deliver it right to someone’s inbox?

    The key to successful email marketing for musicians is in the execution. These tips can help you launch a great strategy.

    Tips for Email Marketing for Musicians

    To make the most of your emails in your music marketing strategy, use these tips.

    1. Don’t Underestimate Piracy Protection

    Email marketing is a great way to announce your latest tracks or pursue record deals. The problem, though, is that it’s easy for someone to steal your music that way.

    Make sure you use an email service that provides piracy protection. This is especially important if you’re sending unreleased music.

    As much as you may trust the people on your contact list, it’s not a good idea to gamble your career on it.

    2. Manage Multiple Email Lists

    You should use marketing emails for different purposes. Maintaining a few different email lists for those purposes will make your communications more productive.

    For example, if you’re seeking a record deal, have one email list for people in the industry you want to pitch. Have another list for fans in the general public so you can promote your music independently as well.

    3. Always Plan Your Next Step

    The key to great email marketing is driving people to the next step of the process. To do that, you need a clear and compelling call-to-action.

    For every email, determine the next step you want the readers to take. It could be purchasing a download or calling you to schedule a meeting. Whatever it may be, guide readers to it and make it as convenient as possible for them.

    4. Give People a Reason to Scroll

    There’s a common myth that people rarely scroll on websites and emails. You might think all the pertinent information needs to be “above the fold,” or on the part of the screen they see right away.

    That may have been true in the Internet’s early days, but today people are willing to explore more. You just have to give them a reason to scroll by telling them what type of compelling content awaits.

    5. Put Serious Thought into Your Subject Line

    The subject line may be the most underrated part of a marketing email. After all, the only information your viewer has to determine if they want to open an email is the subject line and your name.

    Overall, the average open rate for email newsletters is just under 23 percent. If you want to make the cut, your subject line needs to be unique and inviting.

    Building Your Music Career with Email Marketing

    Email marketing for musicians is a great way to start spreading the word about your music career. It’s also a powerful tool for successful musicians who are trying to keep the momentum they’ve built.

    No matter where you are in your career, the tips above will help.

    To get started on your email marketing campaign today, find out more about promo.ly!

     
  • 10 music marketing strategies you can implement before getting signed

    10 music marketing strategies you can implement before getting signed

    10 music marketing strategies you can implement before getting signed

    1. Create a strong social media presence

    Although it’s the 21st century devil, it’s essential in this day and age that you have a strong online presence. Show people your music, how hard you’re grafting, your studio sessions, your personality. People love a behind the scenes insight into the life of an active artist. Showcase what you’re cooking up, get interesting with your content and make sure all of your socials look tidy and themed.

    ‘How you present yourself online is critical when marketing yourself as a new artist. It’s important to be positive, and a good contributor to the your “scene” rather than simply hard selling what YOU do as an individual all the time. Your online persona / presence is key to developing relationships and, over time, showing your value and skill set. Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed!’ – J Fresh (International DJ and artist)

    2. Network, Network, Network!

    This is a top music marketing strategy but often overlooked. Go to events and socialise with artists, ravers, everyone! It’s not as snaky as it sounds. Not only is it good to meet people in a networking sense, engaging with like-minded people may spark new ideas and give you the energy you need to work hard in what can be a tiring industry. It’s also a great way to remind yourself why you became an artist in the first place, because you love the music! It’s an added bonus that the people you meet may also like the music you’re making.

    3. Word…

    Talk about what you’re doing with people, post your music on your personal Facebook page, make it known that you’re an artist. You never know, your mother’s, boss’s, son’s girlfriend might work in the office of the label you’ve always dreamt of being signed to, so be vocal, but be humble.

    4. Attend industry music conferences

    These are great environments to mingle with some of the key industry players. Get yourself a pass and try connecting with a few labels, managers and agencies, or, don’t get a pass and get the intel as to where the best industry parties are being held and hope you end up waiting in the queue for the toilet next to London Elektricity with your favourite Hospital Records T-shirt on.

    Here is a list of conferences useful to attend as a new artist:

    1. ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event)
    2. IMS (International Music Summit)
    3. Winter Music Conference
    4. Brighton Music Conference
    5. BEC (Beats Evolution Conference)

    IMS and ADE are two conferences which can help newcomer artists gain a greater insight into the music industry. Not only can it put you in touch with people face to face, who can help progress your career and give you invaluable advice, but these conferences can also teach you just how important it is to get a better perspective on the inner workings of the industry, as well as how to stay on top of its changes – especially within the digital age.’ – Hannah Helbert, (Freelance PR agent for Ram Records, Hatched Music, Sofa Sound, Cygnus Music)

    5. Familiarise yourself with software like Adobe Photoshop/Audition so that you can create your own content

    To up your music marketing strategy game, start producing professional looking online content without spending your own money paying a graphic designer. This is a perfect sorcery in leading people to believe your music career is poppin’ off enough to make you enough money to afford a designer, when really you’re a behind the scenes wiz when it comes to creating content.

    6. Get on the radio!

    Get yourself a show on an internet or community radio station. This is a great way of marketing what you’re about and platforming yourself as a personality. People will connect with you as a person, leaving them feeling warm and familiar about connecting with your music.

    ‘Becoming a presenter on a radio station, no matter the size of the station is a great way to build yourself as a presenter as well as a DJ. It’s worth mentioning at this stage that being a DJ and a presenter are individual skills to develop. Yet I’ve found that the most beneficial style is somewhere in between. Use your radio show as a way to convey your unique personality and engage with an entirely new audience. Pride yourself on your curation and show your passion to the scene. Not only will the promotion of new (and established) artists help build direct relationships, but by associating yourself with some of the larger artists you play on your show, this will help you to get noticed by potential promoters, managers and labels.’ – Gully B (Reprezent Radio Presenter)

    7. Remix, remix, remix!

    Be daring and smash out a monster bootleg of a well known track to draw attention to your style. Or, if you know other up and coming artists starting out in a different genre, you could suggest remixing each others tracks for maximum exposure. Everyone’s a winner in this situation as your sound is exposed to a totally new audience. When your name becomes more established, you’ll be paid to remix another artist’s track. Using the technique of having your tracks remixed by artists from different genres is an industry favourite, even with the bigger artists, so it’s good to get some practice under your belt.

    8. Support other artists by tagging them online when you rate/play their tracks.

    As the old saying goes, what goes around comes back around and if you’re seen to be supporting other artists on their mission to get their music heard, not only does it make you a solid person, the good eggs will acknowledge and may even return the favour when the time is right. There are a lot of people grafting as hard as you are, so make good connections and be known to support the scene you work in, it won’t hinder your progression.

    ‘Make genuine connections, support others, share their stuff online, post a few positive words etc. because you want to, not because you expect anything back directly in return. If you like something or appreciate someone’s work, no matter how big or small, why not let them know?’ –  Nausika (signed to Blu Mar Ten/Subtitles)

    9. Get a job in music

    Having a job in music can open up endless opportunities for a new artist. It’s a great way of learning about the industry, and a great way to show professional bodies, who may be up for checking out your artistic side, how passionate you are.


    A warning with this, be careful you don’t go in on your first day with ‘I WANT TO BE A WORLD FAMOUS DJ’, written on your forehead. If a professional establishment suss out you only had one motive when applying to work in that office, and your work starts to slack, you’ll lose their respect which may hinder your reputation. Only apply for jobs you want and know you’d be good at. Be smart but be genuine, it’ll help you stand out.

    10. Make sure you have your best mixes, full of your best tracks, available online

    If you have good DJ mixes on your Soundcloud, make them downloadable. People are more likely to stick them on repeat and then watch out for your next upload. Electronic music listeners are attracted to accessible content, especially mixes, so if you have a good mix that’s circulating online, it will attract people to you as an artist and encourage fans to see you play live.

    When your following starts to grow, this would be when you’d tone down online mixes to introduce exclusivity, but for up and coming artists, the more people can hear what you’re about, the better. Besides, who doesn’t like smashing out a good mix and sharing with the nation. Go wild and have fun!

    Like this article on music marketing strategies? Check out this one on increasing your fanbase on Instagram.

     

  • 3 Things to Remember When Releasing New Podcast Episodes

    So, you’ve recorded several podcast episodes, edited and polished them, and they’re now ready for public consumption. How soon or slowly should each episode be released? The short answer is that new episodes can be released whenever you desire. You could unleash them all at once or every six months if you wanted to!

    However, there is a systematic way to gradually release fresh podcast episodes to establish an audience for your show. It all depends on a few variables unique to your show.

    There is no right or wrong method to schedule new episode releases, but there are a few things you should ask yourself first to get the most out of it.

    Are you unsure about the best way to schedule your show? Continue reading to learn how frequently you should release podcast episodes and where to find digital audio advertising. 

    Consider The Topic of Your Podcast

    First, decide whether your main podcast topic is big, tiny, current, or evergreen. Do you chat about current events, such as the latest news or celebrity gossip? Or do you talk about more broad topics like social issues, relationship advice, or business advice?

    It’s better to release new podcast episodes faster if your themes are more current or your topics are on the smaller side. If you want to get your work out rapidly, you may release episodes once or twice a week or even daily. If your subjects are current, topical, and popular, it’s best to get your episodes up quickly before the public loses interest.

    Consider releasing episodes at a slower rate if your episodes’ topics are larger and more perennial. Release episodes once every two weeks, but once a month can be sufficient if you don’t have much time.

    Slowly releasing episodes will allow you to conduct thorough research on your topics and guarantee that your releases provide listeners with timeless content. If you’re making a podcast about real crime murder cases, broadcasting episodes once a day might be much.

    Keep in mind that you can always plan releases more frequently or less frequently during other seasons of the year. For example, if your podcast is about basketball, you can add more episodes in March to correspond with March Madness.

    On the other hand, you can also try digital music marketing if you’re releasing your music. 

    Take Into Account Your Schedule

    Nobody wants to get burned out! It’s good to factor in your schedule outside of recording when arranging podcast episode releases. Consider how much you can realistically bear. How much time do you have for creativity, research, recording, editing, and advertising your episodes? How much time do you have to deliver new episodes comfortably?

    If your podcast’s creative process takes 5 to 10 hours on average and you work 50 hours per week, releasing two episodes each week is generally not a good idea. Be realistic about your available time before taking on more than you can handle. Your viewers would like you to be able to produce new episodes without fear of your program crashing and burning because you took on too much! Quality takes precedence over quantity. You can work with an audio marketing strategy company if you want the best quality. 

    Keep In Mind To Take A Break

    If you need a break, you don’t have to maintain publishing episodes regularly. Many podcasts have different “seasons” so that creators can rest, live their lives, and eventually plan for additional episodes.

    Breaks are necessary for you and your sanity and for new listeners who want to catch up on your podcast before regularly releasing fresh episodes. Keep in mind if you wish to take a break. First and foremost, inform your audience that your show will go on hiatus. Also, make sure they know when you expect to return!

    When your show makes its triumphant return, let everyone know! You can do a lot with your social media accounts to get your audience excited. Trust us when we say that your listeners will have missed you and will be ready to hear what you say! 

    Conclusion 

    Hopefully, these tips helped you figure out the best times to release new podcast episodes. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, keep it up and have fun with your podcasting!

    Promoly assists forward-thinking businesses in promoting their audio via email and social media. Track recipient engagement, encourage more features, increase purchases, and raise brand awareness. Contact us today if you need digital audio advertising!

     

  • How to Use Digital Audio Advertising for Your Marketing

    Many people turn to digital media for many of their entertainment needs. One medium that more people are now interested in nowadays is digital audio. With podcasts and online radios, digital audio is the latest trend, and it’s not going away soon.

    Marketing relies on the latest trends, so you may wonder how digital audio will affect your marketing strategy. The simple answer to that is through digital audio advertising. If you’ve ever listened to podcasts, you may have heard some commercials and you want to give it a try. So, how exactly do you use digital audio advertising? Read our tips below to learn more.

    1. Add a Personal Touch

    One of the best ways to grab a person’s attention is to make it personal. And digital audio advertising is an excellent strategy. The reason for that is that you’ll be able to speak directly to your customers and capture their attention.

    Instead of talking about your products and services, you can focus on speaking about the feelings behind your products and services. For example, instead of saying, “Our new product is the best! It works perfectly and it is made with high quality,” you can say, “You’ll feel proud and great whenever you use our new product.”

    2. Make It Memorable

    Another way to grab your customers’ attention is by creating a memorable message. Not only will this help you create better audio ads, but it will get you better results. That’s because it will stand out from the clutter and it will hold your potential customer’s attention for a longer period of time.

    With a memorable message, you will not just be getting clicks and impressions, but actually conversions. The best way to create a lasting impression is to create an original message that will affect your audience. It’s not just about saying the words, but about making them relatable for your customers.

    3. Know Your Target

    It is important to know your target audience before creating your digital audio ads. You may have a good product and message, but if you’re targeting the wrong audience, you’re wasting your time. If you know your target audience, you will be able to create your message and use it to your advantage.

    The more you know about your target audience, the more you can customize your ads. For example, if you’re talking about a product for a specific demographic, it will be easier to create a message that is more relatable to that group of people.

    4. Keep It Short

    With most people using digital media, they don’t have a lot of time to capture their attention. Thus, if your message is too long, it will likely get skipped. The best way to tackle this is to keep it short and simple.

    You may be tempted to say more, but you don’t need to say a lot. The less you say, the clearer the message will be and the easier it will be for your customers to understand.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, digital audio advertising is perfect for any business. You don’t have to spend a lot of time creating audio ads and it can be easy to execute. With digital audio advertising, you can reach new customers and create better results for your business.

    If you plan to use digital audio advertising, you will need a reliable strategy to manage your campaign. Promoly specializes in helping manage campaigns in digital audio offering features like tracking engagement and keeping organized campaigns. Sign up with Promoly today to get started on your digital audio campaign!

     

  • Global Appeal: Tips to Help You Make Your Podcast Multilingual

    People used to listen to the radio as part of their pastime and work hours. It helps them relax amidst a stressful day and even keeps them in the mood to complete all their tasks. That being said, the advent of technology allowed people to steer away from the traditional radio toward the homely feel of podcasts.

    Think of them as your typical radio program with the hosts and their guests discussing topics you may be interested in. It is much like a typical radio program, albeit now delivered through the internet rather than the airwaves.

    If you happen to be running your podcast and want to reach a wider audience, you might be planning to make it multilingual, meaning that you want to deliver your show and commentary in more than one language.

    The question is, “How can I even do that?”

    In such a case, there is no need to worry. We have listed a couple of helpful tips below.

    1. Use the Language of the Listeners

    If you want to make your podcast multilingual, then the best way to do so is to speak the language of your listeners.

    It’s not enough that you know the language you want to speak. You also have to know at least some of the words that the listeners will understand. Remember that you are the host of the show, and your listeners will look up to you. If you happen to make a slip of the tongue and say something wrong, they will definitely correct you.

    2. Make Use of Audio Transcription Service

    Another thing you can do to make your podcast multilingual is to use an audio transcription service. These services basically transcribe your audio files into text that you can then use in your shows.

    The transcription service makes use of human transcribers, and it will take them a while to produce the text, which may vary depending on the speed of the narrator, the quality of the audio, and the length of the audio.

    But with this option, you can finally have your show and commentaries translated into multiple languages with one audio file.

    3. Hire Translators

    If you plan to translate your podcast into multiple languages, you will need to hire translators. It is not enough that you know the language; you need to have a working knowledge of the language as well.

    The only problem here is that it is usually hard to find a good translator for your podcast. The best thing about hiring a translator is that they can also help you with the studio design and setup.

    Always remember that it is important to provide your show with a clean and polished look. You need to make sure that the translations are consistent as well. Otherwise, it might leave a negative impression on the minds of your listeners.

    4. Make Use of a Translation Software

    There is translation software available in the market today that can make your podcast multilingual.

    This works by using a thesaurus for the words for the different languages. It will be continually updated so that the sound of the words coming from the speaker will flow.

    The only problem is that this type of software is slower in production, and it would require you to do some editing.

    5. Collaborate With A Local Studio

    If you are planning to translate your podcast into multiple languages, you can use a local studio.

    This works by having the host speak their native tongue while the translator translates their words into English for the listeners.

    Conclusion

    Going on-air with a podcast really is a lot of fun. You are able to share useful information and build relationships with your listeners.

    The good news is that it’s quite easy to make your podcasts multilingual. All you need to do is hire translators, use online translation software, use an audio transcription service, and know how to read and speak the language of the listeners.

    If you are looking for a digital audio advertising agency that will boost your podcast’s target listeners, look no further than our expertise here at Promoly. We help innovative brands promote their audio over email and social media, track recipient engagement, drive more features, push more sales and get your brand noticed. Start now; with no credit card required!