And Promote Your Music
First lesson is to be open minded. This applies to online partnerships as well (something we spoke about last week).
Online personalities, whether they are bloggers, vloggers, news outlets, etc…need you to survive. However, they have an ALOT of content to get through and when they do find content they like and want to show their audience it’s a winning moment. Especially for you if they speak about your music.
So, in which ever shape or form your music manages to be highlighted by a music blogger have an open mind.
Let me explain.
Shooting a Music Blogger in the foot
I run another site connecting my favourite music to potential fans – www.channeltru.com. It’s mainly urban music and the ongoing goal is to get new talent noticed and eventually let the audience decide what they find as good music.
One of my ideas was to share clips of songs I find on the internet with other potential fans. I make a selection of songs and place them in a video then post to the many video sites. Here is something I worked out a few weeks back.
New Music 2012 – July R&B, Hip Hop and Slow Jams
Nothing fancy, but something I can clearly showcase my favourites to my audience.
Originally this was posted on Youtube and was receiving some good traffic. However, about a week ago it was removed and I received the following fancy message.
Here’s the screen shot:
Closed minds close doors
Yes, my experiment shut down because an artist didn’t like how I featured a clip of his new song for potential fans to hear (1:15 min). I have nothing against Youtube or the artist. Youtube is just doing their job to make their users (fans and those who produce the music) happy.
However, I am not sure why the artist felt like his 30 second song snippet should be removed. I never gave away the whole song and I actively linked to their official youtube video so I could drive traffic to his video.
I do understand where they are coming from a copyright stand point. If I don’t own it so what gives me the right to use it?
Well, from a lawyer’s perspective its debatable (reviewers and news outlets can air clips of movies and shows) but as a promotional way to gain exposure it’s like me playing a full song to my friend in the car, then my friend looking up the artist if he/she is interested.
Get in bed with Music Bloggers
Naturally you’re going to have to sweet talk music bloggers (don’t shoot them in the foot). You won’t have to hand over flowers and chocolate, or let them do whatever they want with your music, but you will need to engage in conversation with them.
Here’s some flowers, check out my music.
This means no spamming and sending numerous emails to ask the blogger to ‘check out’ your music page.
Instead, make a comment on their posts and start a conversation. This way you don’t come off as a pushy sales person but a member of the music scene who wants to make it better. Naturally the music bloggers will lower their shields and I am pretty sure they will reciprocate the kind comments and feature you in some way or another.
The Bottom Line
An online conversation sounds like it will take some time. It will, but trust me, in the long term it will give you back so much more.
I am not promoting a ‘let the music blogger get away with anything and everything. AND the musician should bend over backwards for them’ attitude. I want to get the message across that you should see the intent behind the action and really see how it benefits your music. Don’t pull the trigger too soon.
As for Mr. Bobby, the artist (or his online team) never bothered to reach out to me. I have no way in sending him a question, which means that I’ll just have to never highlight or promote his music. Shame, he had some good songs going.
You get where I am going?
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