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Are you a single artist, songwriter, or a member of a band who wants to get your music heard by the masses? The Internet has brought a whole new meaning to the term “music marketing”. There are numerous ways to market your music online. Here’s an overview of how to get started.
Some things you should do first
- The first thing you need is music to market! If you don’t already have a CD of your music, make one. If you’re not a music producer yourself, hire a pro. Your first impression will be important, so make sure the tracks are professionally recorded.
- Produce some music videos. You can do that yourself or consult with video production companies in your area. It’s possible to produce very entertaining videos without spending a fortune. Be creative!
- Get your own website. Make it engaging and interesting, and update it often. You might want to check out companies like Bandzoogle and Infernolabs, who design websites especially for bands and musicians. Your website will be a key part of marketing your music online.
Distributing the music
Here are some tips and suggestions on getting your music heard:
- People should be able to listen to and buy the music directly from your website. Your own URL is the place to start with distribution.
- Post your music on your MySpace and Facebook pages. Post videos on YouTube and other video sites. Utilize Twitter. Always include links to your website.
- Sell directly from other websites. Check out commerce sites like Nimbit and Audiolife, which can help you get started with this type of direct marketing.
- Make your music available for sale by major online retailers such as iTunes and Amazon.com. These companies deal directly with online music distributors, of which there are many. Some popular ones are: CDbaby, Easybe, Tunecore, and Emubands. Most music distributors charge either by subscription agreements or per CD. Some accept everything submitted and others are more selective. Always read the terms and conditions!
- Internet radio is quickly gaining popularity, and you can submit your music to many internet stations. Check out aiiradio, eoradio, rradiomusic and koobaradio, a few of the stations that accept submissions.
Conclusion
Besides the above, there are music-related websites that accept blogs, review your music, allow you to join music forums, create profiles, accept press releases and much more. The amount of opportunities to market music online is almost staggering.
It can get complicated and it can also be a lot of work, depending upon how seriously you want to get involved. The business is ever expanding, and I suggest that you do lots of research and consult with those who stay current on what websites are visited most.
I hope this article has helped point you in the right direction. Good luck!
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