(c) 2008 Hits A Million, LLC
Many aspiring music professionals, when an industry professional asks them about their music, will quickly say go to my MySpace page. I've consistently read and heard this reply. Even at music conferences where music professionals expect to get a CD, an aspiring music professional will say, "I don't have any music on me, just go to my MySpace page." In fact, many aspiring music professional will come to a music conference with no business cards either and will again say "everything's on my MySpace page."
That is a BIG mistake!
1. You assume that the music professional has time to go to your MySpace page.
2. You assume that the music professional will remember to go to your MySpace page.
3. You assume that the music professional will only listen to your music when they get to MySpace.
4. You assume that the music professional won't get distracted by other friend requests, other "come check out my music" requests, emails, blogs, status inquiries, etc.
5. You also make the mistake of having that music industry professional go through an extra step that he or she wouldn't need to go to if you were just prepared when he or she asked to hear your music.
6. You assume MySpace is up and working and that their play counts are accurate.
7. You assume the industry professional isn't having, or won't have computer problems.
Assumptions are not the foundation for success.
MySpace is a tool, a resource, just like Hits A Million. Don't miss opportunities because you are not prepared to give the industry professional exactly what they ask for when they ask for it.
Plus, you must understand your audience and the scenario. Music industry professionals are given, emailed, mailed, and listen to literally hundreds of Mp3s a week! If you have that person's ear right there at that time, why make them wait until later? Why not have an Ipod, your Iphone, an MP3 player or something to play your music on right then? I've heard it said that success = preparation meeting opportunity. Thus, if you are not ready when the opportunity presents itself, you have possibly missed out on that chance for success.
Granted you SHOULD have a MySpace page. It's become an industry standard. Some industry professionals won't even look at you seriously if you don't have a MySpace page. But when someone asks to hear your music, you should have an MP3, a CD, a jump drive, and any other form in which music can be distributed and then let the industry professional say, no, I'd rather go to your MySpace page. By being fully prepared, you can at least ensure that you haven't missed an opportunity to finally be heard by a music professional because the only place you have your music is your MySpace page.
Thedy B, CEO
Hits A Million, LLC
hitsamillion.ning.com
Showing posts with label MySpace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MySpace. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Do's and Don'ts of Networking - Part 3
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In my last two blogs on the do's and don'ts of networking at music conferences and via email, I gave you over 40 tips on how to effectively network in the music business. I've also shared with you my own personal success story about how networking has continuously changed my songwriting career. Because I believe you can never know too much, continue honing your networking skills! Continue building your songwriting library! So, in addition to buying some of the melody and lyric writing books as well as music business books, music production books, music publishing books, and music industry resource books, buy and read one or more of these well known, inexpensive, and practical networking books:
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Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc - network with me!
hitsamillion.ning.com - network online here!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Get out of the studio!
As I said in a prior blog, success in the songwriting business is based on many things but one of the most important things besides writing a hit is networking. You CANNOT succeed in this business without networking. The music business is about who you know. People sometimes get mad because certain songs get played on the radio. Those who get mad often feel the song they wrote is much better than the songs that are on the radio. But those people who were able to get their songs on the radio may know more about networking than the person complaining. Just to show you how networking is working for me, here's just one example.
I met JaWar, author of the Music Industry Connection book series, Cappriccieo Scates, an associate director for SESAC, and Dr. William Ashbourne, a professor at Alabama State University and an entertainment lawyer, at the Atlantis Music Conference in August 2007. I started building a relationship with these three great guys. Since then and through these three individuals, I've met other prominent people in the industry and this is how.
JaWar told me about Tempo Tuesdays at the Atlanta SESAC office so I started regularly attending that event and meeting people. I also purchased JaWar's book, the Atlanta Music Industry Connection book (which I highly recommend) and later read his music industry blogs. From that, I learned about additional networking opportunities, such as music conferences, seminars, showcases, etc. Then I decided to get out the studio more and go to some of these events he'd mentioned. It was through going to these different events that I met people and from continuously going to different events, people in the industry saw (and see) my passion, zeal, and seriousness about my craft. I just recently attended the Southeastern Entertainment Awards (SEA) in Tunica, MS and there I learned about getting songs played on the radio.
After returning home, I contacted Cappriccieo from SESAC and told him about what I learned and how I'd like to learn more about that subject. Tempo Tuesday occurs every second and fourth Tuesday of the month and during this event, Cappriccieo invites different music industry guests to help songwriters learn more about the music business, finances, real estate, whatever he feels would benefit the whole person. So because of our discussion, this time he invited a radio DJ to the next Tempo Tuesday to discuss getting songs played on the radio. Those at Tempo Tuesday that night met an AM radio DJ who is looking for new music. Had I not gotten out of my studio and stopped my songwriting for an hour, I would have never met this radio DJ. I would never know he's looking for music. I would not know the format in which he prefers artists to submit their material to him. I wouldn't know what types of songs he is NOT looking for. I wouldn't know the format of his show or that he changes it up often unless, of course, I listen to his show. He and I also exchanged numbers and he called me the same night. We have been in communication since then. I anticipate that not long from now, my new songs, like one of my other songs which was played on the number #1 gospel radio show in Seattle, WA, will also be on the radio. I've never been to Seattle but that didn't keep my networking efforts on some of my social networking sites from causing someone to take notice and put my music on that station.
These stories aren't to name drop or brag but just to remind artists and songwriters to get out the studio sometimes and just meet people. In fact, nowadays, you can network from the comfort of your home thanks to the Internet and social networking sites. Looking for some sites? I have a few social networking sites that you can join and meet some of the people I've met so join me at myspace.com/hitsamillionllc and hitsamillion.ning.com. Bottom line: network, network, network! You'll never know what may transpire from just meeting a few people!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter,
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.ning.com
thedyb.magnify.net
I met JaWar, author of the Music Industry Connection book series, Cappriccieo Scates, an associate director for SESAC, and Dr. William Ashbourne, a professor at Alabama State University and an entertainment lawyer, at the Atlantis Music Conference in August 2007. I started building a relationship with these three great guys. Since then and through these three individuals, I've met other prominent people in the industry and this is how.
JaWar told me about Tempo Tuesdays at the Atlanta SESAC office so I started regularly attending that event and meeting people. I also purchased JaWar's book, the Atlanta Music Industry Connection book (which I highly recommend) and later read his music industry blogs. From that, I learned about additional networking opportunities, such as music conferences, seminars, showcases, etc. Then I decided to get out the studio more and go to some of these events he'd mentioned. It was through going to these different events that I met people and from continuously going to different events, people in the industry saw (and see) my passion, zeal, and seriousness about my craft. I just recently attended the Southeastern Entertainment Awards (SEA) in Tunica, MS and there I learned about getting songs played on the radio.
After returning home, I contacted Cappriccieo from SESAC and told him about what I learned and how I'd like to learn more about that subject. Tempo Tuesday occurs every second and fourth Tuesday of the month and during this event, Cappriccieo invites different music industry guests to help songwriters learn more about the music business, finances, real estate, whatever he feels would benefit the whole person. So because of our discussion, this time he invited a radio DJ to the next Tempo Tuesday to discuss getting songs played on the radio. Those at Tempo Tuesday that night met an AM radio DJ who is looking for new music. Had I not gotten out of my studio and stopped my songwriting for an hour, I would have never met this radio DJ. I would never know he's looking for music. I would not know the format in which he prefers artists to submit their material to him. I wouldn't know what types of songs he is NOT looking for. I wouldn't know the format of his show or that he changes it up often unless, of course, I listen to his show. He and I also exchanged numbers and he called me the same night. We have been in communication since then. I anticipate that not long from now, my new songs, like one of my other songs which was played on the number #1 gospel radio show in Seattle, WA, will also be on the radio. I've never been to Seattle but that didn't keep my networking efforts on some of my social networking sites from causing someone to take notice and put my music on that station.
These stories aren't to name drop or brag but just to remind artists and songwriters to get out the studio sometimes and just meet people. In fact, nowadays, you can network from the comfort of your home thanks to the Internet and social networking sites. Looking for some sites? I have a few social networking sites that you can join and meet some of the people I've met so join me at myspace.com/hitsamillionllc and hitsamillion.ning.com. Bottom line: network, network, network! You'll never know what may transpire from just meeting a few people!
Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter,
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.ning.com
thedyb.magnify.net
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