Review: The Independent Artist's Guide To Exceptional Income

Noisetrade is one of my favorite artist discovery sites.  If you're unfamiliar, artists can upload their music for free, and give it away to fans in exchange for their email address.  Which we'll talk about in a later post.

But recently Noisetrade added a books section to their site where you can download both written and audiobooks on a whole range of subjects.  And here is one that you should pick up:

Short, practical, and easy to follow.  This is a great listen from someone who is just like many artists, attempting to make a living by telling their story.  Williams helps artists process their unique opportunity, organize and plan their time for maximum effectiveness, grow in areas of existing strength while stepping into unfamiliar terrain, and finally how to be able to turn that into a career that is self-sustaining.  

Get it 'The Independent Artist's Guide To Exceptional Income' here!  And then let's talk about how you can practically apply those steps to your unique voice as an artist to tell your story.  Email me here.

The Artist Debate

I know, kill me.  One more person posting a blog about Kanye, Beyonce and Beck.

But this is not really a blog about ‘justice for Beyonce’ or about how ‘Beck actually knows how to play instruments.’  Because if I’m honest, I’m a big fan of both of these artists!

And that’s the truth – they are both artists.

Of course that looks different for each of them because they have unique gifting, unique talents, and unique desires about how they want to use their craft to affect their listeners.

When it comes to artists, just like everything in life – one size does not fit all.  One songwriter/musician/singer is no more of an artist than the next – their artistry just looks different because it comes from a different artist.

What makes an artist stand out is their ability to know their voice (not speaking of merely singing) and knowing how to effectively use it accomplish the desired result: to connect, to make a career, to build fans, and to influence and impact.

What makes artists stand out is their ability to be as Bob Dylan said in his 2015 MusiCares speech: ‘fearless and sensitive at the same time.’  Sensitive to their craft and calling, sensitive to their listeners, and sensitive to the broader artistic community.

You do not need to wonder if you are an artist based on the type of music you sing, play and write.  You are an artist.  The question you need to ask yourself is, do you know how to translate your artistry to effectively communicate your story.  Let’s work through that together, email me here. 

3 Of My Current Favorite Tools For Musicians

We are inundated and over-saturated with information in 2015.

Which is fantastic, and yet difficult to know what is helpful and what is not.

But fear not, if you’re an independent artist, I put together a list of three of my favorite resources to help you in your craft and career:

1. All You Need To Know About The Music Industry (by Donald Passman)

Making all aspects of the business-side of this industry accessible and practical.  Thankfully, Don updates the book regularly as the laws and industry change – so make sure you’re picking up the newest version, not just a second-hand $.78 version on Amazon!

2. Brand Like A Rockstar (by Steve Jones)

You’re not just a singer.  You’re not just a writer.  You’re not just a performer.  You’re a brand.  And once you understand that, it will change the way you approach every aspect of your career.  This is a must read.

3. Billboard.biz

Not only do you need to be aware of musically what's going on in the industry, but you need to be familiar with the ins and outs of the business.  Where is the industry headed, and who is shaping it?  Billboard.biz has got you covered. 

Of course all of the information in the world is useless unless you know how to implement it for your unique needs as an artist and brand.  Let’s talk about how we can do that together.  Email me here.

Become A Fan

‘I like every kind of music besides country.’  As soon as someone says that to me, I instantly know a couple things about them – one: they have terrible taste in music, and two: you don’t like every kind of music if there is one you don’t like, and three: we will never be friends.

Who only listens to one genre of music anymore?  Thank you YouTube, Spotify, and as much as it pains me to say, Top 40 radio for expanding the palette of music fans everywhere.

I’m always surprised when I ask musicians what band’s they are listening to these days that they stick within two or three genres.  You can be a hardcore fan of maybe three to five genres of music.  But you can appreciate hundreds of variations in style!

Learn to be a student of talent, skill and ability across multiple genres of music. 

What makes someone a great performer in country music?  How is that different from a great crooner performance?

What makes someone a great writer in pop music?  What are the parallels with great rap lyricists?

How can the honesty of singer/songwriters influence the precision of a world-class vocalist?

As you follow talent you will begin to see similarities in approach, execution and passion that will serve you in whatever genre you are pursuing.

Don’t be a snob. 

It’s really annoying, and we’ll never be friends. 

Become a fan. 

Because we’ve all got things to learn from the most unlikely places.

Let’s be fans together, email me here.

Why You Shouldn't Hire Your Friends To Build Your House

I know nothing about building, construction, or really anything to do with things that happen outdoors.  I do know for a building to stand it needs a solid foundation.  The same is true with your brand.

Whether it’s a house or your brand that foundation should be laid by people that know what they are doing.  Not your friends.

I know, you like having them around – that’s why they are your friends.  I know, they will work for free to be able to say ‘they knew you when,’ but we’re building something that will last – spend the money to help lay an unshakeable foundation.

Here are two (of many) things you should look for when hiring someone to help you build your brand:

Knowledge

A proven track record, and understanding of the industry.  Someone who has successfully been a part of other artists’ branding.

Objectivity

Sometimes relationships can cloud judgment.  If you’re friends first, it can make having difficult conversations even more difficult.  You need someone who can see you, your music and your situation accurately and able to speak without fear of damaging the primary bond of your relationship – your friendship.

Now, if you are friends with Ryan Tedder, T Bone Burnett, Scooter Braun, Jimmy Iovine, and Scott Borchetta – then by all means, hire your friends.  If not, let the professionals help you build your foundation.

Are you ready to build the house?  Let’s do this together.  Email me here.

Four Reasons You Need A Killer Bio

When you meet someone for the first time, there is some semblance of two questions you will always ask:

“What’s your name?”  And  “What do you do?”

Finding common ground, building relationship, understanding the individual with their unique perspective and background live in between the lines of those questions.

The same is true for an artist bio.  And yet it is one of the things artist develop the least in their career.  Sure, your music is generally your first impression – make that good.  But in converting listeners to fans, they need to buy into who you are as people.  That’s where the bio comes in handy.

Here are my top four reasons why a killer bio is important.  Two are important, helpful and educational for the artist, two are essential for the public.

As An Artist Killer Bios Are Helpful Because…

They Teach You To Speak In Sound Bites

Short, sweet, and to the point.  The best communicators know how to express what they are trying to say with as few words as possible.  Often in interviews, the journalist doesn’t have the real estate to print everything you say – so they edit.  Because you don’t have the ability to change what they edit, it’s better to edit what you say before they get the chance - meaning speak in sound bites.  Good bios teach you what matters, and how to articulate that succinctly.

It Keeps You Focused

A good bio might have lots of information, but only has one story, one focus.  And good branding is telling that one story well – a great bio will help you understand more thoroughly what your story is, and how to communicate it in everything you do.

For The Public They are Helpful Because…

It’s A Promotion Tool

If your album or concert is being reviewed or promoted, often the journalist, promoter, or media professional will pull from the artist’s bio to publicize the performance or article.  Do you really want to risk them pulling incorrect information from Wikipedia about your band?  Don’t think so.

It Tells The Reader Who You Are

What sets you apart?  Why do you matter?  What’s your story, history and passion?  A good bio will help answer all of those questions.

A good bio isn’t a profile for a dating website.   It’s a piece of your brand that clearly explains who are and what you’re about; so make it true, make it clear, make it engaging.  Let’s tell your story together.  Email me here for a quote on putting together a bio for your website, press release, or album launch.