ACS PressKit.org

www.AuthentikArtists.com In this episode, Scott discusses the role of Booking Agents and what emerging artists need to do in order to get their attention. About the show Breakdown with Scott Austin provides insight into the issues plaguing emerging artists in the modern music industry. This series provides answers and commentary on key music business topics affecting the independent musician. The show was created to provide current information and commentary straight from an industry insider who knows, Authentik Artists CEO and former A&R Executive for Maverick, Warner Bros and Capitol Records Scott Austin. Austin has additionally appeared as a special guest commentator on EXTRA, G4′s “Attack of The Show” and many other network shows and also hosts “The :90 Music Show with Scott Austin”.

Independent music has always been an enigma over the years, but in recent times the advent of technology relating to home recording, digital distribution, and the Internet age have converted distant dreams of independent musicians into realities.

Independent music, or indie as its fondly known, is certainly an avenue for taking your music to the masses, and to be devoid of a major label is certainly a blessing in disguise.

Starting up with your music endeavor is the toughest part and to take it to the audience is equally tough as well in this competitive independent music online market. The common notion among musicians is that, they can leave their music speak for itself, but to stand out and carve a niche for themselves in such a medium requires them to do more than that.

The first thing to do in independent music is to make your presence felt, meaning, your music should be heard by as many people as possible. It is in this case that platforms like Tupelo Super Store kick in. They have a huge portal for independent music, and they let you showcase your ability to audiences worldwide, thanks to the Internet. They also provide innovative online music marketing solutions which help promote your music or your brand in general and who knows, may be create an independent music label. So create a unique media kit including a logo, a one page bio including a business card with all your contact details on it and most importantly a CD of your music.

In your startup period do as many free gigs as you can, it is all part of networking, which is an important step to garner interest among people.

Digital distribution is definitely the way ahead, so make your independent music downloadable from as many sites as possible. Social networking is a powerful medium that can take you to dizzy heights, so be there on all networking sites.

The independent music online market is a rat race, and to be ahead you need to be on top of your game all the time and do much more than your previous one. When you put all of the above in place, what you do is create a brand for yourself, so if people who like what you do keep coming back for more, that is when you can truly believe that you can sustain your growth and be successful in the independent music online market.

In the world of online media, there is a new tool that can help your band find fame.  This tool is called an electronic press kit.  Without this tool, getting the media coverage of the big label bands is almost  impossible.

The electronic press kit is a valuable collection of information about your band.   In most cases, the assembled press kit is placed in a zip file and stored on your web server.  Links to this downloadable file can be placed on the site itself or emailed to media outlets that might be interested in covering your band.

The contents of the electronic press kit will include pictures, contact information and biographical information about your band and its members.  This content is used by the media representatives, like bloggers, journalist and music magazine writers, to create informed articles about your band and musical style.  But, you may be asking, what does this mean for your band?

The biggest thing is publicity.  In the world of music, publicity is life.  If you are unknown, you can stay in the dark corners for decades.  Media gets a lot of attention.  A single blog can have hundreds or thousands of readers.  When that blog owner decides your band is worth writing about, you have just received A) a huge endorsement and B) the chance to impress all of those readers, which is made much easier by the fact that someone they trust to provide good information has just given you a recommendation.

If you can use the electronic press kit to draw the attention of the media, the media will help you draw the attention of the fans.  There is no reason to remain a complete unknown when creating a press kit is so simple and so important to your success.

For the singer, band or musician looking to have an illustrious career in the music industry, a record deal often seems like the best way to go. While there is no absolute guarantee of getting a record deal by following any set plan, there are things that you can do to increase your chances of landing one. The following is a checklist for aspiring musicians, singers, and songwriters looking to land record deals.

The Music Demo:

The first step towards landing a record deal is often the “music demo” or “demo tape”. The music demo is a representation of who you are and what you can do, what makes you special and why the record companies need to sign you to a record deal and invest millions of dollars. The music demo is your product. When approaching record companies, management companies, music producers and talent agencies, your music demo will be the first thing that they ask for. If it’s good enough, they will consider working with you in some capacity or will at least keep their door open for future consideration. If your music demo sounds like crap, you can bet that their door will close to you and remain closed to you.

Give them what they want:

So what do record companies look for when evaluating a music demo? While the details may vary from person to person, one thing that they all have in common is that the music needs to move them emotionally. They have to “feel it”. But with hundreds of music demos coming across their desk, they don’t have the time to wait until the second chorus to see if they like it or not. About 95% or more of the music demos received by management companies, music production companies, music producers and record companies, are of such poor quality that often the music demo will be rejected within the first 10 seconds simply on that basis. It’s often the job of the assistant to weed through the piles of music demos and separate the quality ones from the poorly produced, poorly recorded ones.

You have to be heard within the right context:

If the sonic quality of your music demo or demo tape is acceptable, then the person you’re trying to impress may now be willing to listen to at least a verse and chorus. But you must sound legit.
If you’re an R&B singer, but you’re singing against a music track that’s country, your singing won’t be heard against the proper backdrop and most likely will be rejected before they reach the chorus. Another example might be a female Pop/R&B singer trying to sing against a big, loud hard rock band, or a country artist trying to sing against a dance track. While the singers might be good in each case, they will sound “wrong” to whomever might be listening. The music MUST complement the vocals. The subtleties of each style of singing must be enhanced by the appropriate musical arrangement and production. That is often the job of the music producer or record producer.

What about the song?

The song is as important as ever in today’s modern music. A song can make or break an artist, as is demonstrated every day on the radio. How many times do you hear a hit song on the radio with an average singer? Every day many top recording stars may struggle with their careers trying in vain to find another hit song. As in the case of Michael Jackson’s last record, they spent about $50 million recording and promoting the record. But there were no hit songs and sales were way off their projected numbers. They lost big money on that one.

So what makes a hit song? No one can say with absolute certainty. But here’s what music mogul Clive Davis had to say about Diane Warren, one of the most successful songwriters in history: “Diane is able to combine tremendous feel for melody with lyrics that deal with genuine emotions, and she is able to do it time after time”. With over 50 Top 10 songs to her name, I’d say that’s a reasonable formula!

Hit songs are rare. Do your best to record a quality song that you feel has hit potential. Don’t record a bad song just because you happened to write it. Many singers may have exceptional voices but their songwriting skills haven’t caught up yet. If necessary , seek out songs from an established published songwriter or music producer.

Self Produced Demos:

Many music demos are self produced these days in home studios. With the technology more affordable, it’s possible for a talented, technically oriented musician to make an acceptable music demo in their home. But all too often the home technology exceeds the skills of the operator and the music demo sounds flat and homemade, with too much reverb on the vocals, no punch in the bass and no clarity in the hi end. The talent of the musician may not translate into talent as a music producer or recording engineer, and so the entire music demo suffers, even though the singer and the song may have been outstanding. That’s where the skills of a talented music producer first come into play. The music producers experience in the recording studio can save countless costly mistakes and deliver to you a product that sounds professional and polished, which will increase your chances of getting that record deal.

The Music Producer:

The role of the music producer varies, based on the style of music. For most styles, the music producer makes the technical decisions in the recording studio, helps choose songs and works to get the most out of the artist, showing off the strong points and burying the weak points. It’s the role of the music producer or record producer to help create the vision for the artist and to make it into a reality.

For live rock bands, a music producers role can sometimes be more one of guidance and direction. With a good recording studio and engineer, bands can often achieve decent results on their own and may not need a music producer in the earlier stages, such as recording the music demo. Though for the recording of an entire album, it’s recommended.

For Pop, R&B and dance however, the music producers role is essential. Often, the music producer will help write the music, play some or all of the instruments and be responsible for every aspect of the musical production, from the sonic quality of the recording to keeping things within budget. This allows the singer to focus and concentrate on giving their best vocal performance and doing what they do best-sing! A good music producer should make you and your music demo sound polished, explosive and exciting. It should be appropriate for the style of music you’re singing and should sound close to a finished record. If your music demo doesn’t sound professional, don’t send it out yet. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so you want it to be good.

Making Your Music Demo:

The first thing that needs to be established before heading off to do your music demo, is why you are doing it. Bands often need a recording to give to a club before being able to play there. What’s required in that situation is much different than what’s required for a Pop or R&B singer looking to get a record deal.

Many artists first thought is to call a recording studio. While this may yield results, most recording studios make their money from selling time. The recording studio provides the space with all the equipment and an assistant and/or engineer to run it all. They charge a set fee by the hour and you’re free to do whatever you like during that time. If you’re a band, this may be precisely what you need. But if you’re a singer and don’t have any music production skills, this kind of setup will be useless to you. You first need the music before you can record your vocals. Again, this is where the services of a experienced music producer are desired.

Making A Master Recording:

So what exactly is the difference between a Master recording and a demo? A master is made for commercial release. You hear masters on the radio and buy them in stores or download them from iTunes. A Master is a finished, full production. The quality is superior to a music “demo”. The “demo” (which is short for “demonstration”) is intended to interest the Record label or publisher in investing the money to record a music master. Traditionally, the music demo was something as simple as a vocal and piano. But with the advances in technology it no longer pays to record a simple “music demo”. A Master quality music production is now affordable for those serious about their careers. Record labels are used to hearing finished music productions and that’s what they expect. With internet distribution, a music master can be sold, placed in radio, licensed, etc. Though “music demo” is still a buzz word, any music productions worth doing should be of Master quality and radio ready.

Choosing a Music Producer:

Like anything, you need to shop around to find the right music producer to produce your music demo. Ask a lot of questions. Precisely what qualifies this individual to call themselves a record producer? Ask about their experience. Do they have any album credits, have they worked with any famous recording artists, won any awards, worked on hit records, etc.? Are they known in the industry and do they have a good reputation? Is this a part time job for them? Are they involved with the style of music you wish to pursue? Some other considerations would be location. What studio will you work at and with what engineer? Meet with them and hear their work. Are you impressed with the quality of their music production? Do you like them and vibe with them? Ask how they would treat your project.

How Much is it?

Finally, ask about cost. A music demo can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars, to record company budgets of tens of thousands of dollars per song. Some producers may charge by the hour. While occasionally this might be appropriate, it has the potential of costing you many times more than you originally planned. Ask about additional costs, such as musicians, studio costs , engineering fees, etc. A set fee for the music production demo is usually the best way to go and the way that most record companies work with music producers. While you don’t want to mortgage your house for your music demo, you must realize that you get what you pay for. The cheapest demo around will sound like the cheapest demo around. This isn’t how you want to portray yourself if you’re serious about pursuing a record deal. You want to go with the highest quality music demo from the best music producer that you can afford.

Choosing a Studio:

Unless you’re technically proficient in the area of recording studio equipment, seeing an equipment list won’t help you much. But you should be interested in the clientele that the recording studio attracts.
If they regularly work with signed recording artists, record companies and publishing companies, chances are they have the necessary equipment and technical skill to give you a professional product. Check out a list of their clients. The music producer will most likely have a recording studio that they’re comfortable working in and that has the necessary equipment to produce your demo. But while home studios may have come a long way in recent years, they still don’t match the environment, acoustics, sound, equipment and personnel of a commercial recording studio.

Alternatives to a Record Deal

So much has been said here about getting a record deal. But that is no longer the only option these days for aspiring artists to get their music to the people and be heard by the masses. No record deal does not mean no career in music. The internet has changed everything, and many artists who have had record deals in the past are now looking towards the internet as a preferred method of selling their music. While an artist may sell 300,000 units, (CD’s) the amount of money spent on their behalf by the record company may exceed the amount brought in by sales. The artist may only receive a small percentage of CD sales and end up owing the record company millions of dollars, which have to be “recouped” before the artist can begin to see any real dough. In contrast, an artist who sells only 15,000 of their own CD’s on the internet and at live shows, can likely clear over $100,000 after expenses. Record companies are usually very interested in them after they hear about that. The major expense for the artist however is hiring a music producer and funding their own recording. But this supports the idea of finding an experienced music producer and doing a great sounding music demo that has the quality of a record. It becomes a viable product that can be sold. The music demo can be released on a per song basis on the internet and more songs can be added as they’re recorded.
A poor sounding music demo is likely to damage your reputation, so keep it in the closet. Better yet, avoid getting stuck with a bad music demo in the first place.

One final note:

It’s important to get a great sounding music demo to help open up some doors and to eventually get a record deal. But be cautious. After searching around the internet for music producers and recording studios to recommend, we came across many sites that appeared to be…less than honest about their intentions. For example, song contests that resulted in the winner having to spend money to get their song recorded by the company having the contest. Home studios where the singer was forced to sing in a closet. Claims by so called producers with no music industry credits to back them up. Producers with no solid music industry contacts offering to shop your music demo. And a few more. Just make sure they’re legit and that you’re comfortable talking and working with them.

I design jewelry and want to get my stuff out to stores, so I was thinking of a press kit. Besides pictures and descriptions of my work, what should I include?

If you are looking for great advice in Music Marketing and artist management be sure to check out Kurb promotions online – put it into your search engine. Kurb has lots of ways of helping artist with ideas for music artist promotion including a deal a one set monthly fee of two hundred dollars that covers promoting a music artist online through website development, online advertising, social media promotions and video production and promotion. Of course you will also get search engine optimization which is why this article was published JUST for the backlinks leading to my site with my
keywords.

Now Music Marketing services is also something I love to promote through article marketing and that being all very well and good, for now I’m going to detach from that because that’s the point of my new direction in article marketing – as long as I mention the keywords which in this case happens to be Music Marketing services about 3 or 4 times in the article and it has that same keyword phrase in the title,
that way in Google’s eyes once it indexes the articles and their links, the article as far as they know, is all about the best Music Marketing services available worldwide.

But of course it’s not! Because I do this same Music Marketing routine every week and I hate having to think about decent stuff to say when really let’s just face it, we want the link, I just want to write the first thing that comes into my head and there’s plenty of things in my head to write about that’s what makes it so interesting, yes now I
can write about anything.  I was going to write about something crude as an exercise in things I wouldn’t even write on my artist blog. But I’m too tired to be honest and I’m actually not just thinking of a way to talk about Colour
Copying Auckland and how cheap my service is but whether I could use a phrase in every article I publish so that diehard story hunters can cinder my articles and marvel at my bizarre mind.

Wow wee, it’s a lot more marvelous I assure of had I not been so sleepy but I kind of did like this idea so I just decided to find out how quickly I could write while choosing out a few fast ones like you’ll be amazed by our Auckland color copying services when you need urgent services and of course I should mention the graphic design services
available?

No, because I’m here to write about what I want to write about – Colour copying is nice, but a nice young lady is nicer, trust me. It’s not even Colour Copying it’s actually Music Marketing services. What a fail. I guess sit helps when writing an article to actually discuss the subject. So time to finish up, what have we learned? Not much, and not that it matters because we’re just here to write the requisite amount of words for marketing this article on online Music Marketing services, get in touch with Kurb if you need any help in this area our service is very reasonable. I’d like to see someone try running this through a spinner and republishing. To know more about it visit: www.musicmarketingmanagement.com

See online press kit examples in this free band management and promotion video with music business tips. Expert: Kiely Griffin Bio: Kiely Griffin has been playing the flute for ten years. She has participated in many district, state, regional and national ensembles including the National Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

It is very important as a musician to heave a well put together press kit that will help steam roll your path to success in the music industry. Press kits are also commonly called “media kits” and “artist bio” but they all used for the same thing which is to help with Music Promotion, Music Publicity, Booking Agents and Band Promotion. There are a lot of bands out there all gunning for the same venues, radio play and magazine interviews which is why you are more likely to successfully snag all of these opportunities with the Press kit I’m going to help you build.

Lets get started with the basics and go from there:

COVER- A first impression is a lasting impression so make sure this aspect of your press kit really shines, let this be the part that introduces you to the venues, radio stations and magazines. Include what genre of music you play, your band logo (eye catching) and your contact information for the band (Myspace, Website, Phone numbers and email).

ARTIST INTRO PAGE (Bio)- Start off by introducing your group followed by the band members (if any), follow that with the style of music you play and list any genres you may have. Go into naming some quality venues, clubs etc. you have played at in the past and which cities or regions they were in. Also list important equipment you may have such as amps, PA, Microphones, lights, etc. and any personal you may have that runs the production for your shows. Talk about your fan base, include the size of it and how you communicate with them. List any street team supporters you may have and where they are located. Make sure to differentiate between original music or cover music depending on which one relates to your style and also if you’re an acoustic or electric act. List any promoting techniques you may use to help bring people to your shows seeing how this is the only way to make any money at live venues it is a very important part to getting venues to book your show. List any websites, social networking sites and or flyers you use for promoting shows and music presence. One way to get started is to attend open mic. nights and leave your press kits with venue managers after the show in hopes of getting a gig in the future.

ARTIST PHOTOS- Lets take a look at why it is so very important to have good photos before we talk about how to acquire them. Take a look around at today’s communication behaviors and you will quickly notice that visual imagery is king in the world’s communication. You see it no matter where you are and it would seem that almost everyday new technology comes out that even furthers how we view this media on a day to day basis. This should be setting off a little red alarm in you head telling you that if this is true then it must be vital the way people are viewing you which brings us back to your photos. First impressions are lasting impressions so if you really want to have those in the industry and amongst the music community to take you seriously you will want to get some Professional 8×10?s taken of your music group or single act. Be resourceful in about getting your photos, be sure to shop around and maybe ask friends and family if they know of anyone that can help you out. There isn’t really any need to spend a fortune here if you take your time and do some research first. Have fun with this as well, use your imagination and come up with some fun ways to accurately portray your music.

Booking Information - This is the section of your press kit that contains all of your Booking Information such as the best way to contact you, preferences in types of shows and areas you can travel to perform. It is important to have your contact info in multiple places through out your Press Kit so go ahead and add your phone number and address again in this section as well.

Demo CD You are rarely going to run across a club or venue that will agree to have you come play before they have heard your music and the best way to have them take is a listen is to create a Demo CD. The Demo CD should consist of 2-4 songs each being the best of your material, this is the time to really show them your good stuff. Once again add your contact info to the label that will be placed on this Demo CD which should also include your band name and the list of songs on it. All of this is to help ensure that even if the person or venue you gave the press kit to looses the kit, there might be a good chance that your CD could still be floating around along with how to contact you for gigs. Spend some time into a nice looking CD Cover and label so that who ever sees it will know that you are serious about your music.

SONGS LINEUP Put together a list of your songs that your band might play on a average basis including the best of any cover songs you might add in with your original work. If you might be wanting to do anything else such as a light show or some sort of skit on stage this would be the place to add that in as well.

SHOWS SHEET Your bands shows sheet should include any past gigs you have played and any future ones that you have already lined up to perform at.

BAND / MUSIC REVIEWS To show credibility of your bands music it is very important to include any Music Reviews or news paper clippings on your band into your press kit. If you do not have any of those items then you might want to start getting your music out to resources that can do a review for you such as local newspapers and organizations like www.LocalProMoConnect.com & www.lpmvoice.com

BUSINESS CARDS- Were not saying that you have to present your self as some corporation only aimed at making money but we are saying that you need to treat your music as a base line business which means you will need a card to pass around at every show you go to. You can include your Independent acts business card in the mix of your press kit as well as always keeping a few on you at all times in case you run into the right person that will be able to help you out. You can make your own business cards at almost any copy store for a relatively good deal seeing how they are only made up of paper and ink. And almost every word program comes with a few templates you can use at home and have printed on card stock paper or even just very thick regular paper. Make sure to include your bands Name, Phone, Contact Name, Websites, Email, and any logos you might have to represent your act. You might want to make up a small batch of high quality cards to pass around to industry reps and a bigger batch of average business cards to pass around to the common person but it is up to you and your budget to determine how and when this is all possible.

ENVELOPE- Depending on who your planning to receive your press kit you might want to come up with two very different designs for the envelope it will be going into. Your going to want to stand out in a pile of many envelopes so be sure to use a load color and unique design that captures the attention of the beholder to ensure your press kit wont be overlooked on the desk or in the file cabinet of a venue owner or booking agent. On the other hand you will want to be a bit more settle when it comes to sending your press kit out to record labels or industry reps so try to think of a design that is appealing to the eye but not to distracting. Just be sure to have both styles ready to go on a moments notice in case you have to send them out or hand them off to any and everyone that might be able to help further your musical career. Thanks you for following along with us on successfully building your press kit and we hope all the best to your near future and utilizing these tools.

If you are trying diligently to break into that unknown realm of music promotion, you may find it’s a little more difficult than you might have expected.  As with any industry, music promotion comes down to whom you know.  There are ways to get your foot in the door; however, you must be willing to work at it.  For those who want to become a part of this wonderfully exciting, calculating critical world of the musician, here are some tips to help you:

Connect With Your Connections:  In the music industry, it’s all about who you know.  You have to stay in touch with other musicians, promoters, advertisers, clients, and even your friends and family.  Keep the lines of communication open.  Drop them an email or give them a call every now and then.  Keep your name in the forefront of their mind. Look for Unorthodox Means of Marketing:  One of the best things you can do to market your music is to make it stand out.  This does not necessarily mean your music must be completely different from anything else that is available.  It only means that you must use music marketing ideas that are not the norm.  Use daily blogs and social networks to promote your website.  Promote a local charity.  Give away something strange with a CD order, such as a trash can for the rest of the music someone listens to.  Give away a CD of jokes with your music.  Anything you can do that is different will get you noticed. Overhaul Your Band’s Image:  Are you a rock and roll band?  Create a perpetual rolling rock for part of your stage show.  Is hip-hop more your style?  Find a huge stuffed rabbit and dress it in the latest hip-hop clothes.  These may sound completely absurd and more than a little gimmicky, but someone’s going to remember you.  Use your creative side to create a unique look that people will remember. Build Your Fan Base:  Bonuses are always good – free is outstanding.  While not every musician can afford to give away t-shirts or CD’s, create something with your bands name on it that people will use.  The key to music promotion is to stand out.  Obviously, if your fan base grows, so will the interest in your music. Talk to People:  Take a moment to talk to everyone you can.  Standing in line at the market?  Speak to someone in front of you.  While this doesn’t mean the little Grandma in front of you, it does mean to talk to someone who might listen to your genre of music. Take the Time with Your Fans:  Don’t ever get such a big head that you don’t take the time to spend a few moments with your fans.  No matter what business you are in, these people will determine your success.  Whether it’s having a beer at the bar or signing a few autographs, your fans will remember that they were important enough for your time. Pick the Positive People:  If you find you are surrounded by negative people all the time, it’s time for a change.  You need to be upbeat when you meet and deal with people.  You need confidence in yourself and your music.  You must keep the end results of your music promotion campaign in mind at all times.

Music promotion can be a down and dirty world.  Keep your own morals intact; don’t lose faith.  Promotions can take on just about any persona and you’ll need every bit of help you can get along the way.