Kurb indie music promotions

Think what their email “IN” box must look like, and how it would be unwise for you to send them an email with the subject of “hey” followed by a 7-page email detailing your wishes for success.

Think what people are REALLY looking for when they go out to a club to hear music. For some people, it's just a way to be seem to increase their popularity. For some, they're searching for some music that does something completely original and mind-blowing. Some are looking for total visual entertainment.

Nobody owes you their attention. Not your audience. Not a person you happened to call or email. Not even the music industry.

Let go of your ego entirely. Think of everything from their point of view. Be their dream come true. Do what they really want.

(This even goes down to the smallest levels: what kind of phone message you leave, what kind of cover letter you write in a package, what kind of subject header you put in your email.)

And maybe, just maybe, they'll be or do exactly what you want.

Go get a music magazine that writes about new music.

You'll read about (and see pictures of) dozens of artists who you've never heard of before.

Out of that whole magazine, only one or two will really catch your attention.

WHY?

I don't have the answer. Only you do. Ask yourself why a certain headline or photo or article caught your attention.

(Was it something about the opening sentence? Was it a curious tidbit about the background of the singer? What was it exactly that intrigued you?)

Analyze that. Use that. Adapt those techniques to try writing a headline or article about your music.

Don't try to sound pro or use industry catch phrases.

Would you do that to a friend?

Your fans are your friends. Speak to them like real people.

Write every letter or email as if it were to a good friend. From you to your best friend Beth.

Even if it's going out to 10,000 people.

On the radio, your music speaks for itself. People hear your music and decide if they like it. No words were needed to describe it.

In concert, your music speaks for itself. Watching you perform, people appreciate your style as an artist. No words necessary.

But on the internet, and in print, and in conversation, words matter a LOT.

When people have not yet heard your music, your words describing your music have to be SO good that it makes people go to the trouble of hearing your music.

Online, the words need to make them go click the links to hear it (and buy it).

In print-media, the words need to make them put down the magazine and go find a way to hear you.

In conversation, the words need to make them remember enough to go hear you later.

It's a BIG job, but since these are the ways you're going to call attention to your music (until you're on every radio/TV outlet in the world), you need to learn how to describe your music. It's not that hard, and it's VERY important.