February 10, 2002

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Read the previous issue here:
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/zine/020302.html

=========== Recommended Resources ===========

THE ONLINE MUSIC PR HOT LIST
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_pr.htm
101 places to submit press releases, get reviewed, uncover PR connections and promote your music on the Internet.

197 PROMOTION TIPS FOR INDIE MUSICIANS
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/197.html
An incredible, new collection of ideas, tricks and resources you can start using right now to promote your music.

GET 7 MUSIC BIZ SPECIAL REPORTS FREE ...
when you purchase the Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook, featuring hundreds of ways to thrive and prosper with your original music. Details at ...
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htm

In This Issue:

• What You Need to Know About Record Producers
• Confessions of a Master CD Saleswoman
• 10 Ways to Sell More Music Via Retail
• What's Fair in a Record Deal?

WELCOME!

The thrill of victory; the agony of defeat. As much as I was cheering for my hometown Rams to win the Super Bowl, once the disappointment faded, it sure made for a great sports story to see the underdog Patriots win in such dramatic fashion -- a game-winning field goal with seven seconds left in the game. Congrats to the Pats and their fans!

Speaking of reasons to celebrate, Jake Sibley, the Musicians' Exchange guide at About.com, had this say about the Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook:

"This grass roots guide by self-marketing wizard Bob Baker could be the one thing you need to launch a profitable music career. Learn how to exploit the media, send CDs flying off the racks, and start turning heads in your town. Baker has already succeeded using the techniques he describes, and now he wants to help you do the same."

Aw shucks, Jake. Thanks. By the way, Jake provides lots of good info at musicians.about.com (beware of the overly abundant pop-up ads, though).

For more details on ordering the "Guerrilla" book in printed or e-book format, head to:
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htm

Also, the Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook is now available through Amazon.com. Keep in mind, though, you won't get the personalized autographed copy and other goodies I send when you order directly from my site. But if you're interested ... click here.

Have a great week!

-Bob

============= Quote of the Week =============

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and about which it is impossible to be silent."
-Victor Hugo

========== Bob's Buzz Tips of the Week ==========

CONFESSIONS OF A MASTER CD SALESWOMAN
bardscrier.com/articles/20020114.shtml
Most people who come to a Renaissance Festival, where the Rogues do the lion's share of their gigs, do not come expecting to buy a CD with bagpipe music on it. So the band created a unique atmosphere conducive to sales. Read this article to find out what the "roaming basket" is and how they use it.

10 WAYS TO SELL MORE MUSIC VIA RETAIL
mbsolutions.com/biz/Info25.html#marketing
If you have your discs in record stores, you can maximize your sales by following Peter Spellman's advice, some of which includes: Always contact retailers one week prior to performing in their vicinity. Get names of store personnel who might like to see the show. Make a guest list. If at all possible, visit the store on the day of the gig with posters, T-shirts, etc., and make friends. Remember their names. If you have radio interviews arranged the day of the show, be sure to give the store(s) a free plug when you mention the album.

WHAT'S FAIR IN A RECORD DEAL?
indie-music.com/article.php?sid=1258
"Mechanical royalties are payable to the songwriters," writes Chris Standring. "Last time I checked, the rate was around 7 cents per song. A songwriter who writes 100% of a 10-song album makes 70 cents per album sold. This is payable from record one. It is extremely beneficial for artists to write the music they record."

SOUNDSCAN 2001 MUSIC INDUSTRY REPORT
mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=31173
SoundScan, the company that tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music, announced its 2001 year-end sales research data. Here are some of the findings:

• Total album sales for 2001 were 23 million less than total album sales for 2000.
• The top 10 selling albums of 2001 accounted for 20 million units less than the top 10 selling albums of 2000.
• Sales of all albums outside the top 10 accounted for the remaining 3,000,000 unit difference.
• Christian/Gospel music accounted for a 13.5% increase in album unit sales in 2001 over the previous year.
• New Age album sales in 2001 were up 83.2% over 2000.
• Year 2001 total music sales were down 5% over 2000.
• Year 2001 total album sales were down 2.8% over 2000.
• The 2001 holiday season (Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve) album sales were down 5.1% from 2000.
• In the year 2001, 100 albums sold 1,000,000 units or more, and 187 albums sold 500,000 units or more. In year 2000, 88 albums sold 1,000,000 units or more, and 202 albums sold 500,000 units or more.

IS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN THE PITS?
salon.com/ent/music/feature/2001/12/19/music_industry
Major labels have been battered by losses and layoffs, radio station owners are wallowing in an advertising recession, and the concert business lost millions of ticket buyers in just the last year," writes Eric Boehlert. "Meanwhile, an increasingly large number of usually obedient artists are making noises about staging an unprecedented open revolt, determined to win from record companies what they insist is their fair share of the profits."

=============== Sell Your Music ===============

SELL MORE CDs & MERCHANDISE ONLINE!
www.cdstreet.com/signup/thebuzzfactor/
Accept credit cards. No setup fee. It's fast, easy and reliable. The Buzz Factor has been using this very service for years. You should too.

============ Resources You Can Use ============

Ever wondered about the role of a music producer and whether you need one? Ever thought of becoming a producer yourself? These links and tips should help.

HOW AND WHY TO HIRE A PRODUCER
geocities.com/SunsetStrip/7355/prodart.html
"The producer’s job is to help you achieve the recording that you (and your label) set out to make," writes Jordan Tishler. "This may sound like the engineer’s role, but many elements other than sonic clarity go into the crafting of your final product. These may include songwriting and arrangement adjustments, as well as coaching musicians and coaxing peak musical performances."

MUSIC PRODUCER FAQ
bitsatalent.com/bitsatalent/faq.htm
How much does a producer cost? Some producers have a set fee and charge by time or production. In other words they either charge by the hour, day, week or by the song or album. Many established producers will also ask for "points," which means they want a piece of the record sales in addition to (or instead of) their fee. Other producers will work within your budget. Lots of other questions answered at the link above.

GEORGE MARTIN ON RECORD PRODUCTION
musicdish.com/mag/?id=5242
George Martin produced the Beatles, America, Jeff Beck, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and even Peter Sellers' comedy records. He's considered a "producer's producer." In this brief interview, Martin assures us that a great recording should always start with a great song, and that despite the unfortunate situations of our creative industries being taken over by marketing companies and non-creative corporate conglomerates, a great song will last forever.

YOUR CAREER AS A RECORD PRODUCER
uta.edu/music/bethany/career.htm#RecordProducer
An individual wishing to have a career in record production usually must first become recognized in an allied field such as songwriting, arranging, sound mixing or musical direction. In addition, a record producer usually possesses leadership ability and a temperament that mixes well with artists, technicians and executives.

============= More Cool Resources =============

Creating Musical Wealth
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/cmw.html

Ignite Your Creative Passion
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/ignite.html

How to Promote Your Music on the Internet
www.rainmusic.com/htpma/buzz.htm

Branding Yourself Online
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/byo.html

Indie Music Contact Bible
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/icb.html

How to Make $100,000 a Year in the Music Business
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/100.html

Get Your Own Domain Name for Only $15 a Year
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/url.html

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