Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog

News, notes and ideas on music marketing, self-promotion, artist empowerment and more

November 26, 2008

Recalibrate Your Music Career

The writing has been on the wall for years. But it's amazing how many people are still stuck on the old ways and outdated paths to music success -- they need to impress gatekeepers, they need massive radio and media exposure, they need to sell out stadiums, yada yada, blah blah.


For a little insight into this, check out the latest rant from the ever opinionated Bob Lefsetz. The thing I like about him is that he's polarizing. You either love him or hate him. And when it comes to his take on the state of the music business, I am definitely a member of the choir he's preaching to.

Here are some gems from his Nov 24 post, called "It's 1968 All Over Again":

It's time to recalibrate. Don't even worry about hits. Uniqueness plays to your advantage. It's about growing your niche to the point it can support you.

Focus on how you can keep your core satiated, how you can grow that core, not how you can leapfrog into major media exposure.

It's not about impressing the gatekeepers, but making sure your audience has enough music to listen to, to pass along.

It doesn't pay to spend a fortune to reach an ever-shrinking audience of singles buyers. What you need is a higher price point. You need fans to generate revenue from multiple streams.

Amen to that, brother!

Wake up and smell the gigabytes. Today it's about serving your audience -- which, by the way, does NOT include everybody.

Today it's about finding the intersection where your style, substance and talent overlaps with a particular slice of the music enthusiast population.

Today it's about growing a core audience of true fans who will enjoy and support you, and will spread the word to their friends.

Read Lefsetz entire post. Absorb the articles, podcasts, videos, and music resources on this site.

Then get busy honing your sound and connecting with your core audience!

-Bob

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posted by Bob Baker @ 10:40 AM   11 comments

November 19, 2008

Is Your Music Web Site Doing More Harm Than Good?

Everyone needs a web site. And these days, most songwriters, musicians, bands, and indie record labels have one.

But the sad news is ...

Most music web sites are poorly designed, confuse music fans, and chase people away in droves.

What's the solution? You need to ...

Design a Music Web Site That Attracts Fans, Sells Your Music, and Builds Your Music Career

The good news is, it won't cost you a lot of money to create a killer music web site. In fact, most of the elements that make up an effective music site can be created for free or very little cost.

This isn't about big budgets and complicated technology. It's all about doing a few simple things to present yourself clearly, build a fan base, book more gigs, and sell a lot more of your music online.

Click here to continue reading ...

-Bob

posted by Bob Baker @ 12:14 PM   1 comments

November 14, 2008

7 Must-See Links for Indie Artists & Music Promoters

You're too busy to surf the web all day. That's my job :-) Here's some great info I found in the past week or so that's worth reading ...

100 Free and Affordable Music Promotion Tips from Hypebot - that's a lotta tips!

360 Music Deals Become Mandatory As Labels Prepare For Free Music, from TechCrunch.

Ariel Hyatt on how Twitter is changing the way musicians build community online.

Does 'Going Pro' Squeeze the Joy Out of Your Passion? Great post from Christine Kane.

Branding 101: How to Promote Your Blog Like the Big Guys Do - from Leo Babauta's Write to Done blog

Steve Rubel makes a great point with The End of Tangible Media is Clearly in Sight. You better be embracing digital delivery formats, or else ...

Great post from Darren at Problogger on 8 reasons to combine an email newsletter with your blog. I do it. It works.

-Bob

P.S. I'm still looking for your top music marketing question. I'll answer it on a live call Nov 19. Submit your question and get the access code here.

P.P.S. I'm seriously thinking of doing 2009 marketing plan workshops in LA and San Fran the 1st of the year. Got any ideas for venues?

posted by Bob Baker @ 1:49 PM   3 comments

November 12, 2008

Music Promotion Link Love Train

Do you know who's talking about you online? One of the best ways to keep your finger on that pulse is to set up a Google Alert. I've been doing that for many months to keep track of my Internet presence.

What I haven't been doing is giving props to the good people who are writing about me online. So starting now, I plan to post a monthly rundown of the sites that send some link love my way.

Here's the Bob Baker Link Love Train for October 2008:

Aspiring Webmasters Want To Know, What Makes A Website Grow?

New Guns N' Roses - There Was A Time

If A Guitar Player Plays in a Forest …

Different Ideas to Promote Independent Artists

Bob Baker mention

Headers That I Like

How to Make a Living as a Full-Time Indie Musician

The First Critical Step to Successful Change

Perfect Porridge Indy Band Marketing Tips: Web Domains

The Kama Sutra of Music Marketing

Five Reasons to Self-Publish Your Own Book

Supercharge Your Art Sales: Let Them See It, Touch It, Hear It, Taste It, Smell It

Thanks to everyone who mentioned me. I truly appreciate you!

-Bob


Get your FREE copy of my Music Marketing Secrets special report. It shows you how to get more exposure, attract more fans, and sell more music! Go here to grab your copy now ...

posted by Bob Baker @ 12:24 PM   2 comments

November 04, 2008

THIS Could Happen If You Don't Vote TODAY

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A friend sent me this video and inserted my name.


If the video isn't showing here, you can watch on this page.

This is hilarious -- but it makes a serious point. Don't take anything for granted. The last two U.S. Presidential elections were "won" by razor-thin margins. Your vote does count.

So today, get your ass to your local polling place and cast your vote. So what if there are long lines. So what if the polls indicate one ticket is way ahead in the race. So what if you are sick of hearing about politics.

Don't make excuses. Don't squander a real opportunity for positive change.

And ... don't let the sad sap in the video be YOU!

-Bob

P.S. If you want to send your friends the video above with THEIR name inserted, go to www.cnnbcvideo.com.

posted by Bob Baker @ 1:48 PM   2 comments