Coldwave Blog - Music Tips For Independent Artists

Blog post originally from the   SymphonicBlog . Written by Raquel Dixit . Burning out in the music industry can be avoided by not overworking yourself. Your talents are special, take time to heal and rest. Despite the glitter, fame, and luxurious stereotypes that follow the music industry, it is still work. Just like any job, it can become stressful. While some stress is essential to motivate us to work harder than the competition, sometimes too much of it really catches up to us. Making music, promoting, scheduling new gigs, keeping up with fans… AGHHH! Does the list ever end?! It can all become overbearing if you’re not ready for it. But that’s not why we started this, is it? We didn’t do it for the money, for the fame, for the stress, we did it because it’s our passion. People choose the music industry because it’s something they love and enjoy, it’s supposed to be FUN and filled with PASSION. So if you find yourself rolling your eyes at the mere thought of enj...

Blog post originally from the   SymphonicBlog . By Concert Window . Whether you’re an emerging artist or a seasoned professional, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of online resources out there these days, all claiming to be the best way to either engage with your fan base, reach new audiences, or make money. The virtual concert is a relatively new concept, but one that is growing rapidly and is proving hugely successful on every level. A virtual concert is basically a show you broadcast online, allowing people to tune in from anywhere by mobile device or computer. It’s as easy as opening up your laptop and performing from your own home. Music fans around the globe can tune into the live show, pay for tickets, give tips, buy merch and chat with you, all in real time. Best thing about it is you only need to get dressed from the waist up.. . . . we’re joking…. No really, please cover up! Below is a guide to help you create the best experience for fans and cash ...

Blog post originally from the   SymphonicBlog . By John Waltmann. So you’ve created your Twitter page for your artist or band, that’s great! Now what? Here’s How to Promote and Utilize Your Band or Artist Page on Twitter. It can be a scary and intimidating situation starting a social media page from ground zero and these tips may help you grow your network of followers and help promote your music for the future. First and foremost, the Twitter page you’ve created should have an association with the rest of your musician or band social media pages. Google and other search engines will prioritize your pages if it can recognize multiple pages for your band. In a perfect scenario, all of your slug URLs would be properly streamlined to look like, for example: Facebook.com/mybandname Twitter.com/mybandname Soundcloud.com/mybandname If you can’t get these perfect, it’s not the end of the world, but try small variations like adding ‘music’ or ‘band’ or your local ‘city’ af...

Blog post originally from the SymphonicBlog . Guest Post by Camille Evelyn. “As social media marketers, we tend to sweat the details. Am I posting at the most ideal times? Are my posts formatted to perfection? Do my updates have the right tone and brand personality? But while these things are important, there’s one thing that is most critical. And it’s something that is often overlooked by many marketers. That thing is consistency.” – Kelvin Claveria Welp! Mr. Claveria said it quite well! This article has one purpose, and that is to give you ideas on how to keep your social media buzzing and creating consistent content. Here we go! Have a weekly show/release Having a weekly show is one of the most common ways to keep your fanbase entertained on a regular basis. You can do a vlog (video blog) of your activity for the past week, release a cover or freestyle. If doing a cover or freestyle, have a download link in the description of the video. Also, be sure to give the segment a cat...

Blog post originally from the SymphonicBlog . One of the main reasons for creating a great music video is to gain editorial coverage with influential music press. But make sure you don’t forget the creativity press! We’ve created a list of blogs below that feature music videos for the sheer greatness of the video alone. These blogs care about creativity and artfulness and not about genre. Some of them have a huge following, so the chance of picking up more fans is a foregone conclusion. Plus features with these blogs will increase your credibility, giving you more amazing things to talk about on your social channels. 1. Video of the Day “The daily awards site for video content creators” Submit is bottom of the about page Twitter 1.6k Facebook 3.5k 2. Creative Review ‘The best in creativity’ Submit is at the bottom of the contact page Twitter 2,07m Instagram 108k Facebook 142k 3. It’s Nice That “championing the most exciting and engaging work online” Submit...

Blog post originally from the SymphonicBlog . Written by Janette Berrios . Your website is one of the most valuable marketing tools you have as an indie musician today. Even considering all the hype and glorification around social media and crowd funding platforms, the website is still your number one way to get new fans, connect with your fans, and sell your music. Of course, a poorly made website probably won’t get you the results you’re looking for, but with a few basic strategies you can turn your website into an awesome marketing tool. An effective online marketing plan uses your website to create a ladder of interest from casual fan to super fan. With this is mind, your website needs to address different fans’ needs. Someone who has just discovered your music may want to hear your most popular song or read a bio to learn more about you and your music, while a super fan will want exclusive content. 1. Free Content The first step of the process is using social media t...

Blog post originally from the  SymphonicBlog . As a textbook Gemini, I struggled with branding for a long time. It was frustrating to me because I would see beginning artists nail this aspect without realizing it simply by being who they are (matching their inner self with their outer self). But when you feel like two (or more) different people, it’s tough to reconcile these pieces. The trick is finding cohesive elements within yourself that are slow to change. I have broken down the topic into elements I feel are important when branding yourself. Message (or Mission Statement) What do you sing about? What do you strongly believe? What are you trying to tell the world? Can you incorporate your other interests? Personality Are you a hoot? Melancholy? What’s your default state? (Note: Your persona does not necessarily have to be your real personality. You can create a “character”, but it has to be solid.) How do you get your point across? Through shouting, pondering...