[Last Day] Day 25 – Ready for Release: Where can I sell my music online?

Day 25 - It's pretty easy to be an independent artist and figure out the streams of revenue to recoup on expenses for marketing and promoting your music releases. Maybe "easy" is an understatement, but if you consult with the right team, your team will educate you on the different ways you can make money as an artist without signing to a major label. The days of physical platinum album sales are pretty much out the window. As a consultant to major labels like Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group, majority of the marketing and promotion campaigns are concentrated on digital marketing efforts. With that being said, you need to set up a TuneCore account to release your music online so it's available for purchase digitally. TuneCore is a digital distribution channel that makes your body of work available for purchase on digital store fronts like iTunes, AmazonMP3, EMusic, Google Play, and CD Baby. It also distributes your music to online streaming platforms like Pandora and Spotify. If you want to find out how to get a TuneCore account, contact me at www.JCoutureProductions.com and set up a consultation. At the end of the day, if you can show a major that you are generating tens of thousands of sells as an indy artist, it will create negotiation leverage and control when you get approached about signing deals with majors.

I hope the #ADD "Artist Development Dedication" 25-Day Brand Challenge has helped you in your journey in becoming a respected artist brand. Follow me on twitter and instagram at @JCouturePR.

- Joy Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 24 – Ready for Release: What do digital distributers want to know?

Day 24 - Examples of digital distributors are iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Play, etc. It is advised that you select a release date three weeks ahead from when you hit "distribute" on your digital distribution account. When you are ready to submit your project, make sure you have the following questions answered:

1. How many have your previously releases sold?

2. How many potential fans can you reach and direct to purchase?

3. How many followers do you have collectively on Social Media?

4. Do you have advertising dollars allotted to the release?

5. Will there be TV or film sync placements of your music at the time of release?

6. What are you realistic expectation of overall first week digital sales?

These are the questions your digital distributors will want to know to consider releases your album.

This is the #ADD campaign!

"Artist Development Dedication" Brand Challenge Campaign

- Joy Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions

Day 23: Why are albums better than singles?

Day 23 - This question is debatable. Before the digital world became what it is today, releasing albums with three to four lead singles versus releasing just one single or multiple songs that aren't a complete body of work, was the thing to do. You would release one album every three to four years, promote that one project, tour non-stop for two years and then repeat. Since those days, consumption habits have changed and you must keep up with the times or get left behind, especially in the independent music world.

The more music you release, the greater your chances of building a loyal fan base that will help you sustain an independent career. Whether it's releasing a single a month, an EP per year or a live album every tour you're on, consistency and frequency is becoming key to building a buzz. The idea to put out so much music is debatable when you're speaking with artist veterans who were developed in yesteryear. It's also debatable to whether this content should be free releases or for sale. If your brand is not known, you can't expect to put out music for sale and then expect someone to buy it. It's also not realistic to put out multiple bodies of work, 5 or 6 times a year.

So the idea may be that singles are better than albums when you're discussing frequently releasing music to build your fan base, in today's times. These "singles" could be free buzz records that you give away to your fans to get them excited about your official album and single releases which will be for purchase. But at least you're giving them something to "get to know you" before they invest in your career by purchasing your music, and it's a way to build your fan base in preparations for your official releases.

Here's a great reference that discusses 10 reasons why you should distribute more www.Vakseen.com

#ADD to your Brand!

"Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge!

- Joy Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 22 – No Budget: How can I Release my viral visuals?

Day 22 – No Budget: How can I innovatively release my viral visuals?

Indie Artists require 4 million online plays to make $1,160 (minimum wage) in one month. With that being said, producing quality visuals from a limited budget can be a bit of a challenge for an independent artist. Thanks to social media, there are innovative ways to get a visual promotion across if you have a smart phone with high quality video capability. Get creative and “Do It for the Vine!” with a 15 second promo spot directly to your core following. When it’s time to produce a full music video, there are crowd-fundraising sources like Kickstarter.com, GoFundMe.com, IndieGoGo.com, RocketHub.com, CrowdRise.com and Invested.in. Simple, right? 

#ADD to your Brand! 

This is the "Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge

- Joy Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 21 – The Total Package: Do I have it?

Day 21 - As an artist, I'm not referring to the the traditional "total package" phrase, I'm actually referring to the total packaging of your product. What does it look like? Do you have high quality photos, videos, and graphic design? What does your physical product look like? Did you take the cheap route or did you make an investment in your presentation? If you do not have an in-house graphic designer or team, learn to create or hire someone to create eye catching logos, cover art, album/single inserts, promotional artwork for promo tools, etc. Is your branding synonymous? Do your photos, graphics and color palette match across your social media platforms, press kit, electronic press kit, and promotional materials? If they don't then you need to redesign your collaterals. Everything should be synonymous to assist in creating brand recognition. 

There are four days left in the #ADD campaign! Let me know if you're learning something! Share your thoughts on social media using #ADD and @JCouturePR! Don't forget to follow me on Social Media! T + IG | @JCouturePR

The "Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge is brought to you by Joy Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 20 – No Budget: Why do I need professional promo photos?

Day 20 - All bloggers will want a photo to go along with their features that include your music. Many media makers have quality standard to uphold and poor photos of you and your brand could be a deal breaker. Instagram filtered photos are not considered professional, in case you did not know. The first impression is a lasting impression and you have one chance to make a first impression. Unique, creative and well-shot promo photos can be the icebreaker needed to get new media maker and shakers to check out your music. 

#ADD to your brand! - #JCouturePR

The "Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge is brought to you by Joy Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Follow me on Twitter: @JCouturePR

Day 19 - No Budget: Why Do I Need A Professionally Written Bio?

Day 19 - A professional bio that weaves a compelling story about who you are and what makes you unique is the #1 asset that you need for an effective PR campaign (after the music of course). Bloggers write their own content, but it is often where a blogger will re-purpose the bio in order to create enough content for their blog on a consistent basis. You have the opportunity to control the message if your bio is well written, telling their readers the important points about you that may stick out to fans as unique and intriguing. A professional bio can cost a few hundred dollars, but it will only mean the difference between success and failure of a PR campaign. It is a critical asset you'll be able to use long after the campaign has ended.

#ADD to your brand! - Artist Development Dedication 25 Day Brand Challenge

#JCouturePR

Brought to you by Joy Young, the CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 18 – What are the essentials needed for a digital PR music release campaign?

Day 18 - During our last post (Day 17) we discussed WHY it is important to invest in hiring a publicist to strategize a digital publicity campaign for your music release. If you need to refresh yourself before moving forward, please revisit my last post. Today, we're discussing what are the essentials needed for a PR digital campaign. Before launching your campaign, need the following:

1. Music ready to release. - If the music isn't ready, there is no need for a PR campaign.

2. A professional and compelling biography. - A professional bio that weaves a compelling story about who you are and what makes you unique is a #1 asset that you need for an effective PR campaign. (after the music of course)

3. Professional Promo Photos - All bloggers will want a photo to go along with their features that include your music.

4. A Niche to Conquer - Identifying a nich demographic to target is a critical component to any successful digital publicity campaign.

5. A Social Media Presence - Don't underestimate the importance of a social media presence to a digital publicity campaign.

In the next five posts, I will break down each topic in detail. Make sure you catch up on the previous 17 days before moving forward by reading my previous posts. If you're sharing the knowledge on social media, use the hashtags #ADD and #JCouturePR.  You can also follow me on social media, @JCouturePR.

This is the "Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge brought to you by Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 17 - No Budget: Why Should I Invest In A Digital PR Campaign?

Day 17 - The digital public relations campaign will help get your message across by reaching new fans, increasing online influence, and creating new content that can be used to build strength of existing fan base through social media. If your budget is little to nothing, I would advise allocating some funds to put towards a PR digital campaign. Start a fundraiser, gather support, because this piece is as essential as the music. You are ready for this type of campaign when you have a finished project, a single selected, graphics and a video to support the release and a strategic marketing campaign. When you have everything we've previously talked about, you are ready to hire a publicist to develop your digital campaign. This will give you brand leverage. In Day 18, we will discuss the essentials needed for this.

#ADD to your brand! #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 16 – Where can I get people to hear my music online?

Day 16 - I'm not going to spend too much time on this topic because I believe I've touched on it in previous posts. There are various sites you can post your music online for your fans to hear. The most popular ones are Soundcloud, the newly renovated Myspace, Reverbnation, Bandcamp, and YouTube. If you're overseas and looking for platforms to share your music with fans, some good ones are Club Knowledge, Losing Today, Toxic Pete, KlubKat, IODA, Record of the Day, DURP and More Music.

#ADD to your brand! #JCouturePR

"Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Challenge!

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C. 

Day 15 – Why Is Social Media Engagement So Important?

Day 15 - As an artist, social media is important because it gives you a gauge of your core following. Take 10% of what your total following is and that will generally give you an idea of the amount of click throughs to your website, iTunes page, merchandise website, etc. The idea is, a "click through" from your social media platforms leads to SALES. Instead of posting what you had for lunch, or the movie you've just watched, which is all good because your social media platforms are sincere, figure out a way to creatively garner support for a project you're releasing. Figure out a way to interact with people, using social media, that will make a difference in your mission to promote your music. Whatever you are tweeting and posting should lead to a follower's interest later down the line to support your music. A few ways to do this is to:

1. Release news updates and fan mailings to communicate to fans.

2. Offer free and exclusive mp3s for subscribers to your mailing list.

3. Hold contests for your fans and give aways and inspiring.

In between doing the three aforementioned things, participate and ENGAGE online to post meaningful interesting and insightful material so your social media platforms won't be all about promoting your music. 

#ADD to your brand!

"Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 14 - How Do I Start the Digital Conversation About My Music?

Day 14 - Starting the digital conversation is very simple. If you are on top of your game and have done everything I've previously advised, you should create a wikipedia page for those seeking a detailed biography. Also, as an artist, you need to commit to the scene. Find, communicate, collaborate with similar artists. Get out there and let people know where and when you're doing shows and post announcements and pictures from your social media platforms for engagement. In Day 15, we'll talk about why social media engagement is so important!

This is the "Artist Development Dedication" 25 Day Brand Challenge!

#ADD to your brand!

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C. 

Day 13 - How Can I Measure My Online Presence?

Day 13 - It takes more than uploading music to build an online presence. Search Engine Optimization or SEO is process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's organic search results. The higher ranked your search results, the more visitors your website will receive from search engine users. SEO targets different kinds of searches: image, local, video, academic, news and industry specific searches. If you have a budget for internet marketing, I would advise investing in a company or a freelancer who specializes in SEO. Reason being is, if someone does not know your direct url's, if they google search you, all your information will pop up and make it easy for them to find and follow you. 

Now that we can find you, let's talk about your social media presence! 1.) Make sure you are tagging your music with all relevant info so it comes up in your search results. 2.) Publish band info and tracks to all sites catering to musicians. 3.) Rotate new tracks in and out of sites to avoid stagnancy. 4.) Help fans find you online by making it easy for them. Do your part!

Also, keep track of what people are saying about you by creating a creative hash tag so you can follow the social conversation. They may not know your social media handles, but they may use your hash tags when posting about your music. Fans love when you retweet them and it's a great way to stay engaged. 

Artist Development Dedication 25 Day Brand Challenge

#ADD to your brand! #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 12 - As an Artist, Why Do I Need A Social Media Presence?

Day 12 - As an artist, don't underestimate the importance of a social media presence to a digital publicity campaign. Two: reasons: all bloggers check out your social media presence as a filter of whom to and who not to consider for coverage. You need to consistently post and engage with your fans. They will want to share the feature with your following to help build the publication's following as well. Second reason, for a PR campaign to be 100% effective, each feature delivered needs to be properly leveraged through social media to mobilize the existing fan base. Each feature is now content you can use to engage with your fans without saying, "listen to my music." This is a much more subtle form of self-promotion. The six rooms of  your social media house should include Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Pinterest, a blog and a newsletter. In upcoming days I'll discuss how often you should engage with your followers using your different social media platforms.

This is the Artist Development Dedication 25 Day Brand Challenge!

#ADD to your brand! #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 11 - No Budget: Where Can I Publish Gig Advertisings for FREE?

Day 11 - Let the world know you are alive and kicking as an independent artist! Two really great online platforms to utilize in the states are ReverbNation.com and GigFinder.com. With Gig Finder, you can post and find gigs for musicians, bands, DJs, entertainers, photographers and other types of talent. All for free. Reverb Nation is home to over 3.44 million musicians, venues, labels, and industry professionals. You can personalize your artist page to include music, video, bio's, gig dates and more. Another great platform is Aloud.com. Aloud features gig announcements and you can also sell tickets to your shows. There are multiple platforms you can use. These are just a few really good ones. 

#ADD to your brand! #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 10 - When Should I Digitally Release My Music?

Day 10 - If you are releasing your music online using one of the online digital distribution platforms like iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon mp3, etc., you should plan ahead and choose a date that gives you three weeks lead time. Select a release date that is three weeks from the time you hit 'distribute' in your TuneCore account. 

Why is this?...

Lead time is the key element in feature consideration. Featured releases are picked with at least three weeks lead time.

#ADD to your brand! #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 9 - How Do I Know If My Music Is Ready For Release?

Day 9 - Unless you are leaking your music or putting out a mixtape, which doesn't require much strategy, there are branding elements you need to have in place to successfully release a body of work called an EP or an album which will support your digital PR and marketing/promotion campaigns. You must have at least the following: at least 4-6 professionally mixed and mastered songs ready for release, a professionally written compelling bio, professionally shot promotional photos, album and single artwork, and music videos. These are the basics. When you have these locked and loaded, you or your team can plan to release your music. 

This is the 25 Day Artist Development Dedication Brand Challenge! #ADD to your brand!

#JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO J.Couture Productions, L.L.C. 

Day 8: What Is the Most Important Part About Releasing My Music?

Day 8 - The most important part about releasing your music, is THE MUSIC. If the music isn't ready, there is no need for a PR campaign or a marketing strategy. No matter what the niche is targeted during the campaign, if you do not have the music ready and available to be shared with media (bloggers, podcasters, radio station DJs, etc.) you are wasting everyone's time and money. Have at least an EP (containing at least 4 songs) that is planned for release around 1 to 1.5 months into the PR campaign. Bloggers don't like to mention an upcoming release if there is any more than one month of lead-time between the feature and the release. As long as the music is available a unique story can be told, a digital PR campaign can be done effectively. Your songs MUST be professionally recorded. Live tracks are find, if you are promoting a live release, but the mixes need to be of professional quality. 

As an artist, your brand begins with your music. It's the foundation. 

#ADD to your brand!

Join the social conversation by using hash tags #ADD and #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions, L.L.C.

Day 7 - Does My Image Match My Music?

Day 7 - When you are prepping for the release of new music, if you have a strong team, one of the first meetings you'll take is with a stylist or image consultant to determine what "look" you should go for. Your look is your first impression, most times, if someone has never heard your music. It's what we see first. Your image and style should also complement your sound. When your promo photos and videos conflict with your music, you may have a problem on your hands. These two tools should represent your artistic intent without simply illustrating the lyrics. At their worst, music videos can destroy songs that were already growing to love. Make sure your stylist, photographer and director understand the message and the vision behind your artistry.

Also, I'm big on artists looking like artists, which means, if you're an artist you should always stand out from the crowd. I should be able to look at you and say, "He/She's somebody!" Even if I don't know so. There should be something about your style that draws me to you as an artist, whether it's a signature statement piece, or a signature look. 

This is the 25 Day Artist Development Dedication Brand Challenge...

#ADD to your brand!

Join the social conversation by using hash tags #ADDChallenge and #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions

Day 6 - I'm An Artist: Why Do I Need A Niche Demographic?

Day 6 - You need a niche demographic so you will not waste your time talking to or promoting your music to an audience of people who have no interest in what you are promoting. You must align yourself in the public and in the digital world to become successful and efficient. You should look to build a distinct brand aimed at a specific demographic and associate your brand with a market. You can start by finding music related groups on social media that relate to your brand and join the conversation. Almost every single artist who has found success online, virally or not, have targeted and conquered a niche demographic. People who are characterized within your niche demographic are more likely to become loyalists of your music. The more specific the niche, the more dedicated those within it will be. If you really want social media networks to become the success drivers of your career, you must target and conquer your niche demographic. If you want to know how to do this, visit www.jcoutureproductions.com and submit for a one on one consultation. 

#ADD to your brand!

Start the social conversation by using hash tags #ADD and #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions

Day 5 - I'm An Artist: What Is MY Demographic?

Day 5 - Targeting a demographic isn't as hard as you think. You really just have to be true to who you are and your demographic comes to you. But, there is a strategic way to get this information and you must understand there is a difference between the terms "demographic," "niche market," and "target market." Your demographic are the quantifiable statistics of a given population. For example, a rap artist's demographic could be 60% men, 40% women, aged 18 - 35, 10% Hispanic, 60% African American, and 30% Caucasian. Demographic statistics are commonly used in public opinion poling and marketing. Demographical information is essential to marketing your music. 

Your niche market defines your demographic further. For example, Eminem fans may may purchase albums, versus singles, aged 18 - 29 who live in the United States versus, London. That's way more defined. 

Your target market is a group of individuals who share a common interest directly related to your music. For example, Lil Wayne has found a new group of fans in the skate boarding world. It could be directly related to his music or his Truck Fit clothing line, but he still has a specific target market of skateboarders who purchase his music and pay to see him perform. 

When you define and target your demographic, niche market and target market, you can now develop a marketing and PR strategy that will yield success and generate sales! We'll discuss that tomorrow. If you're wondering, "How in the hell do I get my hands on this information?," then submit for a one on one consultation at www.JCoutureProductions.com.

#ADD to your brand!

Start the social conversation using hash tags #ADD and #JCouturePR

- Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions

Day 4 - I'm an Artist: What is MY message?

Day 4 - As an artist, what you rap or sing about should be a direct reflection of who you are, or who and what you present yourself to be to your fans. What is your lyrical content? Does it represent who you are? Does it connect with your brand and imaging? Is it relatable to your targeted demographic? Do you look 15 singing about sex? Do you look 40 rapping about money, cars, clothes and hoes? Your message isn't only found in your words, it's also found in your visuals. Your message can be found in how you perform, the types of venues and events you perform or are seen at. You cannot be a boy band of 25 years olds performing at a teen concert of 13 year old fans and expect someone to take you seriously. You will attract your demographic by whatever message you are putting out with your music and your reputation.  Once you've figured out what your message through music is, we can move on to discuss how to target a "demographic."

This is the Artist Development Dedication 25 Day #ADD Brand Challenge!

Start the social conversations using hash tags #ADD and #JCouturePR

-Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions

Visit www.JCoutureProductions.com to submit for a one on one consultation!

Day 3 - No Budget: How do I meet quality producers and writers?

Day 3 - There are really levels to this business and as an artist, meeting talented producers and writers all depends on what level of your career you are on. I find the key to independent artists connecting with the best producers and writers, if you do not have the machine known as the record label funding your recordings, is to get with your performing rights organizations and attend the networking events they coordinate. These events are for artists like you who are trying to connect with other talented artists, producers and writers. If you have a relationship with your P.R.O. representatives and know about these events, nine times out of ten, you are a quality producer and writer. 

It's amazing how many musicians I come across who do not know what a P.R.O. is. This lets me know that they do not have royalty checks coming in and then it further let's me know what level of their career they are on. The most popular performing rights organization in the United States is ASCAP. The second most popular is BMI. The third most popular is SESAC. (FYI, your P.R.O. is responsible for paying out your royalties when you get placements that produce mechanical royalties.) 

#GoogleThem

If you are independent (you are not signed to a major record label, therefore, you do not have an A&R finding producers and writers for you) then I suggest becoming affiliated with SESAC. SESAC has fewer affiliates than ASCAP and BMI. This is because it is required that you go through an assessment process with SESAC. You must submit your work and it will be reviewed for you to become accepted. Also, SESAC pays royalties monthly now which is great for independent artists who may depend on various streams of income. Another reason, I find, is their networking events are the best for connecting artists, producers and writers together. If you are lucky and your rep really believes in your talents, he/she may go above and beyond to personally find you placement opportunities. That's not their job to do, but I've seen it happen time and time again with talented musicians at SESAC. 

We've talked about getting the music right, we've talked about making sure you are mastering your craft, now it's time to get hooked up with the right people. Visit all P.R.O. websites online, do your research and homework on all organizations, figure out which one is the best fit for you, become affiliated, then attend their events and get to networking! 

Start the social conversations using hash tags #ADD and #JCouturePR

-Joy A. Young, CEO of J.Couture Productions

Visit www.JCoutureProductions.com to submit for a one on one consultation!