[Or let CD Baby handle all of this for you when you register for CD Baby Pro.]
Yes, this requires some investigation but it’s important you do the work – this is money while you sleep, people!
So, if you haven’t already, you should look up ASCAP, BMI, and SoundExchange. Registering is easy; it will seriously take you less then ten minutes.
If you are the sole writer then you will receive the entire share of the writer’s revenue stream. If you are also the Administrator/Publisher (which you are if your works are original and you’re putting them out yourself) you’ll collect the entire share of publishing revenue stream, as well. So make sure you register as both a writer and a publisher!
[Or let CD Baby handle all of this for you when you register for CD Baby Pro.]
Yes, this requires some investigation but it’s important you do the work – this is money while you sleep, people!
So, if you haven’t already, you should look up ASCAP, BMI, and SoundExchange. Registering is easy; it will seriously take you less then ten minutes.
[Or let CD Baby handle all of this for you when you register for CD Baby Pro.]
Yes, this requires some investigation but it’s important you do the work – this is money while you sleep, people!
So, if you haven’t already, you should look up ASCAP, BMI, and SoundExchange. Registering is easy; it will seriously take you less then ten minutes.
10. Understand What a Copyright Is
Copyrighting is a process used to protect your works from theft. The United States Copyright Office offers a verified method that is used universally to acknowledge protected works.
However, in today’s age, time stamps on computers (that created the work) or using your originating publisher information, as well as sending self addressed, date stamped copies through the mail to yourself, can all suffice as proof of ownership.
Contrary to popular belief, deliberate music copyright infringement is quite rare. It often mistakenly occurs as we all emulate what we have heard over our lifetimes.
Also, choosing to flagrantly rip off music does nothing to benefit your career in the face of your peers.
Copyrighting is a process used to protect your works from theft. The United States Copyright Office offers a verified method that is used universally to acknowledge protected works.
However, in today’s age, time stamps on computers (that created the work) or using your originating publisher information, as well as sending self addressed, date stamped copies through the mail to yourself, can all suffice as proof of ownership.
Contrary to popular belief, deliberate music copyright infringement is quite rare. It often mistakenly occurs as we all emulate what we have heard over our lifetimes.
Also, choosing to flagrantly rip off music does nothing to benefit your career in the face of your peers.
11. Distribute Your Music Effectively
It used to be that having your music distributed was reserved for signed artists to large record labels. That is no longer the case!
There are many distributors, large and small, now operating in the music and media business.
Some are harder to establish relationships with. However companies such as CD Baby are now at your fingertips and offer emerging artists a way to get their music in stores such as iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and many others.
Music streaming platforms are now an integral part of how people listen to your music, so be sure you are well represented at sites such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora for streaming services.
Also, make sure you are visible on apps such as Shazam, as it’s an extremely effective way for fans to locate your music without knowing your name or the song.
[Note: music distributed by CD Baby will be recognizable by Shazam.]
It used to be that having your music distributed was reserved for signed artists to large record labels. That is no longer the case!
There are many distributors, large and small, now operating in the music and media business.
Some are harder to establish relationships with. However companies such as CD Baby are now at your fingertips and offer emerging artists a way to get their music in stores such as iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and many others.
Music streaming platforms are now an integral part of how people listen to your music, so be sure you are well represented at sites such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora for streaming services.
Also, make sure you are visible on apps such as Shazam, as it’s an extremely effective way for fans to locate your music without knowing your name or the song.
[Note: music distributed by CD Baby will be recognizable by Shazam.]
12. Have a Clear Focus on Social Media Platforms
This is a topic that rarely needs significant discussion, as everyone today is a social media pro. However, it’s important you separate personal social from business social, even though they may appear to be the same.
Make sure your social media platforms are engaging fans and representing your overall brand.
You don’t always have to post about your music. Make sure you are talking about related topics to the music industry, your favorite artists and things you love as an artist too!
Social media is a lot of work and can consume hours per day for most professional musicians. Try using tools that blast all social platforms at the same time or buffer posts throughout the day.
Having a great team player for your social media will soon become a top priority for you.
This is a topic that rarely needs significant discussion, as everyone today is a social media pro. However, it’s important you separate personal social from business social, even though they may appear to be the same.
Make sure your social media platforms are engaging fans and representing your overall brand.
You don’t always have to post about your music. Make sure you are talking about related topics to the music industry, your favorite artists and things you love as an artist too!
Social media is a lot of work and can consume hours per day for most professional musicians. Try using tools that blast all social platforms at the same time or buffer posts throughout the day.
Having a great team player for your social media will soon become a top priority for you.
13. Create an Amazing Team
This takes time and can be in constant flux. However, you can’t do this all by yourself.
If you look carefully at the most successful music careers you will see that it’s the team that creates the success, not the individual or band alone. Labels, managers, booking agents, publicists and social media all go into making a well oiled team.
Recognize talent in others and hold them close to your chest. It’s about surrounding yourself with talented and highly motivated people that believe in you and bring resources to the table.
Granted, getting the attention of the right team players is a difficult task. However, Rome was not built in one day and staying the course is part of what makes you attractive to influential team players.
MAINTENANCE OF A GREAT MUSIC CAREER
Now that you’re a success, keep on going! Use these tips to continue developing your career in music.
This takes time and can be in constant flux. However, you can’t do this all by yourself.
If you look carefully at the most successful music careers you will see that it’s the team that creates the success, not the individual or band alone. Labels, managers, booking agents, publicists and social media all go into making a well oiled team.
Recognize talent in others and hold them close to your chest. It’s about surrounding yourself with talented and highly motivated people that believe in you and bring resources to the table.
Granted, getting the attention of the right team players is a difficult task. However, Rome was not built in one day and staying the course is part of what makes you attractive to influential team players.
MAINTENANCE OF A GREAT MUSIC CAREER
Now that you’re a success, keep on going! Use these tips to continue developing your career in music.
14. Stay The Course
There’s a saying I often use that relates to success in the music business: “If you play golf long enough in a lightning storm you will eventually get struck by lightning.”
This basically means that you must stay the course, not deviate, and have faith that eventually your hard work will pay off. This is the same for artists that have already received success.
Sooner or later, every artist must redefine their path moving forward. As in most business, every five years you should take inventory of where you are in your career and map out the next five years with your team.
There’s a saying I often use that relates to success in the music business: “If you play golf long enough in a lightning storm you will eventually get struck by lightning.”
This basically means that you must stay the course, not deviate, and have faith that eventually your hard work will pay off. This is the same for artists that have already received success.
Sooner or later, every artist must redefine their path moving forward. As in most business, every five years you should take inventory of where you are in your career and map out the next five years with your team.
15. Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You
I am actually a perpetrator of this one.
Music artists, including myself when I was younger, can have a slightly egotistical view of their music and persona after they receive some success.
We often think that the success we are receiving is the result of “my music,” “my hard work,” “my talent,” etc., and make unusual requests of labels and team players.
There is no positive outcome here. Being a diva never results in long term success, it simply results in having a bad reputation.
I am actually a perpetrator of this one.
Music artists, including myself when I was younger, can have a slightly egotistical view of their music and persona after they receive some success.
We often think that the success we are receiving is the result of “my music,” “my hard work,” “my talent,” etc., and make unusual requests of labels and team players.
There is no positive outcome here. Being a diva never results in long term success, it simply results in having a bad reputation.
BONUS: Give Back and Mentor
The generation behind you needs your support and wisdom. Reach out, donate money to arts and education, teach, mentor!
There is nothing more gratifying to the soul than watching a young person flourish from what you have shown them.
If you are experiencing success, donate to a cause that provides opportunity to underprivileged kids so they can experience something larger than themselves – the gift of music!
Well, there you have it. I hope you soaked some of this in and can use it on your musical journey. Good luck and keep on rocking!
The generation behind you needs your support and wisdom. Reach out, donate money to arts and education, teach, mentor!
There is nothing more gratifying to the soul than watching a young person flourish from what you have shown them.
If you are experiencing success, donate to a cause that provides opportunity to underprivileged kids so they can experience something larger than themselves – the gift of music!
Well, there you have it. I hope you soaked some of this in and can use it on your musical journey. Good luck and keep on rocking!
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Post Author: Nick Gunn teaches audio engineering, songwriting, and music composition in Chicago, IL. Nick is a multi-platinum selling composer and producer @ diymusician. cdbaby. com
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