You've made great music, but how do you get people to hear your music? Record labels exist to provide financial assistance to bands and musicians. However, they will not only provide financial assistance but also want to benefit from your appearance. The record label is looking for quality musicians who have proven to be able to attract the attention of many fans. Unfortunately, attracting the attention of record labels is not easy. You need to develop your music and performances, and record together. After that, you're ready to take on the professional music scene!
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Part 1 of 4: Developing Your Music
Step 1. Pay attention to your competitors
Improve your performance by learning about the qualities of your favorite musician or performer who has been previously signed by a record label. Find out what they do and don't do. Think about their image, their music, and how they relate to their fans. After that, think about what aspects of your appearance are attractive, and what you can do to make your appearance even better.
Practice learning and performing songs from your favorite band. Find out how they build their music, and what you can learn from them
Step 2. Be professional
To be successful in this entertainment business, you must make music your life. The record label won't just pay you and expect you to give your best just because you have potential talent. They want to invest their money to show musicians who are professional and qualified, so they can make a profit. Therefore, you must dedicate 100% of yourself to this business and show your best. Show your professionalism to the record label through your dedication to your business, work and image.
Step 3. Keep practicing
Keep practicing until you really can play your pieces well, even until the drummer in your band remembers every lyric of your works, even if he's not singing. Take time to practice each day, and focus on writing new works. Create the best work you can compose.
- Record your workouts and watch them again to see what you need to improve on.
- Improve the quality of your live performances when you practice on your own. Try new (and possibly risky) techniques when no one is watching you.
- With enough practice, the quality of your appearance can reflect your professionalism and dedication.
Step 4. Consider your music sales potential
You need to strike a balance between your artistic goals and your music sales potential. Your experimental jazzcore opera may be an interesting artistic reference to explore, but it's possible that the record label won't sell your work. You need to create a piece that will appeal to a wide audience. Think about whether your grandpa or your friends will like your music. If you are creating an English work, think about whether those who are not used to speaking English will like your work. Try to consider the wishes and tastes of the listener.
- Create the music you want, but make sure your goals are realistic.
- If you don't want to change your vision, consider the aspirations of the major record labels. Focus on developing a fan base that loves the type of music you play.
Part 2 of 4: Developing a Fan Base
Step 1. Start hosting shows in your city
If you already have good works, start showing your works on local stages such as coffee shops, bars, or other places where music is often performed. Before performing, try to watch first the musical performances that are usually held in these places. Make sure regular visitors will enjoy the music you play.
- For starters, make 1 to 2 appearances over the course of a month, until you've managed to garner fans. After that, you can start performing weekly at performance venues in your city, then perform out of town.
- Don't plan a big tour right away until you're sure you can perform each week on a regular basis (without any breaks).
Step 2. Perform with a band that plays the same type of music
The best way to develop a fan base is to build relationships with other bands, or events or associations that have successfully brought together bands that are steeped in the same type of music as you. Watch performances by bands you like, and ask them if they'd like to perform with you in the future. Invite them to come to your practice sessions, or show them your music that has been uploaded on the internet.
- You can also put on your own show and invite other bands to join in on the performance. Who knows they will also do the same to you.
- Keep in mind that asking an already popular and experienced band to be the opening act for your perhaps minor and less well-known performance can be considered rude. Therefore, it is better to offer them to play at the end or ask them when they want to appear.
- When you join and become part of a music community, other bands will be happy to provide you with tricks and help (such as borrowing an instrument). If you need to borrow an amp or contact someone to record in the studio, you can ask them for help.
Step 3. Market your band through social media
Announce your schedule of appearances and new creations so you can stay in touch with your new fans. When record labels contract new bands, they look for bands that belong to a music community that is already large enough, with a significant number of fans.
- The most popular social media among users aged 18 to 34 are Facebook and Twitter. Meanwhile, social media like Snapchat, Vine, and Instagram are more popular among young listeners between the ages of 14 and 17.
- Invite your fans to come see and listen to the works of the bands you've performed with. If your band and other bands support and promote each other, chances are people will see and listen to your work. It will be difficult for you to get people to see your show on a Saturday night if you don't meet them the night before (Friday night).
Step 4. Make an attractive T-shirt
T-shirts are a trademark of a very popular band, and are also an inexpensive way to show the quality of your band is not inferior to the quality of bands who have followed professional recordings. At music events, people usually buy bands, and T-shirts can be a pretty good income earner. Not only will you earn revenue from the sale of your t-shirts, but also free marketing every time someone wears your band t-shirt!
Try swapping band shirts with other bands so you and the other band can wear each other's band shirts on stage. Such cross-marketing can benefit everyone. If your music community is strong enough and lots of people follow, everyone (including you) will have a better chance of getting a contract with a record label
Step 5. Take a tour
You may feel like you're doing too many shows in the same community, or getting bored with your scheduled performances. Try making gigs at other venues or communities to create a wider fan base in your city.
- Tour with other bands and visit some of the cities where your friends or other band members live. Who knows in the city there is a place that you can use as a venue to put on a great show.
- Contact the festivals held in your city and find out if your band can be the opening act for the musical performances held at the festival.
- Register your band for band contests sponsored by radio stations or concert halls in your city.
- Have someone record your performance and broadcast it on social media TV shows.
Step 6. Save the money you earn
Maybe at the first appearance, you and your colleagues get paid one million rupiah. Safe! You have succeeded! You can already earn money with music! Of course getting that kind of money can make you and your friends tempted to celebrate the party, but don't do it. It's a good idea to open a new bank account specifically for your band, and save as much money as possible.
- Use the money in the account only for your band needs. Buying new guitar strings, upgrading equipment, or borrowing a studio to practice costs money. Therefore, save the money earned and use it for these purposes.
- In order to get a contract with a record label, you need your work in the form of quality demo recordings, and recording songs still costs money.
Step 7. Upload your music video on Youtube
Youtube can be a free and also very useful tool for spreading your music to a wider audience. Many successful musicians who started their journey through Youtube, such as Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, Soulja Boy and Cody Simpson. Show your qualities to a wider audience, beyond the listeners in your local community. This way, you have the potential to gain new fans from all over the world.
- Make video recordings of you or your band playing your pieces. To record it, you don't have to use powerful video recording equipment. Computer cameras or cell phone cameras can also produce high-quality video.
- Create a Youtube account using your Gmail account.
- Upload the video to your Youtube account. The upload process is very simple. You can even do it via your phone.
- Share the link of your uploaded work on the internet through your social media accounts. Let people find out. People who are initially reluctant to come and watch your live show will probably open the link and end up liking your work.
Part 3 of 4: Recording a Demo
Step 1. Find a quality recording studio and book a recording session
Creating a recorded CD is a great way to get you or your band noticed by record labels. Plus, your fans will love it too. Give them some of the songs they like when you perform it live, as well as any new ones they haven't heard yet.
- The cost of recording sessions in the studio varies, from 150 thousand to 2 million rupiah per hour for the first recording. Generally, to create a master recording (main recording), you can be charged more.
- Due to the high cost, limit the songs that will be recorded, such as only one or two of the best songs for your demo CD. Before recording, plan how you can do it quickly and effectively.
Step 2. Plan your recording time
Different technicians or record producers usually have different recording session arrangements as well. Therefore, make sure you record with a technician or producer who gives you more flexibility (especially in terms of timing), so you can get them more songs. Plus, master the songs you want to record so you don't have to repeat the recording process all the time.
- Find out about the processes and facilities that recording studios have before you book a recording session. Also, find out if your band members feel more comfortable recording separately (alone) or together, and how much direction you want from the technician.
- Do not record using equipment you are not familiar with. Playing with a cool amp or an expensive guitar pedal is fun, but it's a waste of your time. Also, your demos shouldn't sound any different from the music you're used to playing.
Step 3. Record your best original songs
Don't include covers (other people's works that are replayed), or works that are significantly different from your overall work. Think of your demo CD as your band's resume. Which song can represent your music? What songs do your fans like the most? Demo sessions are not a good time to show new songs you haven't mastered or try to freestyle. Record works that you are already good at and that people like.
Step 4. Record your own work
With a good quality laptop and a cheap microphone, you can create recordings like those made in a professional studio and upload them to the internet in no time. These days, more and more bands are recording themselves to reduce the cost of recording expensive studio recordings. By recording yourself, you can save your money for other things, like touring or buying better equipment.
- If you have a newer Mac computer or laptop, your device likely already comes with the GarageBand recording app. If not, you can buy it through the Apple app store at a fairly affordable price. Apple also offers the Logic Pro X app which has more professional features. However, the application is sold at a higher price.
- Audacity is an open-source recording application that can be downloaded for free. This application can be run on computers with Windows, Mac OS, and GNU/Linux operating systems.
- Find out about cheap or free recording sessions in your community. If your friends allow you to record for free using their recording equipment, invite them to come on your tour.
- Find out if there are other bands who are also looking for information about the recording process. Musicians are usually willing to share information, as long as you are willing to share information too.
Step 5. Share your music
The latest technology allows you to easily share your music with a wider audience, at no large cost. You have to take advantage of the technology. Share your videos and music recordings via YouTube and Soundcloud for free. The account registration process is very easy, and you can have a bigger audience.
- You can also send your works directly to iTunes for them to market, but before your work can be marketed, they will first review your work. You can also use third party aggregators who can help you boost your works, for a fee of course.
- Spotify will not directly deal with artists or musicians who upload their work on the site. Ask your record label, distributor, or aggregator to contact Spotify so that Spotify can market your work.
- Don't worry if you haven't been able to earn much. Focus on increasing your popularity first. There is a shift in the music industry, from the popularity of albums to popularity on the internet. Now, if you manage to get 1 million views on a YouTube video, you could stand a chance to get a contract with a record label.
Part 4 of 4: Taking the Next Step
Step 1. Find out about your record labels
It's not a good idea to sell your demo CDs to record labels that won't sign contracts with musicians who don't care about the kind of music you play. Find out which record labels signed contracts with your favorite musicians or performers, and would those labels accept demo CDs from musicians they didn't contact?
Step 2. Contact the appropriate record label for the performance or type of music you play
Once you've found a potential record label, look for the label's address. Send your demo CD or media package to the label and show them your music that has been uploaded to the internet. Call to see what's going on and make sure they receive your demo CD or package.
Step 3. Consider having a manager for you or your band
Once you get success, experienced managers will become another strong asset of yours. Managers know what's in the music industry. He or she can help you get to bigger events and hire a lawyer if something happens to you or your band.
Tips
- Make sure that being in the music field is what you really want. Is music your soul calling? Keep in mind because your life will later be dedicated to music.
- Some people just aren't very photogenic or don't look cool in videos. If you feel that way, accept the fact. However, try experimenting with how you look, and find out what you need to do to improve how you look in videos.
- If you can't reach the music producer, just call the boss. Everyone has a boss, and just staying silent won't make you heard by others.
- Get to know your six levels of separation. Six levels of separation is a theory that says that each person has a relationship with another person, who is only six people or parties apart. You don't know who knows who, because who knows your sibling knows someone who can help you. Hopefully this theory will help you find the right manager for you or your band.
- If you haven't had a chance to get a contract, don't be discouraged. Dedicate yourself to making your fans happy. If your fan base is big enough, people will listen to your songs.
- Take the time to want to learn. Listen to opinions or responses from others. Make improvements if needed, and don't equate artistic integrity with laziness.
- Owning a band is like being a business owner. Sometimes you need to sacrifice something to have someone who can help you move forward.
- Try auditioning for a talent show on television. This is a good opportunity for the band so that they can be seen by as many people as possible. In fact, bands that don't win the event often get a lot of attention from record labels.
- Take part in auditions held in your city.
Warning
- Do not immediately sign a contract without careful consideration and knowledge of the law.
- Keep in mind that not all managers are your friends. There are several rules, terms and conditions that apply. Just because you are the center of attention, doesn't mean that you have the right to do anything. Often times, you will be managed by your manager, so choose the manager for you or your band wisely.
