Do you dream of becoming the next big name in music but don’t know where to start? Just follow in the footsteps of artists like Nine Inch Nails, Jay-Z, Joan Jett, and Moby – start your own record label! These independent artists (and many others) have left their respective labels and now produce and distribute their music themselves. Aimee Mann has her own record label called SuperEgo Records and says, “I’ve sold more records with my rinky-dink system than Geffen sold with her entire staff.”
It’s quite easy to become your own producer/promoter/distributor. To prepare, make sure you have a sizable catalog of professionally written and recorded songs. To find a professional recording studio in your state, visit the Indie-Music.com music business directory. Use social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter for promotion and fan feedback. Think of your social media followers as your own market research team. Their feedback will help you sort out the good songs from the not-so-good ones and help you determine which songs should be included on your album. Taylor Swift is a prime example of perfectly exploiting social media for fame and fortune. Her initial success was fueled by her social media fan base. Justin Bieber also comes to mind. He was ‘discovered’ on YouTube.
Once you’ve recorded your album, you’ll need a way to distribute it and gain some airplay. Visit sites like CDbaby.com, IndieMusicCentral.com, WhoTune.com, and iLike.com. Services like Tunecore.com, Cdbaby, and Zimbalam.com allow artists to retain copyright to their songs and distribute their music to various stores including iTunes, Amazon MP3, eMusic, Napster, etc. Get play on podcast shows like Kweevak Radio, IndieLaunchpad.com, and YouMusic.com. Network with industry professionals to make connections – this is a must! Join BMI or ASCAP; attend conferences like SXSW; join trade associations like the Austin Songwriters Group. An excellent resource is the Texas Office of Music. Lists all booking agents, recording studios, music publishers, music associations, etc., currently operating in Texas. For a list of music resources in your state, contact your state government office.
Ultimately, your success will depend on four things: your songs, your connections, your marketing efforts, and a lot of luck. If your songs are GREAT, and you’ve blown up all of social media, and made the right connections in the industry, and the planets align perfectly (just kidding…kinda), you’re well on your way to success as an independent artist. . Health!
©2010 T. Marie Harper – All Rights Reserved – Artist, Designer, Musician’s Widow
