1. Record a good song, Sample
opinions from a bunch of people
(friends & strangers alike) and be
sure at least 60% or more like the
song.
- Most artists believe they have a great
song just because they enjoyed making it
or because one or two people have been
nodding to the beat but that’s never
enough to determine if your song will be
commercially successful. You have to
sample the ears of your target audience.
Have your friends play the music for
people who don’t know you and get
feedback from them because those are the
ones most likely to give you a candid
opinion. Your sister won’t tell you your
song is wack,..well, unless she’s really
mean…lol. Make sure you sample the
opinion of up to 100 different people within
your target audience range. If the feedback
you get is not positive from more than half
of them, you may need to go back to the
drawing board.
Some say “..ah its expensive to record,
where will I get money?”, I say if you can’t
stand the heat, get the #**# outta the
kitchen. Music is not for everyone. If this is
truly your passion, you will find a way. Get
a job, do something to earn money, save
the money until you have enough. If
begging is your way, sheeee, beg your
way through it. The “no money” excuse is
old and boring. If Vocal slender could work
his way through the dumpsites of Lagos to
get studio money, what are you whining
about?
2. Prepare yourself as a product. Work
on your image and be sure ure
“attractive” to the average person
that comes across you or your music.
- This is highly underrated and it is very
important that you pay attention. Image is
EVERYTHING in entertainment. Don’t be
fooled by those who say otherwise. You
must look the part, otherwise people wont
take you as seriously as they should. As an
artist, you are a brand, a product,
especially in these parts, people will try to
place value on how much they believe you
are worth by the way you present
yourself. You should make an extra effort
to be of your best looks and composure,
ALL the time. Spend a little extra time on
simple details to ensure people see you as
a brand they would love to be affiliated
with, otherwise you have a much tougher
time selling yourself to potential sponsors
or employers down the line. Proper
branding helps you stand out in the
crowd.
3. Get ready to perform. Create
performance routines; find an exciting
way to deliver your song to any
audience that will leave an
impression.
- If you have access to a band, begin to
learn to perform with one. If your act isn’t
one that needs a band, figure out what you
can do to get people excited when they see
you live. Create a performance routine that
is unique and fun to watch. Do whatever
you need to, dance, swag it out, circus
tricks, whatever works. With each
performance your goal is to win more
fans.
4. Create an EPK (Electronic press
kit), which includes good photos, a
bio and your music. Make sure it’s of a
size that can be sent as an email
- Making your own EPK should be viewed
as a necessity for any artist or band that is
serious about becoming successful in
presenting themselves professionally. An
EPK is the best way to give anyone a quick
glance at you, your music and your story.
You can create one FOR FREE with the
average desktop publishing software or
with the numerous free services available
on the Internet.
5. Once u are SURE your song is good
to go, make as many copies of your
CD as possible. I’d say at least 1,000
(Make sure your CD art has your info)
- There are many duplication options. I
advice you raise money and pay for a
professional replication plant to give you
1000 copies of your CD. The typical cost is
between N40,000 and N100,000 for 1000
CDs and sleeves depending on who you
chose to use. Always shop around for the
best price before you decide. 1000 CDs
seem like a lot until you start giving them
out. Trust me, you’re better off with more
than you need than less.
6. Create a myspace, twitter,
facebook fan page, reverbnation and
upload your EPK to each of them
including your song, photos, bio etc.
- Make sure you have at least a facebook
(artist fanpage, not a regular account) and
twitter account, most of the fans you are
trying to reach are already there. I suggest
you get a reverbnation page as well; it
helps you upload your music and has a
nice integration with your facebook
fanpage. When you are done creating
these pages, these are the links you send
to people to check out your music, and
read about you.
7. Make a list of radio stations within
your reach. I advice that u start with
regional promo. It’s easier to
manage. Nationwide can come later
- This is easy. Listen to your radio, write
down the dials where music is being
played, find out where the stations are all
located and make note of the OAPs (On-
air-personalities) that play on each radio
station and at what time. This will help you
build your “hit-list” when you begin
distributing your CDs. If you know
everyone that is on the air, you can ensure
that they all have your music and all you
have to work on is getting them to play it
all the time.
8. Make a list of the nightclubs and
places where music is played publicly
within your reach. Again, regional
promo is easier to manage.
- Same as above, know all the clubs, bars
and hangout spots in your city. Try to
have them all written down so that you
can ensure they all have your material
when you begin your promo.
9. Make a list of DJs and Radio
personalities within your reach.
- Self-explanatory. Same as above.
10. Every entertainment journalist
that has a column in a magazines or
newspaper has an email address.
Make a list of all of them.
- Get all the newspapers, magazines and
entertainment publications you can lay
your hands on. Most of them have an
entertainment column and the journalist’s
emails are usually listed. These are the
guys you want to send your EPK to first. If
they like you and your music, you can get
mention in an article or two. It’s also good
that they know who you are when they
see you at events or listen to you on the
radio. If the print media journalists are not
familiar with you, they’re unlikely to write
about you.
11. Get all this lists you have
compiled together and create a
realistic timeline of how long it will
take to contact everybody.
- Get a book and write everything down.
Determine those you can email, those you
should meet one on one, and those you
should have your manager or friends talk
to. Then draw up a timeline for the promo.
You should never stop doing promo for a
song even if the song is doing well so you
will need to contact all those on your list
regularly. Make sure you plan properly and
ensure that you’re not spending all your
time and resources with only a few of
them. You must spread the love so as to
get more coverage. I made an example of
an artist whose song is on heavy rotation
on a particular station but you barely even
hear it on others. That is very ineffective
promotion because everybody is not
listening to just that one station. There
maybe more than 20 radio stations in
Lagos alone. If your song is not playing on
15 of them, you have work to do.
12. Create an email address and in the
signature section, include all your
twitter, facebook, reverbnation info
and link to your song.
- This is important because every time you
send out an email, you have room to
advertise yourself,…why not??!
13. Send your EPK to every contact on
your list that you can reach via email
and start booking appointments for
the ones u cant reach.
- The work begins. Take your time, be
patient as most OAPs and radio DJs are
very busy individuals. You may not be
able to see who you wish to when you
wish to but you must be persistent with
reaching out.
14. Get your CDs to all the Radio DJs,
club DJs, bars, Night clubs, Radio
stations, Radio personalities, and
everyone on your list.
- You want to be sure every authority in
music has a copy of your CD.
15. Start your online campaign; start
building your fan base by sending your
music to people. Do everything in
your power for ppl to listen.
- Send messages to friends; get people to
“like” your fan page. Follow and get
followers on twitter so that you are able to
reach all your followers with just one
tweet. Paste links for people to listen to
your music and encourage people to
“retweet” on twitter or “share” on
facebook. This part takes some time to
build but if people are digging your song,
your fan-base can grow quite rapidly.
16. The goal is to get as many fans as
possible, do whatever it takes to get
people to listen to your music. If
people like it, ure good to go
- Being “good to go” means you have
been able to cross the first hurdle which is
getting people to listen to your music. The
rest of it lies with whether they like it or not
and how well you’re able to follow-up now
that you’ve got their attention.
17. If you follow those steps, &
people like your music, you’re sure to
get the music across to millions of
fans over time. It won’t happen
overnight though.
- Once your CD is at the radio stations,
start getting your fans, friends and family
to call into the radio stations, requesting the
song. If you are aggressive enough, even
if your music is nonsense, they will have
to satisfy their listeners and play your
song. Please note that I am not asking you
to spam people to death…lol. Most radio
stations have a facebook page and they
have request shows where they ask
facebook fans to make requests, when its
request time, get your friends and fans to
go to their timelines and request the hell
out of your song. Please be careful not to
become a nuisance. One message per
person is adequate.
Well,…I hope these tips help.
