Independent Music Promotion Tips

Hey Everybody. I'm looking for some tips or ideas for promoting my new album. It is free to download, im just trying to mainly acquire a fan base. Aside from Bandcamp, Myspace, Future Producers, and Facebook does anyone have any other channels to put independent Hip Hop Music through?

If you'd like you can check out the album here http://www.stereoloud.bandcamp.com

Hand it out to litterly everyone.

I wouldn't rely only on the net, even for free things. I am just as likely to download something for free or fee honestly, or close to it. I know many people who have expected something for free download to really get out because they arn't asking for anything. The time spent just downloading something will turn people off.

Never neglect your local scene. Just hand them out. You may be suprised on how many people refuse free things in person two but many people will grab a copy. Hope they listen, hope harder they will like it.


Don't look at the free part as a great deal to the consumer, many get everything they want for free already. Just look at it simply as an easier barrier to entry compared to trying to get distrubution. Success on a free project is still very hard, many people don't understand this until they try.

I'm in the middle of that same process. it really matters t do everything u can to build it up. videos's, stickers, flyers and cd's. for it to just b a download u could b cutting a lot of people out so yea make sure u have some way to connect to the local scene even if its just passing out stickers with the link on em. just put yourself out there for people to b comfy wit you. give em a reason why they should take that time to download or take ur cd. it aint no different than promoting something for sale and u might have to spend a lil money. that's the real challenge. most people don't wanna spend money on something they're giving away but that's part of the game.

heres some ideas off top:

go to all events with similar fan base

drop of album with record stores or clothing / shoe spots - tell them to include your cd with purchase over X amount.

link with other groups and cross market

throw a release party / event / show ect

boombox with the homies - knock a tune in public live

make a video / project based on a single or snippet of the album

remind people why they missing out

Damn, thanks for the ideas I'm workin on a few already.

i found this while searching around the net

http://rapidshare.com/files/234726132/o ... _ebook.pdf

temetrepo wrote:i found this while searching around the net

http://rapidshare.com/files/234726132/o ... _ebook.pdf

Is it any good?

^has a few good tips

Its all a numbers game! The more time you spend out connecting with people, the way better your chances. Being a combination of outgoing, down to earth, and talented, and its a WRAP!!! Practice them ppl skills! Easier said than done though.

co sign on the people skills.

Curse my introversion.....

disclaimer*** ALL LINKS POSTED ARE MEANT AS REAL EXAMPLES OF MY ANSWERS AND ARE NOT MEANT AS ME PROMOTING MYSELF...
EXAMPLES SHOW THAT I'M NOT GIVING BLIND ANSWERS BUT ANSWERS FROM EXPERIENCE, so hope it helps ya man I'm just gettin tired of being called spam for trying to help people with questions



from an online perspective, there are several ways to get your release out there


First determine your niche audience, who they are what interests them

your project should have a kind of story to it like if a music mag/press was gonna write about what might make it special or interesting


write/utilize the free press release sites and make it a story

for example http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200806/1213569630.html

the more people involved in your release too the more promotion by them you will have, like getting people involved in ways that will make them share your album with whoever they know
whether letting people do adlibs/ intros on tracks or using many people in ya artwork and flyers that will make them share them too

save and use any comments/ your music related feedback from fans in order to recruit more fans

FOR EXAMPLE OF THIS
http://briangmusic.com/bgfancomment.cfm

When people show ya extra love don't hesitate to make them part of your promotion engine to that will spread you further though social proofing/logo recognition


FOR EXAMPLE OF THIS TECHNIQUE

http://www.briangmusic.com/bgpromogirls.cfm



if your release has goals like studio work, production etc you can write articles that can help potential clients collaborators just make sure your articles lead back to you

for example, an article that offers mixing help to home recording hip hop artists

a home studio hip hop mixing guide

http://ezinearticles.com/?Mixing-Hip-Hop-Songs-in-Your-Own-Home-Recording-Studio-and-Computer&id=2226502


Write free .pdf guides that people can down download and pass around or interesting stories that link back to you too

10 step guide to better hiphop vocals in a home studios

for example http://briangmusic.com/files/10%20Steps%20to%20Recording%20Better%20Hip%20Hop%20Songs%20in%20Your%20Own%20Home%20Studio.pdf


videos that feature your tracks and crowd response can also get you gigs too if performing/club gigs is your goal
for example:
live club video of crowd dancing to featured artist's music
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=42277007


disclaimer*** ALL LINKS POSTED ARE MEANT AS REAL EXAMPLES OF MY ANSWERS AND ARE NOT MEANT AS ME PROMOTING MYSELF...
EXAMPLES SHOW THAT I'M NOT GIVING BLIND ANSWERS BUT ANSWERS FROM EXPERIENCE, so hope it helps ya man I'm just gettin tired of being called spam for trying to help people with questions

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in real life nonm internet promotion, go hang out at the places that play similiar music to yours, get to know the deejays, give em your most dj usable track to spin. if your near a university, hit up the radio stations in your genre

the major market stations are much less likely to be able to play ya but the college radio will


get a few copies on consignment in your towns local record shops and put up a poster or two in store if they will let ya.

don't be shy, with anybody, you can pick up contacts anywhere

I met clients at kinkos, printing/cuttin flyers and in a bank,
you never know who may be a potential fan or client so spread the word
and ALWAYS have some material on you atleast one cd or even a cheap 5 dollar thumb drive with some tracks if you meet the right person pass it to em.


one last thing, learn to know the difference between haters an just people that are not feeling your music.

people that don't like your music ARE NOT HATERS, they are just NOT FANS.


the way to tell a hater is a person who takes time to nitpick and find anything negative to say and try to belittle ya success or value.

a hater will focus more on a rappers waistline than the music if a rapper is heavyset

or if you get radio play on college radio... a hater will feel the need to point out that it is not a clear channel comm station or billboard hot 100.

stay focussed on ya niche and let the haters hate because they hate out of frustration from their own fear of failure or lack of trying through trying to kill your dream or belittle your successes

good luck

BGBEATS wrote:they hate out of frustration from their own fear of failure or lack of trying thour trying to kill your dream or belittle your successes

I hear that brother. Everything else you said was real helpful BG I am gonna use a lot of your advice man thanks.

Mark Madness wrote:I hear that brother. Everything else you said was real helpful BG I am gonna use a lot of your advice man thanks.

your welcome, glad to help