10 Commandments For Music Distribution

Podcast Summary

• Emphasizing the importance of sharing origin stories and writing process for musicians: Sharing origin stories and writing process on various digital platforms can help musicians connect with their audience and gain leverage, leading to monetization opportunities.

  Documenting the writing process and being present on various digital platforms are crucial for musicians looking to make it in the 21st century. According to Gary Vaynerchuk, during his conversation with Anik Khan, the importance of sharing the origin stories and the entire writing process was emphasized. He believes that comic books are successful because of their compelling origin stories, and musicians can benefit from sharing theirs. Additionally, Gary advised musicians to be everywhere their audience is, emphasizing the importance of SoundCloud, Snapchat, Vine, and Instagram for reaching the youth demographic. Interacting with the audience and monetizing the leverage gained through content creation on these platforms are also essential.

• The internet has opened up opportunities for artists to build their own audiences and connect with fans.: Artists can succeed by focusing on community building and genuine connections with fans through digital platforms.

  The music industry has evolved significantly due to the internet, leading to a longer tail of artists making a living from their craft. While there may be fewer artists at the very top making large sums from album sales alone, there are now more opportunities for artists to build their own audiences and connect with fans through digital platforms. To succeed, artists must focus on cultivating a community and making genuine connections with their audience through innovative use of tools like Meerkat, Instagram, and YouTube. Building an audience takes time and effort, but with dedication and creativity, artists can turn their passion into a sustainable career. As Gary Vaynerchuk and Wyclef Jean emphasized, the internet has leveled the playing field, allowing artists from all backgrounds to build a following and share their music with the world.

• The internet has transformed the music industry: Artists can now reach their audiences directly, focus on music, find inspiration, and connect with fans through the internet

  The internet has democratized the music industry, allowing original artists to reach their audiences directly and potentially discover new opportunities, regardless of their geographical location. This was not the case in the past when there were limited opportunities for musicians to be discovered due to the lack of exposure and resources. The speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on the music itself, rather than show business, and encourages artists to think about the relevance of their work a thousand years from now. The internet has also made it easier for artists to find inspiration from past musicians and learn from them, leading to a continuous cycle of creativity. Overall, the internet has transformed the music industry, providing more opportunities for artists and allowing them to connect with their audiences in ways that were not possible before.

• Leveraging open platforms for indie music discovery: Engage with music communities online, directly link to music content, and become an active member to increase visibility and attract listeners

  Open platforms provide a better opportunity for musicality and indie artists to be discovered, as opposed to the past when business considerations may have hindered their success. Gary Vaynerchuk, in his show Ask Gary Vee, emphasized the importance of authentic engagement on social media as a marketing strategy for indie music producers. He suggested becoming an active member of online music communities, engaging with fans of specific artists, and using social media profiles to directly link to music content. These tactics can help increase visibility and attract listeners, creating a viral loop for the artist's music.

• Leveraging Influencers and Social Media for Music Promotion: Engage with influencers in your genre, use hashtags, offer free merchandise or exposure, document album release process on Medium, and reach out to media outlets for guest articles. Instagram is a better platform for pushing visual content.

  For artists looking to promote their music without spending a lot on traditional marketing methods, utilizing influencers and social media platforms like Instagram can be an effective and low-cost strategy. Gary Vaynerchuk suggests reaching out to influencers in your genre or niche, engaging with them and their audiences through hashtags, and potentially offering them free merchandise or exposure in return for a feature. He also recommends documenting the process of releasing an album on platforms like Medium and reaching out to media outlets for potential guest articles. These tactics can help artists build a following, gain exposure, and ultimately, promote their music to a wider audience. Additionally, Instagram was suggested as a better platform for pushing content compared to Twitter due to its visual nature and larger user base.

• Connect and Distribute: Building a Hip Hop Marketing Strategy: Focus on building genuine connections and distribution networks. Reach out to content creators and leverage larger platforms to increase exposure. Treat your music as a product and engage authentically with your community.

  For hip hop artists looking to market themselves effectively, focusing on building connections and distribution networks is crucial. Reach out to content creators whose tone aligns with your music, and aim to distribute your music through their audiences. Leveraging larger platforms and communities can lead to significant exposure. Additionally, treating your music like a product and consistently adding value to a specific audience will help you stand out. Don't be fancy or try to be big time, but instead, authentically engage with your community and build genuine connections. By being present and actively participating, you'll increase the chances of your music being discovered and appreciated by your target audience.

• 18 years to build a successful community: Stay committed, remain patient, and explore new opportunities for growth, like Twitch, to expand your brand.

  Consistency and patience are key to building a successful community and achieving long-term goals. The speaker shares his personal experience of dedicating 18 years to building a community, which eventually led to significant success. He emphasizes the importance of not giving up and trusting the process, even when results may not be immediate. Additionally, the speaker highlights the potential of platforms like Twitch for increasing exposure and reaching new audiences. He encourages considering direct engagement with top Twitch players as a strategy for expanding one's brand. Ultimately, the message is to stay committed, remain patient, and explore new opportunities for growth.

• Expanding your fan base through authentic connections: Authentic connections with influencers and fans, regardless of cultural differences or locations, can lead to new opportunities and growth. Engage with fans on social media and stay true to yourself to make authentic connections and navigate the world of fame.

  Expanding your fan base and reach can be achieved through authentic connections with influencers and fans, regardless of cultural differences or geographical locations. These connections can lead to new opportunities and growth, much like how athletes or musicians from the same background may still have a shared fan base. Engaging with fans on social media can also be a valuable strategy for increasing fame and staying connected to your audience. However, it's important to find a balance between focusing on your career and engaging with fans, as both are essential for long-term success. Ultimately, staying true to yourself and staying connected to your roots can help you navigate the world of fame and continue to make authentic connections with new fans.

• Engaging with fans is key to artist success: Artists should proactively engage with fans through social media and exclusive experiences to build a stronger connection and increase success.

  Consistency and engagement with fans are crucial for artists in today's fragmented music industry. While it's essential to focus on producing high-quality music, artists also need to be mindful of timing and fan reactions. When an album or song doesn't perform as expected, it's essential to be proactive and find ways to engage with fans to keep the momentum going. Instead of relying solely on brand or waiting for things to turn around, artists can use social media and other platforms to give fans exclusive access and experiences. This not only builds a stronger connection with the fanbase but can also lead to increased exposure and success for the artist.

• Connecting with your audience can lead to viral moments: Engaging with followers and creating authentic connections can lead to significant growth and amplification of content.

  Engaging with your audience and showing appreciation can lead to significant growth and amplification of your content. The speaker shares an experience of meeting with a colleague and the unexpected turnout of 1000 people, leading to a viral moment. He emphasizes the importance of not only creating content but also connecting with your followers, even on a smaller scale. The speaker also touches upon the topic of having a team to help create content and the potential benefits of collaborating with others. Lastly, he expresses admiration for artists like Chance the Rapper who release music for free as a marketing strategy, emphasizing the importance of staying engaged with fans and remaining dedicated to the art.

• Emphasizing the importance of collaboration and volume in creating art: Gary Vaynerchuk encourages artists to focus on building a community and releasing a large volume of work, even if some pieces may not be their best. Success doesn't come overnight, but keeping consistent and collaborating with others can lead to long-term growth.

  Creating art is not about materialism or monetary gain, but rather about giving back to your fans and building a community. Gary Vaynerchuk emphasizes the importance of collaboration and volume in releasing content, even if it may seem confusing or overwhelming. The mentality should be to keep pushing forward, even when success doesn't come as quickly as expected. Instead of worrying about diluting your work, focus on putting out more content, as people will remember the hits and forget the rest. The potential upside of releasing a large volume of work outweighs the risk of a few weaker pieces. So, keep creating, keep collaborating, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. And don't forget to share this podcast with your friends and subscribe for more valuable insights!