This is the first post in a series of guest posts by MusicNomad, a musicians advocate organization that researches, reviews and ranks thousands of companies in the music industry to filter out the ones that help musicians the most.Music blogs are the new A&R scouts for the music industry. Music fans and record labels use influential music blogs to filter out and find new music, and as a result, all developing artists must now leverage the music blog scene to succeed. Some music blogs write about popular music and give reviews, gossip and MP3’s, but the most influential ones are usually written by one blogger who writes about music he loves and does not follow the mainstream music scene. Music fans on these sites go there because they have the same musical tastes of those bloggers and want to discover cool new music. As a result, if your band is lucky enough to be positively reviewed on a music blog, it can bring new fans to your shows and websites. This should sound familiar to Evolving Music readers, as it shares the same underlying principal as the Niche Music System.
Well how do these bloggers find new music to write about? They go to record stores (yes there are still a few around) and ask the clerks what is new and cool. They ask friends and check out lots of live shows. And, they take music submissions through their sites. The challenge is that most bloggers have no time to listen to everything submitted, so the chances of them listening to your music and getting put on their blog are slim.
However, MusicNomad has compiled a great list of do’s and don’ts for submitting your music that will increase your chances of getting mentioned:
Do’s
- Make sure you check out the style of music the blogger likes and send your music to only those bloggers that like your style/genre.
- Personalize the email and refer to something you read in the blog that you liked. Mention some of the bands the blogger likes and that you are in the same genre as them.
- Tell the blogger some cool bands you think he will like and in your signature, put your band’s myspace page, etc and tour dates.
- Use the subject line to draw attention to something important, such as you are touring through the blogger’s town or you sound like one of his favorite bands.
- If you are touring through the blogger’s town, let him know and ask him to come down and check you out.
- Send MP3 links
Don’ts
- Don’t show up at their home or place of business, they don’t like stalkers.
- Don’t send CD’s unless they specifically ask for it.
- If you are a rap artist, don’t send your MP3 to an indie rock blogger and vice versa.
- Don’t use all caps in your email to them…there’s no need to yell.
In the end, most bloggers write about music they like and share it with readers who have come to respect them for their recommendations and taste. These influential bloggers help promote artists and bring people to their shows. They also get pleasure in helping the bands they like and bringing new fans to them.
About MusicNomad
MusicNomad is a musicians advocate organization that tries to make sense of the vast and fragmented music industry through researching, interviewing, reviewing and ranking thousands of companies in the music industry and filtering the ones that can really help musicians. They then do write ups on the companies, rank them and give you a direct link to their website. There are also tips, news and articles for musicians to explore. The website is free to use and focuses on fighting for the underdog, independent musicians!
MusicNomad is a musicians advocate organization that tries to make sense of the vast and fragmented music industry through researching, interviewing, reviewing and ranking thousands of companies in the music industry and filtering the ones that can really help musicians. They then do write ups on the companies, rank them and give you a direct link to their website. There are also tips, news and articles for musicians to explore. The website is free to use and focuses on fighting for the underdog, independent musicians!
Good points above. Many of the blogs are also moving towards drop boxes by SoundCloud and ones like ours on MusicXray. We also have a list of bloggers that are looking for new music http://www.musicxray.com/artist/categories/26. One of the main things is to send them your best music. Quality over quantity wins out and also make sure that you fit the genre of music they are looking for if it is specified.
Thanks for sharing this points. I like sharing my favorite music to public via my blog.
Thanks! This was so vague and sparse you’ve inspired me to do a much better version of this article.
@Justin, right on! we just wanted to cover the basics here — be sure to drop a link to your post once it’s up!
Thanks for the advice Alan. Albeit basic info it does go a long way to help indie artists/producers like myself. I’m sure I speak for many when I say that we tend to overlook these pointers hence drowning in a sea of up and comers. So don’t stop sharing brother.Peace out.
I think the best point you made in the article was that most bloggers really do this out of love for the music… they’re not in it for the money. They just love to find music they like and then tell their people about it…and that’s why bloggers are so trusted, because people know they’re not getting paid to write what they do! Cool article, thanks! =) I for one and VERY appreciative of bloggers and their support of indie musicians such as myself!
I especially like #2 in the Do’s. If a blogger or webzine gets the slightest clue that your email is a mass email, they won’t feel “special” or that you value them enough.
One other thing, from my own experiences that I dislike, being on the webzine side, is when a person sends a link to “check us out on MySpace” and then “review us if you end up liking what you hear.”
To me, that comes off as lazy on the artist’s part. If you want the review, hold your head up high, tell me a little bit about what you do and send your promo in. You seek us, we don’t seek you.
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An interesting article with some valid points, but the process you describe is long and laborious. In terms of finding the blogs in the first place and then communicating with each one individually.
This might be OK if you are an artists who is releasing on a sporadic basis, but if you are a small independent label with a lot of output it becomes a difficult and time consuming process.
I like Music Xrays concept of a site/directory of bloggers and podcasters who are looking for new music, but have yet to find one that’s worthwhile.
And certainly think the pay for play/submission concept is a complete rip off.
When doing your own promotion (which I dislike)it’s unrealistic
to personalize your email other than taking the time to address it to the individual (To: John Jones, Folk Record Company / Hi John:)and then the body of your letter getting right to the point with description, genre, free download links, website, and asking if they would like a copy of the CD after taking time to listen to to a track or two first from a airplay direct for instance. Is this so much to ask?. Mailing out a thousand CDs “cold” is just crazy especially in today’s economy. This is for the independent songwriter who can’t afford to do this without just doing it themselves selectively. I notice Matt Brown’s site is stricly a commercial site asking for money up front. I shouldn’t have to pay anyone to have my CD heard. Paying to have that done is just plain wrong in this business.
Sincerely,
P.O’Dell
For those interested in this topic, I just released an updated version of my e-book, “How to REALLY Get Your Music on Blogs”. To get it, please head on over here: http://tght.me/pJrOZm
Thanks!