Comments on: How can I make sure that my demo actually gets listened to? http://makeitinmusic.com/how-can-i-make-sure-that-my-demo-actually-gets-listened-to advice for musicians and artists, music business advice, music marketing, music promotion, get a record deal, musician resources Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:15:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Eugenia http://makeitinmusic.com/how-can-i-make-sure-that-my-demo-actually-gets-listened-to/comment-page-1#comment-477 Eugenia Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:57:16 +0000 http://makeitinmusic.com/?p=268#comment-477 Another idea is that along the CD, to send a cheap mp3 player. A 32 MB overstock model will do. It shouldn't cost you more than $10. Put that in the package, with 3 songs in it, and the battery fully charged (so there's hope that they can just plug their headphones immediately after opening the package). I think that this will strike them as "different" and will try it immediately. A free mp3 player! Another idea is that along the CD, to send a cheap mp3 player. A 32 MB overstock model will do. It shouldn’t cost you more than $10. Put that in the package, with 3 songs in it, and the battery fully charged (so there’s hope that they can just plug their headphones immediately after opening the package). I think that this will strike them as “different” and will try it immediately. A free mp3 player!

]]> By: Ian http://makeitinmusic.com/how-can-i-make-sure-that-my-demo-actually-gets-listened-to/comment-page-1#comment-474 Ian Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:59:52 +0000 http://makeitinmusic.com/?p=268#comment-474 I hope you're subscribing to this thread, because I think its important that you see our reply. Firstly, this post is about sending demos to anyone - not just record labels - and there are many people that you might need to hear your stuff, whether you looking for any of the established deals (record, publishing, management) or a booker or PR, or alternative investment if you go the DIY route. However, and I am writing a lengthy post on this to be posted soon, your comment about whether a record deal is the right thing to be chasing in 2009 is the result of a lot of misleading preaching that I see on the internet. ALL artists now have to build and prepare for a DIY method of promotion and release, and there is nothing wrong with that being the route for an entire career, but the truth remains that no single artist has yet broken on a significant commercial scale without a record company behind them. Yes, they do take most of the money, but that's becuase they give massive investment. I can't defend that model as most bands never recoup, but it is still there and it still works. More importantly, the changes that are happening in the industry mean that the music you record and sell is truly now just a promotional tool for other revenue streams (live, etc) and having the 'old school' record company paying for that is no bad thing when you can earn elsewhere off the back off their efforts. True, the 360 deal is now a way of life, but, by and large (and I see this in the front line) if you have built your act up yourself and you get really hot, they still do deals that have very small elements of 360 participation in them. In a way that's the best of both worlds. This needs a lot more explanation than I can do in a comment, so look out for the post. But, what I'm saying is that whilst the industry is in a state of flux, don't believe all the gurus that tell you that the record deal is dead. It has its place for the majority of artists and will continue to do so for a few years yet. DIY is great and very much to be praised, but it isn't right for everyone in the long term. I hope you’re subscribing to this thread, because I think its important that you see our reply.

Firstly, this post is about sending demos to anyone – not just record labels – and there are many people that you might need to hear your stuff, whether you looking for any of the established deals (record, publishing, management) or a booker or PR, or alternative investment if you go the DIY route.
However, and I am writing a lengthy post on this to be posted soon, your comment about whether a record deal is the right thing to be chasing in 2009 is the result of a lot of misleading preaching that I see on the internet.

ALL artists now have to build and prepare for a DIY method of promotion and release, and there is nothing wrong with that being the route for an entire career, but the truth remains that no single artist has yet broken on a significant commercial scale without a record company behind them.

Yes, they do take most of the money, but that’s becuase they give massive investment. I can’t defend that model as most bands never recoup, but it is still there and it still works. More importantly, the changes that are happening in the industry mean that the music you record and sell is truly now just a promotional tool for other revenue streams (live, etc) and having the ‘old school’ record company paying for that is no bad thing when you can earn elsewhere off the back off their efforts.

True, the 360 deal is now a way of life, but, by and large (and I see this in the front line) if you have built your act up yourself and you get really hot, they still do deals that have very small elements of 360 participation in them. In a way that’s the best of both worlds.

This needs a lot more explanation than I can do in a comment, so look out for the post. But, what I’m saying is that whilst the industry is in a state of flux, don’t believe all the gurus that tell you that the record deal is dead. It has its place for the majority of artists and will continue to do so for a few years yet.

DIY is great and very much to be praised, but it isn’t right for everyone in the long term.

]]> By: swampyankee http://makeitinmusic.com/how-can-i-make-sure-that-my-demo-actually-gets-listened-to/comment-page-1#comment-473 swampyankee Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:58:49 +0000 http://makeitinmusic.com/?p=268#comment-473 Sending demos to record labels? Is this honest valid advice for 2009? Did I miss something? Maybe a label could give you better promotion than you could do you yourself, but in the end you will be made to pay for it out of your pocket, not theirs. Everything they do for you, you must pay for. They will take a larger cut from your product than you get. They get the money first, then if any is left over, you'll get yours last. Still want a record label deal? Why? Sending demos to record labels? Is this honest valid advice for 2009? Did I miss something? Maybe a label could give you better promotion than you could do you yourself, but in the end you will be made to pay for it out of your pocket, not theirs. Everything they do for you, you must pay for. They will take a larger cut from your product than you get. They get the money first, then if any is left over, you’ll get yours last. Still want a record label deal? Why?

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