Welcome to the new world of music, where we can all be superstars! Well… not really. But it’s easier than ever to get your voice heard, so it’s definitely worth trying.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- How to Create You Artistic Brand
- How to Produce Music on a Budget
- How to Get Exposure and Build an Audience
The music industry has been changing since the beginning of time, just as music itself has. There are two things that are always constant: the need for music, and the people making it.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re one of those people, and we’ve got some news for you: The world needs YOU now more than ever.
We know you might feel discouraged by the state of the industry or the challenges of starting a career in it. We also know that with technology going where it’s going, there’s never been a better time to be an independent musician.
But so many artists get discouraged by what they don’t have—the perfect voice or guitar skills or an audience. And sure, those all help, but none of them is what makes your career happen. Your career happens because of all the things that you do have—all the work you put in and all the vision you put out into the world.
BUILDING AN INDEPENDENT ARTISTIC CAREER
Not so long ago, it was unheard of for a singer to publish and promote their own music independently. But with the advent of streaming services and other digital distribution channels, everything has changed. These days, if you’re determined, talented and not afraid of hard work, you can become a professional singer without being signed to a label or working with an agent.
So how do you start a career in music? We’ve put together this guide to help you get started on the path to becoming a professional singer.
So let’s start with this: What can you do right now? What can you do every time you open your laptop or pick up your instrument? We think these three things are crucial to starting and growing a successful career in music:
Step 1: Build your own brand
Before you can even begin thinking about making and publishing your own music, you’ll need to establish a professional online presence for yourself. Create profiles on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, as well as niche social networks like SoundCloud and YouTube. Make sure that all of your usernames are consistent across platforms—it’s no good having one username for Facebook and another for Twitter.
As well as establishing yourself online, make sure that you have a professional-looking headshot that you can use on all of your profiles. You should also consider designing a logo that represents you as an artist (and if you’re not great at graphic design, don’t worry—there are plenty of sites out there where you can find very easy-to-use tools), for example, at Canva.com it does not only give you the tools for graphic design but also teaches you how to use it.
People often think of branding as something only big companies do, but it’s really important for artists. Branding is what sets you apart from other artists and communicates your unique promise of value.
Branding isn’t just a logo, though that is part of it. It’s everything you do to communicate with the public, so it includes all the ways you interact with customers and visitors on your website.
In the indie artist world, you have to be a jack of all trades: Make art, innovate your art, sell art and build your brand.
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Creating a lasting impression for your music business takes time and effort, but there are some things you need to do right off the bat:
Your name: This doesn’t have to be your real name if you’re more comfortable using an alias. If your name is already being used by someone else in the art industry, consider coming up with something else that has meaning for you.
Your domain name: You should get this before you announce yourself to the world since domain names can go quickly. Even if you haven’t launched a website yet, register your domain so no one else can take it away!
To be an artist, you need to make art. That’s the easy part. To build an artistic brand, you also need to make sure that:
- Your art is in one distinct style (for example, minimalism).
- Your art is unique to you and not derivative of another artist.
Now, let’s talk about this extremely essential element of building a brand: Register it as your official trademark, otherwise, somebody else will do it, and you lose rights to your own brand.
Artists are often known for their work, personality, or both. And while it’s a challenge to have either of those factors be memorable, it can be an even bigger challenge to have both stand out. Luckily, understanding the importance of branding and marketing can help you get there.
Branding is important because it is what makes your work easily identifiable amongst other artists. It is a way to differentiate yourself from the crowd on social media, in a gallery, at industry events, and beyond. So if you’re looking to build your artistic brand, here is a trick to consider:
- It is important to first identify your target audience so you can move forward on the basis of what they enjoy seeing and hearing.
Step 2: Become involved in networking
Let’s face it: If you’re a professional singer, your voice is probably one of the most important things in your life. You’ve put hours and hours of work into developing that talent, and now you want to share it with the world. But where do you start?
You could try to get signed by a label, but let’s be real: nobody really buys albums anymore. It’s much more efficient to just look for gigs on specialised platforms.
Once you’ve established yourself as an up-and-coming singer, contact a music producer. This is someone who will help you record your original songs and release them on streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music.
There are plenty of producers all over the world, but if you are looking for one nearby, we recommend platforms that allow you to find contacts of many different producers in one place, especially with online reviews, so you have references.
The Unsigned Guide is a good bet is a good resource, since it caters mainly to UK independent artists. However, today you can record your voice remotely and send it to a producer to be refined, thanks to technology.
If you’re ready to go big, then work with your producer on getting some music videos made. The best place to post music videos is on YouTube—it’s free! But if you want to reach a wider audience, think about paying for some promoted ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Google.
For young people who are just starting out and cannot make any investments on their own, there are communities offering support, mentoring, advice, and networking – which is most important – as well as Cash Prizes.
The MW3.biz Casting Network is a good option since it is also starting at this time and is a socio-constructive project in partnership with Hexagonal Foundation. They offer Cash Prizes and their casting network is international, and everyone can join.
New opportunities are on the way. When the community reaches 333 members, the membership fees will be reverted to the members, who will also automatically enter a monthly prize draw for a chance to win cash. You can make MW3.biz a socio-constructive space by inviting other artists and influencers to participate. The more people who join, the bigger the cash prizes will be.
Step 3: Be your own boss
You want to be your own boss, not just in your music career but in life. So why should you have to get someone else’s permission to release your own music?
The best way to release your songs independently is through music distribution platforms. A good example is PopHits.co, where you don’t have to ask anyone’s permission. They’ve designed the service so that you can easily distribute your music without having to jump through any hoops with major labels or streaming services.
If you’re young, an independent artist, or simply having trouble making ends meet, this low-cost service is perfect for you!
PopHits.co is a music distribution service that lets you distribute your music to streaming services worldwide, as well as social media, and keep distributing your songs to the newest platforms when they are available, all for under $0.40 per song, for one year!
The most exciting thing about it? You don’t have to hire a team or hold on to a producer who is using you as a stepping stone towards his own success. You can do it yourself!
The platform offers services for all steps of the process, including the uploading of your tracks, promotion, and even reviews and recognition from the industry’s top players. Using this method, you can focus on notifying your fans when new tracks are released.
If you’re an independent artist or if you’re just starting out, PopHits.co can help you make it big!
The future of your music depends on you.
Are you in a band? Do you sing? Do you play an instrument? Are you just starting out in the business? Are you worried that cost is going to be prohibitive when it comes to getting your music in front of the right people?
You’re not alone.
So many artists have been forced to retreat from their dreams when they realize how much money it takes to get their names and their songs out there. But if that’s you, we’ve got good news: your music doesn’t have to die before it’s even born.
By using this guide, you can do this yourself, and many platforms are here to help.
PopHits.co just has everything you need to make sure that your name is heard where it counts—from effective digital marketing strategies for musicians (that don’t cost a million bucks) to dynamic and very affordable music distribution services that ensure your music gets into the hands of the people who will love it most—all at prices that won’t break the bank or force you into a lifetime of debt.
If you are embarking on your career as a professional independent artist, don’t stop learning as you go along.
- Learn how to use promotional materials, emails, newsletters and more to promote your music.
- Find professional communities with low initial investment requirements, such as MW3.biz, to help you get your music out and make the kind of money you deserve for your work.
- So keep an open mind and don’t give up!
You can do this, just believe in yourself and give it your all.
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