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Here's an interesting article on the Music Industry and some ideas on self promotion.Part 1http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-mccre....i_ ... 1.htmlPart 2http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-mccre....i_b_182444.htmlB

Thanks Bryan. Interesting read, for sure. What I find more and more concerning is that the ratio of marketing actions against music making actions is constantly on the rise. I know of bands, for example, who spend well over 75% of their time looking at some small ways of getting the edge in a saturated market...leaving fewer and fewer hours for actually composing, gigging et al.

Jul 10, 2009, 5:16am, scounter72 wrote:Thanks Bryan. Interesting read, for sure. What I find more and more concerning is that the ratio of marketing actions against music making actions is constantly on the rise. I know of bands, for example, who spend well over 75% of their time looking at some small ways of getting the edge in a saturated market...leaving fewer and fewer hours for actually composing, gigging et al.Agreed. It's definitely a time killer to be completely self promoting. I have a good friend in LA who started a company that is dedicated to off loading this kind of work. Here's a link to some of their services:http://www.fanmanager.net/servicesI'm not necessarily promoting this particular service, although I've known Eric for years and watched him build this thing from the ground up, so I can definitely vouch.But I am pointing out that there are things like this out there that can assist you in assisting yourself. As the old structure changes, new one's like this will emerge to fill the voids and needs of musicians navigating today's waters.Good luck out there!B

Nice one, Bryan. I'll have a look at this. As you say, there are going to be talented people who know how to assist artists create in the new tidal wave

Interesting articles, and even more interesting comments on that site. Thanks.

I have crossed swords with McCready before, and disagree with some of his characterizations, but I believe he's essentially correct, in some matters. Part Two is essential reading, IMO.Here is some advice from someone whose opinion I find more easily digestible:http://forum.nin.com/bb/read.php?30,767183

I think both articles are really getting at the same thing, which is DIY is the way to go and the old thought of getting signed by a record company is increasingly becoming a thing of the past.These day's it has become vastly easier to record, mix, master, market and sell (online distribution) your own record, than it's ever been. There are many resources to be had and utilized than ever before. Developing working relationships and communication is still paramount as is the need to put out a quality product by anyone expecting to succeed... It's been an ever changing landscape for sure.

But a lot of the old paradigms are still in play; no matter how prodigious the effort, a single person cannot break a new band, it takes money and marketing savvy and a dedicated, no, fanatical street team. The industry IS changing, opportunities abound, but mark my words, there WILL be major labels in the future; they won't be the same ones. Carpe diem.

Somebody who is great at writing songs isn't always goingto be great at self marketing.Services like Music Xray certainly appear to offer a doorwayand more of these will spring up to the detriment of themajors as people become empowered.Nickwww.unit58.com