Before You Launch Your Band's Website, Do These 5 Things

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Your website is the ultimate statement of your personal brand. It’s the home base for all of your music, media, contact info, latest news, and (hopefully) access to sign up to your newsletter.

While many musicians stress out over every detail of an impending music release, many fail to take the same precautions when it comes to their websites. Cutting corners and launching a website without much forethought can lead to a costly trail of redesigns, relaunches, and "under construction” notices.

email, Music Business 101, Marketing & Promotion

Jul 31, 2017 06:00 AM

Suzanne Paulinski

Get More Newsletter Subscribers With These 3 Opt-ins (That Aren’t Free Downloads)

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Ever feel like your email list is growing at a snail’s pace? Are you getting people to sign up, but they’re unsubscribing just as fast?

The trick to a healthy, engaged, and growing email list is to clearly identify your ideal audience and provide them with quality content. Keep in mind, it doesn’t always have to be about your music. Allow fans to get to know and love all sides of you, not just your music side. Chances are those fans share similar passions as you, so expand on that.

Once you’ve decided what content you want to share with your subscribers, give them a reason to join.

Licensing & Publishing, Music Business 101

Jul 17, 2017 06:00 AM

Suzanne Paulinski

You Must Do These 5 Things Before Licensing Your Music

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You often read blogs about music licensing that touch upon the importance of what to include in your email pitch, how to find who to contact about a project, and even how to position your music for greater success in the world of licensing.

What often goes unsaid, however, are the small, yet important, details (known as micro-tasks) that make the difference between a migraine-inducing process and a money-generating one.

Music Business 101, Booking Gigs & Touring

Jun 14, 2017 06:00 AM

Suzanne Paulinski

4 Steps to Book More Gigs Through Your Fellow Musicians

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It’s common to hear, “There’s no blueprint in today’s music industry.” While that can be frightening for most, you should be excited by the fact that you can invent new ways to achieve your desired results. After all, you picked this industry because you like being creative, right?

Booking shows isn’t a pain point for many musicians. Booking shows at the venues they want, however, is. All too often, musicians spend their time cold-calling booking agents and venue owners hoping for a spot in their line-up, because how we're led to believe it's done. When they don’t hear back, or get that dreaded rejection, many give up and try again elsewhere.

If you’ve found yourself dealing with this all-too-common position, fear not. Just because booking a show through a booking agent is the way it's usually done doesn’t mean it’s the only way. When you’re stuck with where to look next, try reverse-engineering the situation.

Musician Success Guide, Strategies for Success

May 24, 2017 06:00 AM

Suzanne Paulinski