Now, being the totally undescerning music junkie that I am, I'll usually give anything a listen if I haven't heard it. But, in the rather short course of trying to promote my new EP, which I think is a cool idea (all handmade packaging by me, with a lock of my hair in the release) with some great music in it (a retarded cover of a Jay-Z song and more traditional A Crown of Amaranth madness) I've found that it seems to be really hard to sell people on something they've never heard before. I mean, I can understand wanting to see a review or something, but to me that seems like taking someone elses word for it a bit. (but, of course, there will be upcoming reviews in Worm Gear, Lunar Hypnosis, Aversion Online, etc)
I guess my question is, what sells someone on buying an underground CD? I can't answer this myself because I don't buy a lot (I'm a starving artist, you could say) and I'll usually listen to things through file-sharing before I buy them. Which, incidentally you can listen to some of the tracks on www.myspace.com/crown
Just a bit of sociological research I guess.
Vendlus and Duplicate Records Forums » Random Discussions
Stupid question
(17 posts)| Overall Post Rating: |  |
| How do you rate this post? |
-
or maybe total retardation...JWW will tell you about the depths of my retardation. I pity that man for having to deal with me...or for me having to deal with him...
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Weird
Member
I click on your link... but get Error 404....
it's the stupid auto-linking feature that fails. drop the ). at the end and it works.
intersting stuff tho'... the music, that is.
Posted 3 years ago #
-
sorry bout that...thanks for the words, and the reminder aboot the autolink....
Posted 3 years ago #
-
I like noise!
Really good!
Like the samples at the begining of "Totally Punched in the...".
Is that a picture of a blue blow-off valve?? if so, do you know who makes it?
I've driven through South Bend Indiana a few times.
Now I will think of your music the next time I pass through.
Posted 3 years ago #
-
hell yeah that's a blow-off valve, and no I don't know who makes it...I just picked it up off the Interweb.
And yeah, if you're ever driving through South Bend, just keep on driving...and listen to my music! Thanks for the praise, it helps a struggling soul...
Posted 3 years ago #
-
You should keep doing your music.
We need more musicians that keep pushing the boundaries of sound, sonically and musically.
It's hard to really break down a plan on how to get started.
The music industry is in the middle of a massive change/revolution.
The major labels, whom have sat happily controlling the market is now quite threatened by the net.
People like yourself now have the ability to have virtually worldwide promotion and distribution. Something that was out of the hands of independent musicians.
It is very frustrating when your writing music which is against the grain of what is popular. I ask myself why anyone would listen to my music over the crap thats on American MTV/VH1/Fuse...
But I remember being 17 years old in 1987 and I hated the music and had no idea of what was out there. So I started searching and soon realized an entire subculure of music existed.. and I found my home.
There are lots of people out there who will listen to your music. You just need to focus on getting it to them.
Upload your music on the Usenet, promote yourself freely throughout many websites like this one and many others.
Get professional reviews of your music and add it to your portfolio.
A portfolio is very important. In it, you want pictures of you or your band, reviews of live shows and reviews of your music. It's like ammo, you cant have enough of it.
When you then approach a label (always start with a small one), you will have something to offer them.
This is a very unique time in the history of music, so many musicians/artists and so many viable means of distribution.
I personally hope the major's lose a shit load of money.
Hell, I'd like them to go out of business asap. They have monopolized the music world long enough.
It would be a nice day to sit down and listen to hundreds of different artists all doing creative and very different styles of music.. rather than the handfull of Rap, Hiphop/R&B/boy-girl band/pop-punk shit that is consistantly pounded into the heads of the American public.. maybe other countries as well.
People are out there that want to hear your music.
Dont expect to make a million dollars... those days are numbered.
Write music for yourself because you enjoy it, keep pushing the boundaries, continue to attempt to alter the perception at which people hear music.
And above all.. keep fucking shit up!
Posted 3 years ago #
-
I've been thinking about what you asked and i feel i should perhaps just chime in with my thoughts although it might be quite shocking what i say.
selling cds is for the birds.
I recently decided that if your goal is to sell cds in the current market of the music world your in for a rude awakening. Even artists who are well recognized and promoted decently do badly in todays market. If i were to tell you the figures and numbers that have been quoted to me for cd sales of various releases you would be shocked as well. If say you can get 5-10 people to grab a demo without any real promotion, touring, fanbase thats pretty good ha! The best thing to do to increase the sales of your or anyones work is to spread the word if through fans, friends and various attachments. For instance if you are a noise artist you should try to create and form some noise shows in your area... travel if needed... there are lots of noise fests save up and try to attend one as a performer.. they are usually not too elitist when it comes to introductory artists. This is the best way for you to get a name in a scene. It all comes down to scenes and name recognition in most underground music. If you don't want to follow a scene or become part of something that typcasts you then basically you have to accept that you might not sell many or any cds, but as long as you create then you have achieved your goal.
I have had various success with each release but vendlus is FAR from being self sufficent. This year has actually been quite bad, I keep going further though and working to try to give each artist a better chance in a very bloated market. This is all you can do really.
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Distal Sonority
Member I keep going further though and working to try to give each artist a better chance in a very bloated market. This is all you can do really.
Respect. 8)
Posted 3 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.