What To Expect When You’re Marketing

Laurel Daggers - October 19, 2019

A frequently asked question about digital marketing campaigns is “ What can I expect to get from this?”. After all, it would be nice to know that you’re going to get a return on your investment, wouldn’t it? In a world seemingly obsessed with overnight success stories, unrealistic expectations will kill your campaign (not to mention industry connections) before you have a chance to get your brand off the ground. Fortunately for you, there are realistic and useful results you can expect from a digital marketing campaign and we’ve laid them out for you below. 

First, you need to know precisely what it is. Digital marketing is a way to promote brands and products online through other channels of digital media. This particular avenue of business promotion helps you to obtain measurable results by calling your audience to action for a particular event your brand is involved in, i.e. ticket sales for a concert, selling merchandise, etc. 

Transparency 

With digital marketing, you can track your direct results, practically in real time. As people click on your ad you can see who follows the links, who look at your website and who is purchasing your merchandise. 

Information

You can gain more information about your audience from digital marketing as well. Information such as what time of day they spend the most time online, what type of products they’re the most interested in, and what type of ads they respond to the most. When you create digital ads, it is common to do A/B split testing to perfect your ads by trying out different versions and seeing which ones get the highest response. 

Specific Media Coverage

There is some media coverage involved in digital marketing, however, it’s entirely paid placements. For the most part, it will be ads, but in certain publications, there are opportunities to pay for reviews or brief articles about your brand as well. 

The Timeline

You can absolutely expect to see results from a digital marketing campaign, but how soon? It will likely take at least a few months to really start seeing the fruits of your (or your publicists) labor. Brand awareness will start rising earlier than that, but tangible results will start coming in around 3 months. 

Results 

There are many different benefits to digital marketing. Search engine optimization (SEO), growth of social media engagement, business to customer direct contact, and accurate data collection from your audience are all results you can expect from different types of marketing campaigns. Not all campaigns are created equal due to individual brand needs, capabilities and budget. However, with the right plan and the right marketing team behind you, your business goals are attainable in time. 

AMW Welcomes New Client King Bach

AMW - October 17, 2019

AMW is excited to announce we are working with internet star King Bach! He’s recently released his latest single, “Blue Pantalones,” a comedy song about . . . pants.

King Bach is an in-demand actor, producer, and content creator alongside his internet success with over 45 million fans. His hilarious brand of comedy has spawned national catchphrases and captured a global audience, launching him into the industry as a bonafide “one to watch.”

Bach has starred in various films/shows such as “Meet The Blacks,” 50 Shades of Black” alongside Marlon Wayans and a slew of Netflix hit films: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “The Babysitter” and “When We First Met.” He has also been cast in Netflix comedy films such as “Coffee and Kareem” alongside Taraji P. Henson, Ed Helms, and Betty Gilpin as well as “Holidate” with Emma Roberts and Kristin Chenoweth. Bach has also produced for many of the films he’s starred in. 

Bach has been named one of the Top Influencers by Forbes and Time Magazine, he received the 2015 Streamy Award for Viner of the Year, 2016 Shorty Award for Viner of the Year, and was nominated for multiple 2017 Streamy Awards for Storyteller of the Year and Collaboration, winning Storyteller of the Year. He currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most followed account on Vine.

Take a listen to “Blue Pantalones” on Spotify.

The Difference Between Publicists, Managers, and Agents

Laurel Daggers - October 17, 2019

As the business development director here at AMW, it’s part of my job to answer questions any of our potential clients may have when they’re considering working with us. Particularly with clients who are newer to the entertainment world, I get asked a few specific questions, in particular, every single day: what can you do for me? Can you get me gigs? Can you book me work on a tv show? How are you going to make me successful? 

Let’s start with what we do, in particular. A majority of what we do is publicity and marketing. This means we educate the public about your brand and help them to view it in a positive light. Education takes time and positive perception takes careful planning. Generally, the professional who would get you gigs is your manager. The professional who would get you tv auditions is your agent. Most importantly, however, the professional who will make you successful, is you. Keep reading to find out more information on how to assemble a hard-working team to support your goals like a pro.

Publicists

When you bring a publicist on to your team, it’s their job to influence positive public opinion about you and your brand. Your publicist will have connections to different types of media publications on local and national levels which they will use to reach out in order to pitch media coverage for their clients. Some of the functions of a publicist’s job are as follows: writing and distributing press releases, handling media inquiries for their clients, putting together press kits, creating detailed publicity plans, and occasionally smoothing over a messy, public situation. Publicists work for project-based fees or retainers, which is paid upfront.

Managers

A lot of people don’t know the difference between managers and agents… including, at times, managers and agents. There truly is a very fine line between them, but the most important defining line between them is that a manager is someone you hire to help you with every aspect of your entertainment career. A majority of managers don’t charge a fee, rather they work on a commission basis (the commission usually falls between 10% and 30% of your earnings). 

Agents

An agent is someone you generally hire through an agency. There is often a screening process to get into the agency before you can hire one of their agents. Once you have one, it is their job to find work for you and send you to auditions. They are the middle man between potential jobs and you. Agents also work for commission (usually 10%) and will only get that commission after you book and job and get paid for it. 

AMW Welcomes New Client Ananya Birla

AMW - October 4, 2019

We’re excited to be working with Ananya Birla, a singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur from India. She’s just released an infectious reggae-pop single with Sean Kingston titled “Day Goes By.” The single marks one of the biggest Indo – U.S. collaborations. If you’re looking for an upbeat song to boost your mood, take a listen to “Day Goes By” on Spotify.

With three back-to-back platinum-selling and two double platinum-selling hits, Ananya has created new benchmarks for international music in India. She is signed to Universal Music Group India and is supported by Island Records UK. Ananya holds the record for being the first Indian artist with an English single to go platinum – as per the Indian Music Industry (IMI) recognized criteria for certifications.

Having scaled the charts at home and appeared on major playlists in the US, UK, UAE, and South East Asia, including Apple Music’s Best of 2018, Ananya has played at concerts including Global Citizen and Sunburn. She was listed as one of GQ’s Most Influential Young Indians, Miss Vogue’s 28 Under 28 Genius, and Forbes’ Women to Watch, recently gracing their cover.

Beyond her passion for music, Ananya is a successful entrepreneur and a strong advocate fo the conversation on mental health. When she was 17 years old, Ananya founded Svatantra Microfin, a company that provides financial solutions for underprivileged women in rural India. She also set up a mental health initiative called Mpower to speak about the stigma associated with mental illness and co-founded a mental health care center.

You can listen to “Day Goes By” on all major platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Follow Ananya on Instagram to stay updated on her latest activities.

Katrina Stuart Releases New Single “Blue Roses”

AMW - September 13, 2019

Available Worldwide September 14th

Los Angeles, CA – September 13, 2019 — Katrina Stuart has known from a very young age that she had talents to share with the world. Since the age of 4, she’s been honing her craft, performing in front of audiences and sharing her hope and optimism with the world. This September, Katrina releases her first single “Blue Roses,” giving her a brand new platform from which to spread her message.

“Blue Roses” is about being in a bad relationship where the dishonest person is trying to make up for it with meaningless gifts. The other person realizes “I just want to see in color, I want love and we know it ain’t love”  

Katrina flew to Sweden to work with an amazing team to bring “Blue Roses” to life. Grammy-nominated producer Trevor Muzzy is known for his work with Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo, Pitbull, and Nicki Minaj. Swedish songwriter Aleena Gibson has worked with Jason Derulo, Mr. Big, Nick Carter, S Club 7, Chenoa, Tata Young, Rouge Jill Johnson, Girls’ Generation, and Austin Mahone. Katrina is signed with Musicash Records.

You can listen to “Blue Roses” on all major music platforms on September 14th including iTunes, Soundcloud, and Spotify. 

In the coming months, Katrina has multiple new releases to look forward to. Fans and listeners can look forward to two new singles, three new music videos, and an album, release dates will be announced soon. In the meantime, Katrina will be performing live at a release party in Los Angeles for “Blue Roses” on September 28th along with the premiere of the “Blue Roses” music video. 

Follow Katrina on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram for updates, or you can watch her show sponsored by Musicash on THEmctv.com.  

About Katrina Stuart 

Katrina Stuart is a musician and performer originally from Toronto, Canada currently living in Los Angeles, CA. She discovered her talent at the age of 4 and spent the next few years developing her skills through creating her own music and performing at a variety of events and venues such as schools, talent contests, and her local church. Her talents don’t stop at music, Katrina is also an actor, dancer, and model who has appeared in television commercials, magazine advertisements and short films. With over 450K Instagram followers, Katrina uses her platform to inspire her listeners and fans to pursue their own dreams.

Top Revenue Makers In The Music Industry

Laurel Daggers - September 7, 2019

There’s more than one way to make money in the music industry. Many musicians forget to incorporate some of these important revenue streams into their business plan for their career.  It’s no secret that musicians and other artists often start out with little to no money… or end up that way. A necessary way to stabilize the growth of your career is to educate yourself on the multiple ways your hard work can bring in money.

Touring

As a musician, you should be playing music as often as possible, as many places as you can. As an independent artist, it can actually be simpler to set up tours whenever you feel like it than when you’re a signed professional. Learn the ins and outs of the right way to be your own booker and take advantage of this valuable opportunity. Once you get some shows under your belt you can start applying to be in festivals. Festival attendance is at an all-time high

 Branding

Determining what your “brand” should be and how it should be portrayed as an artist is a big deal. Lana Del Rey first started out her career under her real name, Lizzie Grant. As Lizzie Grant, she was largely unsuccessful. Then she changed the way she presented herself and became the widely known Lana Del Rey. Why? Because she created a clear, specific, interesting brand and fans knew exactly what they could come to her for. Once you’ve created your brand, be sure that your image and likeness are clear and aligned with products that further your brand. 

Publishing

Writing and recording original music should be at the very top of every musicians business plan. Once you record your original music onto a medium, you own the rights to your work. Owning the rights to your songs mean that you will be the one getting paid any time a commercial, artist, etc. use that song to make money. 

Merchandise sales 

It’s important to give your fans some fun options for branding your music. Selling merchandise online and at your shows isn’t just about making money. Your audience is paying you to then provide free advertisement for you and bring new fans to your music. It’s also probably the only source of income that you have easy control over. 

Youtube monetization

So many current artists (such as Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepson) have gotten their start on YouTube. As an artist, if you aren’t taking advantage of this simple platform to further your career, you’re likely leaving experience, exposure, and money on the table. There are more than 1 billion unique users visiting the site every month. According to a study done by Nielsen, YouTube reaches more adults than any cable network. Millions of subscriptions happen each day, and some of them could be for your channel! 

Synchronization licensing 

This means making your music available for use in tv, movies, commercials, video games, etc.  Once your music is recorded and mastered, try registering it with a Performance Rights Organization. These organizations ensure that you get paid when a tv show, movie, or advertisement uses your original works. 

Author Porscha Sterling Relaunches #1 African American LiT Reading App

Naomi Grandison - August 7, 2019

New Features Deliver the Ultimate, Customized Reading Experience 

Los Angeles, CA – Aug. 7, 2019 — Porscha Sterling wears many hats. The author, publisher, entrepreneur not only writes best selling books that represent African-American audiences, but has also developed a platform for independent authors to reach new audiences and for readers to find work from up and coming authors. The LiT Reading App has just been relaunched with new features that make it easier than ever to use. 

The LiT Reading App is a marketplace for readers to find their favorite new book. Targeted towards fans of Urban Fiction and African-American readers, the LiT Reading App makes it easy to find independent writers with diverse voices. Emerging authors are encouraged to submit their material and become LiT Writers. Users of LiT Reading App have access to exclusive new content, including new novels from Porscha herself. 

The LiT Reading app features a user friendly interface. The clean, modern design can be customized from reader to reader including screen, font size and colors. The reader’s experience was factored into every aspect of the app, making it easy for users to read and navigate through books comfortably. Searching for new titles is easy as well. 

The LiT Reading App is available on the App Store and Google Play. You can download it here. 

Porscha has many exciting new projects in the works as she branches out into new mediums. She currently has a new film she produced on Amazon, “Summer Madness” which was written and directed by Leo Sullivan. She also signed an unprecedented new deal with Kensington Publishing. Keep up with new developments from Porscha on her official website. 

About Porscha Sterling Porscha

Sterling is an Atlanta, GA based author, publisher, entrepreneur and influencer. She’s best known for her breakout hit novel series “King of The Streets, Queen of His Heart” series. Her debut novel “3 Queens” was released in 2014. Shortly after Porscha launched her publishing company Royalty Publishing House, which quickly became the #1 woman-owned, independent publishing company in the nation. Her work has won numerous awards including being the 2019 Literary Honoree for the Kimmie Awards by Sheen Magazine. She just produced her first feature film for Amazon with more films on the way.  

Official Website: porschasterling.com

LiT Reading App: litreadingapp.com

Royalty House Publishing: royaltypublishinghouse.com

Take Control of Your Social Media

Laurel Daggers - August 2, 2019

Trying to catch a break in the entertainment industry takes years of blood, sweat, and tears. It seems like there are a million moving parts at times, so finding prioritizing your tasks can make or break you. In fact, this is where many people hoping to make it in entertainment fall short. Some actors think all they have to do is focus on the acting, some musicians think all they have to do is make music. While this is obviously a major part of your success, it’s not the only part. Oftentimes, important tasks such as maintaining your social media take a hit. 

How important is maintaining your social media, really? Well, these days, not only fans but agents and producers see you online way more than they see you face to face. Smartphone users check their phones at least 150 times per day. You are a brand and in order to know what they’re getting, they will look at your online presence to gather more information about you. Here are some tips to help you keep an active social media presence: 

Make Friends

You should be engaging with social media accounts similar to yours on a regular basis. Get to know them so that you can learn from them (plus it never hurts to have a few more friends). Engagement feeds engagement, people are more likely to comment on your posts if you comment on theirs. 

Get Engaged

It’s no secret that social media engagement is the name of the game. Best case scenario, you want to get as much engagement as you possibly can within the first hour of posting. Why is this important? Immediate engagement after you post means the app algorithm will recognize that post is something that could be interesting to more of your followers, causing it to show up in more of your followers feeds.  

Be Creative

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a great caption will make your audience have just as much to say back. A caption has the ability to give your photo context, help your audience get to know you, and give them an opener to start a conversation. Not every post has to be long or detailed, they can be short and funny as well. What’s most important is that you give your audience a chance to interact with you. 

PhotoShop

Putting clear, quality photos on your social media is more likely to draw people in than a blurry picture of your dinner, for instance. While a picture of a nice meal can be fun to see sometimes, what people like to look at the most is… faces! A post with a face gets 38% more likes than those that don’t. It humanizes your brand and gives your followers something to connect with. 

Correspondence

When someone does comment on one of your posts, try to reply to them as soon as possible. It’s not just good manners, it’s good business. If your social media platform sees that there are a lot of comment in your feed, they will recognize your post as valuable information and assume other people outside of your network would want to see it, too. 

DS Sports Ventures Introduces Groundbreaking New Software BaseballCloud

AMW - July 30, 2019

Former Houston Astros Minor Leaguer Kevin Davidson’s Vision Comes to Life

Los Angeles, CA – July 30, 2019 — BaseballCloud is a revolutionary new software designed as a resource for amateur baseball players looking to improve their game. Envisioned by Kevin Davidson, the CEO and co-founder of DS Sports Ventures, BaseballCloud is the first centralized data analysis tool available for young, aspiring players. Through BaseballCloud’s key metrics and custom visualization tools, players can assess their own performances on data points such as spin rate, fastball velocity, pitch movement, and much more. 

Two years ago, a conversation with data-savvy pitching coach Wes Johnson prompted Davidson to recognize a prominent need in the baseball community. Despite the rise of data usage, there was no platform that brought it all together for complete, unified analysis. Coaches had to spend countless hours getting data into a format that they could read and interpret. After careful study and research, Davidson formulated the idea for BaseballCloud as a way to transform how data is used in amateur baseball. This year, Davidson’s vision comes to life.

“BaseballCloud is going to revolutionize the baseball industry,” says Wes Johnson, current Minnesota Twins pitching coach. “Players will no longer have to wonder if they have the tools to play at any given level. They will know!”

BaseballCloud includes features such as a customizable player profile, site-wide networking capabilities, and analysis on over 20 unique data points. BaseballCloud’s team product is another facet of the software designed specifically for coaches who are looking to boost player development within their teams. As a former Houston Astros catcher, Davidson understands the importance of data when it comes to obtaining accurate, objective performance feedback, a vital part of every player’s growth.

As analytics becomes a growing force in baseball, BaseballCloud is sure to change the way data is viewed. With its introduction of this influential software, DS Sports Ventures takes yet another step towards its goal to educate the baseball community on the importance of data. Under KD’s leadership, DSSV is quickly becoming a dominant innovator in the sports industry. 

About DS Sports Ventures

Based in Orlando, FL, DS Sports Ventures is a rapidly growing sports investment group founded by Kevin Davidson and Joseph Sleiman. Since its inception in 2017, DS Sports Ventures has acquired 10 businesses, including ProspectWire, a premiere baseball scouting and tournament company. DSSV has employed 700+ people (seasonal/annual), and brought over 400,000 fans to Osceola, Polk, and Seminole counties respectively. Their pinnacle software Baseball Cloud has broken the mold by giving amateur baseball players, teams, and coaches access to a single, user-friendly platform of performance data. BaseballCloud fills a gap in the industry by simplifying the process of uploading and analyzing data. To learn more, go to BaseballCloud’s website at www.baseballcloud.com. You can follow BaseballCloud on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

How to Start Your Own Record Label

Laurel Daggers - July 19, 2019

Becoming an entrepreneur in the digital age is simpler than ever. That doesn’t mean a lot of hard work doesn’t come after starting your company still, but creating a business is a fairly quick process these days. Building a record label is no different.

Record labels can no longer survive the way they did just a few decades ago, so being a newer, smaller label can work in your advantage. Investing any money in a small business is still a gamble, however. So proper planning is crucial to your success.

Pick A Genre

Start out with a main focus. Pick a type of music you want to represent and build your label around that. The music industry is extremely competitive. There are a lot of people out there who devote all of their time and energy into creating amazing music, you have to step up to their level if you want to compete. So focus in on one area that you believe in and establish a quality product.

Name It

Obviously, your brand needs a name. While you’re deciding on a name, check domain names online to make sure no one else has it. You want the name you choose for your label to be unique (and also available).

Structural Integrity

In the not too distant future, once you create your label, you will need money. If you aren’t independently wealthy, you will need investors and they will want to know what your plan for your business is. You will need to decide on strategies in advance such as how people enter in to a partnership with your business, how they absolve the partnership, and the hierarchy of how decisions will get made. It’s important to establish these things in advance not just for monetary purposes, but also so that an organized system is in place.

Artists

One of the most important pieces of the puzzle when building a new label is finding amazing artists to be on it. The artists and repertoire part of your label, or A & R, is responsible for talent scouting and artist development. Get out there and look for some new artists who need representation. Go to open mic nights, get referrals from friends, and go anywhere live music is played and start searching for musicians that you feel will fit nicely into the business you’re building.

Use Streaming Platforms

Streaming platforms are a great way to start getting your artists music out without breaking the bank. Sites like SoundCloud, Bandcamp and Spotify are all ways to help your artists begin to build a following and start getting heard. Your label and your artists won’t get anywhere if no one is listening to the music you’re making.

Promotion

Your label needs the right promotion or no matter how talented everyone you work with is, no one will know you exist. Social media is a good place to start building a following. But your label needs for your artists to have as much well placed exposure as possible. Find a professional public relations service that can help your artists get interviews and build effective ads to help grow your brand.

10 Steps for a Successful Music Promotion Campaign

Laurel Daggers - July 12, 2019

Before starting a successful campaign to promote their music, every musician needs to learn what makes up a solid campaign in the first place. Here are 10 tips to help guide you into your most fruitful publicity campaign to date. 

1. Get To Know Your Audience

 Get to know everything you can about the fans you already have. How old are they? What gender are they? What do they like to do for fun? Finding out everything you’re able to about the people who are into your music will help you seek out future fans and market to existing fans better. 

2. Get To Know Your Competition

Once you know your audience, it’s important to get to know the general climate of your genre. Find out what other musicians in your genre are doing and how they’re interacting with the fans. Carefully review tactics successful musicians are using to engage fans. 

3. Set Goals

 One of the most important parts of a successful campaign is to set clear, attainable goals. Start with your long term goals and then determine what short term goals will help you reach them. Setting realistic expectations for your career will help you actually reach them and help other professionals in your field take you more seriously. Everyone has to start somewhere. 

4. Create A Plan

Examine your weak spots and build a plan to grow in those areas. A good campaign can be built in many ways. Depending on your resources, you may have to choose a few specific areas to focus on first. Areas such as digital ads, public relations, social media and community management, content creation and so on should be reviewed and prioritized. 

5. Get Your Music Out There

You absolutely need people to hear your music if you want to build a fan base! Get your music out any way you can. With so many digital streaming platforms these days, that should definitely be one of the avenues you take. You should also be playing as many shows as you possibly can, wherever you possibly can. 

6. Reach Out To The Media

So many people find out about new music from music blogs and online magazines. Getting into these publications will help new fans learn about you and your music. 

7. Make Friends

Find other musicians to collaborate with and learn from. Spending time with other successful artists will make you look appear more professional and help you gain access to new fans of similar types of music. 

8. Build A Website 

As a musician, you are a brand. Every brand needs a website where the public can go to get reliable news, updates, and information. Building even a basic website with information for your audience is an important step when you are treating your career as a business. 

9. Cross Promote

Promote any upcoming shows or releases on all of your social media platforms and your website. Give your audience every opportunity to keep up with all of the things you have going on. 

10. Get Help

Especially if you’re a new artist, you don’t know all of the ins and outs of the music industry or how to properly promote yourself. It’s a smart move to get help from professionals once you know what your short and long term goals are. You’ll end up saving time and money on your part by finding reliable assistance. 

The Ultimate Music Submission Guide

Laurel Daggers - June 12, 2019

Whether you’re brand new to the music scene or have been collecting a serious following for some time, getting your music out there to be heard by your fans is your number one priority as an entertainer. From releasing singles to submitting your music to festivals and everything in between there are a million moving parts to look at. Once you’re in, you need to make sure you’re able to get the most of the experience as well.

AMW has created our very own Ultimate Music Submission Guide. In it, we detail the best ways to enter that contest you’ve always wanted to or submit to your favorite music festival. We’ll also make sure you’re organized enough to reap the full benefit of your labor. If you want to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward, keep reading to find out how the Ultimate Music Submission Guide can help you.

Checklist of Materials

Even though most forms of submission are digital these days, there is still a list of materials that you should always have ready to go. AMW will help you to create a useful list of items and give you some tips and tricks on how to prepare them. Learn how to create the perfect biography and some simple tips on making a reel as part of your checklist preparation.

Templates

Are you wondering how to put together a letter to submit with your materials? Or how to apply for a fellowship or a grant? AMW will show you how to put together a useful template so that you can introduce yourself in an effective way. Having a submission template ready to go that you can easily personalize will help you to appear more professional, even on short notice. It will also entail that you get out all of your pertinent information without forgetting anything.

Social Media Evaluation

It’s important to learn how to assess your own social media pages. Making sure that your social media profiles are updated with useful information regularly is crucial when you’re trying to engage with your fans.

The List

Once you’ve learned what an EPK is and how to build the perfect resume, we have included a list of opportunities for you to take your new skills out for a spin. Find the events on this list that are a good fit for you so you can start performing in front of the crowds’ you deserve. You should always be on the lookout for more opportunities to get to do what you love. With the list that accompanies our Ultimate Music Submission Guide, AMW gives you a leg up.

Conferences, Fellowships, and Awards

Making music costs money, so figuring out how to apply for grants and fellowships is in your favor. There are plenty of other musicians who have figured this out as well, which makes setting yourself apart critical.

There are so many different types of events that require an application to participate in. AMW will help you to get organized so that you never miss an opportunity to shine.

The Guide is available for instant download for $99 in our products store.

How to Create a Killer Sponsorship Proposal

Kendra Blalock - June 4, 2019

The goal of business is to keep growing. Gaining sponsors is a great way to take your business or event to the next level. One of the most difficult things about this is creating a proposal that will get your sponsors on board. We have some surefire tips that will help write a killer proposal so you can lock in your next sponsor.

Include Your Skills

One of the hardest things about writing a proposal is deciding on the type of copy you want to include. But it should be simple. Just talk about yourself. Talk about your skills, business model, what inspires you and your business/event. Of course, you’ll have to get into specifics about the sponsorship but a good way to get the creative juices flowing is to just write about the one thing you know most about and that’s YOU.

Know Your Audience

When you’re creating a proposal, it’s important to know who your target audience is and what exactly they like. This is key because you want to be able to include the things your audiences like in the proposal. Take the time to get to know your audience and so you can express to your sponsors exactly how your audience appeals to them.

Build A Relationship

Once you’ve done your research, reach out to your potential sponsors and build a relationship. If you know people in common, have someone facilitate the introduction. If you’re going into it cold, try to set up a meeting or at least a phone call to discuss any concerns they may have in investing and show them the benefits of working together.

Show Value

You have to let potential sponsors know “What’s in it for them?” Will they see increased revenue, sales, social media following, etc.? Let them know just how you expect their business to be enhanced with this partnership.

Have a Template

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Once you have a template that works for you, don’t change it up too much. Of course, make adjustments that make sense for each sponsor but there are things that you can keep the same so take advantage of that as it will save you time with this process.

Use Testimonials

There’s a good chance you have worked with someone who has good things to say about your work. If you haven’t done so already, reach out to them for a quote that you can include in your sponsorship proposal. This will help give your proposal some credibility and proof to your potential sponsors that you can produce quality results.

How Branding Can Help You Avoid Being a One Hit Wonder

Kendra Blalock - June 3, 2019

We all know those bands that create that one great song and then we never hear from them again. All of the success and fame for a quick 15 minutes and the spotlight dims faster than it appeared. These artists are genuinely talented but one thing usually gets in the way and that’s branding. Branding is the key to longevity in the music industry. We’re rounding up some key tips for you so you can avoid becoming a one-hit wonder.

Know Who You Are

Branding is key to helping both you and your fans understand who you are as an artist. If you know who you are, it will be easier for your fans to connect with you and want to continue following your follow. People don’t follow what they are connected to. Make sure you’re clear about your values so you can attract a good, quality audience.

Consistency

One thing branding demands is consistency. Even if you don’t have a new song ready at the moment, keep fans engaged with genuine content on your social media. Hire an agent or manager that can help you book appearances between the releases of new material. But you should always be writing or trying to create the next content you want to release. Consistency with your release dates will let people know that you are more than a one-hit wonder. You’re serious about your craft and have the music catalog to back it up.

Be Real

A quick way to become a one-hit wonder is to pretend you’re something that you’re not. Give fans a true sense of who you are by utilizing free tools like social media. Let them know that you’re human just like them. That despite fan, you’re a regular person just trying to make it big. Give your audience sneak peeks into your daily life using Instagram stories and post engaging content that reflects your core beliefs.  

Humility/Give Back

As an artist, it’s important to remember where you come from. Sometimes you have to get out of the limelight and try the do something that truly matters. A lot of artists become one-hit wonders after they taste success and then think it’s okay to become rude, obnoxious and forget where they come from. A good way to combat this is to remain humble by volunteering in your community and showing some humility. Remember to be kind to everyone on your way up because you will most likely see them again on your way down.

Keep Up With Trends

There is a way to be yourself but still utilize trends to enhance your brand. Jump on hashtags that are trending, try a dance challenge, etc. But always remember to put your own spin on it so that you stand out. Your willingness to stand relevant should never compromise your morals or values though so only contribute to these trends if you truly believe they are on brand for you.

Think in Terms of the Future

Hit songs come every once in a while. It’s important to remember this on your journey. You can’t control how your next song will be perceived so keep going because you never know what will come of your next song.

What You Need to Know About Using Spotify Playlists for Song Promotion

Kendra Blalock - May 31, 2019

Distribution is one of the most important things to consider when you’re a musician. With Spotify users growing daily, there is no doubt that Spotify playlists should be on your list of curators to reach out to for placement. The task can seem daunting at first glance. There are so many playlists curators and so many artists trying to get onto these playlists. But Spotify doesn’t have to be difficult. We’re helping you navigate the music streaming platform below with some things you need to know about using Spotify playlists to promote your song.

It’s Not All About Large Playlists

Many artists are laser-focused on getting on major playlists curated by Spotify. Those playlists are nearly impossible to land on because Spotify is owned by major labels and their artists dominate those playlists. Go after small playlists. If your songs peaks/top the charts on those lists, Spotify will take notice and start adding your songs to people’s Weekly Suggestions and you will experience organic growth from there. In other words, it’s okay to start small.

Spotify is Long Game

To expand upon the point above, Spotify is a long game. You may not start off on playlists curated by Spotify but you can easily secure a spot on a smaller playlist and your song can peak there. But this can take time. You want to be patient as your song takes time to climb the charts.

Using Spotify for Artists Gives You a Better Opportunity

By using Spotify for Artists, you can verify your artist page. You can manage your profile picture, your header, your bio, your Artist’s Pick, and everything else on your page. You can also submit your music for playlists directly through Spotify for Artists. Since Spotify is likely to reward its most dedicated users, you will have a leg up in getting approved for Spotify playlists if you establish yourself.

Curators Have Their Own Motivations

Many playlist curators are looking to become music influencers or they already are well-established music influencers. It is Those looking to become influencers want to work with artists who will bring something valuable to them — and the most valuable asset is followers. So, it’s important for you to do as much as you can to increase your social media following before starting a playlist promotion campaign. Once you’re on the playlist, you should stay connected and encourage your fanbase to listen to the playlist in order to keep your song on there. If the curator is already an established influencer, it would be helpful to research their audience so that you really know what kind of music and artist the curator is looking for.

Use PR to Get Ahead

One final thing you must understand about Spotify playlists is that a lot of these smaller lists are run by music blogs. By landing on these blogs, you’ll have a better shot at getting on these playlists organically. Hire a PR team to take care of this for you. It’s important that you don’t skip any necessary steps in this process. You want your growth to be organic and shared by people who genuinely appreciate your craft.

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