How to Promote Your Music Without Breaking the Bank

Kendra Blalock - May 17, 2019

If you want to get your music heard by the masses, it’s not as simple as just making great music. While it’s true that the quality of your music is vital to your success, listeners today have access to a lot of music online. To be successful as an artist, you will have to give a strong effort to publicize your music once it is released. Fortunately, the Internet has also provided many opportunities for artists to be able to promote their music without paying big bucks. Below are some ways you can promote your music without breaking the bank:

Social Media Giveaways

A great way to promote music without breaking the bank is to host giveaways on social media. Find out what your audience likes and give it away. For example, if you know your audience likes Target, host a target gift card giveaway. You can make the rules simple enough for people to follow along but beneficial for your brand. Have entrants tag friends in the comment section to help spread the word about the giveaway. This will easily attract potential and hopefully like-minded people to your account that will be interested in your music as well. You can also have entrants share the post or share to their Instagram story for more visibility.

In choosing your giveaway, it’s important to find something you know will get some traction. Try partnering with local businesses. This method brings twice the traffic to your giveaway since the business will be promoting the giveaway as well.

Utilize Email Marketing

Email marketing may seem daunting at first thought. You might feel overwhelmed thinking of having to collect emails and create content but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Similar to social media, once you pinpoint a schedule and a good, solid template that works for you, the rest will fall into place.

You can share new music things that you have in the works. And your emails don’t always have to be music related. Have fun with your audience by wishing them well on holidays. This will help build a more personal connection.

If you’re looking for new subscribers to your mailing list, consider tying in the giveaways with this tactic. Make it a requirement that entrants to the giveaway subscribe to your mailing list. Make a “Join Our Mailing List” option that is prominent on your site so that people don’t have to search too long for it.

Work With Others in the Music Industry

One of the most effective means of promoting your music is to work with artists in the same boat as you. If you find someone of a similar style and genre to you and with a similar-sized fanbase, ask them to collaborate with you, whether it’s a cover song on YouTube or an original recording. You can mutually benefit each other by sharing each other’s content on your social media and gaining new reach into each other’s fanbases. Even while you are not working with another artist on a specific project, you can still shout out other artists’ releases that you want to support. By helping to promote others’ music for free, you can build relationships so that they will want to help promote your music as well.

Musicians and artists are not the only people in the music industry you need to connect with. If you want to have success in the music industry, you will need to build relationships with people of high influence in your genre. The best way to start is by contacting music bloggers within your genre and asking them to review your music. Since there are a lot of bloggers out there, this will take a lot of time and patience; not everyone will respond to your request. However, if you can get a few bloggers to write about your music, you will be able to continue to grow your fanbase by tapping into theirs.

Playlist Curation

Additionally, you can submit your music to playlist curators who can help you get your music onto Spotify playlists. Again, this can take some time and patience. Many playlist curators receive hundreds of submissions every day. Your best bet is to submit to playlists suited to your genre and your current level of publicity. If you can get your single onto a Spotify playlist, you will have the chance to showcase your music in front of hundreds to thousands of new listeners.

6 Ways to Save Money When Hosting An Event

Kendra Blalock - May 14, 2019

The costs of hosting an event can add up quickly. From choosing a venue to finding decor and securing advertising, it can become a challenge to stay within your budget. We’ve got some helpful tips that will help you pinch your pennies for your next event.

Be Selective With Your Venue

Venues can vary in cost depending on location, services offered and a multitude of other factors. For example, a venue downtown will probably cost more than a venue just outside downtown. Take this into account when choosing. Some venues require you use their food and when this happens can add thousands of dollars to your bill. Which leads us to the next point.

Catering

There are so many options when choosing a caterer. If your venue allows it, catering can be the best option to save some coins. Find local businesses that are willing to cut a deal or that are not as expensive as large chains.

Recruit volunteers

No doubt you will need people to help you run the event smoothly. If you don’t have a large staff already lined up, it could be helpful to ask friends and family to assist in your endeavors. Assign each person a specific task and your event will run more smoothly as a result.

Cut Down on Printing

The age of printing is dying. With digital marketing, you’ll be able to reach more people in less time. So make a conscious effort to invest in your digital efforts because they will be the bread and butter for your next event. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t print anything but printing is very expensive so you should think about cutting back.

Get Involved With Local Organizations and Schools

There’s no better way to save money and help your community than by partnering with a local university or organization. You’ll need advertising for your event which get costly. You may have luck asking a local college or organization like the YMCA to help you promote the event. Most likely they will have a program for this like this. They may include your event in a calendar of events or have an option for you to promote your event on campus.

In-Kind Sponsorships

These types of sponsorships can come in handy when trying to cut back on costs. You may be able to work out a deal with sponsors for them to provide a service for free or at a discounted rate in exchange for exposure at your event. Creating a mutually beneficial relationship can be a great way to get more bang for your buck.

Saving money on your next event is possible. All you have to do is get a little creative and think outside the box!

Jane Zhang Releases “Past Progressive” Out Now

AMW - May 10, 2019

Artist releases her first english album detailing her musical biography

Los Angeles, CA – May, 10 2019 — Jane Zhang has been steadily becoming one of the most famous pop singers in China over the last several years. In 2011, her album “Change” became the first double-plated gold record to be IFPI certified in mainland China.  Zhang’s english single “Dust My Shoulders Off” won the American, German, and British Pop Art awards in 2016. Victoria’s Secret even gave her the opportunity to become the first Asian singer to perform at their fashion show in 2017. 

“Past Progressive” represents Jane’s music experience over the last 5 years. Combining her past challenges and hopes for the future, she has put together 16 entertaining songs that are sure to expand her fan base just as quickly here in the U.S. Jane is holding nothing back as she explodes onto the scene. She has truly used this opportunity to reflect on her life and career and to show the world her ambition and dreams. 

Bringing her signature whistle register with her to her new project (Jane has been dubbed “the dolphin princess”), she embarks on a new creative journey with “Past Progressive”. With her buoyant beats and catchy lyrics paired with her intoxicating voice, audiences will be playing Zhang’s new album on repeat. 

Jane Zhang said that while the process of making an english album was difficult at times, it only grew her enthusiasm, motivation and goals for her art. She chose to pursue this challenge out of a desire for growth and to escape her comfort zone. Jane stated that the process made her bring together her two selves, her every day self that lives a normal life and the part of her that tries new experiences without limitations. 

About Jane Zhang

Jane Zhang is a well known pop singer and public figure in China. Born in Chengdu, Sichuan, China Zhang has become a beloved personality, appealing to fans of all ages throughout the country. Her unique talent has begun to make her equally popular here in the U.S. Jane’s singing career debuted when she won third place at the Chinese singing contest “Super Girl” in 2005. The very next year she signed with Huayi music, her debut album “The One” selling more than a million copies in China. After Jane’s first english single “Dust My Shoulders Off” was released in 2016, HULU picked the song up to use as their background music in the U.S. Her song “Fighting Shadows” was also featured in the Hollywood movie “Terminator Genisys”. In 2018 Huawei chose Jane’s song “Dream It Possible” for their global mobile phone ads campaign. Over the years, Jane Zhang has won many awards including eight Beijing Pop Music Awards for best female singer, two China Gold Record Awards, and an MTV Europe Music Award. Listen to Jane’s new english album “Past Progressive” on iTunes and Spotify, out now worldwide. 

Is Blogging Worth It? 6 Ways Blogging Can Grow your Business

Naomi Grandison - May 9, 2019

You may be wondering if starting a company blog is worth the time and effort. And you’re right to consider this because blogging is certainly a time-consuming task to take on that requires a lot of thought and commitment. The startup of a blog is often the most difficult and least rewarding; you have little to no following, you are not yet seeing the SEO results you want, and you’re spending a lot of time on something that’s not showing results when you could be using your time for something more productive. So what’s so great about blogging? Is it really worth the time and effort? To help you nail down the benefits of blogging, here are five ways that blogging can grow your business.

1. You can build customer loyalty.

People will trust you if they can see that you are not just out selling your product or service all the time. If you can write blog posts that benefit your customers without requiring that they buy something from you, they are more likely to be loyal to your business. If they can find value in your contributions through blogging, they are not just loyal to a product or service that you offer — they are loyal to you and your ideas. Loyal customers are people you will not have to work hard to convince to buy your product or service; they are also people who will do some of your marketing for you by word-of-mouth. Your best bet in growing your business is to create a large group of loyal customers who advocate for your business and continue to return to your product or service.

2. You can create more online attention.

By having a stronger Internet presence with your blog, you can gain much more attention. Your potential customers are likely Google searching questions related to your business. If you can provide relevant information that genuinely helps people in your target market, you can build a strong awareness of your business that may turn them into a future customer. Not only that, people will respect you for being honest and genuine rather than just being out for the money. This helps to create a high-quality reputation for your business that will speak for itself.

3. You can work with other bloggers to increase your following.

Once you have gained a solid following, you can continue to grow by collaborating with other bloggers and introducing yourself to their followers. For example, one way to do this is to write a guest post for another blogger. This is mutually beneficial because you are providing your fellow blogger with good content while also reaching out to a new group of people. If you build great relationships with other bloggers and other businesses related to your product or service, you will be able to work together in multiple ways to bring more benefits to each other.

4. You can drive more traffic to your website.

Blogging can help you improve your SEO (search engine optimization). If you are providing helpful answers to questions that searchers have, you will be able to increase traffic on your website by getting your blog articles to the top of the search page. Through techniques such as link building, keyword research, and backlinking, you can get SEO results through your blog that are much more difficult to achieve with just your company website.

5. You can continue to gain knowledge and increase innovation.

Blogging is a chance to think critically, to research and gain knowledge, and to enhance your industry. By making the effort to stay engaged within the industry, you give yourself the chance to continue being innovative and to avoid becoming stagnant. Industries are always changing and moving; consistent blogging will challenge you to keep up with and to acknowledge those changes. As a result, you will have the opportunity to be a thought leader in the industry and to stay ahead of your competitors.

Only you can make the call of whether or not it’s the right time for you to start a company blog. It does take plenty of time and thought. However, we believe the results will be worth the time and the additional workload because you will be able to promote a lasting brand that does much more than just sell your product to a few more customers. Your blog will allow you to create high customer engagement that will benefit your company in the long run. If you are ready and willing to start a blog but are still concerned about the time commitment, AMW Group offers business promotion services that can include professionally written blog content.

You’ve Created the Best Song Ever Made . . . Now What?

Kendra Blalock - May 8, 2019

Creating great music is only half the battle these days. With shrinking attention spans, artists’ must also find a way to grab the attention of people, create branding and invest in social media. Yes, the quality of music is highly important but if you have great music and no plan to get the right ears listening then you will, more than likely, be unsuccessful. Music is being released every day by people all around the world. Make sure yours doesn’t get lost in the crowd by following these easy steps.

Music Distribution

Your song is complete… now what? It’s important to get your music heard by an audience. The best way to do that is to utilize streaming services. While CDs are still a relevant technology in some genres, streaming services like Spotify allow your music the potential to be seen by millions from the comfort of their handheld device. You can use services like CD Baby and Tune Core to get your music on all major music streaming services.

Eye-Catching Artwork

They say never judge a book by its cover but we all know eye-catching artwork is one of the first things that draws us to any work of art. Hire a professional photographer or graphic designer to help with this task. It’s an important step that should not be skipped. If you are low on budget, you can use free services like Canva or Adobe Spark to create your own artwork.

Promote on Social Media

This goes without saying, it’s key to reach your target audience when promoting your music. There’s no better way to reach your audience than catering to your current following. Let them know that you have new music and where they can find it and add a link to the music in your bio. Find creative ways to announce and promote upcoming projects. Using methods such as giveaways will help give people engage with the new material.

Use the Right Hashtags

Hashtags are a great tool to take advantage of social networking sites. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are cluttered with tags that will do absolutely nothing for you. But if you use the art of hashtags correctly, new people will be able to find your music and it will increase your engagement. For example, using “#music” is not likely to garner any new attention because it has 258 million posts. You want to use hashtags like “#newhiphopartist” that have less than 25k posts as it will have much more visibility. Get specific with the hashtags you use. The more specific you get, the more likely your target audience will be able to find you.

Don’t Stop Making Music

So you’ve made the best song ever. What’s next? Even if this is your best work to date, you can’t stop creating. The music industry is fast moving and fans are always waiting for the next release. Keep your music library updated with new tracks on a consistent basis. You can also try collaborating with other artists to help diversify your catalog. Your fans are the bread and butter for your music career. Make sure to keep them happy with new music for them to enjoy.

Headshots and Resumes for Performers

Laurel Daggers - May 2, 2019

A performer’s resume allows casting directors to see their successes, where they’ve come from, and who they’ve worked with. Your working and learning history are all right there for potential employers to see. A good resume allows people to find a connection to you and your work. Knowing what to add to your resume and what to leave off can be a challenge when you’re trying to include as much information as possible, yet still, be concise and to the point.

A headshot is exactly what it sounds like, a close-up shot of your face. A good headshot should be as equally straightforward as your resume. Casting directors and booking agents need to be able to see who you are without any gimmicks. If you want to be treated as a professional, you have to present yourself as a professional. A well-executed headshot is your chance to make an instantaneous positive impression. Here are some tips on presenting your best self when it comes to headshots and resumes.

Get Professional Help

While getting a friend to take a photo with their phone may seem like a good idea (it’s certainly cheaper than using a professional) amateur headshots are very easy to spot, especially to people who look at headshots all day long. There are many things the professionals take into consideration when planning a shoot including lighting, angles, and backdrop. A professional photographer will also be able to give you tips on how to pose and how to set the scene to make sure you get excellent headshots. Then they edit the best shots for you so that you can put your best foot forward.

Wardrobe

When choosing an outfit for a headshot photo session or an audition, you need to choose clothes that are flattering but not distracting. Solid colors with no labels or logos on them, that compliment your skin tone are what you should be looking for. You want people to focus specifically on your face and nothing else.

Including Your Resume

Resumes are always attached to the back of your headshot. This gives casting directors a one stop shop to all things “you”. You can staple or print it to the back of your headshot, just make sure it’s there. Only film, stage, or tv credits mean anything. Do not include high school plays unless you are, in fact, in high school and those are your only credits.

Formatting Your Resume

Other than listing the parts you have played, there are a few other items that should always be included on your resume. Truly the most important thing you can put on your resume is up to date contact information. You’ll never get hired if no one can get in touch with you after your audition. Another thing you need to include are your physical attributes (height, weight, hair color, eye color). Lastly, any memberships you are affiliated with should also be added to your professional resume. This means any union affiliations or organizations that could link you professionally to prospective employers.

Spruce Up Your Social Media With These Easy Steps

Kendra Blalock - April 26, 2019

Your social media is one of the first things that potential customers see when searching for your brand.  Make sure you are following these key steps to make sure you aren’t missing out on potential earnings. These steps are additional offerings to the points we added in our post back in January: How To Step Up Your Social Media In 2019. Keep reading, we’re dropping gems in this post.

Keep Your Bio Updated

In regards to Instagram, you want to make sure you create a captive bio section. Try to wrap up what you want people to know about your brand in the allotted character limit. It’s also important to keep your bio updated. If you have dates for a release or an event, make sure to change your bio after the event is over. You want to make sure your bio is relevant so if you have a past date, it will seem as though you aren’t active/consistent on your page. No one wants to buy from non-consistent brands.

Links

Social media platforms generally give users the option to post a link in their bio section or somewhere towards the top of the profile. Make sure you utilize this option. If you want your social media traffic to turn into sales/streams provide a link to a page where potential customers can get more information about your product or service. If you have multiple links that you feel are important to your brand, feel free to use tools like linktree or create a landing page on your own website that provides all of the necessary links.

Top Nine

As we all know, in this age of social media, people have short attention spans. Specifically, on Instagram, it’s important to grab people’s attention as soon as they click on your page because if they don’t see anything interesting at first glance, they will exit your page as soon as they arrived. One way to do this is by making sure that the last nine posts you made are relevant and create a cohesive look for your page. Since people don’t usually spend too much time scrolling, your top nine photos will say a lot about what you are currently doing and will let your potential customer know if you’re relatable or someone they’d like to purchase from.

Public Pages

Make sure your business profiles are set to public. Of course, this does not apply to personal pages, people have reasons for keeping their personal pages private but for business, you need to have your pages available for the world to see. If your business profile is private, you could be losing money.

Hope you all find these social media gems helpful and you’re able to spruce up your profiles.

Why Your Brand Needs A Biography

Kendra Blalock - April 26, 2019

A biography is one of the most important things you can have for your brand. It can be used on your website or any other platforms that require an “About Me” section. You want to make sure the information across all platforms is consistent. That all sounds easy but sometimes it can be difficult to craft a biography that encompasses all the relevant information you want to include.

Maybe you already have a bio but aren’t sure if it’s up to par. There are specific steps to follow when writing a biography that can vary depending on the subject. Hiring a professional to help you craft the best message possible can get you the best results possible. A professional writer will be able to find the best way to capture the tone of your brand and summarize your services in a stunning way.

Our professional writers at AMW provide a customized biography writing service that will produce excellent copy that will appeal to your customers. Our biography writing service comes with a detailed Q&A session to make sure we are able to capture the essence of your brand. All of our copy is written by professional publicists with years of writing experience. We know you have a specific vision for your brand so we provide you with any necessary revisions.

Why do you need a bio?

In the digital age, many times a potential customer’s first impression of your brand will be on the Internet. It’s important to make sure your online presence is consistent and there is consistent copy across all platforms.

The way you describe yourself or your business is essential to securing customers. If you describe yourself in a boring, non-descriptive way, it’s likely that you are losing potential customers. Your bio needs to clearly state your objectives in a fun and exciting way that is engaging to your audience.

Press

Sometimes journalists don’t have time to create a full write up on you or your brand. If you have an effective bio, they can use the information provided in your press clipping to create compelling coverage that will create interest in your brand. Having all of the relevant details about your brand in an easy to digest format ensures that any coverage will be accurate.

Your fan base

A relatable bio will create more fans. By showing your personality, people are more likely to follow your journey. If people feel like they have an inside scoop, they will be more inclined to feel a connection to who you are and have them looking forward to what your next steps will be.

With a more personal connection, an effective bio can increase your chances of creating a more engaged and captivated audience.

Shining Star Shannon K Releases New Single “Always” Out Now

AMW - April 25, 2019

Newest Single Shows Artists Soulful Take On Heartbreak

Los Angeles, CA – April, 25 2019 — 17-year-old Shannon K is stepping into the spotlight with her new single “Always”. Currently residing in West Hollywood, CA, Shannon was born in India and went to school in London. With a diverse background, her newest single “Always” puts her unique take on Pop on display.

“Always” was written by Shannon K after watching one of her friends go through a terrible heartbreak. With soulful melodies and a beat that lures you in, the single coveys the artists’ maturity and artistic vision. 

Shannon has collaborated with music great Kyle Townsend as a producer on this single, who has worked with stars such as Lady Gaga and Jessie J. In the past she has also worked with another musical heavy hitter Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd. The 4x Grammy awards winner record producer and songwriter has been behind mega-hits such as “Where Are U Now” and “Despacito”. 

“Be honest with your work, listen to your heart. You were made to shine” says Shannon K, when asked about her work.

About Shannon K 

Shannon K is a West Hollywood, CA based artist who is originally from India. Her upbringing as the daughter of Bollywood legend Kumar Sanu instilled a love of music in her and ensured her ears were always filled with beautiful music. At the young age of 17, Shannon has built a noteworthy social media presence with an incredible 2.9 million followers. Since performing onstage at the age of 4, she has continuously grown immensely in her creative endeavors, even performing at the Bollywood Music Awards in Atlantic City. At the age of 12, Shannon released her first single, allowing her life experiences to shape her songwriting ever since. She began launching a successful music career in the US in 2018 with the release of her single ” A Long Time” written and produced by Justing Bieber’s top collaborator, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd.  Follow Shannon K on her Instagram for updates and news. You can also hear her new music on Spotify and Itunes. 

Presentation is Key: How Professional Photos Will Enhance Your Brand

AMW - April 15, 2019

In the entertainment industry, it’s crucial to present yourself in a professional capacity. One way to do this is by having high-quality images. The Internet is full of images these days so it’s important to make sure what you present stands out but also represents your brand. See below for our top ways professional photos will enhance your brand.

Social Media Presence

Having high-resolution images will automatically create a more inviting look and make your social media pages stand out. Platforms like Instagram are driven by images so it’s important to take full advantage of those square images. Be consistent with posting so your followers know when to expect your content. Create themes with color or aesthetics that will catch people’s attention.

Website

One of the first things people do when they hear about your brand is Google you. What shows up when this happens? If you have a website, it’s more than likely to be pretty high in the search results. Make sure your website is on point by having images that capture your brand’s essence. You want to make sure that you present yourself well on this platform so that your potential customers will become confident in your presence enough to make a purchase.

PR & Advertisements

Public relations is the act of garnering earned media. You can use a professional company that will help you secure these types of opportunities on platforms including radio, digital, and print. To make the most of these types on campaigns, it’s important to maintain a professional image online. You’ll need images for press releases, articles and the like.

PR & Publicity Campaigns

In addition, let’s say you’d like to take out an ad in Times Square. In a world where the average consumer sees thousands of ads a day, make yours stand out by having creative images that reflect your message but are also high quality.

Times Square Ads

Your brand is a direct reflection of you. Make sure that you put in the effort to create a presence that makes people want to buy into you. If you present yourself well, the more likely you’ll be able to establish yourself as an expert in your field. If you take pride in how you appear, everyone else will too.

AMW partners with professional photographers all around the Los Angeles area. If you are interested in having professional photos taken, please visit our Photography Services page.

How to Treat Your Artistic Career Like a Business

AMW - April 14, 2019

The most common mistake artists make is to not treat themselves as businesses. You should start your career as an artist just like you would start any other business, with clear goals and a business plan to take reasonable steps to move towards them. All goals are achievable with the right planning and hard work placed behind them.

Whether your goal is to play stadiums or simply to have some fun in your free time, your artistic career can be profitable. If you are putting out a quality product, take yourself seriously and treat yourself as a professional business. Learning a few simple ways to keep yourself focused will help you stay on track.

Mission: Possible

Create a business plan complete with a mission statement. Know where you want to go. This will keep you focused and help others align with your cause as well. People are more likely to go with you on a journey if you have a road map.

Do the Math

Analyze what it will take for you to make a profit. Take into consideration costs such as supplies, travel, and promotion and figure out what you can currently afford. Once you do this you can start planning on how to find investors or what to cut out for the time being. Knowing your own bottom line will help you to start creating a financial plan towards making a profit.

Be Smart If You Borrow

While it’s true that most artists start with very little overhead, it is possible to create a solid product for less when you’re starting out. With the right technology, artists can create everything from movies to albums in their own homes if they know what they’re doing. However, if you have to borrow money

Don’t Overreach

So many artists get in to trouble when they reach too far too quickly. Adhere to your business plan and check in with your finances regularly and realistically. If you treat your brand as a business and make educated choices, you will start to build a following and make more money. Don’t take the new influx of cash as an excuse to spend more right away. Continue to plan and invest in yourself wisely.

Be a Professional

Treat everyone with respect and be punctual to meetings. You should also do your research when entering into any business situation. Don’t expect others to tell you how things are done. You can be taken advantage of this way, and it also makes you look like you don’t take yourself seriously if you’re not doing basic levels of research in how your business should be run. No one will take you seriously if you don’t do it yourself. If you’re looking for a manager, learn what a manager should be doing for you and how much money you should realistically be paying them. The same goes for anyone you bring on to your team, do your research and compare offers  before aligning yourself with anyone.

Create Opportunities

Take every opportunity you can to perform or practice your craft. Whether it’s at friends’ parties or in your own living room, practice truly does make perfect.

How to Prep Your Music/Band for a PR Campaign

AMW - April 5, 2019

Many musical artists run towards getting a PR campaign before they even have a solid foundation. Sure, you don’t need to have 100,000 subscribers to your YouTube channel or have huge events, but a little bit of effort to build your credibility in the music industry works as a great stepping stone to reach your goals. If you are an independent musician or band, then a PR campaign will be an effective strategy to promote your music. That said; here are some things you must do to prep your music before launching your PR campaign:

Have a Social Media Presence

By presence, we mean ’presence!’. We don’t mean once every 6 months posting kind of existence. Many musicians these days underestimate the importance of a good social media presence. They think that all they need to do is post one hit song on one platform to become a musical sensation overnight. That might have happened to a handful of people in the past, but it doesn’t work anymore because the competition is tough.

Make sure that you have at least three different platforms where you are promoting your music. Engage with fans, reply to comments and read all kinds of feedback to improve yourself. These fans will be promoting you someday, so foster a good relationship with them. Interact with music bloggers regularly, make an offer to fans to perform at their event and do whatever you can to build that presence.

Stay Consistent

You have to be churning out fresh music consistently to stay in the game. Even if it is a new spin on an old classic or a cover song, release it. The ideal situation for you would be to have an EP with a set of 4 songs that you must release 2-3 months after the start of your PR campaign. If you have promised your fans a certain date for the release of new songs, then you must follow through and release it in a timely manner without disappointing them or losing any credibility.

Give Incentives

If you have a significant fan following, then plan a contest for them. Let them promote your music on their social media page and the ones that do the most campaigning for you, give them free tickets to your concert or tour. Other incentives such as merchandise, autographs pictures and backstage passes can also be used to reach a higher audience.

Update Your Bio

This is your ‘music resume’ and you must consistently update it on your website, social media, online and offline social press kit, PR documents and other fact sheets. This is a great way for people to get to know you and create a buzz about you and your music such as the press, bloggers, fans, reviewers, etc.

Tweak Your Music

Another way to prep your music is to polish any imperfections before releasing it. Look out for any audio glitches in the recordings, a tune that you need to fix or change or something you want to add in the playlist.

If you follow these 5 techniques before launching your PR campaign, your music journey will be successful.

How to Get Your Music on Spotify Playlists

AMW - April 1, 2019

One of the best ways to get your music heard these days is by playlist promotion. If you can get your song on a Spotify playlist that reaches your target audience, you will be able to expand your fan base like never before. Having music on Spotify playlists will also help you to be more acknowledged in the industry. Below are some tips on how to get your music onto Spotify playlists.

Create a Unique and Professional Brand

Everything you do to promote your music starts first and foremost with your brand. If you don’t have a unique brand that offers something new and interesting, all the promotion efforts in the world will not acquire the success you want. You can read more here on The Importance of Being Branded. So, before you start anything else, ensure that your brand is ready to go and that it is consistent across your website and social media pages.

Bring Your Current Fanbase to Spotify

The next step to take is ensuring that your current fanbase is listening to your music on Spotify. Number of plays, skips, and listen duration all play into curators’ decisions. Use your social media to invite fans to listen to your music on Spotify and be sure to have links available both on social media and on your website. Spotify has an algorithm that rewards artists who put in a lot of time and effort, so the more you do to bring new listeners to Spotify, the better. Here are 5 Spotify Tips and Tricks to Boosting your Listener Numbers.

Join Spotify For Artists

By signing up for Spotify for Artists, you will get instant verification, which will add to your credibility. Plus, you will have access to data and analytics so that you can notice trends of what is working and what is not.

Connect With Key Music Bloggers and Playlist Curators

When it comes to any kind of music promotion, bloggers are your best friends. If you can build credibility by getting reviews on notable music blogs, you will have much more to show when you campaign to get your music on playlists. When pitching to playlist curators, try starting small. Curators who have hundreds of thousands of listeners are much harder to reach until you have gained some momentum.

Hire a PR Firm

Playlist promotion is a lot of time and work. It is certainly possible to be successful on your own, but the best results are going to come from a professional. If you’re uncertain about starting this process on your own, it might be best to hire a PR firm to guide your journey in getting onto Spotify playlists.

Mastering The Art Of Organic Growth

AMW - March 29, 2019

Organic growth is an excellent strategy that allows brands to grow their business using their existing resources. Basically, using what you already have available to you and perfecting it before focusing on expansion anywhere else. Being responsible for your brands growth can be a daunting task, yet and incredibly important one. Finding a way to master your growth in a practical way should be one of the main focuses in your business. This is important for several reasons.

Organic traffic is more sustainable, for one. You already have access to these resources so you can use them immediately and continuously. This also means there is less risk involved. You can create organic growth using existing internal funds. While organic growth can be slower for your brand, there’s nothing wrong with taking your time if it creates a solid foundation for you. It also offers greater control of the output and takes less money. Overall, organic growth offers long term stability at a more sensible rate. Here are some ways to cultivate organic growth for your brand:

Research Brand Trends

Researching current trends in your field is beneficial to your growth because it gives you new ideas and helps to keep you apprised of the tactics your competition is employing. Take a look at their social media, their websites, and how they are interacting with their customer base. Careful planning goes a long way in determining how quickly and successfully your brand will grow.

Get To Know Your Audience

Learn the demographics of the type of people already involved with your brand. Find ways to get to know them on a more personal level, whether it’s through surveys, contests on social media or direct communication. Figuring out what they like about your brand and what the areas are that need work will help guide your growth endeavors in a more pointed direction.

Identify Your Goals

Decide the direction you want to take your brand in. Set specific, achievable goals so that you can formulate a plan to get to them. You can’t figure out what you need until you decide where you want to go. The growth of any brand is dependent on growth and expansion. Write your goals down so that you have a clearly set list to work from. This will help keep you organized and focused.

Expand Your Network

Whether it’s through social media or attending events, a simple way to grow your brand organically is to continuously grow your network. Creating relationships with not only clients but other reputable people in your industry makes your brand look more trustworthy and gives you free word of mouth advertising.

Celebrate Your Wins

Take time to celebrate meeting your goals and deadlines. You’ll feel more satisfied and able to take on the next task if you take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments. The road to success can seem overwhelming at times, breaking it up into chunks and taking time to appreciate your own hard work is a great way to keep yourself motivated.

KAATO To Release New Album “Slam!” Available Now

AMW - March 27, 2019

New Album Is Artists Unique Take On Legendary Rock And Pop Music

Los Angeles, CA – March 27, 2019 — Over the course of their 8-year emergence, KAATO has grown and developed their own distinctive sound. Their latest release “Slam!” puts their modern take on quintessential rock and pop songs from as far back as the ’60s. KAATO’s wide reach of musical influences are expertly blended together in a high energy, custom-built mix. 

“Slam!” lives up to its title, conveying their exciting musicality that will drive them towards success without sacrificing their artistic vision. This self-produced album fully represents who they are as a band as they carve out a space for themselves in the music world. “Slam!” was mixed by Scott Hardin and mastered by Richard Dodd.

The two singles the band is the most proud of, “Somebody, Someday” and “Communication”  not only show the range of their diverse inspiration, but the exceptional range of their own personal ingenuity as well.  KAATO has truly opened themselves up and poured everything they have into “Slam!”.  From building their own studio to writing all of the music and lyrics, they’re proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.

“Slam!” is available now on all major music platforms.

Kurt Lowney on “Slam!”:

“We wanted it to sound big, bright, and in your face! Its a collection of 8 rock songs with different scenes, colors, and moods that are free from the pressures of a definitive theme.”

KAATO will be going on tour in Japan beginning April 5th and will be releasing a new music video shortly after their April 14th return. Their upcoming music video will be paying homage to the golden age of music videos, the 90’s. With 70’s flair, analog film emulation, lens effects, and luxurious rock n rol textures. If you happen to be in Japan and want to catch KAATO live, tickets are available on their website. 

About KAATO

KAATO is a Nashville, Tennessee based rock band made up of Kurt Lowney (vocals), Mika Nuutinen (bass), Hunter Lovan (lead guitar), and Christopher Williams (drums). Originally from Australia, the band was founded in 2011 by singer/songwriter Kurt Lowney. KAATO had their first international tour co-headlining with Mitch Malloy in the UK after their self titled album was released in 2016.  Kurt and Mika made the move to Nashville permanent in 2018 and started work on their newest album “Slam!” from their home studio, which allowed them to fine-tune their sound until they got exactly what they wanted. You can follow KAATO on Instagram and Twitter, or visit their website for updates and news.