book

Music Business For Dummies

by Loren Weisman

June 2015

Beginner

432 pages

11h 10m

English

For Dummies

Read now

Unlock full access

About This BookIcons Used in This BookFoolish AssumptionsBeyond the BookWhere to Go from Here
Differentiating between the Music and the Music BusinessPracticing Responsible Career TacticsWeeding out the Myths, Scams, and ScammersCommitting to, Reinforcing, and Running a Career
Changes for the BetterChanges for the WorsePromoting and Marketing Gone BadMaking Change Work for You
Finding Your Best FitSelf-Assessment QuestionsLooking at Your Options in the Music BusinessEyeing Options Out of the Spotlights
Defining Your SuccessProjecting Your Time FrameReviewing the Requirements and Costs of SuccessLooking at the Keys to Planning SuccessFunding Your Music Business PlanHandling the Organization and Legal PartsPromises, Percentages, Ownership, and Durations
Creating and Writing Music with OthersRehearsing For Production and Performance
Pre-Producing Your ProductionYour Recording Process —Picking Your Producer, Mixer, and MusiciansMastering Your MusicYour Pre-Release and Post-Recording Part

Understanding the Importance of Your NameGetting Your Logo and Font Working for YouBranding YourselfCrafting Your Tagline and its ViabilityApplying Your Logo, Font, and Tagline
Creating Keywords and Phrases for Your BioMaking a Keyword-Rich Descriptive BioAdding a Call to Action: Give Fans DirectionOptimizing Your Message
Finding the Best Types of People to Work WithCopyrights, Publishing, and OwnershipWorking with Publishing Companies, Labels, Managers, and Investors
Graphics Designed For Everything OnlineHome Base for Everything: Your WebsiteKeeping a Website and Social Media Template FormLinks, All the Links, and Nothing but the LinksBest Practices and Tips for Social Media Sites
Maintaining Best Website and Content PracticesFormatting Your ContentDeploying Prepared Content around the Calendar
Cross-Marketing for Optimal Fan Reach and SalesCreating Promotional ItemsSetting up Promotional GraphicsBuying and Running AdvertisementsGetting Your Marketing Further Out ThereGetting and Giving Reviews for Marketing
Creating Well-Planned Promotions and ReleasesRunning a Productive, Well-Promoted, and Profitable EventApplying Your Branding for AnnouncementsBuying Advertising: Physical and Digital
Booking a TourTour PreparationsOn-the-Road ResponsibilitiesBefore, During, and After the Show Checklists
Defining a Sponsorship or EndorsementDifferent Levels of Sponsorships and EndorsementsPreparing to Solicit for an Endorsement/SponsorshipShowcasing the Benefit to EndorsersPromoting Endorsements and ProductsPromoting Localized Sponsorships
Making the Most Out of All OpportunitiesTapping Into Various Events, Experts, Deals, and OptionsSupplementing Opportunities Outside of MusicSupporting Your Music with MusicConsidering the Cost of the Conversion for Every OpportunityDue Diligence and Fact-Checking the Opportunities
Detailing Your Detailed AccountUnderstanding Your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and ThreatsTracking to Showcase All Things at All LevelsTracking Website Traffic and Social MediaTracking Physical and Digital RevenuesTracking your Publishing from A to ZPerformance TrackingTracking Expenses Breakdown
Keeping on when the going is good … or badStaying Aware of Trends and ChangesFinding the New Fan While Keeping the Old One InterestedTesting New Products and New MethodsWorking to Streamline the WorkloadStaying in Control and Watching Others Who Share ControlClarifying the Financial Channels and Return on InvestmentKnowing When It’s Time to Stop or Change Careers
HumilityExcellent Social Respect SkillsAttention to DetailActing Like a Student of ScienceProblem-SolvingHonorWearing a Thick SkinFrugal Penny PincherEndurancePatience
PostureYour Volume Speaks VolumesUhs, Ums, Ohs, and StutteringEducation for the PresentationPre-Production for Pre-PresentationAdapting, Improvising, and Resonating with a RoomOther Side of the Coin: EmpathyConfidence without ArroganceThe Little ThingsTalking With, Not To or At, People

Content preview from Music Business For Dummies

Chapter 7

Creating Your Brand

In This Chapter

Defining the root of your branding and imagery

Understanding the importance of the first impression before your music

Optimizing your images to work for you online and off

Implementing your basic branding from the start

With the advent of social media along with the importance of branding and the oversaturation of bands, it’s a very bad idea for musicians to launch online or even into a local scene without dialing in the band name, font, logo, and tagline. These are the roots of your brand for building any type of exposure, marketing presence, or engagement.

Define, align, and commit to the basics of your branding to make them work for you right from the start.

Understanding the Importance of Your Name

It’s only a name! Right? No, it’s all about your name! It’s the first step of connecting people to you and your music. Your name is what people Google to find your website, band bios, and tour dates. Finding the right name makes this decision-making ...