04/13/2009
Standing Out From Among The Crowd!
The biggest hurdle I found in the new “Internet Model” way of doing things is that it’s still pretty crowded out there. Yes, there are a lot of great tools at our disposal. What I’m able to do now as an independent is leaps and bounds better than what my options were, let’s say, 15 years ago.
Here are a few of the tools that I have used in just the past 6 months:
- WordPress (love it)
- Ning
- Mogulus (incredible)
- Reverbnation
- Twitter (love this one too)
- Myspace
- Soundcloud (very good)
- Ourstage (not good if your music doesn’t fit in their box)
- Youtube
These are just a few. There are plenty more that I have used. But with all of these tools I’m still not as well known as I would be if I got one song on major radio. If just one local station here in Chicago played my latest single 3 times in one day, it would catapult my career to the unimaginable heights. Maybe I’m laying it on a little thick, but you get my point. We still need some of the tools of the “old guard.”
Even though the big 5 are falling on hard times, I have to admit, I would give one of my left toes for the use of their distribution, marketing or promotional machines. I like the “indie way” but until we get the type of exposure that one could get from the “Big Ole Machine” all of the tools in the world would only make me more exhausted not well known.
Now, mind you, I’m coming from the perspective of a studio artist who has not toured yet. I’m currently working with Aftonshows, a local booking agency run by other musicians, to set up dates. I was reluctant to perform live for several reasons but now I have to. I can’t afford to stay unknown any longer.
