Web Music Promotion For Musicians

In the days before the Web, when the major record labels had the music market sewn up tight, it was all but impossible to break into the music business in the traditional sense in the absence of having a recording contract with one of them. This again and again led to performers developing into broke before their album ever actually hit the music seller shelves.

The long established “standard recording contract” that was used by the industry, heavily favored the company, at the expense of the star. Advances had to be recouped, recording and manufacturing and distribution costs repaid before the artist saw nickel number one.

Now all that has differ d, and for the independent recording artist or performer these days, it is definitely a blessing in disguise, although some can not see it that way. The “lure” of the ample label contract is still a desirable thing for most young musicians, just because they have never been exposed to the potential of the Web as a sales and marketing medium.

More seasoned musicians have realized, in the past ten years or so, that the Internet is definitely the way to go if you want to serious ly pursue a career in music. Mainly because it is virtually open to anyone, regardless of budget constraints.  Many artists and solo musicians are, as I write this, creating small empires for themselves solely by means of the electronic information highway.

Web music promotion, while still in it’s infancy, is developing into a force to be reckoned with by not only the major record companies, but other Web artist. The competition, while not yet fierce, is significantly stiff enough to raise the caution flag for many. Add to that the ostensibly incomprehensible way that advertising and marketing works on the web, and it’s no wonder that many would-be Internet superstars give up before the fight even starts.

But it does not have to end there. There are sources available for struggling performers to take advantage of when it comes to learning the in’s and out’s of Internet music marketing and promotion. Web courses dealing with website creation and search engine marketing and optimization are too numerous to count.

If your eyes glazed over as you read that final sentence, do not feel alone. The vast possibilities that exist for creating a buzz, and establishing a fan base for your music are infinite. There has actually never been a better time to get started in Web music promotion than right now. And the fact that so many established artists are currently using this means as their primary marketing and distribution system only lends weight to the argument.

Ever hear of a guy called Jimmy Buffett? Well, following numerous successful years of feeding the record companies coffers, Jimmy decided that he’d had enough. Do you blame him? After all is said and done, a major label musician can end up actually being in the hole following everything is paid for on a major compact disc  release. Don’t believe me? The evidence is everywhere. Do a search on Google for the term ” performers royalties”, what you get back will look like some kind of horror story. But it is all true.

Jimmy Buffett decided to form his own record company “Mailboat Records”, and he is doing quite fine now, and actually has been able to steal many skill from the prefers of Island Records to come over to his new label.

When you consider that a major recording performer has to sell somewhere around 3 million compact discs just to break even, and an independent label can sell about 10,000 and the performer makes just as much, well, the choice really is not that much of a choice anymore now is it?

Add to all this the newest thing, digital downloads, and you have a brand new market ready to explode for the independent performer out there who has enough get up and go to take a crack at it.

The future is yours independent artist. Let us make the the majority of it.