Please keep in mind, if each person you "share" your music with, didn't voluntarily give you their email then YES you are spamming them and should remove them from your mailing list(s).

"Ayo Arie, I've been sending people my music through email and been receiving mad responses asking me to remove contacts and s%#t from my list. What should I do?" - Amhir

 

My question for you: Are you spamming people? [Laughing] Please keep in mind, if each person you "share" your music with, didn't voluntarily give you their email then YES you are spamming them and should remove them from your mailing list(s).

 

I'm not sure you fall into these categories, however in this industry there are two main ways people get the email addresses of those who they don't personally know: ONE: From some idiot who contacted them and a million other people without knowing proper email etiquette aka "BCC" and TWO: They are gifted with the alpha and omega of email lists of both industry insiders and pop culture civilians via a good "industry" friend who slips it to them with a note that says "you didn't get this from me!".

 

If this is how you've been able to contact thousands of people, then STOP IT! You don't want you or your music to be looked at as spam.

 

My advice..... The best way to share your music with those who actually give a crap is to get creative when you have people's attention. Pass around an email sign-up sheet during your live performances and events. Those people in attendance OBVIOUSLY have interest in you [Laughing] OR set it up where in order for people to be able to download your next great piece of musical work for FREE, they must first sign up for your mailing list. (This may also entail you having fans, but I'm sure you're already working on this process) [Laughing]

 

So with those two suggestions, take a moment and clean up your current email lists and get started on finding ways to properly collect the contacts of others.

 

Good luck!

 

Do you have something you'd like to know? Send me an email: contactsaidarie[@]gmail.com and follow me on twitter at: www.twitter.com/leirapr_ceo

 

It's a fact people don't like being told by total strangers to click on random links and pressured to become a co-defendant in the retweet spam train.

"Arie, is twitter an effective way to promote my music?" - No name

 

Yes and no depending on the technique and timing. [laughing] No don't worry there is no science to twitter promotion. However, the biggest complaint I hear from twits, twitheads, twiggas, twithearts and what-evers is in reference to the numerous links received from artists they don't know. It's a fact people don't like being told by total strangers to click on random links and pressured to become a co-defendant in the retweet spam train.

 

Reality check!!!! People know when they're randomly picked for "promo" based on the other "@" contacts bunched together. From personal experience I'm flattered to see my name next to @iamdiddy, @eonline, @unclerush and @barackobama. However, I don't know them..... and I'm sure as hell they don't know the person who chose to place us together in some dilapidated twitter blast. In doing this, artists are basically shooting blind, how productive is that? If you don't take what you do serious, why would anyone else???

 

So, although twitter is very convenient, like anything else it's important and most effective to do your due diligence a.k.a. homework and know exactly who you're sending your music to. You wouldn't send your hip hop track to a rock station [that would be pointless], twitter is the same way.

 

My advice, get to know who your fans and followers are and start with them. By working within your ACTUAL network, you're sharing with people who have interest in you.

 

Also, FYI for your mental Rolodex there are programs that can be linked with your social networks to send out prearranged material for distribution to YOUR followers in an organized and timely manner. Helping to avoid leaving every-one's time line looking like your personal promo page and leading to you being blocked or unfollowed.

 

Good luck!

 

Do you have a question for me or something you'd like to know? I'm here every week answering your emails on industry how-to's and important Do's and Don'ts. Send me an email: contactsaidarie@gmail.com and follow me on twitter at: www.twitter.com/leirapr_ceo.

 

Is it still acceptable to submit hard materials such as CDs, and physical press kits?

"Arie, I feel like my music is getting buried in the virtual piles of emails submitted to music editors. Is it still acceptable to submit hard materials such as CDs, and physical press kits?" - f.c.

 

In one word YES!!!!.... However, with 90something percent of popular media being independent and some even being run out of America's dorm rooms and in the basements of some very understanding parents [laughing] it may be difficult to locate a physical mailing address to submit your material(s) to.

 

Yes, I said it! Despite the flash and popularity, there's a good chance your favorite music/video site is maintained in the comfort of someones home. At least until they get their numbers up and sold to a larger commercial multimedia conglomerate [laughing]... Nothing like the entrepreneurial spirit - Anyways, I digress.

 

For those publications that publicly list their mailing address or P.O. Box, definitely submit your QUALITY music and non-spam promos. Heck, some even though not widely publicized... prefer it and I think you may have a better chance of getting your music heard as long as it's not on cassette [wink].

 

Who knows you may also grab some extra consideration points, cause it takes more effort to package and pay for postage then it does to click a button. There's almost something slightly humbling about receiving an artists CD in the mail; ask any editor that's normally bombarded by a virtual sea of spam.

 

What say you music editors? Let me know.

 

Good luck!

 

Do you have a question for me or something you'd like to know? I'm here every week answering your emails on industry how-to's and important Do's and Don'ts. Send me an email: contactsaidarie@gmail.com and follow me on twitter at: www.twitter.com/leirapr_ceo

 

...for the most part participating in events such as music festivals can be very beneficial to unsigned artists. Especially, those [reputable/established] held annually.

"I notice there are tons of music festivals during the summer. I was thinking about signing up for a few, do you think this will be a good look?" - James

 

Absolutely, for the most part participating in events such as music festivals can be very beneficial to unsigned artists. Especially, those [reputable/established] held annually. These events unlike your local bi-monthly neighborhood show cases have people worth networking with. [no disrespect, but let's be real on the legitimacy and effectiveness of most "promoter" backed talent shows]

 

BUT, there are so many festivals out here; I highly suggest doing your due diligence aka homework first. It's important to review the requirements and statistics for each festival as they all differ from one and other. Some things to check:

1. The festival(s) have a category for your genre of music.
2. Level of experience each festival expects all entering participants to have.
3. Age restrictions (Some festivals are held in locations that may not allow anyone under 18 or 21 years of age)
4. FEES… Many festivals have registration fees (Monies to be paid for participation)
5. Sponsors. Usually when events have big name/corporate sponsors it's a hint on the type of crowd the event may attract and possible event size.

These are just a few examples of what to look for.

 

With proper preparation, artists may use music festivals as their own mini tour [laughing] Seriously! Think about it, you save money on marketing (festivals have great marketing campaigns and once you're on the upcoming roster, you become included in all the promo for that year's event). You travel the country introducing your music to new fans, and have the opportunity to network with people that may be influential in the advancement of your career etc. [IDK just a thought] the possibilities are endless. Anyways....

 

Here are a few of my top festival picks ---- Good Luck and get moving!!!

 

A3c Festival (Atlanta)::Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival (New York)::Trinity International Hip Hop Festival (Connecticut)::Paid Dues Festival (San Bernandino, CA)::Portland Oregon Hip-Hop Festival (Portland, Oregon)::The Hip Hop Theatre Festival (Washington DC)::Manifesto Hip Hop Festival (Toronto, Canada):: Audiotistic Festival (San Bernardino, CA)::Cypress Hill Smokeout (San Bernardino, CA)::Hip Hop 360 - Canada Festival (Ottawa, Canada)::Rock the Bells (Los Angeles, CA)::Pitch Fork Music Festival (Chicago, IL)

 

Do you have a question for me or something you'd like to know? I'm here every week answering your questions. Send me an email: contactsaidarie@gmail.com and follow me on twitter at: www.twitter.com/leirapr_ceo