Why You Should Go Pro

The biggest frustration that can happen for an up and coming artist is to not be able to afford or get access to all the necessities they need to branch out. How do I make sure my song is quality music? Where do I get the equipment to make my music video? What if I can’t afford the equipment?

These are just some of the questions running through the head of an independent artist. It’s like college all over again. You go through this process with a goal to be successful and you end up defeating the purpose by paying your way through it and finishing with nothing. You win some, you lose some.

Well good thing, Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media is here to help. From music production to promotions and marketing, you can start your brand from scratch and receive the publicity it deserves. At Pro Music Records, we provide the assistance to market your brand. Our dedicated team of professionals can customize your promotional package and create you a music video representing your style. Check out our YouTube page for some of our work and video inspiration at https://www.youtube.com/user/proentertainmenttv.

Also make sure to drop by at our marketing page to educate yourself on the steps on how to promote your brand! Start your transition as an up and coming artist here: http://www.promusicrecords.com/marketing.html.

10 Simple Rules of Songwriting

 

10 Simple Rules of Songwriting:

Do Not Be A Perfectionist

Write as much as you possibly can.  Have songs constantly going out.  As stated in the title, do not be a perfectionist.  The idea is to improve over time, not to sit down and instantly have the song flowing out of your mind onto your paper.  Give yourself the time and freedom to experiment without pressure.  This way you will develop the creative side of your brain instead of the over analytical part.  

Get Feedback Often

Be fearless with your songs.  It IS okay if you write a terrible song.  What’s not okay is trying to convince everyone that it’s a wonderful song.  That just makes you look bad.  Allow people to give you their honest opinions.  Take note, and start to learn what actually works.

Hot And Cold

I am talking about combining opposites such as spiccato and ligatto (short and long). When you have long held chords, try a shorter or snappier vocal line. Have a funky bass line? You might want to opt for a simpler, more solid guitar part. It’s simple stuff, but worth thinking about when writing or producing.

Learn To Unlearn 

As you learn to write songs we naturally analyze what works and what does not work.  We absorb new chord structures and develop an obsession for doing things the correct way.  This is great for improving song writing, but somewhere along the way you may lose the ability to invent something new.  Don’t be afraid to break the rules.  If it sounds good to you then do it.  Bring your own unique flare to the song.  

The Disadvantage of Talent 

It’s okay to fail because thats how you learn what works or more so what doesn’t work.  You do not have to start out with a load of born talent.  If this is something you love doing.  Bring that passion and love to your song writing and then, just like anything else you can become one of the best talents in the industry.  Believe in what you do.  Own it or else no one else will. 

See The Bigger Picture

Once you have the technical knowledge you need to write music, try to develop the part of your brain that can listen to and analyze the whole picture rather than simply focusing on tiny details. You should be able to hear what is needed to make your songs work.  Does it need more emotion? More energy?  Is the vocal melody boring?  If you were only the listener and not the writer would this song catch your ear after the first listen? In focusing on the whole picture you are able to find the answers quicker by being honest and brutal with yourself. 

Say It Differently

We all know that there are common lyrical themes in music.  I would guess that the topic of love is the most widely used lyrical theme.  Using tried-and-tested themes can be a good thing, but you should always try saying it differently.  Bring your own unique flare to the situation of the song. 

Simplicity Is Key

So many musicians agree that the best songs are the simplest, yet they cannot seem to write simple songs themselves?  It’s like a musicians curse to assume that complicated means better.  Get used to writing simpler songs that have more hooks and adhere to common (natural) arrangement structures.

Working With Others

Even if you don’t like working with others, try it! You will see that in most cases more creative brains put together (not too many) are usually better than one.  Working with other artists forces you to move away fro your comfort zone and potentially write better songs.  This also allows opportunity for in put from other artists.

Take Breaks 

Have you ever worked on a song for hours upon hours and been completely disappointed with the end-result?  It happens! Doing anything creative can lead you down a road of endless ideas that without breaks will cause you to walk down the most frustrating of roads that possibly leads to complete kayos.  So give yourself a break, relax, and enjoy what you are creating.   
Now, can’t wait to hear your song playing on the top ten! Own it! 

5 Music Submission Mistakes

Music Submisson Mistakes

When a music manager or A&R department receives music submissions, they often tend to skip over e-mails that are incomplete or require too much work when it comes to listening. Moreover, an e-mail that barely contains a message, bio, or any contact information is most definitely going to be moved to the trash. While the quality and content in your music is of primary importance, getting your foot in the door is the first step. Don’t make the following mistakes and you can rest assured that your music is, at the very least, being listened to.

1 - Sending Incomplete Tracks

There’s no point in sending something that doesn’t represent you as an artist to the best of your abilities. Waiting until your song is mixed and mastered allows the concept and personality of your music to shine through.

2 - Attaching the Song with No Concept

A lot of times, when a song is downloaded from an e-mail it shows up anonymously (ie. “track1.mp3”). This offers no information about you or your story. You’d be much better off attaching an EPK, or at the very least a photo, so that the receiving end actually has some insight into what they are listening to. Adding links to your site and social media pages also shows that you have an online presence.

3 - Messy Files

When you attach too many of your files to an e-mail in a disorganized way, managers get fed up and are more likely to skip to the next submission. Your best bet is to put your soundcloud, reverbnation and bandcamp links in the body of your e-mail. This showcases your work in a clean and efficient way, allowing people to listen to even more of your songs without the hassle on either end. Use safe links to popular platforms.

4 - No Contact Info

Too often e-mails get sent without any contact information. As silly as it may seem, make sure you write your full name with your phone number and e-mail address so that if someone likes your work, they can actually tell you!

5 - Little-to-No Bio or Press Release

A poorly written bio or press release is an immediate turn-off. Providing too few details or even too many can instantly send a message about your professionalism as an artist. While there is no need to write a life story, it is important to create a brief and relevant bio about where you’re from, what kind of music you create, and what you’re doing now. 

Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media can make sure that you have the tools to send a complete e-mail music submission that gets you heard. From a website to a well-written bio to a thorough press release, we do it all. Visit us at www.promusicrecords.com for more information.

Your Band as Your Business: Promotion Tools

Music Promotion Tools

Independent musicians often tend to think they can do it all, but the reality is that everyone needs help. Running a band like a business requires tools and outsourcing. Not only is it necessary to be a great musician who plays great music, but you’ll also need to promote yourself. This can be done in a number of ways, but an important one is building and nurturing relationships with fans. 

Turning strangers into fans is your main goal. You can also achieve this through your social media profiles by interacting with followers. Those fans are the ones that are going to spread your music like wildfire and attend your shows with their friends. Commenting on their content is going to keep them interested in your work. You can also use these platforms to build excitement and momentum before releasing your singles and videos.

But, in order to be successful, you have to be in it for the long haul. Daily work of promoting, booking, designing posters and mercy, selling, and touring is all part of the game. To keep progressing, you need to leave time to write your music, of course. Setting up a promotions and marketing plan is going to allow you to focus on what you do: music.

Pro Music Records can set you up with a Project Manager to keep your social media up and running by posting new content and attracting more fans. A website, blog and merchandise shop can also be set up so people have even more ways to find your music. Allotting some of your budget now to maintaining these crucial aspects of running your business will guarantee you success for years to come.

How a Music Video Can Make Your Career

If you haven't seen this music video for "Big Booty" by Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea, you need to press play asap. This video is at 33 million plus hits and counting, and it only came out 5 days ago. Now not all the feedback is positive, but people are watching regardless. There's a lot artists can learn from a video release like this one.

First of all, the ad at the beginning of the video is making J. Lo and her record label tons of money, but ads only come once you're bringing in enough traffic. In other words, popularity can go a long way even if not all the responses to your content are positive (let the haters hate). That being said, however, you should absolutely strive to create relevant, engaging and high-quality videos. 

Though music videos aren't necessarily played on network television like MTV anymore, that doesn't mean you can't leverage them to help boost your career. They can definitely make money on sites like YouTube and anywhere else they're promoted, but more importantly they keep your fans interested in your work. Releasing content, from a full performance or narrative video to behind the scenes recording your new album, is just another way for you to reach out to fans. These videos can then be promoted on your social media sites, which gives them the possibility of going viral and you the possibility of becoming the next #1 artist. 

New Rules for Making Music in the Digital Age

1. Put it in perspective. The number of YouTube hits you have on any one video can communicate more than the number of sales that were made. For example, a video that has 50 million views may only have sold 50,000 units. Though this number may seem low, today’s industry actually deems it a success.

2. It’s what you can do for others. If you can prove that you will bring ticket sales and a line out the door, promoters, agents and club owners are far more likely to book you. Record labels will want to sign you if you already have an audience they can sell to. 

3. Money will most likely come later. Real success doesn’t happen overnight and you’ll need to grow your audience little by little. The longer it takes for you build your fan base, the more likely you’ll have a long-lasting career instead of being a one-hit wonder.

4. Create music regularly. With so much music available on the internet, fans have a shorter attention span than ever. Keep them excited about your music by putting out songs, even if they’re just acoustic covers or lyric videos, to stay at the forefront of their minds. 

5. Cultivate an organic audience. Friends and family are great for spreading the word about your career, but they don’t count as real fans. Finding an audience that loves your music without even knowing how great you are as a person will result in a loyal fan base.

Money Solutions to Streaming: Licensing & Publishing Deals

Licensing & Publishing Deals

It’s pretty clear that sites like Spotify and Pandora aren’t paying out big bucks for all artists, so small to mid-level musicians need to start being craftier. Though streaming can be beneficial for growing a fan base, there has to be a better way to make money than half a penny per play. Fans streaming your music can hopefully lead to purchases and increased sales, but these sales are harder and harder to come by in an age of digital music. Then again, artists have always had to look to other sources of revenue such as merchandise and tours...

However frustrating it may be, streaming and piracy aren’t going anywhere. It’s time to start embracing alternatives to generating income by looking to diversifying streams of income. Licensing companies and publishing deals are becoming more and more popular. These resources help artists get their music placed on TV shows, in movies and commercials. 

The solution? Adopt new ways of spreading your music and becoming successful. The technologies that are available to us today to build relationships with fans on social media and other sites are a great place to start. And, with the option of submitting music to a licensing or publishing company, monetary success can become a very tangible option.

Pro Music Records can set you up with either an exclusive publishing deal or simply submit your music to as many music libraries as your budget allows. The greater the number of submissions, the better your chances at landing a placement and making thousands of dollars through entertainment media. Please visit us online at www.promusicrecords.com to find out more about our licensing opportunities and take your music career to a new level! 

Millenials & Music: Building a Loyal Fan Base

We’ve all heard the term “millennial,” which basically refers to the generation of young adults in our world. This demographic, which makes up 2/3 of any music artist’s fan base, has different expectations, spending and consumption behaviors than others. Recognizing how building brand loyalty among this sector can greatly contribute to making you a successful working artist. 

Millennials love music and are interacting with artists in different ways than previous generations. When reaching this group with music, it can be simple and easy with the many available avenues on the internet. Social media efficiently reaches the widest audiences, sharing your music on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. 

Listening and online interaction data can help marketing teams decide who to target with your music. Identifying who is watching your videos based on comments or likes or can help you accumulate even more fans. Given the wealth of information accessible to us through social data, understanding the audience you are trying to reach with your music is key to a profitable campaign. 

It can be tricky to know how to use the numbers available, so hiring a marketing manager can be an efficient way to carry out your campaign. Here at Pro Music Records we use the data to hone your primary audience, which may very well be millennials, and promote your music specifically to them. This can help your fan base grow exponentially, the crucial aspect to generating revenue and popularity in the industry.

Music Artists as Entrepreneurs: Building Your Empire

Until recently, the only way to "make it" was to be picked by an A&R rep at a major record label, and even that didn’t guarantee success if the label dropped your record or cut your marketing budget. Today, your success is primarily up to you. You are your own CEO and your product is your music. Identifying multiple sources of revenue and having a team is the first step in thinking like an entrepreneur and forming your thriving business 

Develop Your Product & Identify an Audience

Think about exactly what it is you are making and how it is different from existing music. What genre do you mow identify with? Your personality and image are significant aspects of your business, too. Understanding how to develop your brand in the market is invaluable.

Next, find out who your customers or fans are. Use internet tools like Google Analytics, Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels to see who is listening, watching and commenting. Talking to fans after shows will allow you to figure out who your key demographic is. 

Get Your Music Out There

You'll need to get your product to the market as quickly as possible, so release small and often on easily accessible digital platforms. If you don’t have the money to release a full length album, start with distributing singles every few months or EP’s. Cover Songs for your YouTube channel can keep fans interested without forcing you to spend thousands of dollars. Another good method is releasing a song to social media and telling fans you’ll release the next once you get a certain number of comments or likes. Promotions are key to building your fan base. Most importantly, get feedback as soon as you can and adjust your business accordingly. 

Network

Take tips from outgoing and energetic entrepreneurs and don’t be afraid to talk about your music, your band, and what you are trying to achieve. When you play gigs, Introduce yourself to the other bands playing or the guys behind the scenes running lights or sound. You never know who you can meet and you may find a way to collaborate! In the music industry, your success will come from your connections.

Build a Team

Think about who you know who would be willing and able to work with you to develop your career. Hiring professionals, like those at Pro Music Records, to carry out your website, marketing, promotions, and submissions to labels or radio stations can ease your stress and keep you organized. Delegating tasks to your team can also give you more time to hone your craft and create more music. There’s a reason most successful businesses are more than one person! 

7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your YouTube Channel

#1. First Impressions are Everything.

Make sure you have a great thumbnail photo for each video. It’s the first thing people will see when they search for you, so make sure it appealing. 

#2. Use Titles & Descriptions to Your Advantage

Your title is of course important for intriguing viewers, but it can also improve your search results. Good marketing can allow your video to reach the most viewers with keywords and tags.

#3. Remember that YouTube is Interactive

According to recent stats, YouTube is more popular than Facebook for certain age groups. Artists should be engaging with fans after posting a video to keep them interested and excited.

#4. Make Use of Call-To-Action Videos

A few quick videos can encourage your fans to take action. Ask people to buy your single on release day, go support another artist, or ask fans to come see you on tour. Videos can create opportunities!

#5. Advertise

Add websites, comments & purchase links to use your channel as a billboard for promotions. Direct fans to subscribe to your channel so you can keep them coming back for more and link to your other social media profiles.

#6. Hook Fans with Playlists

Instead of having a series of isolated videos, use a playlist to get your fans hooked. Start with your most recent and popular videos and then let them cycle through older material. Just make sure that all of your content represents your best self and brand.

#7. Timing is Key

If you’re busy promoting your music, you’re being featured on music blogs, your album just came out, or you have a song on a TV show, make sure you have relevant content on YouTube as well. Make sure you are uploading high-quality videos whether they’re music videos, lyric videos, or vlogs.

Ready to take your YouTube channel to the next level? Try out the tips above with Pro Music Records and Entertainment Media. We can create your high-caliber videos and then handle your promotions and marketing to ensure you reach the right audiences.

YouTube Fame: Still Very Real (And Very Relevant)

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Social Media is invaluable when launching your music career. The proof? A capella singer Peter Hollens has just been offered record deal after unleashing a series of other innovative covers via the internet. His YouTube channel has over 63 million views and features collaborations with other YouTube musicians. Now, Sony Music’s classical and crossover label called Sony Music Masterworks has signed Hollens, whose album will be released on October 28th. 

What we can learn from Hollens’s success is the importance of being visible, accessible and prominent on the internet. Your launching point? High quality videos. Using a good camera and editing can go a long way.

Additionally, the buzz that is created around your music can take you from unknown to #1 in just a matter of time (Vine star Shawn Mendes just hit #1 on iTunes in 37 minutes). Not only do you need to consistently be uploading new content to keep your fans engaged, but also communicating with them to build and maintain relationships. By being genuine and friendly, you can attract more and more people. That being said, you’ll want to watch and support other musicians or music blogs too. Spreading the love is an easy way to double your fan base.

Finally, tagging your videos with descriptive and specific key words will help you get found! Use words that are relevant to your content so viewers won’t be misled.

Having the tools to carry out these crucial steps can be the most challenging part of the process. Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media offers services for Video Production, Promotions and Marketing to produce and keep up with your social media presence. By taking advantage of Pro Music Records experts, you can rest assured that your fan base and video views will increase exponentially. We can even submit your music to record labels, radio stations, and other entertainment resources to further promote your music. Save time and money today by calling Pro Music Records at 818.971.9301 or e-mailing info@promusicrecords! 

The Importance of Understanding Web Analytics [For Musicians]

In today's world, any musician striving for success needs to have a basic understanding of technology. While your music should be mastered first, knowing the basics of website statistics can take your career to another level. Understanding who is visiting your website and listening to your music as well as how often, for how long, and from where, is key to honing your target market and accessing a potential fan base. 

Several sites offer web stats that show you what's happening. They can tell you how many unique visits there were to your site in addition to how many visits were made total. This then translates to your page views so you can see which pages are most or least popular. The average time spent on your site can represent how engaging your content is. The longer a visitor spends on your music page, the more they like what they hear. Or, if your videos page is lacking views, however, perhaps your videos need to be more interesting or of higher quality. 

Referrers explain where visitors came from, whether it was a link you posted on Facebook or a search result on Google. The better you recognize the origins of your site traffic, the better you can find more fans. Finally, search terms that fans use to search and then find your site are displayed so that you can optimize what keywords are included your content. 

Of course, the most important step in this entire process is creating a visually appealing, high-quality website to showcase your talent and work. Then, you'll need to make sure to market your music to a targeted fan base using web analytics. You'll want as much time as possible to perfect your music, so getting help from marketing experts and web design professionals will allow you to gain the online presence you need without compromising your time. 

Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media can design custom search-engine friendly websites the are complete with industry specific photos and functionality. Pro Music Records clients are also guaranteed to dominate the 1st page of all the major search engines given reasonable time, driving traffic to your site. Please visit us online at www.promusicrecords.com or call 818.971.9301 for a free quote today!

4 Ways To Make Your Music Go Viral

Dream Big, but Start Small. 

Instead of focusing on the endgame, which can be both daunting and discouraging, prioritize the steps you’ll need to get there. For example, you’ll probably have more success submitting to an independent publication than

Rolling Stone,

and more luck trying to get signed by a record label if you play outside your town/state. There are many steps you can take to launch your career and amongst them are building a solid

website

, advertising, optimizing your results on search engines and reaching out to music blogs.

PMR

has experts on each of these tasks to leave you more time to work on your music and make the process less overwhelming.

Know Your Competition. 

Make a list of competing bands or artists in your genre. Who motivates you? Who is getting sponsorships and airplay? Who is being interviewed? Then, understand why. If they have a stronger brand, it may be worthwhile to rethink yours by seeking

consulting or brand development services

. If they have better marketing, spend some time getting your name out. PMR can submit you to hundreds of the best internet resources for independent music and entertainment to drive traffic to your site.

Focus on Your Music as Your

Business

. 

Once your music is released, you are no longer just an artist, you are a business owner. Selling your music and personalized

merchandise

is your #1 goal. Entertainment professionals exist to help you succeed by

marketing

your talents, gaining

publicity

and spreading the word about your goods. 

Get Popular. 

Be everywhere for everyone and never underestimate the power of social media. Your music needs to be available on Rdio, Spotify, iTunes, CDBaby, YouTube, underground music sites and discovery platforms. Making money is great, but the more people can hear your music for free, the more likely they will be to purchase it, attend your concerts and talk about your talent. PMR can handle your physical and digital

distribution

as well as

promotions

on social media.

For more info, please contact Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media:

14541 Sylvan St

Van Nuys, CA 

91411

Office: (818) 971-9301

info@promusicrecords.com

6 Steps to Releasing a Record with PMR

Navigating the music world can be challenging, but Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media can guide you through the process to releasing your next (or first!) album.

Step 1: Create a website! You'll want to showcase your best self through high-quality photos and videos so that people can know you're a legitimate artist.  

Step 2: Save Up! You'll have to spend money to make money. Setting aside a budget for marketing, promotions, merchandise and studio space can ensure you'll have a product that fully exemplifies your talent.

Step 3: Network Network Network. And wisely. People need to know you exist, but without being bombarded with information. That being said, not all people need to know. You'll want to connect with other artists or music professionals using social media (creating profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) and create relationships. People want to know you care about their work too, instead of feeling like they're just a means to an end in your career.

Step 4: Present your best work. Your single should be your absolute best song, but every track on your album should be "the best." Make sure each song is mixed and mastered to perfection because the higher the quality, the more likely you are to be looked at by top producers and labels. 

Step 5: Set a Release Date. Typically, if you’re releasing a single off an album, you'll want to share it anywhere between 2-4 weeks before the album comes out. Timing is everything! If it's too far in advance people will forget and if it's too close to the album date, no one will see it coming.

Step 6: Spread the word! Make sure your fans know about your upcoming music through your social media profiles, website, e-mail newsletters and any other music forums. Word-of-mouth marketing can spread like wildfire if you target the right people to start it!

At PMR, we can take care of all these steps for you, creating customized packages to suit all your marketing, promotion and distribution needs. Releasing your music can be scary and overwhelming, but we're here to help and make the process easier. Ultimately, your goal is to become a successful, working artist and we can get you there! Please visit us online at http://www.promusicrecords.com