Much like trying to get a unique domain name these days, getting an unused name for yourself/group is a bit more complicated that it once was. Even if you do have an original name, getting people to hear your music before you have any fans can seem almost impossible. With some clever thinking and hard work, it can all be done without spending a dime.
So let’s get right to it – you want to upload your music, photo and bio to the internet, without being lost in a sea of obscurity. It’s understandable how it can happen to even the most talented artists. As mentioned before, it’s not necessary to spend any money in promotion to get great results. It’s also not something that happens overnight.
Establishing your music online ten years ago was an amazing experience. I remember posting tracks made with a Yamaha DJX onto MP3.com, a couple years after it first launched in 1997. I uploaded the music to the Hip-Hop category, and within a few weeks, I had over 47 downloads (this was before streaming was typical, and AOL’s 56k internet connections were still running most of the US). Fast forward a decade later, and you are lucky if your band’s name hasn’t already been taken by at least three or four different groups across the web.
Here is a list of 8 tips for getting your music heard:
- Register your band info to as many websites as possible. This means post your biography, mp3s, videos, photos, etc. to MySpace, Facebook, last.fm, Soundclick, Muxtape, YouTube, ArtistServer, iSound, Twitter, Flickr, blogspot, Gravatar, etc. The more sites you sign up for, the better the chances you have of people coming across your music when searching for your name.
- Jump on new websites as soon as they launch. When music.download.com (now last.fm) was first launched, Sound Scientists were one of the first groups to upload music, and because of that, we got a head start on the rest of the bands that signed up afterwords, even bigger names (see image at bottom of list).
- Leave comments on blogs, forums and other social networking communities. Use the same username, email and website link for all of them. Leave actual feedback, not just a link and a banner, which brings us to the next big tip…
- Don’t spam forums, chat rooms, blogs, etc. By just randomly posting links to your website you risk losing credibility – but more importantly, you are just going to come across as annoying and unprofessional.
- Create a single avatar to use on all of your accounts. Use this image on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Gravatar, etc. Companies spend millions of dollars and years of research establishing brand recognition, and strive to stay consistent with that image. You should take their lead and do the same – the more familiar people are with your image, the more likely they are to spread the word and return to your pages.
- Stay humble. Ask for feedback, and appreciate it. Follow up with feedback for others. If you are posting your music to be reviewed, be grateful to the reviewers, no matter how horrible their comments may be. Nothing will turn people off of your music quicker than having an attitude, or being defensive. If you act like everything is done for the passion and love, potential fans will be less critical, and will relate to you more. Giving others feedback is a good idea, as it shows you aren’t selfish and are looking to help others too.
- Constantly post new music. Regularly rotate a few tracks out, so that the same music isn’t collecting dust on your pages. If somebody notices that you have had the same five songs on your page for a few months, they lose the incentive to keep coming back. Remember, even if you have music that’s old to you, 99.99% of the internet hasn’t heard it yet.
- Collaborate regularly with other artists. An unfortunate aspect of hip-hop music is that the sense of collaboration for the sake of fun and music isn’t as strong as I’ve experienced with other genres (for example, rock, blues, jazz, etc.). By stepping away from that mentality and working with as many other people as possible (yes, that means for free sometimes), you are only helping establish yourself as an open-minded and hard working musician. The results may not be award-winning, but at the very least it’s great practice.
Here is an example of what can happen when luck plays out in your favor, along with using the methods outlined above. This screenshot was taken in 2006 on music.download.com, which is now last.fm:
If you have any tips to share, please post them in the comments below.
Great article, and great site over all. Keep up the great work.
myspace.com/zahgey2
good advice
Great article! Thaks
thanks 4 the advice. For an upcoming music maker, this is the stepping stone i needed coming fresh into the game.
This was very well written
. Great read, not too long but a lot of really good information. Good job, keep it up! 
.
Great article!!
To help u guys out, heres a website that i use that works great for promoting!
Its called: http://www.talenttrove.com :]
Check out my music: myspace.com/solitarymovementmusic
Youtube search: “solitary movement”
Good shit, nothing new! Keep up the good work!
Great advice! Thanks alot I really appreciate people that are trying to help out any new and upcoming talent! Check out my websites: http://www.myspace.com/uniquethefuture and http://www.myspace.com/uniqu3isthebestrapperever
emule has got some good inventory of free music.,*:
Hello to all the unsigned artist out there,my name is (BigTony) I’am from Annapolis,Md..I run a up and coming management company called (J.T.M Management) i have my first group they are called (FAMCAMP) They are a group of brothers and cousins also from Annapolis,md…. J.T.M Management and FAMCAMP goal is to bring back real HipHop (NO GIMMICK RAP) Our mission is to bring back balance in this Hip Hop game…Make songs that have meaning to them again, Not just songs about bling bling, when 97% of the rappers don’t have any way….But songs with real Hip Hop meaning,No talking about killing each other but how we can do for each other………Just like (GRANDMASTER FLASH)DID & (PUBLIC ENEMY) (RUN DMC) (KURTIS BLOW) (NAS) (ERIC B & RAKEM)
I think you get my point…..Its time for the real hip hop and where here to bring it BACK……
For Bookings Call (BigTony) @ 770-274-8923
J.T.M ENT….
FAMCAMP ONE LOVE………..
Band Members
Tyrone (T-y) Mitchell
Tyrell (BigRell) Mitchell
Kernell (Kay-Nellz) Hunt
Tony (Tone Mitch) Mitchell Jr
Davonta’ (The God) Wright
Charles (Gunz) Rogers
Eugene (Uwally) Rogers
myspace.com/youngdizzlemakinhits
Great info will definately take it on board, great work guys.
Alimit
http://www.myspace.com/alimit1
Wassup everybody this ya boy Toddy Mac!!!! im a up and comin artist who is about to hand my cd to birdman and lil wayne. when he gets out on nov 6 he will b hearing it. i want you guys to b the judge of it first!!!! here goes my website you can here my music on there as well as go to my youtube, twitter and ect. Please help support me even while i aint at the top yet cause one day i will b! http://www.wix.com/toddymac/toddymac
i can see lots of free music on the internet but most of them are pirated. ‘,-
whatz good world? my lyfe couldnt fall apart any worse, im livin out my car wit a job that doesnt pay shit now and my family basically doesnt giv a rats ass bout me and more now than eva i need 2 b heard..i need 2 prove i got sumthn unique and deserve a chance by a record label, jus watch tha videos and listen 2 tha muzic and sum1 giv me that shot
Getting your music heard through different types is very important, I suggest you make a songfountain.com and last.fm site right away and start building your audience
I’d have to disagree with 1 and 2
I’d have to disagree with 1 and 2.
Daaaaaaayum! MP3.com! Yall go back quite a ways! I used to jump on there in like ’02… Back when Anno Domini, Wyshmaster, and ummmm…Damn, what’s his name…Anyway, they used to dominate back then.
Anno Domini’s still doin it on soundclick.
Great article! Don’t forget the offline hustle as well.
Peace!
Rap Beats
R&B Beats
Awesome! Thanks for the tips!
Like they said, great article. It’s very helpful and is bringing me closer to my goal.
Thank you.
Danyosorapnicent @ twitter,YouTube,myspace,Facebook wherever you want to find me.
Peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgoqjwv-eyM&feature=channel_video_title
Great advice, straight to the point and helpful in every way.
Did some digging and i see you have an all around excellent website to.
Nice work with the site itself.
This means alot to a beginner like me to be able to take advantage of advice this well thought out, very much appreciated.
Great read, thank you for all of you suggestions…I think #1 “Register your band info to as many websites as possible.” is really great advice as long as you are able to keep up with EVERY single web site you post to. There is nothing more diappointing than finding a new artist somewhere and all their contact info or links are all out of date. I’m passionate about music, so I’ll look further, but most people wont.
Thanks again for posting!!
Thanks for this great advice! I’m actually producing electronic/dubstep music and I believe these principles could apply to any genre, not just hip hop
I agree – in fact, we’ve been meddling with dubstep recently too.
I Disagree with no1……waste of time, make sure you join the MAIN social networks.. & All the others that you do join, can CONNECT to facebook etc….not EVERY website, this is the mistake of many, also do not spam walls on facebook, Most artists do NOT even say hello, big MITAKE…it is NOT myspace where there is no rules or MANNERS. ps: Myspace is a waste of time, use it for a url, nothing more, it’s like standing in a hall yelling the same story/speel over and over….nothing eventuates. STOP fanning musicians, you want the ley person not muso’s See my blogs :http://bit.ly/pUWsY8 xox Haych
hey, if you like to make a music video in Trinidad & Tobago where the scenery is magnificent and the culture pumping, pls contact me.
These articles motivate me as an artist, because in the long mist of promoting your music avidly like I do, core tips like these remind the artist of the long term rewards of the daliy grind, because I know for a fact anyone who has made in this industry faced rejections, even if they followed a plan. Consistancy is the key, and I plan to someday master that!!!#TEAMMDSE
Mane ive ben n da rap game eva since 10 nd iz 15 rite na. HMU! PLZ!!!!
very good advice.
Thanks for the advice please check out yungaceswag.com for some good music. Also youtube.com/yungaceswag. Thanks and I would appreciate some feedback.
thanks for the tips, got no money at all so it is very much appreciated.
If anyone is interested in listening to some of my tracks and wants to download them for free then check out my page.
cheers
scotti
http://www.reverbnation.com/paulscotti
Great article. There is a great group there really changing the game. They make great music with no profanity. Here is there website, I’m sure you all enjoy. >> http://www.ballnchainent.blogspot.com/ << Once again great article, very useful points.
this is a goog realistic article
I appreciate the help!
Well Thanks this helped a lot btw dont forget to check me out
youtube.com/NolanOllis
gimmie some feedback
pretty good article. needs a list of more sites.. If you are into real HipHop , then check this label out. They are looking for talent -
http://hiphopproduction.com/production/8-tips-for-getting-your-music-heard-for-free/
real hip hop – http://soundcloud.com/100puresent/large Label looking for talent
Another really cool site to get your music out there is Exposed Vocals. ExposedVocals.com sends your music to radio stations and everything. Not sure, but I don’t think they charge either!
Great article, definitely worth a read!!
I found this very insightful and educational.
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