Ways To Market Music Online Verse

Many people have argued that there are
Making that loser walk the plank.
But it's over, oh god, that will fare
Those sweaty men that really hunk.

Five Basic Ways To Market Your Music Online

Many people have argued that there are no great piano composers in the modern world. They say that this art died fifty to one hundred years ago. Here are the facts – there are still many unbelievable piano composers in the modern world today. However, whilst one cannot argue with their creative skills, they lack basic modern marketing skills. And the world is missing out on this distinguished talent.

The most affordable and convenient way to market your music today is through the internet. It is used by billions every single year. So why do many piano players fail to market their music online? Why do they go down the traditional route of taking it to a publisher?

Marketing Method Number One – Creating Your Own Website with A List

If you make the decision to market your music online, it is almost criminal to do so without a website. Your website must be where you send all of your prospective customers. Your website must contain details on how to purchase your music, both online and offline. I would also recommend having a ‘sample’ piece of music for clientele to listen to for free and to be able to download the score.

When you are building your website, you must include a list. What is a list? A list is a collection of email addresses of potential customers. Your list should be kept abreast on new pieces of music that you are creating. Also they should receive occasional incentives to remain on your list, eg. a free song or a discount.

It is much easier to sell to people that know and trust you then to sell to a complete stranger. But so many people in all facets of marketing spend more time on getting more customers than selling to previous customers. Do not make this same mistake. By investing no more than $US200 per year, you could and should have a major increase in sales.

Marketing Method Number Two – Piano Radio Stations

Piano radio stations are a great way to market your music online. There are numerous radio stations on the World Wide Web that specialize in all sorts of areas, and piano is no exception. Whilst I could only speculate costs, you might be able to get your music played for free, or even better, you might be entitled to royalties from that particular radio station.

The main difference between radio piano stations and normal piano stations is that online users are able to click on a link that will take them directly to your site. So make sure that the music that you submit to radio stations are some of your best pieces of work and fit the mould of the station.

Marketing Method Number Three – Submitting Your Scores To Directories

There are numerous cases where piano composers only market their actual music and neglect to market their sheet music. This is such a silly thing to do. If a piano player likes listening to your music, then naturally they would want to learn to play it. Web sites like Free Piano Sheet Music would be more than willing to put your compositions onto their web site for free. Also you would get valuable links from your sheet music to your website.

Marketing Method Number Four – You Tube

This is the new way to market your music online. You Tube has simply taken the world by storm, not only from a viewers perspective but from a marketing perspective also. Similar to video clips that you see on MTV you are able to create your own video of your music. It does not have to be a complicated task. The easiest way to do it is to record yourself at the piano playing the score and this would be enough. However if you have a theme to your music i.e. the ocean, then you would cut to shot of the beach, i.e. waves crashing on the rocks. Whatever you decide your video clip to be, make sure you put a visible URL at the end of your video as credits, so the viewer can take action to buy your music.

Marketing Method Number Five – Piano Forums

Forums are an old and popular way to marketing your music, and it still works today. Not only can you specifically market your music in the forum, you can also market your music by just posting messages about anything related to the piano. For example, if there is a discussion about what is the best brand of piano, and you post your comments, you can put a link at the bottom of your post to your website. So not only do you market your music, you also marketing to the right group of people, piano players!

In conclusion these are much more effective methods of marketing your music then taking it to a publisher. Not only do you have much more control of your music, it is also much cheaper.

The world deserves to hear your music.

Christopher Carlin is the founder of the new resource for piano players, Free Piano Sheet Music. If you wish to submit Your compositions to Free Piano Sheet Music, click here: http://www.free-piano-sheet-music.net/. We look forward to hearing from you.

Disco Classics Retro Concerts Ode

Looking back school disco’s were the epitome of uncool.
And then they danced in the room of ball
Before it stained the tailored wool
They'llI take you to the mall.

School Disco Classics - Reliving Your Youth With Retro Concerts

Looking back school disco’s were the epitome of uncool. People tended to fall into two different categories; those who were clearly very geeky and those who were delusional to the point of thinking they were at the cutting edge of popular culture with their suspect haircuts and jerky dance moves. These two subgroups could of course be further broken down into boys and girls. Girls tended to dance on mass together in tight circles gossiping and singing all the words, while the walls of the school hall were lined with nervous looking boys doing their best to pretend that they didn’t know the words to the latest Rick Astley hit.

However, as the old saying goes - school days were the best days of your life and like it or not these discos were the soundtrack. To this day hearing a song can cast your memory back to the creaking sound system ran by a DJ old enough to be your great uncle – you may even still sport the scars of failed break dancing moves. It’s perhaps due to these sparks of nostalgia that has led to the increasing popularity of retro concerts.

In the past retro concerts have been a little bit of a mixed bag. For every Bob Dylan there is a sad miserable effort from a band desperately trying to re-live their youth and squeeze an extra few pounds out of “the final tour”. Very often going to see these fallen idols can shatter the memories of your youth and make you realise just how uncool you and they were in the first place. It is always worth therefore doing a little investigating before heading off to a retro concert. Does the artist still have it? Have the drug fuelled parties of their youth taken their toll? Are they medically speaking still alive?

Luckily there are a number bands touring in the near future across the UK that do, definitely still have it. One perennial favourite is Scottish singing legend Rod Stewart who is planning dates across the UK in Manchester, Newcastle and London to name but a few. Famed for hits such as “Maggie May” and “Do ya think I’m Sexy?” - Rod has been entertaining crowds across the world since his career began as a singer in the early 1960’s. While the numbers of people replying positively to his most famous hit has no doubt diminished through the years, Rod’s lyrical presence has certainly not and he continues to be one of the world’s great showmen.

One of the quintessential school disco greats from the 80’s were the sublime reggae outfit, UB40. While the name of the band is certainly very apt for many of their current followers, UB40 are still as good a live act as you will see. Formed in 1978 UB40 are heavily influenced by 1960’s Ska and reggae which was the inspiration behind original tracks such as King", "Madam Medusa", "Food for thought" and "Signing Off". UB40 have 2 dates in December playing to an expected sell out crowd at Wembley, London.

One act guaranteed to spark an emotional response from your mother are the Everly Brothers. Best known for tracks such as “Wake up Little Susie” and “Crying in the Rain”, the Everley brothers are widely regarded as one of the greats in rock and roll history. Playing live in the UK this winter, tickets can be bought for their Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester gigs which promise to be a sing-a-long extravaganza!

In the past retro concerts have received a lot of bad press, with fans wishing they could just remember their favorite artists when they were at their peak. However, as the saying goes for many artists “class is permanent” and if you are looking for a fun day out listening to the songs of your youth then these concerts are great. Just don’t expect miracles – you aren’t going to look 16 again no matter how loud you sing...

For further information on retro concerts and concert breaks in the UK try short break specialist http://www.superbreak.com.

Robin Richmond is a freelance travel writer living in Edinburgh, Scotland. www.travel-tips.co.uk.