1. Record a demo- So if you want to be rich and famous because of your music you need…well, music. No band has ever become successful by solely playing live shows. Before the current slump in CD sales, record companies were more likely to take a risk on a unrecorded band but nowadays the more studio experience you have, and the better your demo sounds, the better chance you have of making it. A high quality demo (usually three to five songs) speaks volumes about your musical commitment because of the time and money required to get a perfect recording. Record labels also have connections with prominent local studios, and well known producers have a way of getting important people in the industry to hear their work.
2. Prepare a promotion package to send to radio stations/record labels- First off, promotion packages consist of a demo CD, which is three to five songs, a high quality photo of the band and a biography statement which is a summary of the band’s accomplishments. This is a half a page about “Why you should care?” and needs to be both concise and impressive. Record companies sift through thousands of these packages everyday and if yours doesn’t stand out, you are out about $3 for postage plus your CD. With more and more major labels no longer accepting general submissions, hiring a music lawyer or manager who knows the ins and outs of the music industry is becoming the best way to get your package noticed. A promo package is also a good way to introduce your band to a local radio station or even national broadcasts services like Sirius Satellite Radio or national radio conglomerates that control multiple radio stations. Before sending a package to a station or label, check their website to make sure they are currently accepting submissions to make sure your hard work won’t go straight into a trash can.
3. Play (and win) shows and contests- Remember those accomplishments mentioned in step two? This is where you get them. Go out and win some battles of the bands. Playing shows is a necessity to achieve success unless you prefer the Justin Beiber shot in the dark method of posting videos on Youtube and praying to a higher power that somebody important sees them. Local shows earn you money (sometimes) to spend on purchasing gear, recording time, making t-shirts and other necessities. Shows also provide you with valuable stage time needed to hone your live show and improve your bands onstage chemistry. But perhaps the most important function of playing shows is the social aspect. Making connections in the music industry with other local bands helps you grow your fan base, book more shows and open up for larger bands that may remember you one day and who you can put on your biography. Word of mouth is the best way to get your band known. Plus you never know whose dad just happens to own his own label…anybody could be in the crowd.
4. Get some airtime- Most local radio stations have some kind of local radio hour or might even play your music in the general rotation next to national acts. This is another good way to get your name and music out there for potential fans and labels to hear. You can appeal to a massive ready-made fan base if your music fits that of your chosen station. Most stations are taking music submissions and the more people who call in and ask for your music the more air time you get. On that note, if you would classify your music as “electro-punk-metal” you probably shouldn’t send it into a top 40 station. So make your dad call 96.5 the Buzz every hour on the hour until they play your newest single.
5. Know your scene- Tying into number three, knowing your peers and the local music scene is important to getting signed. If you are known throughout the entire Kansas City metro area as being the band who always borrows our stuff or the band who brings only five fans to every show, chances are a label won’t want to come see you play based on word of mouth alone. The age of cock-rock, trashing hotel rooms and musicians being complete jerks to everybody is over. Bottom line, if yo are not fun and agreeable to work with, the label won’t want to put up with you, and chances are they can find a band that fits the musical shoes they want and are generally nice guys. Know your scene, know your audience, and remember before you were a musician, you were a fan. That means going to your friend’s shows and going to friends of friend’s shows is just as important as going to your own shows. You can make important connections and it’s also a good way to keep an eye on the competition.
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