Tips For Independent Artists to Get Your Music Heard!

It is currently easier than ever before for unsigned and independent artists to get their music or other projects in to the hands of those who will appreciate it thanks mainly to the greatest invention ever, the internet!  Working professionally in college radio over the past few years, I have garnered a new appreciation for the blood, sweat, and tears of artists who desparately wanted their music listened to. 

Sadly many of them saw their dreams shattered due to an industry that has become severely over saturated. At our station we get hundreds of submission per week and honestly most of them are not all that great. Despite all of the terrible stuff we have to sift through, we have been fortunate enough to discover and foster some talented individuals that have gone on to make careers out of music. 

Many of the most talented aspiring artists won't be successful commercially but there are ways to get you music to those who want it. Below are some tips I give to artist who ask for advice on getting their foot in the door aside from having good material of course. 

1. Create a One Sheet

A One Sheet is exactly what it sounds like. It is one sheet of paper that is sent out to all stations, labels, or management agencies that provides the artist's name, title and genre of the project, and a description of the  artist's credentials. It is also good to add photos and track listings that announce material not edited for radio. Think of the one sheet as your minute to impress Program Directors into giving your music a chance so you will want to jazz it up a little. Hardly any Program Directors will read anything over one page so make it count!

FYI: diymusic.cdbaby.com gives great tips on creating effective one sheets. 

2. Build Your Contact List

Seek out radio stations and Disc Jockeys that are into the format of music that you play. It will be a huge waste of energy, time, and money to send your music to people who will just discard it. Talking to contacts to get an idea of what they are looking for first will be beneficial as you build your marketing plan. 

3. Perform as much as possible

Street festivals, open mics, and showcases are all prime locations to get your music heard. If you live in or near a city or area that supports arts and music get your butt in every venue  possible and let them know who you are and what you do. If you are truly serious about performing you must not be shy when it comes to getting your name out there. Not only will you get your music heard but you will build lasting relationships with owners and managers whose support you want behind you. 

4. Go Digital

Music is quickly transitioning to mostly digital formats due to it being more economical and much easier to upload and edit. Join free digital music sites such as Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Facebook and MySpace for easy access to the music you want heard. It is also a good idea to follow and listen to artists that are similar. This will give you a feel for what works and what doesn't as well as many artists tend to follow and listen to artists that already follow them. 

5. Social Media, Social Media, Social Media

As if it wasn't self explanatory enough, you must build upon your social media networks. Twitter and Facebook has made it easier than ever to get listeners with the masses of people that surf the internet daily looking for the next best thing. Many artists create pages but fail to update them regularly which is off putting to fans who want to feel connected at all times. Enlist the help of computer savvy friends to help with the updating if possible. There are also programs that link social media sites together which makes updating much easier. 

These are just a few things that may help you get started in the right direction to accomplishing your dreams. Stay tuned for more updates and tips. Be sure to comment if you have anything to add!