Music Marketing Tips on a Budget

Summary: 6 tips musicians can utilize when marketing their band on a tight budget

Many musicians become stressed out when it comes to creating a valuable music marketing plan, especially while promoting on a tight budget. Not only does marketing involve a great amount of time, effort, and hard-work, but it can quickly become extremely expensive. Most commonly, artists usually don’t have marketing finances to splurge on; your key focus may be on producing great quality music for your fans. Here are some music marketing tips for artists to exploit while upholding a budget.

1.     Take advantage of social media outlets

Social media platforms are marketing tools that every musician should take advantage of. The two essential benefits that social media marketing brings to the table is the fact that it’s free and can reach a mass audience. You can use websites such as: Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, YouTube, ReverbNation, and so on. These social media networks can help build your bands awareness and can also assist with connecting among fans. By connecting and building relationships with fans, this allows you to communicate which is an important factor when promoting your band.

Upload new songs to your page and keep it entertaining. Keep your fans updated when shows are coming up and also when new songs will be released. Posting funny and interesting stories while touring on the road, or traveling to shows will keep fans on their feet and amused. Social media platforms allow individuals to upload photos, so by submitting images onto your pages, this will become appealing to viewers and will keep them coming back for more. Another piece of advice is when individuals comment on your posts/songs/photos, make sure to comment back and make it personal.

2.     Create a blog site for your band

Blogging is a great way to create an image and express yourself as a band. Most blog sites are free, which once again is a benefit for your pocket. This is a fast and easy alternative to get your bands name out on the web throughout the online presence. Blogging is an excellent and fun technique to use. You can write about crazy and interesting occurrences that happened during shows, recordings, and trips. You can utilize this tool by sharing background information about your band, and by expressing your thoughts and opinions as well. Be passionate about your writing because fans and followers will be reading your content, and hopefully exiting your page with a good notion.

3.     Maintain and build relationships with fans

Maintaining personal relationships with fans is the most vital aspect in the marketing world. Connecting with fans is important because the more you build a connection, the more love and support you will receive from them. If a fan is totally feeling your band, and you build a relationship with them through social media or blogging sites, your fans will sincerely feel connected with you. Where else but online can you connect with thousands of fans at once? Fans will become loyal to your band and express their delight through word-of-mouth to friends and family if you maintain friendly relationships. This will not only lead to a positive image, but loyalty will increase awareness as well.

4.     Make certain contact information is present on all sites/e-mails

Artists should always double check and make sure that their contact information is listed on all e-mails and web pages. This is the most inexpensive, yet the most common marketing mistake that I have seen artists make. Whether you are trying to book an open microphone (mic) slot at a local café, or a search for an open concert/event listing, make sure the respondent can contact you. Also, this goes for websites too. If you are creating a Facebook, Twitter, or company website, be positive that you list all contact information so individuals can get in touch with you with questions and opportunities. Include information like: band name, e-mail, telephone number, potential address and all links to social media sites.

5.     Attend and play at local shows

Attending and performing at local shows may be the priciest out of the 6 marketing tips, but this suggestion will leave you with the most experience. Some shows may even be free to attend which is a huge advantage while on a budget. You can bring flyers or download cards with you to hand out to individuals who seem interested in your band. Attending shows can also help you build relationships with potential fans, which is extremely valuable for artists. By being on the other side of the picture and performing, this may be the most influential marketing tools to take advantage of. Sign up and offer to perform at open mic nights, or even offer to be the opening band at a local concert. Although, you may not be paid as much as you would like, this can build a great image for your band and people can enjoy your live tunes. Focus of making an excellent impression and really “wowing” the audience!

6.     Distribute download cards

Instead of distributing business cards for promoting your band, hand out download cards as a different and more interesting alternative. Download cards allow artists to promote and advertise bands with the ability to host albums and demos. Be creative when designing your download card. Design these business-sized cards with full color and visuals to catch fans attention. These cards have codes located to either the front or back that fans can use to download your music. Distrophonix offers 1,000 download cards for $99; this is a great and affordable deal. You can gain the $99 back by selling them to fans and making a huge profit.

By: Danielle Peterson

Danielle is a Marketing Specialist for Distrophonix LLC. Distrophonix is a company based in Baltimore, MD specializing in music marketing, distribution, Rock Band Encoding, CD pressing, and mastering for musicians worldwide.
www.Distrophonix.com

Top 10 Tax Deductible Expenses for Musicians

Summary: Ten tax deductibles in pursuing a career as a musician.

The IRS defines a business expense as something that is common, accepted, helpful, and appropriate to your trade or business. Most musicians operate as sole proprietors, thus they are considered a business that can make deductions from their expenses. Before being able to make deductibles, you must file a Schedule C as part of your annual tax return. This will reduce the amount of net taxable income therefore reducing the amount of your income tax.

Musicians don’t generally view themselves as a business and therefore will not pay taxes, however the benefits outweigh the costs. Here are the top 10 deductible expenses in pursuing your music career to make a profit:

10. Copyright and Registration Fees- Typical copyright fees for an individual song will range from $35 to $65 depending on how the copyright form was submitted (electronically or paper registration). These fees are tax deductible so in the long run the cost will be less.

9. Professional Fees- Most musicians who operate as a business will typically have managers, lawyers, and/or accountants. Paying any professional will include paying them taxes. Those expenses can be deducted as long as you had filed a Schedule C with your annual tax return.

8. Supplies- Supplies are tax deductible. Typically this includes writing utensils, paper, staples and other such necessities. In the business of playing and writing music, supplies that can be written off include drum sticks, drum skins, guitar picks, and guitar strings.

7. Retirement- Two options:

A- Standard IRA allows you to deduct your current taxable income and then be taxed when you withdraw money in retirement.
B- Roth IRA allows your retirement withdrawals to be tax free, however contributions made toward that fund are taxable.

6. Equipment and Gear- Amps, pedals, straps, and carrying cases all fall into this category. Part of this includes depreciable items. Depreciating equipment can reduce the tax completely by paying it over time and delaying the amount you need to pay. This way you can pay at a later time in your career when your earnings significantly outweigh your costs.

5. Trade Magazines- Having subscriptions to trade journals are considered by the IRS as something that is helpful for your business. Examples include Billboard and The Music Trade Magazine.
4. Mailings and Promotions- Making and copying flyers are considered tax deductible as well as a percentage of postage expenses.

3. Food- 50% of business meals are deductible. Keep Your Receipts!

2. Travel Expenses- When traveling to performances you can deduct a portion of those expenses or you can keep track of your mileage log and receive a standard rate of $0.365 to the mile. Choosing which one will vary on what type of vehicle you use as transportation so figure out both and choose the one with the higher value.

1. Instruments- All instruments are tax deductible including, but not limited to guitars, drum sets, keyboards/pianos, and microphones. Just like equipment and gear, musical instruments depreciate over time and allow you to make payments over time. Instruments are typically a musician’s greatest expense.

By: Michael Landa

Michael is a consultant to Distrophonix LLC. Distrophonix LLC is a music marketing and distribution company based in Baltimore, MD. They design marketing plans for musicians, as well as offer digital distribution, CD pressing, download cards and mastering.
www.Distrophonix.com

Seven Helpful Hints to Financing Your Band’s Next Recording

Summary: Seven helpful hints to financing your next recording

Before you start thinking about recording your music, you need to be aware that nothing is free. Most new bands can really only afford to pay for their equipment and musical instruments and therefore have little to no money to spend on recording costs.

1. Loans. If you do not have the money to pay for the recording upfront you may have to consider getting a loan to do so. You can do this in one of two ways:

-Go through the traditional banking system or credit cards. The downside is that interest rates can be very high.
-Use Prosper.com; You choose the loan amount that your band desires and you pay a monthly fixed rate that is distributed to your investors. Investors can then review your listing and invest in the listing if it meets their criteria.

2. Slice the pie. Slicethepie.com raises money for artists by first paying people to review and rate music and then those successful artists are able to go on and raise money for their next E.P. or album.

3. Company sponsorship. A band can try to get a business to help sponsor its recording. In return, the band will market the business, and put its logo and information on their CD’s and merchandise.

4. Ask your local college. Most colleges have recording studios that students can record in for free, or a reduced charge. Many colleges also allow musicians that are not students to record in return for a small charge; or if you are lucky, free.

5. Kickstarter.com. Post your ideas that need to be funded. Posting music on this site is a great way to start. More than one person can invest, however you need to reach your goal in the allotted time or your needed amount will not get funded.

6. Barter. You may have a talent or skill that you can trade to a recording engineer in return for getting your music recording. We have had friends that have been successful in getting free recording in return for yard work, car repair, and hauling junk to the dump.

7. Share the cost with band members. I know that this is the obvious one, but none the less it should still be mentioned. Sharing the cost amongst several band members can make the recording much cheaper for everyone.

By: Michael Landa

Michael is a Financial Consultant to Distrophonix LLC. Distrophonix LLC is a music marketing and distribution company based in Baltimore, MD. They design marketing plans for musicians, as well as offer digital distribution, CD pressing, download cards and mastering.
www.Distrophonix.com