Fashion and performance have been wed to the culture and values of the performer since musicians began to perform. But the added need to market recordings upped the ante for artists to develop on-stage personas that carried over to the recording side of the market. So, we had the dress “uniforms” of bands and music groups of the 1940’s through the mid 1960’s; the Mo-Town tuxedos, the do-wop ensembles, the mop head mod suited Brits. Group garb was homogenous. Even Elvis buffered his radical wardrobe with the level-headed ensembles of the Jordanaires. All of this finally gave way to the costume rock and the individualized garb of the late sixties and beyond.
Live performance is key to enhancing the relationship between your band and your fans. It is the top arena for connecting. Without live performance, building a fan base will be non-existent. So what should you embrace and should you stay clear of when beginning to tour?
It's important to know your way around the copyrighting process as soon as you begin to create music. Any original combination of melody and words may be copyrighted. In this article we're look at some of the finer details involved in copyrighting, from what it does and doesn't cover, to how much it costs.
Performance Rights Organizations ensure musicians and publishers receive their royalty payments after public performances. What qualifies as a public performance? Understanding the many different performances areas that are considered public could open up new streams of revenue for you.
Entering your song into Song Writing Contest can open many positive opportunities for independent artists. Not only do they offer cash and alternate prizes, they open doors for exposure and collaboration with other artists. As we’ve said multiple times, just being in an environment where you're collaborating, meeting, and networking with other artists is golden.
People often throw out misconceptions about buskers. They assume they're washed up musicians, need money for drugs or are homeless. There's actually been a busking revival where musicians make extra money or sometimes even live off busking. So what are some of the guidelines and structures behind busking?
A sound engineer is a critical attribute to your live experience. For those who aren’t in the music scene, the importance of the relationship between the band and the sound engineer is non-existent. But for those of us who are, we’re well aware that the sound engineer has an immense part to play in how your gig turns out.
If you find your music career has grown to the place of booking your first gig. Choosing the right venue and covering all your bases can have a huge impact on the fate of your show. This article looks at booking a venue when you're promoting your own show.
Sometime songwriters assume they are only owed a royalty if someone else is playing their song live. Did you know that anytime your recorded or live song is played in public you're owed a royalty? Even if YOU'RE the one performing the song. It’s important to know that as the copyright owner, you should receive a royalty every time you even play your own music. In this article we're simplifying royalties and looking at the basic's of what you could be receiving.
From one artist to another, speaking with other musicians who've been "through it" is the best way to learn. Savannah Lynne has been navigating the independent artist world for the last 10 years. We sat down with her to learn more about her journey as a musician.
The royalties paid by music streaming services have been under scrutiny this past month as major artists have called for better compensation. Taylor Swift, Aloe Blacc and Jimmy Buffett have all made public statements claiming that the current rates are unfair for the music creators.
Audiophiles rejoice! Americans and Brits can now stream over 25 million records in CD-quality format through the streaming service Tidal, which launched this week. The new music subscription service costs $20 per month. It features a similar user interface to Spotify and has already proven itself in a handful of European countries.
Millennials have a tendency to do things differently, and music consumption is no exception to that. They outspend most other groups and are much more connected on social networks to share what they like. Here are five key take-aways from Nielsen's report on the 18-35 year olds that are changing the way music is marketed.
Part of calibrating and optimizing your studio monitors is ensuring that the input sensitivity is set to handle professional mixing and recording levels. Here's an overview of what input sensitivity is and how to set it for your studio.
To complete our list of five great ribbon mics, we'll take a look at models from Shure, AEA and Audio-Technica and see how some manufacturers have updated the classic ribbon mic design and sound, while others have taken to reproducing the tones of their predecessors.
