Top five factors to enter into the difficult music industry as a start-up band
Jabbar Karlee
I have previously worked as a music journalist for a music magazine, reviewing local gigs, as well as new releases and upcoming talent. Working from a small office based in Leeds, my role was creating a regular magazine and maintaining the website.
Before I start, I should mention that Leeds is a superb place in which to work and I really enjoyed all of my time working at the office; however it is not cheap to live in Leeds, with increasing rents and a lack of available properties to occupy, making it difficult for a young professional to live comfortably.
These are my five top factors for becoming a success in the music industry, no matter the age of the band, history of gigs or prominence in the scene.
5. Sign up to a plethora of online blogs and magazines Whilst NME and Kerrang are generally considered THE music magazines for the average consumer, there are a number of alternative magazines with unique stories from which you can derive news and gather information. Independently-written online blogs also tend to provide current and immediate news before any other magazines; however, you must ensure that the blog you are viewing is reputable and reliable. This can help to increase publicity of the band and experience success.
4. Promote your band on Last.fm: Last.fm is much more than a website that collates information about who you have been listening to – you can create a band page, upload all of your recorded songs and demos and stream them, as well as linking to download purchase. Whilst you can create band pages on other sites such as Facebook, using Last.fm presents the easiest and most generally recognised way to get your band out there.
3. Post blogs about it: You might think that displaying writing prowess is a waste of time, however it is a great way to improve your SEO rating and eventually popularise your band fully. Google is a major part in popularising your band and an effective SEO strategy can be very beneficial – but, you should write blogs on industry news and music activity as this will pique the interest of the readers.
2. Subscribe to newsletters and attend festivals: Smaller bands, despite not having the same popularity and impact as others, are a fantastic way of improving your chance of success by latching onto their potential popularity. The partnership can also make agreeing a support act much easier. It is vital to build a fanbase in your own region to begin with. Working in an office in Leeds has shown me the evolution of a lot of regional bands such as Kaiser Chiefs.
1. It’s who you know, not what you know: Much like starting your own business, a lot of your success depends on who you know and who you have built up a relationship with. It is a good idea to attend networking events for the music industry and speak to professionals within the industry. Something as basic as a telephone number or e-mail address can be a highly effective way to breaking through.
Whilst a lot of your success will come down to the quality of your music and how original your style is (except if you catch a lucky break) these factors can boost the potential of your band towards success.
Place your business in a prominent location without paying city prices by choosing a virtual office in Leeds.
