[Blog] 5 Tips for Success for Indie Artist

Protect your brand and your work: At the end of the day if you take your artistry seriously, you know that there is only one YOU. Make sure to trademark your name. It costs but there are people who specialize in this and will work with you. PROTECT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY!!!! Your music is your art, your work, your blood, sweat, and tears. It is on you to protect it. Make sure to sign up for a PRO (performance rights organization) whether it is ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. Anytime you do an original song or have a song that a producer/beatmaker used a sample, have the individuals involved sign a split sheet (a time card for music creatives). You do not want to hear someone take your hook, your catchphrases, your words and make money off it and you cannot do anything about it.

Network in your city and when you travel: Go to various music events in and around your city. Most artist make the mistake of thinking that they should only go to events where they are performing or their immediate team and friends are a part of. Music is a community; nothing in music happens in isolation. Identify cities that are entertainment hubs and find out events of interest and go and network.

Have promotional material and merchandise: Your business cards and flyers can go a long way. Try as best as you can when you go to events, even if it is not your event to talk to people and give them your promotional material. If you have your own event make sure that you have promotional material and merchandise for sale.

Know who the tastemakers are and build relationships: Too many artist will say things like ‘radio won’t play my music’ or ‘it’s hard to get people to know me’. However, do these artist make the attempt to know and actually take to the DJs, the radio personalities, the program directors, and bloggers in and around their city? Do research and build with the people who are heavily involved in music.

Build your movement and your team: Nothing happens overnight. Everyone starts from ground zero. Take your friends and family that are motivated to work with you and start from there. Organically build your team. Artist say they want managers but do you have the resources, the buzz, the funds to merit having one? Trust the process and build. There is nothing more satisfying than having a team that you can say was there when there was no money or little money being made.

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