ScotsBob For Sale

Quality Music Always Outweighs Quantity

2010-08-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

In an era where digital music is frequently pirated and distributed freely around the internet, it might seem highly difficult to discover new methods of selling your tunes. Sure, there are always going to be listeners who download albums illegally, but allowing it to ruin your day or marketing strategy isn't going to help anyone. Finding true success within the digital market is by no means easy, but never impossible if you have a decent product and the right plan.

For starters, you must ask yourself what about the music influences people to purchase it, and drop their hard earned cash on one of your creations. It's like pulling teeth initially. Obviously, writing material which is inspired and enjoyable is the first step, but even this might not be completely enough. Listeners need to love the music so much it's impossible to resist, and something they can't help but share with friends and family, hoping it will evoke a similar positive reaction.

In my case, I consider my music as almost a niche' market. If you like the sounds of early 70s rock from bands like The Rolling Stones, The Faces, Free and Status Quo to name but a few, then that is exactly what you'll get from my albums. This is in no way a deliberate move on my part. I happen to have listened to a lot of this style of music whilst growing up and it has ransferred onto my songwriting and music.

Creating a deep, diverse selection of music is a questionable step in making some cash off your tunes. True music lovers like consistency. Building an impressive discography also allows potential fans to truly experience your sounds and ideas, and with enough of them, they are bound to discover something they can jam to. Once someone purchases a few songs, they'll become inclined to download more, becoming thirsty for another taste of your music. I can only speak for myself on this one but it does ring true.

While constructing your discography, it's also significant to remember that quality will always outweigh quantity. Just because there's an extra five tracks or so you've been dying to dust off and post online for sale doesn't quite mean they're ready for public consumption. Capturing accurate emotions, feelings, and inspiring people is what truly pushes fans to spend money, and you're more likely to capture new audiences with top notch material, rather than some B-side you don't even enjoy. Making sustainable, powerful music should be the top priority, and always before a marketing or distribution plan.

Once a record or single is touched up, completed, and prepared for release, it's time to devise an effective strategy to create some buzz and compel more listeners to try out your latest product. Utilizing social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and so forth. They are free and easy methods to spread the word and drive some more traffic to your web pages. Affordable and free press release services are available online as well, which help to distribute information to the appropriate music blogs, message boards, magazines and sites. Make contacts with other bands or record labels so you can reach their audiences as well. If you've created something special, people will be listening, and the reflection will hopefully become evident in your bank account.

Stay focused on writing and producing top notch music, there's always a way to create some income through attracting people and generating digital sales. Stay away from rushing your products out the door, and ensure each and every release is absolutely of the best quality. Marketing and promotion is equally important, but all the fancy Flash animation and website hits in the world won't make poor music profitable.

Get "Mean Business" for only $5 (AUD) with discount codeword thistle
<a href="http://bobfindlay.bandcamp.com/album/mean-business">Snake Eyes by Bob Findlay</a>

Kick-Start Your New Band

2010-08-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Assuming that your band has great music and you have a few gigs and a small fan base that follows you loyally! But you want to take your band out from your garage and onto the main stage. Here are a few free tips to get you started.

1. Success come to those who seem successful

Nowadays, creating an impressive on-line presence is next to nothing; with social networking sites growing in popularity, being a part of the wave will push you ahead of the competition. Plus, it is totally free to join and reach millions. If your band does not have it's own homepage (or would like to supplement it), create a Facebook or MySpace profile. An old saying goes: "Success comes to those who seem to be successful." Following that, have a bunch of pictures of your band on stage, put up your songs (preferably with a link for people to purchase your music, but more on that later), and add a lot of friends.

2. Give some free samples

Just like in the supermarket when they sample out hot pockets, you need to sample yourself out. First, on your social networking site, have your music for everyone to hear but also be on YouTube.com. It is really easy to create your own channel on YouTube and to upload your own videos. It's completely free to you and it's free global publicity. Anyone can subscribe to your channel and find out what you're all about! Now, start putting up videos from your performances, your members playing in your garage, and your music to a collage of pictures. The point is to have a bunch variety that will attract a bunch of people and to keep it coming. You might be thinking that this opens you up to people stealing your music and other sorts of pirating, and you're right! But sampling works, just like with those hot pockets in the supermarket.

3. Sell your music

Obviously, you want to sell your music; that's what it is all about! But nobody buys CDs anymore, and it's unlikely that you want to go from place to place with a suitcase full of CDs. Get yourself an iTunes, SNOCAP, Napster, or something to that effect account and put up your music for sale. Admitted, this is not completely free to you, they do demand a percentage fee for putting up your music (30% or so). Look at it like this though, you are making 70% and without them you'd be making 0.

All these tips will help you get recognized and get some money flowing. Obviously, they aren't a perfect substitute for an agent or a real marketer. An agent or marketer will help you make the actual connections; they know the right people. But if you feel confident, try talking to people you know who own clubs and bars to maybe get you to play. At least, when the decision maker Googles you they will see you as an established band to take seriously. It will most defiantly separate you from all those who didn't take the time to prepare themselves and it didn't cost you anything and took only a short amount to time

Rock Musician Bob Findlay Releases His First Book

2010-03-12T16:51:00.001-08:00

     Online Music Traps

     A comprehensive guide to the online music industry & how independent musicians can make an impact without the numerous costly 'traps.'
   This versatile ebook has been specifically designed to cater for musicians of all levels & genres & concludes with a sequential scenario which can be easily adapted to suit your own needs.
   "Online Music Traps" is currently available on Lulu.com & Click2Sell. Additional options, including Amazon, are soon to be made available directly from here.

make an impact without the numerous
costly 'trap
industry & how independent musicians can
make an impact without the numerous
costly 'traps.'

search engine submission

via scotsbob.com

Posted via web from scotsbob's posterous

"Pay For Your Ticket And Don't Complain."

2009-10-04T00:06:00.001-07:00

Until recent times indipendent musicians, unless they have a truckload of cash behind them, have had very limited control over the release of their material. Keen to have their music made available to the widest possible audience they 'climb aboard' the major distributors without giving much thought to alternative options.

iLike 'recommends' to artists to have at least one free download as an incentive for listeners to return. As I have mentioned elsewhere this seems to be a fruitless exercise for the artist.

ReverbNation also employs the same strategy. Not every song by artists on Reverbnation are available on iTunes as the listener may be led to believe. Again, artists are encouraged to make free downloads available as 'fan' incentives. Additionally ReverbNation has a 'band equity' ranking system. This is based on daily song plays, returning visitors, new fans and 'fan interaction.' I find that 'fan interaction' tends to be somewhat overdone by some artists. By sending letters to fans who have joined an artists mailing list the artists ranking seems to be given a substantial boost. This leads to artists sending messages to their mailing list that aren't particularly pertinent, hence people are more inclined to 'opt-out.'

After overlooking the most obvious means of making ones' music visible to as wide an audience as possible I have recently released the album "Bullet" via Nimbit. This allows the artist the freedom to release material on the exact day that they wish to and have the ability to set what they think is a fair price.

Nimbit charges 20% for this freedom. They have a free account, which I am using, and two paid accounts which offer CD replication, merchandise, e-tickets and so forth.

I have placed my Nimbit store on my website, the "Bob Findlay Music Page" on Facebook (a new collaboration), MySpace and below. Each store has a tracking code for sales (if there are any) which enables artists to view where most sales are coming from and (hopefully) correlate 'why.'

The upcoming weeks/months I shall be following each store with interest. Hopefully a few other folks might be as well.

Times Are Strange

2009-09-03T03:43:00.000-07:00

I have always attempted to keep my current personal life separate from my musical endeavors. Sometimes, however, this isn't possible. This is such an occasion.

I have retired, after 23 years, as a State Registered Nurse and am currently undergoing medical treatment for a recurring psychological condition. The condition is not, as some people may be quick to assume, alcohol related. Far from it. I have been 99% sober since 12.20pm, April 2007.

So.....I am now focussing 100% on my musical endeavors. This does not mean that I will be returning to the 'live' circuit which has been mistakenly reported since my first live performance in 5 years last month. Having said this, I cannot express my gratitude to well-wishers prior to the event & the feedback received post-event. My 30-minute bracket brought back a lot of fond memories however since the event I have very mixed emotions about performing live.

During a recent interstate trip I also had a series of promotional shots taken and edited by my Manager, Haych Storm©. You will note that some have been used on this site. More photographs can be viewed on the "Bob Findlay Music Page" on Facebook.

Two music video clips of the songs"Crooked" and "Dear Artist" were also shot during my visit and are easiest to locate right here on the "Videos" page. The videos are very diverse musically, visually and thematically. I hope that you enjoy them and please feel free to comment on them here.As you know, I try to keep my personal life entirely separate from my musical endeavors.

I was recently "Featured Artist" for a third time at noisehead.com. Insufficeint notice was given to appropriately promote this.

In conclusion I leave you with the aforementioned mixed emotions regarding my music as it has now become my sole form of income and the words 'music' and 'money' have never sat well with me but at this point I have no other option. I do, however, have a few ideas up my sleeve and I expect to be an announcement in the near future.

2009-09-03T03:30:00.001-07:00

Take It Easy

2009-06-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

Yes I am Scots and yes I do record in a tiny studio in Stanley, Tasmania but I think you may be surprised what this unlikely combination has produced. If you’re into classic-rock akin to the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Faces, Warren Zevon, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh and Mick Taylor then this is the place for you.