7 ways to get your unsigned music heard by A&Rs
Okay I promised my Twitter fam that I would write a blog post on how to get your music featured by bloggers or listened to by A&R and managers.
For those of you who don’t know a lot about me, let me give you a little background. I am a freelance entertainment writer. I currently write for Unrated Magazine (an entertainment e-zine) and the blog you’re reading now The Music Hot Spot, but previous to this I was a songwriter and demoed several songs and did capture the interest of a few managers, producers, etc.
So what is it exactly that I do? As a freelance entertainment writer, I attend exclusive events, interview artists, and review music. The word freelance allows me to do this at leisure and I’m not exclusive to a company.
As you can imagine my inbox is bombarded with new music on a daily basis. Everyone wants to be featured and frankly its a hell of a lot easier to get featured on a blog than a mainstream magazine.
I want to give you guys some helpful hints to getting a blogger such as myself or someone within the music industry interested in your music. No matter what genre of music these tips will be useful.
So let’s start with the obvious:
1.) Make good music. Now this is extremely subjective. What might be good to you may not be good to someone else. You’ve seen American Idol. You’ve seen the people who auditioned and you probably thought, “Who told them they could sing?” Even when you look at who’s popular in the entertainment industry right now, you may feel the same way…but remember everyone is not for everybody. So how do you know your music is good? Let’s start with the obvious. Someone other than your friends and family tells you so.
2.) Have a fanbase. With social-networking being so popular right now, even if you only have a small number of fans currently you can definitely grow a fanbase. Try YouTube (upload freestyles or acapellas), Twitter (use the TweetMySong feature), Facebook Fan Page (start a dialogue) and Myspace (great for housing all of your tracks). Let people know about your music and create a movement. For instance, Nicki Minaj has the Barbie movement, Jermaine Dupri has the lifers, whatever you call it, make sure your fans are riding for you and will promote you at any costs. Quite frankly, most bloggers aren’t looking to break artists that don’t have some type of fanbase, so prove to me why I should feature you.
3.) Have a catchy hook. Sorry, but a hook sells a song. How low can you go? Oh sorry, just had a Luda moment. But you get the point. The hook needs to be catchy. You want people singing it long after the song goes off their I-pod. It’s the hook that’s going to sell your song, so make sure you craft something that’s catchy! Nuff said!
4.) A hot track. Again this is subjective as well, but let’s face it, the hook and the track sells the song. Craft you a club banger and you will definitely catch the interests of bloggers, fans, A&R, managers, etc. But one word of caution! Please make sure your track is not so busy that your track rides harder than your lyrics. I received a song from an artist today that was so busy, I couldn’t even hear his lyrics. But I digress…
Sidenote: If you are in need of tracks email me. My son makes DOPE hip hop beats (exclusive and non-exclusive). And his rates are reasonable.
5.) Create a buzz. Drake who? Last year, Drake gave new meaning to the word buzz. Of course Drake had Degrassi as a starting point, but did you see the buzz he created? The bidding war that ensued? Keep your name on everybody’s lips and bloggers and A&R’s will come looking for YOU.
6.) Leave the hip-hop on the album. Hey I enjoy slang like the best of them, but quite frankly I don’t want to receive an email that goes like this:
eh yo I got dis dope track u should listen to. Hit me up and let me know what u think.
Um sorry, delete. And I never even listened to your track. Leave the Twitter language on Twitter. Craft a nice thought out email. Remember: nine times out of ten you’re sending an unsolicited email, so why ruin your chances of getting your email read? Include your bio, a photo, and links to your music. Don’t ask me to hit you for your music! I don’t have that type of time. Include it in your email. Also as a sidenote and this is VERY important: Email don’t SPAM. This goes for Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, etc. If you annoy people, they’re not going to want to support your project.
And the bonus:
7.) Trick me. Do a feature. This works well for both hip-hop and other genres, but especially for hip-hop artists. Go to Billboard.com and see what the top ten songs are in your genre. As of today, Ludacris’ How Low Can You Go is number 2. That means, everybody is checking for this song. So what are you waiting for?!? Hop on the track. Then send it out to your friends on Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace. Email me and everyone else you can think of and say check out this remix to How Low Can You Go. Nine times out of ten, I’ll listen cause I like Ludacris. And if you’re dope, I’m more likely to listen the next time you send me a song.
I have a soft spot for unsigned artists and I want to see you succeed. Let me know if these tips help and if you want to see more posts like these by leaving a comment below. And if you have a question you need answered please ask me by clicking here.
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Thanks for the article – great tips for unsigned artists to reach influential people. Keep up the good work. Especially #6 – I can't tell you how many emails I get that I can't even decipher!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v48ubz_my3Y
Beautiful advice!
Head-changing hip-hop awaits
http://www.youtube.com/user/freeflowrhythm
Envision – All Things Return To Their Source
Thanks Alexia for the comment. #6 should have been #1.
[...] the last post, I gave you guys 7 ways to get your unsigned music heard by A&Rs. I talked about the importance of a catchy hook and strong track. But equally as important, is [...]
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Where would I email you me and my partners songs? We just finished recording over Drake’s “Over” track and we would like your opinion on it.
@Rizzo themusichotspot [at] gmail [dot] com
Thank that is all i can say…..You help me out alot i am workin on mi song even harder…..thank for your inside help….
These tips are helpful I’ve been trying ot find out how to help a friend get his music out there because i dont want that talent to go to waste and only have his friends and family know how good he is. I wrote your tips down, thank you.
I really appreciate the tips man i think this is the most important tips i’ve ever heard since i’ve been into music thank you again and hopefully in the future i’ll be one of the new artist your looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_80-7z4gw&feature=related LISTEN TO BOWSER EMCEE
Beautiful advice
Head-changing hip-hop
http://www.youtube.com/user/freeflowrhythm
Envision – All Things Return To Their Source
Thanks for the advice. I’ve been dedicating my life to music for the last 7 years. Its been very inspiring, and fun, but getting my name out is the hardest part. My area of expertise is music not publicity. You can check me out on Itunes, just search Colt Kisling. Thanks for the look, and let me know what you think.
well i have always have wanted to be on youtube but the last time i asked my parents for a camera they got me a junky old casset camera that you need to take to a store time and time again but the lasy time i went the camera emploded and i am too younge for twitter ( says my parents ) more or less myspace or facebook
Hey
any chance you have a link or something to your sons beats?
thanks and great article
You can follow him @jayhillonthetrack on Twitter.
First and for most, I just want to say I’m glad you try and
see the good in people’s music, and want them to succeed! That just
show who you really are inside, I need to be around people that are passionate about music like I am. I’m an artist that is unsigned and I’ve been making freestyles for the longest time, going off the great hip hop instrumentals you can think of. It’s something I enjoy passionally, One of the greatest ways to express yourself. I’m from Florida and I want to find ways to get my music heard and find ways to get around the people that I need to be around,That love music, and will take the time to hear me and work with me, It would be an honor to have people relate to my music and better there LIFE, I feel as if my music can do that, I know that I need the tools to get ahead, I’ve been threw alot in my LIFE time trying to find ways to live and what is better than sharing something I’m so passionate about, I remember freestyling in front of people and could’nt explain the rush I got from it, There’s alot of unheard people out there, I want to be the one that can show them, anything can be done if you put your heart and soul into it, I recently just found love, and been making the turning point in my life, I’m a walking testimony and have turned from my past ways and who ever reads this
First and for most, I just want to say I’m glad you try and
see the good in people’s music, and want them to succeed! That just
show who you really are inside, I need to be around people that are passionate about music like I am. I’m an artist that is unsigned and I’ve been making freestyles for the longest time, going off the great hip hop instrumentals you can think of. It’s something I enjoy passionally, One of the greatest ways to express yourself. I’m from Florida and I want to find ways to get my music heard and find ways to get around the people that I need to be around,That love music, and will take the time to hear me and work with me, It would be an honor to have people relate to my music and better there LIFE, I feel as if my music can do that, I know that I need the tools to get ahead, I’ve been threw alot in my LIFE time trying to find ways to live and what is better than sharing something I’m so passionate about, I remember freestyling in front of people and could’nt explain the rush I got from it, There’s alot of unheard people out there, I want to be the one that can show them, anything can be done if you put your heart and soul into it, I recently just found love, and been making the turning point in my life, I’m a walking testimony and have turned from my past ways and who ever reads this please take the time and check out my soundcloud site, and my facebook if you deside to get a hold of me.http://www.facebook.com/markabelcher89 God bless us all!
http://soundcloud.com/markabelcher89 That’s my sound cloud site
great advice. is very hard to be heard and thats really all we are asking for.
Good advice – now, where did I hide that pesky “fanbase”
Please listen to “don’t cha wanna dance”
http://www.paulhaydenmusic.com/#/music/4558528184
THis was very helpful thanks a ton. If there are any other tips you have could you please email me them or post more these were great! And here’s a link to my music if you’re intrested http://www.youtube.com/user/TheJGrahamMusic?feature=mhee
thanks I’ve been trying to promote my music. as well as many other things i do. Its harder for me because im a teen though in a group. **SUPPORT US** Check us out though. you wont be disappointed. WE DO OTHER THINGS BESIDES MUSIC!! http://www.youtube.com/user/GaineGreeneorDie?feature=mhee
Check THIS out not only will you not be disappointed but you will wonder who is THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Fm6QXIko4&list=UUd8zfTrITI5EeJCHBiZ3ICA&index=5&feature=plcp
Excellent tips!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDCuwS9f4zg
I don’t know when this article was published but i’m grateful. It’s So Unfortunate I Got To Read It So Late BUT I have not doubt its of great help. Thank You. I just don’t know how to contact you. Looking forward to many of your advice & knowledge
Sorry If This Will Seem As A Spam But here is My Music Site forgot to include on my previous comment http://www.reverbnation.com/youngmozz
Hey guys, fresh new sound from north Florida,an alternative rap group called Pinemount Kings! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugsOP8DflHc
Yo, thats some real talk right there. Been on our grind for a minute producing record for other cats, but now we are putting out our project as well. Check out our first single. Guaranteed you will love it. It features Kastro of 2pac’s Outlawz… Nuff said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbYn7jvcqsE