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Problem #1: Setting release dates too far in advance
So many things lead to the date never sticking anyway. The artwork's late. The guest artist you were counting on didn't mail in his verse. Your paycheck's short and mastering can't be completed on time. Whatever the case, the misfire only leads to a letdown and building mistrust with fans.
Possible Solution: Wait. That's right, just be patient. It's okay to talk about the project and say "it's coming soon" and "we're finishing it up." But don't set a hard date, at least not until all of the pieces are firmly in place. Then and only then should you run to the top of your city and start yelling out the release date.
So many things lead to the date never sticking anyway. The artwork's late. The guest artist you were counting on didn't mail in his verse. Your paycheck's short and mastering can't be completed on time. Whatever the case, the misfire only leads to a letdown and building mistrust with fans.
Possible Solution: Wait. That's right, just be patient. It's okay to talk about the project and say "it's coming soon" and "we're finishing it up." But don't set a hard date, at least not until all of the pieces are firmly in place. Then and only then should you run to the top of your city and start yelling out the release date.
Problem #1: Setting release dates too far in advance
Possible Solution: Wait. That's right, just be patient. It's okay to talk about the project and say "it's coming soon" and "we're finishing it up." But don't set a hard date, at least not until all of the pieces are firmly in place. Then and only then should you run to the top of your city and start yelling out the release date.
Possible Solution: Wait. That's right, just be patient. It's okay to talk about the project and say "it's coming soon" and "we're finishing it up." But don't set a hard date, at least not until all of the pieces are firmly in place. Then and only then should you run to the top of your city and start yelling out the release date.
Problem #2: Printing an outrageous number of physical copies
Possible Solution: Instead of hard copies, consider making sure your online portals are in good form. Everything on your Bandcamp, SoundCloud, etc. are in working order and insure everything's optimized for mobile. Then, create a quality business card that includes the url where all of your projects and pertinent info are hosted. A business card is easier for the receiver to carry than a CD. And if you leave an impression, they'll follow up on their own.
Possible Solution: Instead of hard copies, consider making sure your online portals are in good form. Everything on your Bandcamp, SoundCloud, etc. are in working order and insure everything's optimized for mobile. Then, create a quality business card that includes the url where all of your projects and pertinent info are hosted. A business card is easier for the receiver to carry than a CD. And if you leave an impression, they'll follow up on their own.
Problem #3: Paying for self-promotion
Possible Solution: Keep it organic. Not to go all Drake-inspired, Facebook* status update on you here but 100 real fans beats 1,000 fake followers. Take those 100 and allow them to grow with you. No, grow together. Interact with them. Reward them. One really cool thing happened a few weeks ago - J. Cole let one of his fans release a song via Twitter. For every Cole detractor out there, Jermaine just gave a couple 100 of his diehards another reason to call him their hero in the form of a mp3.
Possible Solution: Keep it organic. Not to go all Drake-inspired, Facebook* status update on you here but 100 real fans beats 1,000 fake followers. Take those 100 and allow them to grow with you. No, grow together. Interact with them. Reward them. One really cool thing happened a few weeks ago - J. Cole let one of his fans release a song via Twitter. For every Cole detractor out there, Jermaine just gave a couple 100 of his diehards another reason to call him their hero in the form of a mp3.
Problem #4: Paying to perform
Possible Solution: Every city in the country has a different rap show every day of the week. Pick up the phone, make a few calls, send a few emails and find those shows and perform. Don't drop $40 to open up for D-12.
Possible Solution: Every city in the country has a different rap show every day of the week. Pick up the phone, make a few calls, send a few emails and find those shows and perform. Don't drop $40 to open up for D-12.
Problem #5: Buying pre-packaged songs
Possible Solution: Just make a hot song. If you believe in your talent then just make a great song. The famous collaboration will come afterwards. If you feel like you need to pay someone thousands of bucks for a short cut to make a hot song, then you might not want to be in the music business.
Possible Solution: Just make a hot song. If you believe in your talent then just make a great song. The famous collaboration will come afterwards. If you feel like you need to pay someone thousands of bucks for a short cut to make a hot song, then you might not want to be in the music business.
Problem #6: Paying For radio/DJ placements
Possible Solution: Again, build your buzz organically. Have a mufti-faceted approach. Get an online buzz. Get a grassroots buzz through shows and face time. And work to get your song any sort of radio placement for free.
Possible Solution: Again, build your buzz organically. Have a mufti-faceted approach. Get an online buzz. Get a grassroots buzz through shows and face time. And work to get your song any sort of radio placement for free.
Problem #7: The weekly song release strategy
Solution: You can still drop songs but make them less strategically planned. And, again, do them for fans instead of making a press blast surrounding them. Ultimately, the method becomes inuring to those who weren't paying attention and makes tune the music out when the goal is to make the songs so strong that fans create a buzz so loud that people want to pay attention.
Solution: You can still drop songs but make them less strategically planned. And, again, do them for fans instead of making a press blast surrounding them. Ultimately, the method becomes inuring to those who weren't paying attention and makes tune the music out when the goal is to make the songs so strong that fans create a buzz so loud that people want to pay attention.
Problem #8: Stop paying for email blasts
Possible Solution: Seek out marketing. It doesn't have to be a full-fledged marketing agency. There are plenty of effective independents working these days (but we'd suggest checking their referrals). Artist should look for a service provider who can write clean copy and get it to outlets that provide a good fit for the material. No matter who you choose, don't let them send your rap song to a gospel outlet as part of their "100K music industry professionals."
Possible Solution: Seek out marketing. It doesn't have to be a full-fledged marketing agency. There are plenty of effective independents working these days (but we'd suggest checking their referrals). Artist should look for a service provider who can write clean copy and get it to outlets that provide a good fit for the material. No matter who you choose, don't let them send your rap song to a gospel outlet as part of their "100K music industry professionals."
* Запрещены в РФ
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