How to create a Facebook Fan page for your band using Root Music

As you probably are well aware, the ubiqutous facebook is currently the king of the social network – at least in the western hemisphere. It is increasingly being used as a method for connecting musicians and bands directly to the fans. But until recently it's basic graphical interface has meant that bands have very little control over it's appearance – and just exactly what can be embedded.

Root music attempts to solve that problem by providing a connecting interface between Facebook, Youtube and Soundcloud. This allows fans to view, interact, like, listen to your music and also to buy it through one simple web page.

They provide a basic free service which allows you to put a player and some basic interactive tools onto your facebook fan page, and a paid service where you have a greater degree of control over how the page looks. Monthly subscription starts at $1.99 per page per month.

The basic procedure is as follows:

By Jez with No comments

Seven Simple Steps for more followers on Soundcloud

Beantown boogiedown have a great article on how to get more followers on Soundcloud which can be summed up in one simple sentence:  Get involved in the community.  There's a bit more to that, but they have a good point in that the more contacts you make online the more people are likely to follow your work.

I remember in a recent Beatport remix contest where the most successful (ie had the most spins) were often those who took the time to listen to other people's tracks and comment on them.  Social capital and mutual feedback is without doubt the driving force in online transactions. 

Seven Simple Steps For Getting More Listeners & Followers on Soundcloud

If you are a DJ or producer, I’m willing to wager that if you have been on the Internet any time over the past two years, you have heard of Soundcloud. As the company who promises to “move audio”, the service sounds like a lucrative bet for any budding musician. I mean, all you need to do is sign up for an account, upload a couple of your best mixes or original tracks, and hundreds of listeners or “fans” will flock to you, right?

Hate to say it, but it isn’t quite that easy.

Similar to many other online services fueled by social media, including YouTube and Twitter, the benefits you get out of Soundcloud are entirely based on the effort you put into it. Gaining the attention of listeners and followers actually requires a bit of dedication and engagement, and requires bringing more to the table than just having good musical content.

Read his tips here:

http://www.beantownboogiedown.com/beantown-boogie-down-beat-bo/2010/8/12/seven-simple-steps-for-getting-more-listeners-followers-on-s.html

By Jez with 19 comments

Trent Reznor: What to do as a new / unsigned artist

In September 2009 Trent Reznor writing on the NIN forums outlined his thoughts on what unsigned bands should do if they're hankering after success in the internet age. We're using this to inform the different avenues and outlets we'll be looking into in the coming weeks. We'll also take a look at the different distribution methods and guerilla marketing techniques.

Here's what he had to say:

By Jez with 2 comments