Spoke Word Artists Feature Your Work

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Marketing Yourself As a Spoken Word Artist

Spoken Word artists are in fact producers.  They have to craft everything about their performances.  They have to pick an ambiance, syllables, accents as well as music.  Yes, Spoken Word artists are indeed producers.  That being said the marketing approach for an indie Spoken Word artists parallels to that of an indie music producer not just an indie artists.  Jamille Luney wrote a great piece on about marketing yourself as a music producer.  Spoken Word Aritsts can adopt many of these techniques she describes below.

How To Market Yourself As An Independent Music Producer

Ike Barnes from the beatcreators.com asked me a great question. This is such a good question I’m going to answer it here online. Here’s Ike’s question “If Sam Walton was a music producer what things would he do to advertise build a brand as a producer?” Here’s My answer:

To create a brand, Sam Walton would tell music producers to put a face with the music. This explains why Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Kanye West, and the Neptunes, have jumped on the mic and in front of the camera.

Every Brand Name Has A Logo
For music producers their face and personality is their logo. When you think of Timbaland, you think of a guy that can beat your _ _ _ with his fists and his kick drums! Timbaland turned himself into a logo. The New York Times confirmed my theory on Timbaland in an article they published about titled ‘Can He Make Himself A Star’. The article discusses how Timbaland made hismself a brand name. Here’s an excerpt:

‘Timbaland has never seemed very comfortable in front of the camera, and collaborators have occasionally complained about his gruff mixing-board-side manner. Nonetheless over the last year or two he has redoubled his efforts to achieve pop stardom, even if he’s not well suited for it. He has been writing himself into the hit songs he produces, turning his clients into duet partners. He spars with Justin Timberlake on “SexyBack” and “My Love” and flirts awkwardly with Nelly Furtado on “Promiscuous” and with the Pussycat Dolls on “Wait a Minute.”’
New York Times read the article here

Timbaland is now a household brand name and he has made himself a logo. He is trusted by millions. Every producer has a brand name. Their brand name is simply whatever they call themselves. For example, mine is Jamille Luney. Missy’s is Missy Misdemeanor Elliot. Making a brand name is easy, but creating the logo takes work.

Developing Your Logo (You)
I’ll let you in on a personal note. I used to live in Florida and while living there I put on a lot of weight. This did not work with my brand name. So I moved from Florida and all that was negative and lost the weight. Timbaland realized the same thing years ago. Remember when he was heavy? Yeah. Your stage name is your brand name and your body is a living logo. The music is your product.

Market Your Logo, Not Just The Music
To an artists what I stated above sounds tasteless and corporate. However, Sam Walton’s response would be, ‘I’m a business man, I know how to make money.’ Sam did and he sold a lot of music in his stores. Why do you think Timbaland makes so many appearances in music videos and spits his tracks? Some argue their music can speak for itself. They are correct it can. However, there are millions of other indie producers saying the exact same thing. Walton would tell you before Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club could speak for themselves as stores, he spoke for them. You will have to do the same.

How To Put a Face With Your Music
With today’s technology it is much easier for producers to put their face with their music. You may not be able to afford a video shoot like Timbaland and Missy, but computers can manipulate video environments. Soulja Boy first made the ‘Crank That’ dance in his basement with a video camera and broadcasted it on YouTube. The whole world started doing it and you know the rest.

FRAPS is a computer program that allows you to record yourself playing video games. With FRAPS you can record yourself playing a video game. Add music to it later and bam you have a real video! Get creative with it.***FRAPS runs on Windows***

Wondershare DemoCreator is a screen recorder. A screen recorder is a computer program that allows you to record what is on your computer screen. After you record it converts it into a video. You can record yourself making a beat, a Powerpoint presentation, surfing the web, etc…. It also allows you to add sound, music, narration, images, animations and more. You can make a very realistic 3d music video!

Quality Video Camera: If you can afford a quality video camera, then invest in one. Make your own reality TV show be creative and think outside of the box.

Webcam: Most laptops and computers come with webcams. Some are better than others so be careful. If you cannot afford a good video camera, the webcam can be of some help. FRAPS and DemoCreator is extremely cost effective and affordable. It is our first recommendation. Use the Webcam for live footage.

Where To Market Your Logo
The answer is on your own web page, not your MySpace but YOUR OWN WEB PAGE! Most music producers do not have one. They rely solely on their MySpace or Facebook pages. They are correct, they do need a MySpace and Facebook pages to market. However, they must have their own as well. Mine is jamilleluney.com, Timbaland’s is Timbalandmusic.com, yours is yourstagename.com.

Both Timbaland and I have MySpace pages, as does everyone else. However, we also have our brand name pages (i.e. jamilleluney.com and Timbalandmusic.com). Remember your name is a brand so you better own that domain name!

How To Market Your Logo
The first step to marketing your Logo is buying the brand name domain. This puts your name on the web and on Search Engines. Next, create your brand name web page. Upload pictures of you (your logo) on your web page along with your product (music) and music videos (FRAPS,YouTube). Link your brand name page back to your MySpace, FaceBook, SoundClick, YouTube, WeMix, and other pages.

After this market the same way you would as if your were an independent recording artists. I covered that earlier in another post. Click on the tab ‘For Independent Recording Artists’.

By Jamille Luney
Music Analyst

Featuring Posts From New Blog

There has not been much time to add new posts, as a result future posts will be coming from another blog. We’ve teamed up with Music Analyst and former producer Jamille Luney. Her site is well grounded, supported and respected resource for indie artists. Sorry we’ve been so buys, have a happy 4th!

Excellent Point By Reader, But…

It is still breaking the law. An uncleared sample is copyright infringement and you CAN BE SUED, whether you sell one copy or 50,000.  This is not just our opinion, but the U.S Government Copyright Office under Title 17 of the United States Code article § 1101.

You can bank on the chance they won’t sue you, but that is a huge if. Electronic Musician, a well respected magazine in the music production industry, published an article on this very issue (click here). They refer to the comment our reader made as an all too common myth.

Right now record labels are losing millions of dollars a day and they would love for an indie artists to pick up one of their beats, sell 10,000 copies, sue them and make a killing. Whether you sell one copy or 50,000 THEY STILL CAN SUE YOU AT ANYTIME! It’s they’re choice and legal right.

What is more alarming is that our reader’s comments confirmed what we stated in our last post, that Buythatbeat.com does use uncleared samples. Apparently some body’s uncle has cleared them to do so, but the owners of the copyright and U.S government have not. Your uncle may be an entertainment lawyer and ‘know the game’, but uncleared samples are STILL ILLEGAL. Ironically, MyBeatShop.com, one of the competitors of Buythatbeat.com, shares our opion on sampling as well. They caution their producers (users/members) not to sample. Check out a discussion in their forum click here.

That being said we recommend MyBeatShop.com, they care about the wellbeing of their customers by attempting to protect them from copyright infringement. If you use an uncleared sample you can be sued at anytime whether you sell ten copies or 50,000. No reputable company should put their customers in legal harms way.

****We urge our readers to protect themselves legally by familiarizing themselves with United States Copyright laws. Please visit the U.S. Government Copyright website. In addition here are other helpful links****

BMI Music Copyright Issues and Licensing

Harry Fox Agency Inc –Largest mechanical licensing, collection, and distribution agency for music publishers in the U.S.

Sound On Sound : The World’s Best Music Recording Magazine — The SOS Guide To Copyright Law On Sampling

http://www.dealwitit.com/store/harryfox.php —Very useful article

Review of Online Music Production Websites

We’ve been reviewing websites that sell beats and have arrived at some alarming conclusions. We are still big fans of Trackmasterz. Trackmasterz DOES NOT use sampling for the obvious legal ramifications. Good job guys. However, their competitors do. Many of the online beat sellers use samples that may or may not be cleared. This is common among sites that allow users to register without screening them. Such sites include Beatswagger.com, Givemebeats.com, Thebeattrader.com, Buythatbeat.com, and a host of others. We listened to a beat called ‘Money’ on Buythatbeat.com that clearly used a sample from the O’Jays ‘For The Love of Money’. Luckily that was an easy one to spot. However, what happens when you can’t hear the sample? If the producer does not specify that a sample was used in the description of the beat there is no way for the buyers to know. This could spell lawsuit for potential buyers if they hit the big time.

Luckily, not all music production websites adopt such practices.  For example, Trackmasterz does not allow the general public to upload beats as the above mentioned sites and they do not allow sampling.  In addition, the Trackmasterz producers have discographies that include artists such as Nas, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Common, Akon, and others.  Their producers have experience, talent, and credibility.  Most importantly, Trackmasterz  does not allow John Doe or Jane Doe to register as a user and upload his or her beats to sell to you.  Before you buy online check the credibility of your online music production websites and make sure there are no samples.  If all else fails, look for a website similar to Trackmasterz.  Such sites do not offer as many tracks, but the tracks they do offer are pro quality, radio ready, and not sampled.  In short, such websites are a safe bet, provide great quality, and ORIGINAL BEATS!

Creating the Motown Sound

Ever listen to your parents old music collection? The sound is warm according to most audio engineers. That warmth is a slight distortion. If you listen to Timbaland’s latest work he’s experimented with distortion on tracks such as Sexy Back (Justin Timberlake) and The Way I Are (Timbaland’s album Shock Value). Numerous producers, artists, and engineers have experimented with different techniques in attempts to add warmth to their track. Truth be told there is no Bible or set rules when it comes to production and engineering. Technology makes uniformity impossible in music. For example, during the Motown sound era there were no computers and music was sold in record format. In order to create a reverb effect Barry Gordy had his artists sing in the showers of the house known today as Hitsville. Thanks to technology we no longer sing in the shower, at least not while recording.

Computers have made recording so clean, we now run the risk of loosing warmth in recordings. This explains why producers such as Timbaland have begun experimenting with distortion and other techniques. A new technique has emerged among home recording artists, producers, and engineers that is ingenious.    The technique was an accident and a product of the mp3 format.  So by now you’re asking what is it?

THE HOME RECORDING WARM SOUND TECHNIQUE:

1. Indie Artists purchase their tracks online in Mp3 Format

2. Bring the track to the studio to record

3. The engineer/producer imports the mp3 track into his/her recording software (Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Nuendo, etc…)

4. During the import process the mp3 is converted to a wave file

5. Since a wave file is larger than a Mp3, the computer adds data making the track warm (no distortion)

Clearly an accident of convenience, nonetheless, the final product is excellent.  Mp3 format was created to decrease and compact file size.  It was not created to increase.  However, with the growing number of online music producers many artists buy their tracks online and then bring them to the studio.  Most tracks purchased online are in Mp3 format due to file size and file transfer limitations.  The mp3 tracks are converted to wave files in the studio.  The computer does the magic adding 1’s and 0’s (binary—how computers store data) to fill the the extra file space.  The end product is a wave file that is a hell of a lot warmer than just some wave file downloaded off the Internet.

Mp3 vs. Wave File

There is much debate among aspiring recording artists over sound quality. In particular the debate turns to Mp3 vs. Wave Files. Mp3’s are okay to listen to.  True, wave files do sound a little richer (they are considerably larger in size and contain more data), but it is not that significant especially to a bunch of teeny boppers or middle aged adults who have experienced gradual hearing loss over time. When you purchase music online, you’re purchasing mp3 files. When you buy a CD in a store your getting wave files. Go burn a CD of the mp3 you just downloaded and listen to it in your car or home stereo. Now load the CD you just purchased of the same song or album and give a listen. Is there a difference? Yes, but is it significant enough to take mp3’s off the market? NO.

The music industry has a history of format debates changes. Stephen Dubner reminds us of this in an article he wrote for the New York Times September 20, 2007 titled What’s the Future of the Music Industry? A Freakonomics Quorum

‘When the long-playing record (LP) format was introduced by Columbia Records back in the late 1940s, the industry as a whole resisted it, and many predicted it would never take off because 78s sounded better. Without question, early LPs did not sound nearly as good as 78s. But given the choice of listening to all of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on two sides of one record versus sixteen sides of eight records, the consumer opted for convenience and simplicity (not to mention less shelf space).

The industry also resisted the audio cassette. Who in their right mind would prefer a format with an ever-present hiss over the pristine sound of an LP? The answer: nearly everybody. Cassettes were much easier to handle than records; they didn’t scratch, and you could listen to them in your car, or while walking or jogging.’ (What’s the Future of the Music Industry? A Freakonomics Quorum)

Dubner reminds us that the majority of most consumers are concerned with convenience. Which birthday present would you prefer an ipod or a CD player? Hmmm tough one. Can your cell phone play a CD or an mp3 file. Last but not least can your computer hold more mp3 files or more wave files. In case you’re wondering the answer is mp3 files (wave files are considerably lager).

There are some very eccentric tight ass individuals who will tell you “some sound quality is lost, you can’t hear the true beauty of the music, it’s just poor quality.” Fine, let he or she buy the full CD and waste money for sound quality differential that is slightly noticeable. I’m saving my money for gas.

State Government Officials Create Opportunities for Independent Artists

As CD’s are phased out, independent artists rely heavily on digital sales.  Digital sales allow independent artists to sell globally and now digital sales (with the help of state officials) are opening other doors for indie artists.  How? By taxing the hell out of major record labels.  Many states are pushing for taxes on digital products. In a recent article written by Anne Broache published on April 15, 2008 on CNET News.com, Broache writes:

“Two years ago, a CNET News.com special report found that 15 states and the District of Columbia said that their laws and regulations meant that digital downloads should be taxed. A few months later, New Jersey joined that list.

Since then, more states have become tax-inclined. In 2008 alone, Indiana, Utah, and South Dakota have enacted laws reiterating their commitments to collect taxes on digital downloads, while Nebraska recently voted to send its governor a bill (PDF) that would tax downloads of books, movies, and music starting October 1. Others, including Wisconsin and Massachusetts, have formed groups to “study” new i Tunes taxes.” (Politicians push for new iTunes sales taxes).

Although this sounds tedious it, puts more pressure on the entertainment industry and opens doors for Independent artists. Don’t thank your state government officials just yet. They did not do it for their native aspiring artists, nevertheless they have opened a door.

Right about now some of you are saying isn’t this bad for me? I sell my music on my web page and MySpace. Doesn’t this take money out of my pocket? NO!! If you sell you music on MySpace , Snocap is the one paying the taxes. For those who are unaware, Snocap is the company MySpace uses to allow users to sell their music on their MySpace page. What about your web page? More than likely you are using a company or other service such as cdbaby, e-junkie, amazon, or itunes to sell your music on your web page. Companies such as these are responsible for charging the digital tax.

So does this mean you will be charged more by the digital company you use to sell your music? No, it will be like a sales tax.  What do you think the tax will be on a .99 cent song? Around $.07, the same it would be on that .99 cent cup of coffee you just bought from the gas station.   We’re not breaking the bank here.

The greatest outcome of the proposed state tax is the financial hit to the major record labels. Record labels cannot afford to loose one dime ($.10) right now.  Sure they sell millions, however it does not compensate for the millions the spend on ad campaigns, upkeep of their artists, touring expenses, and the millions LOST from illegal downloads.  They can barely afford to pay for their star recording artists. Ironically, a .07 digital tax for a single .99 cent song is more than they give each artists per album sale!

Death of the CD = Birth of Finances For Indie Artists

The diagnosis is terminal, CD’s are not going to make a come back.  Apple is not making CD players, they’re making ipods.  Have you checked the back of your cell phone lately? Do you see a CD jack?  Nope, but you can surf the web and download songs on that bad boy and call your mom at the same time. 

A recent article in the New York Times written by  ERIC PFANNER ,”Digital Music Sales Grow, but at Slower Rate“, stated: 

“As consumers lose interest in compact discs and balk at paying for the digital alternatives, the music industry is looking for new allies, including Internet service providers, lawmakers”

There are two things Pfanner makes us aware of.  First, CD sales are declining as a result of downloading.  Second, the downloading salesare NOT increasing because people are downloading ILLEGALLY more than ever.  Would you pay $.99 to listen to Rihanna sing?

This means success for the independent artists if they can figure out how to capitalize on the opportunity.  The harsh reality is that most independent artists do not know how, but the big wig label executives do.  I will give independent artists, especially my fellow spoken word artists, a clue.  If you’re looking at the Internet as a merely a means to sell your music, you’re limiting yourself and the Internet.  It can do a lot more for you if use it.  Sounds like I’ve told you nothing, but in reality I’ve told you everything.  Why is Rihanna all over your MySpace sign-in page?  Okay see where I’m going.

Figure out ways to use the Internet that have not been used!

 

Poetry Slams

Looking for Poetry Slams? Go on MySpace (you’ don’t need to have an account) and type in “Poetry Slam” and hit search. Not only will it pull up poetry slams, but people who have linked their page to Poetry Slam pages. You could perform a Google or Craig’s List search but, the advantage of MySpace is the results include people who are interested or involved in poetry and Spoken Word. Type in “Spoken Word” and you will get a lot of useful hits as well. Only downside, you have to filter through some poor material and advertisements.