How do I get my music on Itunes?

The most common question I get asked as a DIY musician is - how do i get my music on to itunes? There are a few answers to that but you can't go to Itunes themselves, you need to go through a distributer online.  I use Reverbnation, but CD Baby and Tunecore are supposed to be good as well.  It costs around $35 a year through Reverbnation - easy.

Do i need my own website?

Yes!! Don't just have a myspace or facebook - have your own space on the web that YOU can control. What if myspace decides to remove your account tomorrow(they have done it before)? Use a cookie cutter easy website designer like Wordpress or Mr Site and bolt on Widgets from Reverbnation for music players, live dates etc

Find your niche

Don't go chasing the mainstream - its not there any more.  Whatever you are into thanks to the internet there is a forum or group or community about it - just find it and engage. Don't go in saying:

CHECK ME OUT I'M AMAZING

People will think - just another random spammer and ignore you.  Have a genuine conversation, engage with the community and eventually people will discover your music naturally.  As the very wise Steve Lawson said "Treat the internet like a country pub" - you wouldn't go into a bar and start shouting about how great you are would you? Of course not - they would think you are a nutter!!

Its far better to be honest and do the music you love, people can spot bullshit a mile off. Be passionate about what you do and talk to people about your music and make your music shareable so that others can spread the word.

Just be honest or no one will listen, people expect you to be real.

What Social Networks should I be on?

That depends to an extent what sort of music you play and your audience. The essentials are Twitter, Facebook, Myspace(even thou its rubbish, people still look there), your own email mailing list(use Reverbnation for this) and your own web site.

Ning networks are also useful if relevant to your niche - i use the these:

Acoustic Magazine

AF Collective

Go to Ning and do a search on Belgian Grindcore or Dutch Folk or whatever music you do and find your community.

Use the social media tools you are most comfortable with - video, podcasts, written word, photos or any combination you feel comfortable with. The more comfortable you are, the more honest you can be and the better connections you make.

Blogs?

You need a blog of your own - host it at blogger or wordpress, don't use the Myspace one its horrible! Write when you have something to say but try and keep it within once or twice a week.  Post photos in it using Flickr then get the code from there to add photos to add to your blog.

Contact other bloggers do a Google Blog Search on a similar artist to yourself and start making friends with the bloggers that write about them.  DO NOT SPAM!! Make friends - enjoy their blogs - comment, email to say you enjoy reading, engage and be honest.  Then you may be in a position for them  to write about your music. Another useful way to find bloggers is to hunt for them on hypem again using a similar artist.

Podcasts

Have your own one - you can use the feed to get on Itunes straight away on the podcast part of the site use podbean.  If you don't feel comfortable talking on them just use it to put out free MP3's - thats what I'm doing with the Sunday Free Noodle project.

Podcasters are also a fantastic place to get your music heard, the advice about bloggers applies - engage, don't spam. If there are submission guidelines READ THEM - or you will instantly annoy the podcaster you are approaching. Try searching the itunes store for podcasts in your genre or these are great - the association of music podcasters - lots of great podcasters.

Ustream

Ustream gives you the chance to have your own TV channel. You can broadcast to the world from your bedroom or studio or webcast a gig - even with a laptop camera - its easy. Set up an event on Facebook and promote it using your mailing list and other social media - use this - to the let people know the time of the online gig(most people forget this).

Also Ustream your practices, trips, backstage - its another opportunity to engage and have a conversation - the chat room is really useful during performances.

Youtube

Yes its a video site but its also a  community - get your videos one there and get to know the community on there.

Further Reading:

New Music Stratergies - Andrew Dubber's Ebook is highly recommended

Jonathon Coulton - How he built an online following

1000 True Fans - How to build a following using just 1000 fans

Steve Lawson - Bass playing genius and top social media dude, a great interview about social media

Musicians Cooler - Great podcast for indie musicians

CD Baby DIY Musicans Podcast - Very useful stuff for indie musicians on this podcast