After this site being live for nearly 3 years I have been asked quite often by new comers across the web the following question…
How can I get my music heard by more people?
Once they pass their circle of friends and acquaintances they get a bit stuck at the couple hundred mark and the frustration sets in.
Assuming you have perfected the art of music production so it is of a standard that the public will enjoy, then the following 5 tips are what you will find many of the best record labels doing and you cam emulate. If you want to independently promote your music effectively, then you really need to start getting your marketing head on. This is why record labels and managers exist, so you don’t have to worry about the following but when you are starting out you have no choice of course!
I hope you find the following 5 tips useful if you are new to the music scene (hence the following tips are just the basics) and are looking to market yourself as a DJ and/or producer.
Make Artwork
This one is the hardest and most costly when you first start out if you do not have the necessary skills. Simple artwork will make your music stand out, great artwork will actually create a buzz in the mind of the potential customer and sell your music.
Many labels will simply change the colour scheme from one release to the next, this is cost effective as you can easily change the colour and track details yourself after the initial design. The other option, if your budget will allow it, is to hire a freelancer to design fresh artwork for each new release. A great example is New School Recordings and their artwork designed by Klangwelt.
Email Marketing
There is a saying used by some internet marketers – ‘the money is in the list’. Wherever you believe that to be true or not, it is a very important aspect to marketing still. The fact still remains that we all still have an Email address that we have to use, if you can get a potential fan to opt-in then you have direct contact with that person, rather than throwing yourself into the mixture and noise of social media.
Using a service like MailChimp you can quickly set-up a way of gaining Email subscribers. Please whatever you do though, do not add people unless they sign up themselves and also do not spam them with Emails on a constant daily basis. You want them to stick around surely?
Use Social Networks
Yes, it is time consuming!
Yes, there are now a 101 different platforms!
Yes, Facebook wants to own your soul to sell it to the devil!
Yes, the first time you use Twitter you will think it is pointless!
You no doubt already use at least one social network, maybe two or three. More? Wish I had as much time as you 
I’m not going to delve into which is better than the other, to put it simply use the ones that work for you and when you decide they are working, turn up regularly and always keep your fans engaged and up to date with your work.
I have been quite surprised how many record labels and artists do not even supply details of new releases they have on places like Facebook and SoundCloud. How do your followers know to buy a new track if you don’t even tell them it is out? You get out what you put in with social networking, grasp it and make full use of it!
Get A Website (& Use It)
It has come to my attention that some people think you don’t need to own a website with all this social networking taking place. Wrong!
What happens when a person does not have a Facebook account? What would you do when everyone leaves Facebook, like they left MySpace? (I don’t think Google+ is the Facebook killer by the way.) Do you think there are no benefits to be found when a person types your name into Google?
Maybe you have heard the term ‘All roads lead to Rome’? I believe your website should be your base camp, where your fans are able to go and find the latest news. By all means, use social websites but do not ignore YOUR website. I should be able to go there from any other page you have across the web and find what social networks you are using, your latest podcast, gigs, and releases. This is also the place where your fans can opt-in to your Email list.
Web design does not have to cost you a fortune, even a simple website is better than nothing.
Give It Away!
So we have steered our way round the music until now. People love free music. Be it illegally or legal, they want it FREE! So why not give away some of it for free. That does not mean every release, but if you do a mash-up, a bootleg or just want to say “Thanks for the support!”, give it away and market the hell out of it so you get a return for your hard work.
What is the secret to success?
There is no simple magic formula is the answer. There is lots to marketing that is far beyond even my current understanding, and the landscape is forever changing. Just like the sound waves you create, it is not a constant note, but you are looking for a fluid movement between it all to hit the sweet spot!
Please do get in touch or leave a comment if you are a newcomer to the scene. I love hearing from new artists and will happily feature good sounds here at iLove Trance Music!
Best wishes
Stuart 
