Sometimes I feel like the music industry is turning into a large Chinese buffet with a bunch of chicken samples.  And the artists are the people that stand in front of the restaurant saying “free sampleâ€Â or “try oneâ€.  There are so many artists that believe “if it’s free they will comeâ€. Or, I just want to be heard so I will give it away and everything else will “jump offâ€. I don’t think people understand that music just being “free†is not good enough anymore. There’s so much more that goes into developing talent, building a fan base, and being successful. Even if free is the beginning of your plan, ask yourself what comes next? After I see that free download link, what’s going to make me click “downloadâ€? Or after you pass me the free CD, what is going to entice me to play it and not make it a frisbee. I mean really, these days, it’s just another free cd.
 The most important lesson that I learned in music retail is that free music is no good if no one is listening.  Free is no good if no one is there to talk about the new free music with some excitement. It’s no good if it’s sitting in a box in a backroom collecting dust because the guy on the street team did not introduce it the right way. It’s no good if it’s just sitting in a gas station on the counter for free because gas station attendants do not promote music…they SELL GAS!Â
Now, if you are lucky enough to find a good promotions company, they know how to introduce your music to people so that it can reach others. Believe me, after 14 years in music retail, I know the difference between â€Des give this away for meâ€Â and “Des check this out its HOT!â€Â If the person giving me the music is someone I respect, then we talk about the music. If I like it, then I share it with others and say something like “Ooo, you should check this out it’s great!â€Â Now if someone tells me , “give it awayâ€, then my response to the customer would be “Here’s some free music.â€Â See the difference?
Make sure you follow @ThatRetailChick on twitter!!
” because gas station attendants do not promote music…they SELL GAS! ”
LMAO! ….You’re exactly right. This write up should actually be required reading for all artists. Very insightful. Great Post!
~ http://www.ToyCouture.net ~
She made some GREAT points and I agree. Especially those releasing mixtapes and no one even knows its out. Like wats the point? And also a FREE mixtape doesn’t mean you jus throw some trash together for the fans jus to keep em busy. #FAIL
The only artists that I know who released a mixtape and worked in their favor is Wayne and Chris Brown…if Im not mistaken Wayne is the one that brought this mixtape thing/craze to the level its at now…
Visit my tumbler when you get a chance…click my name ^ to go directly to my page!