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The Buzz Factor Weblog

Saturday, September 15, 2001

THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC

I won't burden you with a message about my feelings of the terrorist attacks this week. I'm as shocked, saddened and angry as you are. But I would like to express one sentiment that's especially meaningful for people who read this e-zine ...

Like you, I've been deeply touched and inspired by the thousands of people who have worked tirelessly to search for survivors and care for people in need -- firefighters, medical staff, police officers, construction workers and more.

In times like these, citizens thankfully feel the need to do something positive -- to take an active role in contributing to the healing process.

I'd like to remind you that you have a very meaningful role that you can play: sharing your gift of music. Most shows and live performances were understandably canceled this week. But next week, America and the world will begin to slowly adjust to life in this new era.

Throughout the past century, music has played an important role in troubled times. From big band music and the Andrews Sisters during World War II to the protest music of the 1960s. Music helps us define the times. It also helps us feel or escape pain. Music can soothe, music can inspire. It can also heal.

Effectively contributing with your music doesn't have to be done through arena concerts or widespread radio airplay. Small contributions matter too. For instance, a teacher at my daughter's preschool has been asking me for months to bring my guitar and play some children's songs for the kids. I've been putting it off. I think I'll stop procrastinating now and make plans to entertain some innocent kids.

Share your music with people in the coming weeks and months. It may be one of the most important contributions you make in the challenging times that lie ahead.

-Bob
posted by Bob Baker 3:42 PM

Sunday, August 19, 2001

=> WHY WOULD YOU WANT A MAJOR LABEL DEAL?

"I do exponentially better financially releasing my music myself," Aimee Mann says in an article on the CNN web site. "I've sold more records with my rinky-dink system than Geffen ever did with their whole staff."

That rinky-dink system consists of Mann, her manager and an assistant, who've done whatever it takes to get her music to the people who want to hear it.

"On a major label, you might make 50 cents a record -- and you have to pay back the costs to make that record," Mann says. "As an indie, you make $8 a record."

Not to mention the psychic toll that being on a major label can take on an artist.

"Nothing makes anyone happy [when you're on a major label]," Mann recalls. "As an artist, you start to think, 'Maybe I'm not that good.' To go from that to being nominated for awards, getting great reviews and a great response from fans makes you think, 'Hmm. Maybe I've been hanging out with the wrong people.'"

Read the entire article here.
posted by Bob Baker 8:23 PM

Tuesday, August 07, 2001

=> 4 WAYS TO USE THE TELEPHONE MORE EFFECTIVELY TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC

Even with modern communications alternatives like fax machines, the Internet and video conferencing, the phone is still one of the most powerful tools you can use to promote your music. In my latest GetSigned.com column, I share four proven ways to use the telephone to get more media coverage, airplay, paying gigs and CD sales.

Read the column at www.getsigned.com/bob53.html.
posted by Bob Baker 10:12 PM

Sunday, August 05, 2001

=> YOUR REWARD FOR ALLOWING THE BUZZ FACTOR TO GROW

Great news. The number of Buzz Factor e-zine subscribers just surpassed 5,000. This is an exciting milestone for me and the e-zine. Thank you so much for reading and using my tips over the years, and for forwarding these issues and recommending them to friends and music associates.

To express my gratitude, I'm making a special offer:

I'll give you a free copy of my new Online Music PR Hot List (an $8.95 value) if you order either of these two titles from the pages listed below between now and August 15:

Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/binder.html

Branding Yourself Online
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/byo.html

Thanks again for having a passion for music and for using the ideas in The Buzz Factor to help spread your sounds to the masses!
posted by Bob Baker 11:40 AM

Saturday, July 28, 2001

=> WANNA START YOUR OWN RECORD LABEL?

A Buzz Factor subscriber sent an e-mail last week and asked, "Where can I find information online about how to start a record label? I may be looking in the wrong places but I was hoping you might be able to help me find some web sites that have articles and columns about starting a label. Also, if you know of any spectacular books on the subject, that would be great."

Here are some articles I found after doing a quick search on Google.com:

Writer Buck O'Shea interviews small label owners in the Boston area on how they got started:
www.vineyard.net/awa/issue2/record.html

Butch Lazorchak writes a first-person account on the Gajoob.com site that covers how he started his label:
www.gajoob.com/interviews/howto_label.html

This short piece on the UK-based Musennium.com site discusses distribution, manufacturing and pricing as it relates to starting a label:
www.musennium.com/resources/record.html

Here are some books on the topic worth looking into:

Start and Run Your Own Record Label
by Daylle Deanna Schwartz

Tim Sweeney's Guide to Releasing Independent Records

Samuel D. Gilleylen promotes a book called "A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Record Label" at:
http://personal.bellsouth.net/mem/j/a/jamsmith/page1a.htm

There you go!

Have a music-related question for Bob? Send it to bob@thebuzzfactor.com.
posted by Bob Baker 1:40 PM

Sunday, July 22, 2001

=> TELLING MEDIA PEOPLE WHERE TO GO

From Branding Yourself Online: How to Use the Internet to Become a Celebrity or Expert in Your Field. An exceprt from Chapter 6, "Exploting Your Identity Through Online Publicity":

What happens after a media person receives your initial press release or personal PR message? Will you follow up with an e-mail message at a later date or send a review copy of your product? Would you like the media person to call you, send an e-mail, come to your public appearance, take a look at your Web site, or wait for your follow-up call?

Whatever it is, let the media person know what should happen next. That doesn't mean media people will automatically do what you want; more often than not, they won't. But at least you've provided some expectations that interested journalists can work with.

I regularly receive e-mail messages that proclaim the existence of a new product or Web site. These e-mails often go into great detail about how great the product or site is without any indication of what the sender wants or what comes next.

You don't want to tell media people what to write about or how to do their jobs. On the other hand, some of my most effective PR campaigns occurred when my e-mail notes spelled out specific follow-up details.

For instance, when trying to generate more media reviews of my e-books, I send an introductory e-mail to targeted reviewers that explains who I am and what my book is about. But I don't stop there. I also include a line that states the following:

"If you'd like a free review copy, let me know right away and I'll send one to you."

For high-profile media contacts, I may send a note that includes this statement:

"I'm putting a printed copy of the book in the mail today. It should arrive by Friday. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments by replying to this e-mail."

The key is to be respectful to media people while trying to gently steer the publicity transaction in your direction. Don't leave media people guessing whether they'll hear from you today, next month, next year, or not at all.

Spell out the things you have to offer media contacts and then kindly nudge them to do something or let them know what they can expect from you next.

SPECIAL BRANDING YOURSELF ONLINE OFFER: Get FREE Priority Shipping, an Autographed Copy and a One-Year Money-Back Guarantee. Details at www.bob-baker.com/buzz/byo.html.
posted by Bob Baker 12:04 PM

Friday, July 20, 2001

=> HOLDING IT IN MY HOT LITTLE HANDS

Last week I finally received my first carton of freshly published Branding Yourself Online books. It's so cool to hold a new book -- one that you wrote -- in your hands for the first time. It's not as moving as the birth of my daughter, but it's right up there among life's major thrills.

Top Floor Publishing did an excellent job of designing the book, as they've done with all of the titles in the Poor Richard's series. In addition to the regular tips I supply through The Buzz Factor, soon I'll have more excerpts and a free e-mail course based on the book to offer you.

In the meantime, read an overview of the book at www.bob-baker.com/buzz/byo.html.
posted by Bob Baker 9:33 PM

Tuesday, July 17, 2001

=> LEARN (AND BORROW) FROM YOUR COMPETITION

When you go to clubs or surf the Net to check out other artists, you should consider signing up for their mailing lists. Doing so allows you to see how other acts promote themselves. Keep an eye out for the techniques they use to get fans to come to shows, buy new releases and purchase merchandise. Note how these other artists keep their names in front of fans. You shouldn't steal good ideas verbatim, but you can "borrow" promotional concepts and use the best ones to promote your own music.
posted by Bob Baker 11:22 PM

Sunday, July 15, 2001

=> IS THE INTERNET DEAD FOR INDIE MUSICIANS?

Let's face it, the news hasn't been good for the Internet over the past year. The dot-com gold rush led to the dot-bomb bust. Cool music sites like Napster were squashed by lawsuits and pesky copyright issues. Indie music hubs such as Riffage, IUMA and others have either shut their doors or are limping along in distress. Some music services that were once free now cost money to use. As John Lennon once sang, "The dream is over."

It's enough to make you think that the idea of the Internet being the great equalizer for indie music is down for the count. Before you jump on the Internet hearse bandwagon, consider an opposing view.

My opinion may cause you to think, "There he goes again, being a damn optimist." But I believe -- for independent songwriters, musicians and bands (and solo entrepreneurs of all kinds) -- the Internet is alive and kicking and full of opportunities.

Read my latest GetSigned.com column at www.getsigned.com/plugged9.html, in which I explain my thinking on this issue. Whether you read it or not, I'd like to hear your opinion. If you're optimistic about the Internet's potential to further your musical pursuits, tell me why and share your success story. If your outlook is not so rosy, I'm all ears for your perspective as well. Send your comments to
bob@thebuzzfactor.com -- the best responses will be featured in a followup column.
posted by Bob Baker 6:01 PM

Saturday, July 14, 2001

=> COOL SITE FOR FOLK MUSIC MAKERS

If you record and sell folk, bluegrass, Celtic music, etc., you should take a look at www.eFolkMusic.com. For a one-time $40 fee, the site can help you sell CDs, earn cash for single downloads and market your free downloadable music files. The coolest thing about eFolkMusic is that artists get the e-mail address of every fan who downloads their freebie MP3 files. Worth a look.
posted by Bob Baker 11:40 AM