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As you or your band performs, be it from club to club around town or nationally, there is usually one thing lingering in the back of your mind…

How do you go about getting that one big break that will push you ahead toward greater recognition and success artistically?

You know it happens to artist and bands all the time. That time could come soon for your group to break out of the local scene and land that recording contract or national tour that will get you on your way to greater success.

You know there are tried and true methods. Having a great demo or being interviewed on the local radio shows at once seemed like a good idea. But times have changed in the music industry. In this article, we will discuss some up-to-date information and inside tips on how to get noticed in this tough business, in short I�ll give you some info that will literally place on the music industry radar screen. The knowledge that I�m about to share with you will work for any and everyone: Songwriters, Singers, Musicians, Rappers and for all genres of music: Pop, Rock, Rap, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Grunge, Country and everything in between!

Where are the Scouts?

You have had the thought run through your mind as you perform for an enthusiastic crowd in a club or bar. Are there music industry scouts in this crowd? Maybe you just laugh it off but you have heard that they are out there watching bands like yours and signing the talented ones to develop into stars.

What you have heard is true. Industry insiders tell us that now more than ever, scouts are everywhere. You may worry that you are not living in one of the big �music industry towns� like New York, Chicago, L.A. and Nashville but that isn�t important. Remember, Seattle wasn�t on the map before grunge hit and they found Sir Mix A-Lot and for you Rock Heads, Kurt and Eddie.

But what if you don�t always have the biggest audience in town. Well, some of the biggest acts in the music business were �discovered� playing to a small and intimate crowd. If your performance is strong and you are getting good word of mouth, the music industry scouts will find you and check you out. So perform every night like they are out there because there is no reason to believe that they are not.

Go Get Them

But you don�t have to sit around and wait for them to come to you. The new �hunting grounds� for bands and talent are well known to the insiders. Once you know who it is that is feeding the information to music industry scouts and agents, you can learn the tricks of the trade to feed information about you or your band into that system. Here are a few of the newest methods and venues you can use to get yourself noticed:

* Perform, Perform, Perform. These days the local club scene is the most important way to get noticed. Don�t wear yourself out chasing agents or scouts. If your performances are strong, that will create a buzz and the word of mouth will get you noticed. Then the scouts will come to see you rather than you having to go and chase them.

* Build your relationship with your audience. Insiders tell us that scouts will come to a show for a musical venue they don�t even understand. If you are doing something bold and new that they are not able to evaluate musically, they will go by the crowd. If your audience responds with excitement and enthusiasm, that is what gets the eyes and ears of music executives. So pour yourself into the people for whom you are performing. That�s what you love to do anyway so it�s an easy way to get noticed and the right way too.

* Build your local network. Industry agents know club owners and booking agents for local events very well. If you have a strong reputation with them, they will pass that information along to the scouts who are looking for new talent.

* Indie (independent) labels are also a rich source of information for the larger recording houses to find out about up and coming bands. You may have indie labels near by so get to know them and get them to your shows so when they have a chance to connect you to a scout, your band is on their list of hot new acts.

* Never miss a chance to network but look for innovative ways to advertise yourself as well. The internet has lots of new and interesting sites that scouts are starting to watch for new talent. If you have the resources, get a web page up and get some MP3 samples of your performances out there. You can easily set up a website using a service like http://www.MyWebSiteMyMusic.com and you can also easily put your music on your site or anywhere else online, even in emails in MP3 format using a service like the one offered at http://www.ListenToMyMusicOnline.com .

The services offered by these two websites are extremely inexpensive and so simple to use, a 5 year old could do it, yet they will have you looking like a music industry professional in no time at all.

Is the Demo Dead?

From what we have learned so far, you would think the demo is ready to go into the hall of fame as an out-of-date tool. But the demo tape still has some real value to you. The best demo is one that showcases not only your musical skill but the personality and the performance skill of you or your band. If you can have someone put a demo together from one of your performances, that gives an agent or scout a bit of a feel for what to expect from you when he comes to see you.

So treat the demo as part of your bag of tricks but it isn�t the thing that is going to seal the deal. If a scout likes what he hears or at least his curiosity is peaked, he will then seek out ways to see you live. Then we are back to the club atmosphere, your relationship with your crowd and your performance. Those are the things that will get you noticed in a way that will lead to bigger breaks. Look at the demo as just the hook with a little bit of bait on it. You can also use your demo on your web page along with some video footage of your live performance to showcase the excitement of your shows. Remember both http://www.ListenToMyMusicOnline.com and http://www.MyWebSiteMyMusic.com offer some of the best services in the industry for doing this.

Video Didn�t Kill the Radio Star

Radio used to be the primary medium for distributing information about new acts and for getting your music played and noticed. But changes in ownership of radio stations and in how they are programmed have changed that too. The radio station is no longer a significant communication channel for you to use to get on the music industry radar screen.

A lot of factors have dropped radio off the radar screen for getting noticed. Airplay is not as much of a factor as it used to be when there was a lot of diversity in radio. Radio is nearly a monopoly with all of the play list decisions made by one central national firm. So if you think that any one individual at your area radio stations makes airplay decisions, you should revise that opinion because they do not. This little insider tip alone can save you huge amounts of wasted energy and frustration when trying to get noticed.

But don�t worry, scouts and music industry agents know they will not find the new, the innovative and the creative music on radio. They have turned from it to use local networking and club performances as their radar screen for new talent.

You do the same. Do not concern yourself a great deal with local radio coverage. Even college radio is virtually a dead venue for getting noticed in this new market. Focus on where the real contacts are being made today, through local contacts, word of mouth and above all club and local festival performances. Other good habits include using music industry contact directories like the one found at http://www.MusicBizPhoneBook.com which list contact information to over 20,000 important people in the music industry.

It�s all in your network and what is happening on the street that will make the difference between you getting noticed or not. In a way, that�s the way it always should have been, having the focus placed on your band talent, performance skill and live shows. That is where your strength is anyway. Be a savvy marketer and use this knowledge to raise the awareness of your band, your talent, your songs and your performances.

We’ve seen it coming for several years, but it’s here, full on and in our faces now… so what do artists do? The word “artist” means: “One whose work shows skill.” (The American Heritage Dictionary)

However, with the arrival of unskilled, but nice “artists” being signed to contracts and marketed to the public – and the public is hearing the call and purchasing their music – what is the secret?

We all know William Hung of American Idol fame. This gentleman is sweet and seems kind, but frankly, can’t sing a note and is artistically disturbed and challenged to say the least. So how did he land a record deal and sell over a 100,000 units right off the block? How is it that even after what would normally be a one-hit-wonder scenario, the novelty didn’t wear off and he has a Christmas CD out that also sold quite well?

Then we find a Princess on the show “Love in the Heir,” who can’t sing, can’t write, but I am pretty sure will be getting a deal, if she hasn’t already. The credits read “Asylum Entertainment.” Could this be a resurfacing of Asylum Records?

So how do these obscure people get deals and move product when talented artists can’t get a CD on the shelf?

The answer: it’s all about marketing. We have heard it time and time again and that’s what it is. A rock packaged and sold as a rock is just a rock. But a rock packaged and marketed as a friend becomes a cultural phenomenon.

These companies find a way to pull at our heart strings. With William, it was his sweet genuine spirit that seemed to say, “I am the underdog, but I don’t know it.” Everyone loves an underdog, especially an unknowing one. With Princess Ann, there is the royalty novelty, but they play up the unspoiled victim and everyone roots for the victim.

They have been marketed as the person next door, the underdog and our friends. We can personalize and associate with their lives. That grabs us at our heartstrings, which then grabs us in our bank accounts. We dole money out to help support ourselves, really. We are buying the product because it reminds us of our dreams unrealized. The marketing has then worked: The artist and the public have reached a common ground.

Statistics have shown that most buys are done from emotional buying, not from a planned excursion!

So how can the average Joe grab the marketing media, without having access to being on a reality show? It’s hard, but obtainable. Tell a story that captures the hearts of the world, one that they can relate to. You must communicate to the general public a story that they can relate to. You must give them a value, a reason for buying your product.

Some think that the growth of a digital delivery system will result in the balance of power shifting away from large-scale entertainment companies in favor of musicians no longer dependent upon large record companies for manufacturing and distribution of the musician’s work. So, there is an economic incentive for artists to seek independent digital distribution because under the traditional, major label model of distribution, artists earn around $1.50 per CD, while digital delivery garners them about $6 for the same CD.

However, despite this economic advantage for the Indies, the major labels sales still win out over the Indies in sales. Why? Marketing. It’s all about marketing and PR. The major labels market their products to the public: YOU MUST DO IT. YOU MUST HAVE IT.

Without marketing and promotion, the music you have labored in love over will remain in your basement or garage, gathering dust, despite the easy access to digital distribution and the economic advantage that digital distribution provides to independent artists.

If you don’t understand how to market a product, start networking with those people that do. Go to trade shows to learn how to step with the best. Scour the Internet for marketing information and if at all possible take a course in marketing at your local junior college.

Musicians all say the same thing: “I do it because I love music, not because I want to make money.” That is true to a certain extent. We all love what we do, but if you don’t make money, you won’t be able to continue. Love the music, market and then collect the money to make your next project shine!

Most independent artists and music enthusiast wants to get a head start of what the music world is all about. While there are still some events, updates, issues and review, existing in the music industry, there is no doubt that any independent artist interested in music can be heard and known as long as they know how to play well in the industry. Some express music creativity for fame, while others do it as a hobby. Whatever their intentions are, independent artists do their craft as a general expression of themselves. They will be heard if they know the world on how their craft works and how they can survive.

There are many avenues for one’s music creativity. Most of which are provided not only for work but also for entertainment such as theaters, movies, or as independent performance. There are certain groups who accommodate one’s creative expression and when good, it creates popularity. Most independent artists search for these opportunities wherever they can find. Independent artist can do well in the competitive world of artistry when they are equipped with knowledge on how to go about with selling their expressions and capturing the interests of the public.

In the music world, independent artists can look into several resources where they can get knowledge on how music industry works. These resources provide knowledge to independent artists on the stand of other workers in the music industries who provides possibility on how to make an independent artists’ craft succeed. One of these resources can be seen in Music Biz site online. Music Biz provides articles related to the music industry. The articles are opinions and analyses that come from the players in the music industry such as artists, producers, recorders, music marketers, music distributors, music enthusiasts and other contributors from the music world. Independent artists and other interested music lovers can capture the thoughts of these music insiders by the way they express their opinions in the articles.

Articles contributed to Music Biz are scrutinized and edited well to meet the standard of how the articles should be presented. Articles are required to be specific in terms of music events and situations that support the comment or opinions. Generality does not provide the needed knowledge of the readers in the music world. Since articles are more of opinion or comment rather news, Music Biz requires that contributors should be reasonable and logical in their observation, experience or own point of view of a certain subject concerning the music industry. Writers are also encouraged to write new perspectives, issues, and events in their articles to add to the spool of articles already in the site. Lastly, Music Biz encourages contributors in the music world to be identified so they can be known and establish their credibility among readers. However, if the writer wishes to be anonymous, especially when discussing critical issues or events, Music Biz will also respect that.

Music lovers, independent artists and other music players can learn from the articles in Music Biz. It will help them set their pace and understand what music enthusiasts think about what is going on in the music world.

Illuminati Music , Masonic Album Covers.—-DISCLAIMER! —- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Note: NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT in this video.

When I decided to record songs for my new album entitled “The Underdog”,  I wanted it to be different from my last album. So I challenged myself to find great music and write wonderful songs that represent everyday people.

When the songs for the album were written, I went on a search to find the best tracks for the album and   went to the recording studio after finding four tracks for the album. It felt good going back into the studio because being in the recording studio always feels like home to me.  The recording studio  is the place where I feel comfortable and happy.

There was no problems when I step in the recording booth and put on the headphones. However, the problems started when my vocals were recording on the beats I selected.  The beat was soft and smooth while my voice tone was hard.  The tone of my voice didn’t match the vibe of the song.  My voice tone was perfect for the songs on my last album.  However, it doesn’t fit the songs for my new album.     I’m getting frustrated while I’m trying to find the correct tone of voice to match the radio friendly songs on the album.

The Struggle:
It’s easy for me match my voice on hard beats. However, I struggle on beats that need a smooth or soft tone of voice. The struggles with my tone of voice on radio records has me questioning myself because   I cannot release an album without radio and club friendly songs.  I’m trying different things to make the songs better. However, I’m just hitting a brick wall. 

Note To All Recording Artists:
Changing the way you sound from song to song is easier said than done. However, we owe it to all music fans to be different from record to record. We have to step out of our comfort zone and give the world great music.

N-O
http://www.myspace.com/no100
no10000@yahoo.com

The music download industry keeps evolving, as more players enter the game and alliances are formed within a blink of an eye. We’re all aware of AT&T partnering with giant Apple Inc. to promote the iPhone, which of course uses iTunes for its ringtone capabilities. As more mobile phones encompass multimedia functions, the music and telecommunications industries are realizing their unfolding opportunities to meld together.

AT&T and Napster, one of the original music download services, are joining together and providing direct download capabilities, according to CNNMoney. In an effort to avoid mobile-to- PC connections to transfer music files, direct downloads are growing in popularity. More mobile phone owners are using their cell phones as MP3 players, not to mention the added benefit of using downloads as ringtones.

Similarly, in Australia, Nokia is stepping up to the plate in music downloads, providing free Wi-Fi zones for Nokia Nseries customers. They plan to launch a music download service of their own sometime this year, and with their free Wi-Fi campaign, more and more Australian-based Nokia users will be more apt to try it out come launch time.

Telecommunications companies and mobile phone service providers aren’t the only ones switching up the music download industry. 6StarReviews.com reports that Amazon’s newest service, AmazonMP3, is offering lower prices on individual songs and albums than some of their competitors, such as iTunes.

Their 2-million some music collection stands out in that its music files are DRM-free and iTunes and Windows Multimedia Player-compatible. Though competition amongst music download providers is inevitable, anyone with a mobile phone or MP3 player will continue to be exposed to countless options.

I remember the first time I had seen an acoustic guitar, at the tender age of five. My teacher had invited a guest to come in and bring in his guitar, to show us how he played his guitar and to sing-a-long to some nursery rhymes. I remember feeling that this made a nice change from singing along to my teachers broken and badly tuned piano! It was at this moment I had decided that music was going to become an important element to my development.

Unfortunately, I did not receive my first guitar until I was seventeen; however, I did practise on other acoustic guitars in between that period along with a few piano lessons to keep my creative musical juices flowing. Taking guitar lessons proved more difficult when I had no time to practise in my spare time. I found that playing the guitar for the first time proved painful to my fingers, this was expected considering my hands were not used to the impact of plucking the hard strings.

Acoustic guitars along with the drums, piano and violin are just a few the most popular musical instruments that have been around for many years. They have shaped the movement of modern music, creating extraordinary tune and sounds evoking different emotions from its many dynamics. Ultimately, the point of playing music is to entertain and create a mood of creative ease and expressing ones emotions through sound.

History

The guitar is just one of the many instruments that have stood out the test of time. The guitar as we know it was very different from the earlier designs pre-twentieth century. In fact, the guitar has been around since 2000 BC, with the earlier forms of a guitar found in Susa, Elam, now known as Iran. Evidence shows that the guitar was derived from earlier instruments from Central Asia and India, known as the Sitara.

These instruments were similar in that they were made from wood with strings that are plucked to create the musical sound. Acoustic guitars have kept to the traditional strings and wood, which have further developed into seeing six, eight, ten and twelve string guitars. The modern guitar as we know it is an inspired influence of the earlier Spanish guitars, which was known as the viola de mana. These Spanish guitars of the 16th century were a change from the conventional renaissance lute and were customized to produce more creative and dynamic tunes.

Other influences to modern acoustic guitars were believed to have come from Italy, whereby the first mandolin was created in Naples. The Vinaccia family may have been one of the first to build a six-string guitar during the 1700s, creating a new technique of playing using a fan strutting motion as opposed to the conventional table bracing.

Modern Day Guitar

The first electric guitar was not created until the early twentieth century, which was patented by George Beauchamp (co founder of electric guitar makers Rickenbacher). Leo fender would follow during the 1950’s with his own style and shape of the guitar. The electric guitar is the main instrument for many modern music of various genres such as, rock, pop, indie and dance. This is also a trend for many young people to begin playing the guitar.

However, some young guitarists begin by learning to read tablatures, as opposed to musical notes. Often the best way to learn is to pick up tabs from your favourite music band and practise by playing their tune. Learning different techniques and strumming methods will help with understand how each technique will create various melodic sounds.

The key thing to guitar playing is practise, like with learning to play any other instrument you will find yourself going over the same tune over and again until you have mastered and perfected it. This in turn will inspire you to play around with creating your own tunes on the guitar. Once you have grasped with reading tabs, and playing guitar chords, you will find the rest will fall into place.

One thing is for certain, if you are an impatient person like me, you will learn to relax to practising on your strumming techniques. More musicians are introduced each year, with new techniques of playing the guitar and continually making modifications to their guitars. Even though the guitar has been around for over four centuries, it is still thriving within the modern music world, with classical guitarist still holding a high place in the world.

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In my war with the music industry, I have decided to release “Is My Living In Vain” from my second album entitled “The Underdog” in stores June 26. The song speaks about the problems and drama I face in the music industry.

The music industry will only show the positive side of music. “Is My Living In Vain” shows the real side of making and promoting an album as a independent artist. Many independent artists give up on music too soon, because of the dirty politics they face in the music industry.

“Is My Living In Vain” is my war cry against the music industry to expose the corruption with record labels, radio stations, concert promoters, and etc.

“Is My Living In Vain”

Chorus:
Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Verse 1
To put an album out, I need a million dollars
I’m as quiet as they come, I really want to holla.
I’m stress out, I’m underground, I’m Independent
This whole music industry, it got me twisted.
people getting signed when I can’t get a deal
on radio and tv, I’m down on my knees.
In magazines they shine, while I wait for my spot
Radio won’t play me, even through my music’s hot.
Labels won’t sign me, they spit on my flow
They say I’m not commercial, I’ll never go gold.
that’s a half million records, they say i’ll never sell it
can you feel my pain, Is my living in vain.

Chorus:
Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Verse Two:
My flow is hottest, when I’m on the microphone
The beats are fire, but I’m still unknown.
Right now, I’m thinking did i make a mistake
cause I can’t get my hottest song on a mixtape.
all this drama, it got me depressed.
Sometimes I feel cursed and not blessed.
I cry in private so people can’t see it
If my pain was a book, nobody wanna read it.
In public I smile, I really had enough
At the end of my rope, I want to give up
My life, I sacrificed for a mic and a track
I love this music, but it don’t love me back.

Chorus:
Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Verse Three:
I don’t eat or sleep right when I’m on the road
I’m know all around, on tour, i’m doing shows.
I tear it down, everytime I hit the stage
Promoters acting funny, they don’t want to pay.
Music don’t pay, I had to get a job
My music is supported by my bank debit card
I’m in the booth every time I get a check
Sometimes I don’t eat, there’s no money left.
It takes money to get them hot beats
My friend James E gotta pay for me to eat.
Is it my time, my dream, did I lose it
Is my living in vain, should I stop doing music

Chorus:
Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?

Is it worth it, I make music, I’m still lonely
I market, I promote, I never see money.
Is it worth it, Can you hear me, can you feel my pain
What I really want to know, is my living in vain?