15 Reasons I Didn't Listen to Your Music.
Jan
03
95% of the music I receive is deleted without ever being listened to. Why? Outside of the fact that I get 300-700 records sent to me each week via Email, Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Its just impossible for me to listen to every song I receive and still find time for my family and work. In an effort to increase the amount of material I listen to I have outlined "15 Reasons I didn't listen to your music" in hopes that you will shape up :)
The List:
- The first tweet you sent me had a link to your music in it... Try starting out with a "Hello!"
- You sent me a link to your mixtape or album... I recommend sending a single. I'm not sure if I even want to hear ONE track from you but you just sent me 24 of them.
- You just sent sent 300 other people the exact same tweet... All those tweets show up on your profile. That will stop people from following you because you look like a spammer and cause followers to unsubscribe because you're flooding their time-line.
- You emailed me a CDA File... Learn to rip/import a CD. You can't just drag the songs off the disc into an email.
- You emailed me a WMA file... I can playback WMA files but that means I have to download them first instead of just being able to preview them in my browser.
- You didn't submit any music for the On The Grind Mixtape (www.OnTheGrindMixtape.com)... This is a program I started to give independent artists major promotion on a very tight budget. Over time it has become my system for weeding out artists that are not serious about their careers. I figure if the artist wouldn't invest $20 of their own money into their record, its probably not worth me investing the time to listen to.
- You sent me a link where I had to go through 2-3 screens of ads and wait 45 seconds before I could download it... I recommend using Z-share. Recipients can immediately preview the music and still have an option to download it.
- I have no reason to listen to your music... You sent me your music but you really didn't give me any reason to check it. Why do you want me to listen to your music?
- You just CC'ed me on an email to like 500 other people... I personally don't appreciate my email being circulated for any and everybody to have. Setup a Fanbridge account or at least start using the BCC field instead so you aren't exposing everyone's email address.
- YOU sent it to me... If your music was is really hot and you're doing the things that you need to be doing, I would be hearing about it from other people (DJs, A&Rs, Publicists, Promoters, FANS, Other Artists or Producers).
- I'm busy... I may have every intention on listening to your music but as you know sometimes the day can just get a way from you. By the time I had the free time I forgot all about the link you sent me. This can be easily avoided if you focus on building a relationship instead of sending out songs.
- I've already heard about you/your music.... Believe it or not this is a small industry and there are very few people in it that are actually here to help independent artists. Don't think that we don't talk to each other. So, if you have a reputation for Bullsh*tting, Trying to get something for nothing, Being lazy, lying or just making Bad Music you've probably been the topic of discussion once or twice.
- You're not a subscriber... 99% of the people that send us music requesting to be reviewed, interviewed, re-tweeted and put in our Email Blast aren't even subscribers. Our motto at Makin' It Magazine is very simple, "Support those that support you!" Subscribe today at: http://www.MakinItMag.com/subscribe
- You're more concerned with getting heard than being listened to... You've sent me plenty of songs, emails, videos, etc but have never taken time to follow up to see if I've listened to any of them or what I thought. You're more concerned with throwing punches than landing them.
- You didn't read this post... This one isn't meant for you, but there are plenty of people who saw this post on twitter, their inbox or RSS feed and didn't bother to read it. Those are the same people who will continue to make the mistakes described above. Lack of initiative is probably the #1 reason for failure in our industry.
This is just a personal list of things that deter ME from listening to much of the music I am sent. I'm pretty sure most of these reasons may hold true for many of the other Magazines, DJs, Bloggers, Publicists, Promoters and people you send music to. If you know someone that needs to see this post please FWD it along and don't forget to Retweet it. If you have something that you think is missing from the list please leave it in a comment below so that I can add it.
Comments
CO-SIGN!
I love this not only did you give me some advice,but i can see why it is true there isnt any tellin how many people have been on this site and was to lazy to read the 15 reasons why they dont get signed and to me that means there not even a good hard artist*personal opinion*.
14 of the reasons are cool and understandable. But #10 turned me off. Reason being that everyone don't have connections or have been on the Grind that long to get a buzz going. Also this website is new and some people don't know who you are or know anything about your business and cause. Example I found out about this website from a text message 2 days ago. I am planning to subscribe and get on a mixtape eventually, cause i dig the purpose. But reason #10 discourage me for a moment because I don't think you know anyone that may have heard my music. I might send it to you just to see what happens anyway. The industry is not that small cause I am not from the USA, so not only Americans are checking out this site.
Still digging what you are doing. Just sharing my opinion.
Blessings
Hey Angel,
I definitely understand where you're coming from. I just encourage artists to build up a circle of people that believe in their music. When I'm looking for a new hot artist I'm more likely to ask a DJ than browse MySpace. When I browse through my inbox I'm more likely to listen to a record sent to me by www.MP3Waxx.com than one directly from an artist. But don't be discourage because when are doing the other 14 things #10 won't be an obstacle because ppl will be taking notice.
Real talk right there, folks.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by High Maintenance, Makin' It Magazine and Philosophy, mic-check. mic-check said: RT @nhoodwatch: RT @MakinItMag: READ B4 U Send Me Music ->> 15 Reasons I Didn't Listen to Your Music! - http://bit.ly/7Eofv3 <& ... [...]
dis homie be kickin out good knowledge for upcoming artist like myself.if u aint already u should check out his vids about da industry on youtube.educate ya self every chance u get.it's priceless..
Being in my profession I get a lot of music submissions as well. I have to agree with you on most of these but #10 kinda through me off as well. Reccomendation is a good thing for an artist, however I don't ignore peole who solicit based off reason # 10.
When I listen 2 new artists I give them the 30 second rule. If after 30 seconds I dnt like it, that's it. On to the next. I also don't give feed back unless I am mooved by the music. If I dislike the track I jus say keep up the good work. Nothing irratates me more than people asking me what I thought about their music. If I enjoyed it, u won't have 2 ask me, I will tell u what I liked.
Just some thoughts, stay grindin, pz
[...] VIEW ARTICLE SOURCE [...]
This is a great list, but I disagree with one of them. #6 says because I won't spend $20 to get one song on one mixtape, my music's not worth listening to. Imagine if I paid $20 to every single influencer (blogger, DJ, writer, etc.) in the music industry for coverage on their respective outlet. Sounds like a "transient" outlet and conceptually doesn't make much sense.
I came to your story from the ASCAP brief I get daily.
I have been a song writer for a long time (joined ASCAP in 1982)
and this is a great article. Very smart and helpful to anyone trying to make it.
I work for a newspaper and have for years so let me direct your
attention to someone else who is trying to make it.Reed Hutchinson
if anyone deserves to be heard it's this guy
www.reedmusic.net
or look him up on myspace
he sang the theme song for the fox tv show Kitchen Confidential
and his own music is just stunning
to top THAT he has written Rock Opera of all things and I am NOT
kidding you.... It's called Making It
Check him out
Patrick Robinson
It USED to be, you know back when the industry was still viable, that people were trying to be the FIRST to discover new talent.
By implying 'it can't be any good unless I've already heard OTHER people buzzing about it.." you are in essence admitting YOU have no personal taste of any value. You rely on others to be the actual determiners of quality.
It's symptomatic of what's wrong.
When my band performs live I ask everyone in the audience to take a CD (we have 3 different CDs of original songs) and make a donation into the "Tip Jar". Everyone takes home a CD (free or by donation) and I average five to 10 dollars per CD. My advice is to sell it from the stage and stop bothering busy Music Biz executives. Be a local success and be happy.
I find this entire article to be a great source of advice. But your comment I found to be very true. Im an artist and also working on building my own label. The best way to get started is do it on your own, if your looking for fans, try to get local attention. Once your locally known then move on to a bigger fan base. The major execs wont bother with a local artist who isnt known. The best way to be heard is through word of mouth.
[...] Makin’ It Magazine: 15 Reasons I Didn’t Listen to Your Music [...]
overall, it was a pretty good post...a lot of people really aren't trying to help independent artists so i can respect what's going on here...there's a couple that don't sit well, like #6 & #10...i've always invested in my music..if i do a mixtape, i'm making sure it has good audio & tight graphics...let alone, i'm investing in the cd's & cases...&, if i sent it to you, it's because i'm trying to see if you appreciate the music....other peoples opinions are cool, but what about coming to your OWN conclusion???
#7: Zshare is "2007". It's FULL of pop ups, plus it now makes you wait 45 seconds to download a song you previewed. At the moment, Usershare, Divshare or even SoundCloud might be much better for an indie artist to use.
#10: If YOU are waiting for other people to tell YOU how hot something or an artist is; then you aren't a leader - you are a follower. Let me repeat that: If YOU are waiting for other people to tell YOU how hot something or an artist is; then you aren't a leader. You are a follower.
An indie artist should be more concerned with people who actually take the time to LISTEN for new sounds, not because they subscribed, or forked over $20. For that matter they can spend $250 and have their music place in local area Best Buy stores where it will be seen if not heard) by 1000x more people, than those who subscribed to this "mag".
#12: This industry is NOT small anymore. Its not like it used to be in 1999 and back - where EVERYONE on the inside (particularly in urban black music) knew everyone. All the promo reps, regional directors, street teams, in-house producers, sales & marketing and A&R's really did know one another.
It's not like that anymore.
ANYONE can set up a "blog" or create a "online magzine" and front as if they are "connected", when in reality all they care about is "subscribers" and "$20 - $50 for "music submissions" and "ad space".
Back in 2000, 2001 - The internet as we know it today, opened up a plethora of options to be heard, and the floodgates for thousands of artists to get music to the masses. There are hundreds of artists you have NOT heard of. Its impossible to know it all and hear it all. Impossible.
And if you THINK you have - see #10.
I could pick holes in 5-6 other of your 15 reasons, but I think you get where I'm coming from - a place of real world music industry & business experience.
Much respect for putting this in the proper perspective while simultaneously giving probably everyone who read it some jewel of proper promotional etiquette. You were very thorough, and I must say really introspective of what many movers and shakers in the industry deal with from the millions of wanna-be pop stars who send them music everyday. I know a learned a thing or two that will help tighten my promo grind a little, so thanks for the info and being real about it, but cool at the same time.
A good look into the daily run thru on how not to get anymore bs submission's. With everyone thinking the internet will promote they music because its posted somewhere.......basic's like the above mention'd pet pev's are priceless. Somebody has to give up some game of we'll be stuck in wonderland with no real music in rotation. Good looking out for alittle truth bout the biz.
Very good tips! But I'm sorry but I TOTTALY disagree from item 10. There's nothing wrong with self-promotion. If a producer finish a great track and he or she just waits around and does nothing to get it out there, how it would get to you?? If I do something good, I want to spread it around. I won't just sit and wait until it gets to the hands of some A&R guy or a label to get noticed. You need to move and do something!
well I'mma artist myself and i've been had you added on my myspace account but i've been waiting 2 speak on anything b'cuz in the back of my mind i knew plenty of other artist were already doing so. But from reading this article (right along with a few other's) i know what 2 do now! And if you ever do see this comment...hit me up on myspace or facebook b'cuz i'd like 2 see whats up on the mixtapes that you be helping the independent artist with...
www.facebook.com/YungPThaFreshPrince
I coulden't have said it any better my self, the author know what he is talking about. I can tell from the comments above that most people agree to.
great tips i surport yo movement
OKAY I UNDERSTAND ALl OT OF THAT!
I'M CURRENTLY IN THE COAST2COAST MIXTAPE CIRCUIT!
I'm gone work harder to get your attention!
check for a nigga!
O.M.E. THE EMCEE THE PRODUCER THE ENGINEER!
P.E.A.C.E.
...with ANYONE WHO DIDNT AGREE WITH #10! admin made HIMSELF look like a d!ckrider on that!...period
i aint got shit to promote, i'm just a fan but when i saw that i was like huh??? artists can self promote now...u look like a dickrider...trend FOLLOWER for that one! djs & a&r's are NOT always right by the way...i can name a list of artists who 3 yrs ago were piped up to be the shit n failed...i could name it but i would take too much of that precious time of yours that you mentioned!!! LOL
man you came off like a douchebag for that one --- someone had to say it!
I can see why some artist disagree with items like #10, #12, and #13, but keep in mind the point of view this article is coming from.
Artist want to reach as many listeners, DJs, A&Rs, ect. as possible. Also, each person's music taste is different (honestly I dislike most of the music played on our local radio stations), so they should submit to as many prospects as possible.
Now for everyone else it can come off as spam. Technically that's what mass mail is. If you are someone of importance who receives a ton of music it quickly becomes the same as any other spam.
So, IMO if you are an artist keep doing what "WORKS." If you read this article and realize that you are doing these things and it is "NOT WORKING," take the advice. If you are doing these things and it "IS WORKING," take note of the advice for future reference.
Keep up the good work!
You should know that your article has be plagiarized by this idiot.
http://lamgworldwide.com/top-10-reasons-we-didnt-listen-to-your-music/
This is very informative. I do think it is hard for an unsigned artist to go MAJOR or even HEARD by someone relevant because its such a competitive industry, and you have to NETWORK in search of that ONE CONNECTION that can work in your favor. thanks for posting this entry It has a lot of great points!
I can agree with alot of the article and it was some great points made in it. But the industry is growing and alot of local dj's and radio stations don't support local or underground talent. There are alot of people wanting X amount of money and making promises to do this and that and you end up with nothing but the bill. I say keep grinding and stop looking for the A & R people to want you. Create a buzz in the streets and love what you are doing and it will show in your music.
Blessing from the State of Georgia.
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