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Getting Noticed

There are no short cuts to ‘getting noticed’ and going on to be successful in the music business. There are also very few templates that can be applied to different acts as each career path can be unique. Managers of successful bands have had others that didn’t make it and every A&R person has had an act that didn’t sell as well as the ones that do.

What most of these people would say is that if you can’t persuade a crowd of people to come and see you in your home town then how are you going to do it anywhere else? If you concentrate on building up a fan base in your local area and get the regional media champions on board that this is the best place to start.

The music industry is a incredibly well connected and if there is a regional ‘buzz’ on an act then people in the business will hear about it. This quote from Mike Smith who is head of A&R at Columbia records demonstrates this:

‘New talent does not lie undiscovered, there are too many very aggressive A&R people out there fighting each other to find it. Lawyers will let A&R people know about any new acts they are representing, as will managers. Journalists are an obvious place to go both local and regional. A&R people will also check out recording studios around the country and rehearsal studios and local music venues asking the owners if anyone good has been in.' - Unsigned Guide Edition 1

Target 1 

Local venues and promoters, local media, local industry (management?), music development agencies e.g. Generator. If they don’t ‘get’ what you do will anyone else?

The grass is very rarely greener in other towns and cities if no-one has heard of you or comes to see you play. Concentrate your efforts at home and if you do travel make sure there’s a good reason e.g. support, gig swap, a key target or an organised ‘industry’ showcase.

The internet does mean you can spread your wings though and is a cost effective marketing tool for a new artist or label. Utilise:-

  1. Website – artist and label sites are still important and crucially you are in control of content and data

  2. Social Networks - plug into the online networks and increase awareness

  3. DIY Broadcast – maximise other sites with playlists, videos e.g. You Tube, Live 365

  4. Supply Content – to other blogs , offer competitions and exclusives

  5. Incentivise Fan base – exclusives , e- teams , user generated content (Web 2.0)

  6. ‘Guerrilla’ Marketing – promote on forums , post reviews , message boards

Target 2

Link all this to the ‘real world’ action e.g. live and ‘DIY’ releases. Do this after you have created initial awareness in your own home town and when the industry is starting to become aware of you though your activity. A ‘bottom up’ buzz is the best way for you to get noticed. It feels real.

 

Getting Noticed in the North East

 

We've talked about the importance of creating a buzz in your local area and we want to highlight a few of the ways you can do this in our area (the North East).  

Below are some useful links for musicians in this area- have a look around to see which suit your style of music and approach them when you are ready.  There are many other outlets in the region but these are perhaps the most likely to deal with emerging artists.

USEFUL LINKS

Generator - Contact Joe Frankland, Musician Support Manager on 0191 255 4465 or email joe@generator.org.uk

Tees Music Alliance http://www.teesmusicalliance.co.uk

 

Music Related Press

NARC. http://narcmedia.com/
The Crack Magazine http://www.thecrackmagazine.com
Manifesto Magazine http://www.myspace.com/magmanifesto 

 

Radio

BBC Tyne Introducing http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm
BBC Wear Introducing http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wear/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm
BBC Tees Introducing http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm
Our Beat is Correct (online podcast) http://ourbeatiscorrect.libsyn.com/
Amazing Radio http://amazingradio.co.uk/
Newcastle Student Radio http://www.unionsociety.co.uk/nsr

Online

BBC Tyne Introducing http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm  - Regular features on North East Music, including profiles of up-and-coming bands http://bit.ly/bbctyneintroducing  
BBC Wear Introducing http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wear/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm
BBC Tees Introducing http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/music/default.stm
Our Beat is Correct (online podcast) http://ourbeatiscorrect.libsyn.com/
Toonwaves (NE music blog) http://toonwaves.co.uk/
KYEO.tv http://kyeo.tv

Venues

The Cluny / The Cluny 2 / Head of Steam: http://www.theheadofsteam.co.uk/ Newcastle 02 Academy: http://www.o2academynewcastle.co.uk/ Digital Newcastle: http://www.yourfutureisdigital.com/map.html Northumbria Uni: http://mynsu.northumbria.ac.uk/ Newcastle Uni: http://www.unionsociety.co.uk/ World Headquarters: http://www.welovewhq.com/ The Cumberland Arms: http://www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk/ Star and Shadow Cinema: http://www.starandshadow.org.uk/ The Sage Gateshead: http://www.thesagegateshead.org/ Independent Sunderland: http://www.myspace.com/independent_venue Arts Centre Washington: http://www.artscentrewashington.com/ Middlesbrough Town Hall: http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ Empire: http://www.theempire.co.uk/ Uncle Alberts: http://www.myspace.com/bar_sumo Arc, Stockton: http://www.arconline.co.uk/ Ku Bar: http://www.myspace.com/gokubar The Georgian Theatre: http://www.teesmusicalliance.co.uk

Promoters

The Cluny: http://www.theheadofsteam.co.uk/ Jumpin’ Hot Club: http://www.jumpinhot.com/ Get Involved: http://www.getinvolvednewcastle.co.uk/ Blank Promotions: http://www.myspace.com/blankpromotions Fake Indie Label: http://www.myspace.com/fakeindielabel Portions For Foxes: http://portionsforfoxespromotions.blogspot.com/ Too Far North: http://toofarnorth.co.uk/ Insangel: http://www.insangel.co.uk/ Dazed and Fuzed: http://www.dazedandfuzed.com/ Everybody Presents: http://www.myspace.com/everybodypresents Heavyweight: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2404705808 Catfood By Seven: http://www.myspace.com/catfoodbysevenpromotions Freaky Weasel: http://www.myspace.com/freaky.weasel Ten Feet Tall: http://tenfeettall.co.uk/ The Kids Are Solid Gold: http://www.myspace.com/thekidsaresolidgold Travelled Music: http://www.myspace.com/travelledmusic