Trent Reznor offers advice for unknown artists trying to get noticed.
* Establish your goals. What are you trying to do / accomplish? If you are looking for mainstream super-success (think Lady GaGa, Coldplay, U2, Justin Timberlake) – your best bet in my opinion is to look at major labels and prepare to share all revenue streams / creative control / music ownership. To reach that kind of critical mass these days your need old-school marketing muscle and that only comes from major labels. Good luck with that one.
If you’re forging your own path, read on.
* Forget thinking you are going to make any real money from record sales. Make your record cheaply (but great) and GIVE IT AWAY. As an artist you want as many people as possible to hear your work. Word of mouth is the only true marketing that matters. ”
http://forum.nin.com/bb/read.php?30,767183
Bottom Line: Trent offers some great marketing advice but it all comes down to the songs. In fact, Head Like A Hole, the first single to chart on Hot 100 Singles broke Nine Inch Nails. It’s all about a great song and a good original video will help as well. The track Rehab launched Amy Winehouse, Misery Business propelled Paramore to instant fame, and Just Dance put Lady Gaga on the map. Of course, the artist needs to backup the song with an incredible live show. I can’t think of something more unfortunate than a great song being sung by a faceless artist, which is common. If you are that artist who wrote that song that broke Trent, Gaga, and Paramore, then we want to hear it. Email tips@kingsofar.com
Great great great point in your “Bottom Line.” I wish more people realized this.
Same thing for other indie faves Nirvana (Smells Like Teen Spirit) and Metallica (Enter Sandman). Without a breakout pop hit it’s difficult-to-impossible to break through to the level of these World Wide Stars.
As far as the great live show is concerned. I’ve seen The Fray five times to date, and never once has the performance varied. Sounds just like the record, every time. They do one or two acoustic songs, usually a take on a pop number (Shakira, Kanye come to mind) and let Joe take over vocals, but that’s really about all. For a band so influenced by the Counting Crows, there is so little improvisation.
I bring this up because I don’t think a great live show is all that important. Plenty of major label acts half-ass their way through sets and still dine at four-star restaurants, travel in airplanes and stay at the Plaza Hotel.
I wish music sales were based on live performance. I really do.
When you’re not on the radio. Playing live is your radio. Its so important that your music is performed well and translates well to the listening audience. They got to be able to hear your “hook”. If they get it then MAYBE they will check out your myspace page or want your CD free or not.
Just reading an article with Sammy Hagar talking about how its all going back live shows now….thats the only way people will hear you. They wont just stumble on to you on myspace. Theres millions of bands and artists.
That is good advice indeed. Example – The artist I represent is offering his album for free (at http://www.theperfects.com) – and not shoddy production either. The work you’re giving away HAS to be great music and great production for it to catch on. The free downloads in turn generated enough attention for sold-out shows (of course, I’m not talking about stadiums – more like clubs that hold 200 – 300 people). They put on exciting live shows and they gained new fans for life.
Playing a great live show is important, you want to entice your crowd to come back. If artists are giving out their music as their promotional tool, then live shows are how they make their money.
always like artist that made “it” giving advice. because most are full of crap.bands work hard at trying to “know” someone in the music buisness or a manager who’s in the buisness or open for bands that can get the attention of some A&R guy. of course any band must have the “goods” to get a deal. maybe in the movies someone will here about a band and go check them out but it’s really a club owner or some radio DJ or or “Somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody”playing live is a “Give’n” but without airtime and good promotions bands ain’t gonna draw. it’s good when a band can draw 200 to 300 fans but when that same band is doing a show in the heart of any city of 9 million people and they “Only” draw 300 people well then there is a lot more work to do.
music isn’t faceless, maybe to a 12 year old the band has to be “cute” but to a grown up the music must “relate”and then the fan puts their own face to what an artist is saying.
He is correct for the most part, but it has been said for years now by lefstez. And Bob has always said its about the song (btw I’m not a lefstez lover at all)
I also disagree about trents not selling your record stance. I tell my small bands to encourage trading their music, but their cd sales on the road are vital to them (even if only 4 or 5 a night) Its about having enough money to stay on the road. There are people at shows who want to buy a physical product. If someone is willing to give you money for your music, take it you will need every dime you can get.
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