Did you think we weren’t going to jump on the “Best Of” bandwagon as this year comes to a close? Think again. 2013 was an incredible year for TuneCore Artists, and we showcased their accomplishments and tips for others navigating the music industry independently on our blog, along with some exciting TuneCore developments.
So without further ado, check out our top 10 blog posts of 2013 that give you just a little taste of what our community’s been up to…
9 Tips for Running a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
Singer/Songwriter Ariel Rubin lets us in on how to approach and get the most out of a crowdfunding campaign. And she should know, she ran two successful campaigns in the past two years. Here’s one of her tips: Plan out the arch of days and figure out your strategy for the expected lull of activity you’ll hit during the campaign.
Music Download & Streaming Royalties: Are You Getting Your Fair Share?
Royalty collection can be a confusing subject, because if you’re a songwriter and your compositions are downloaded, streamed and used around the world, there are certain types of royalties that you don’t get without the help of a publishing administrator. To make sense of it all, we took a look at the royalties generated by your music and what you need to do to collect what you’re owed.
Social Media Isn’t a Megaphone, it’s a Place to Create a Conversation
This year we asked several artists, managers and others in the music industry how they’re using social media, and what tips they’d give to independent artists looking to grow their social channels. One of our favorite guest posts about this topic came from digital marketing company Sneak Attack Media, who talked about how important content is when it comes to social media marketing.
Grit: How to Survive and Thrive in the Music Biz Today
Award-winning Canadian Jazz artist and songwriter Laila Biali has experienced the ups and downs of being an independent artist in an industry that’s hard to break through. If you’ve gone through this, or you’re going through it now, check out Laila’s guest post about how social networking and technology have democratized the industry, taking the jobs away from the gatekeepers.
7 Game-Changing Ways to Get Press Without a Publicist
For many indie artists, it can be challenging to get attention from the press when you don’t have a big marketing team behind you. TuneCore Artist Jennifer Paige (of Paige & Palermo) took the time to share some great tips on getting publicity when you don’t have a publicist, plus she includes a few artist resources worth checking out.
Get Out of Your House & Into Theirs – Booking a House Concert Tour
After ending his relationship with a small booking company, singer/songwriter Mikey Wax was forced to think outside-the-box in order to grow his fan base around the country. It was then that he came up with booking house concerts. In this guest post, Mikey has great information about how to get started booking a house concert tour, how to execute the concerts, and what to do post show.
Ron Pope: Finding Success in Independence
2013 has been a great year for Ron Pope. The talented rocker celebrated over 1.5 million downloads of his TuneCore-distributed songs, and he continues to grow his fan base as an independent artist (he used to be signed to a major label). We were lucky enough to speak with Ron about where he started, where he sees himself now in the music industry, and how TuneCore is a part of his team.
How to Make a Budget-Friendly DIY Music Video
When it comes to her music videos, emerging independent experimental folk artist, Mree, wants to have complete control over her artistic vision. And she knows that making videos that carry out her vision doesn’t mean she needs to have an unlimited budget. Check out her tips to help you make a great video without emptying your wallet.
Amazon MP3 & Spotify Trend Reports Now Available for TuneCore Artists
We were thrilled to introduce many new stores, services and other features for our artists this year, and one of our most exciting accomplishments was offering enhanced Daily Trend Reports. Now, in addition to giving all artists daily trend reports showing iTunes sale activity, we also provide trend data showing sales and streams in Amazon MP3 and Spotify. This article looks at the new and improved reporting, and breaks down how to use your trend data to further your career.
10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your YouTube Channel
If you’re looking to make money from your music on YouTube and grow your viewers, it’s really important to have a well-developed channel. TuneCore Music Publishing Administration President, Jamie Purpora, outlines some best practices designed to increase your YouTube channel’s appeal and effectiveness.