With my little experience in the industry, let’s say about 8 years
what I’m about to write here is the truth, nothing but the truth.
1) Most upcoming artistes do not make proper use of their social media handle
As an upcoming artiste, your social media account is one of the
easiest ways of communicating with your fans. You need to put content on
it everyday. If you are going to the toilet, take a picture. If you are
going to the bar, do a little video. If you are bouyant enough, give
away something tangible
2) Most upcoming artistes do not attend shows
If you are an upcoming artiste and you are not attending shows, you
will forever remain upcoming (Not a curse though but harsh reality). I
mean, get off that your lazy bed, attach yourself to a DJ, beg him to
tag along when he has shows and do your thing at his shows (Simple).
Another thing you could do is also to buy tickets to shows (regular).
Find your way back stage, before they start the show proper, beg them to
allow you do your thing. Record label owners, promoters are listening
and if they can see the confidence in you and how the crowd accept your
music, my brother, congratulations.
3) Not creating a niche for yourself in the industry
As an upcoming artiste, you need to stop copying other people’s
style of music. Stop copying other people’s beat, stop copying other
people’s sound. Create your own style, create your own pattern. Stand
out
4) Bad mastering, bad mixing of your song.
This is also a contributing factor. Who will play your music when
the whole production is whack! There are so many upcoming artiste out
there with good lyrical content but their production is poor and this in
return makes the artiste sound local. No Dj would jam your song on
radio if the production is poor. Work with different music producers.
The same producer that created the beat and recorded your voice should
not be the same producer that will do the final mastering of your songs.
They are dedicated sound engineers and professionals that their job is
just to mix and master (look for them).
5) Poor lyrical content, bad concept, bad voicing Imagine a reggae singer trying to sing blues?
The concept from the onset is not proper. What you have to do is to
look for your vocal strength and work on it. If you can sing blues very
well, my brother, you are not needed in rap. Do your thing, express
yourself lyrically. Sing about things your face, talk about your
emotions. Sing about everything around you.
6) Not wanting to freestyle
Free styling is your selling point. At times people, fans want to
hear you sing without musical instruments. Freestyle your songs, record a
Crystal clear video of your freestyle. Upload on Instagram, YouTube,
Facebook etc
7) Shoot a music video
This is one of the most easiest way to promote your music. I
literally don’t listen to radio but I watch TV. The only time I listen
to radio is when my friends are having their shows on radio and I have
to tune in to listen for feedbacks. Music video helps put a face to your
music. If your looks are great, it will attract the opposite sex a lot
but if you have pot belle like me, my brother, Hit the Gym. With a music
shot in the right format, resolution and concept, it will get Airplays
on TV. There are so many satellite TV stations now and all you need do
is get your video to them.
Once you are getting airplays on TV, getting your songs played on
radio will be very easy. You don’t have to cut your neck for that. And
one of the things music video will do for you is when you go to shows.
People, fans will easily identify you. Even when you are on stage
singing, they would be telling themselves that they have seen this guy
on TV. (And again take note that you are going to do a lot of free
shows. The moment you blow, free shows stops)
And as for me the writer, I am doing my own free shows right now.
I’m offering 5 free music video production slots to 5 upcoming artiste. T
& C applies.
Written by @srazorblade.