{"id":8474,"date":"2023-03-06T17:45:20","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T17:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/"},"modified":"2023-03-06T17:45:20","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T17:45:20","slug":"5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things Musicians Should Leave Behind in 2023 Music Marketing Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#Are_you_holding_your_music_back\" >Are you holding your music back?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#1_Waiting_to_get_signed_to_a_label\" >1. Waiting to get signed to a label<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#2_The_idea_that_yesterdays_music_industry_wouldve_worked_better_for_you\" >2. The idea that yesterday\u2019s music industry would\u2019ve worked better for you<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#3_Hiring_predatory_PR_playlist_and_radio_promotion_help\" >3. Hiring predatory PR, playlist, and radio promotion help<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#4_Your_hatred_of_social_media\" >4. Your hatred of social media<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#5_Literally_holding_your_music_back_until_%E2%80%9Cofficial_release_date%E2%80%9D\" >5. Literally holding your music back until \u201cofficial release date\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/06\/5-things-musicians-should-leave-behind-in-2023-music-marketing-blog-2\/#Bonus_gripe_Complaining_about_auto-tune_boring_pop_music_etc\" >Bonus gripe: Complaining about auto-tune, boring pop music, etc.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_you_holding_your_music_back\"><\/span>Are you holding your music back?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>I talk to a lot of artists at gigs, at conferences, and online.<\/p>\n<p>Many are hard-working, clear-eyed, and creative.<\/p>\n<p>But whenever I hear an artist rationalize why they haven\u2019t achieved a certain level of success, it often seems like they\u2019re getting in their own way due to some outdated beliefs or faulty priorities.<\/p>\n<p>And this has nothing to do with the quality of their music. Sometimes people with amazing songs aren\u2019t reaching the audiences they could because they\u2019re holding too tightly to ideas that no longer serve them.<\/p>\n<p>Does this only apply to artists older than [<em>Insert age: 25, 45, 75\u2026<\/em>]?<\/p>\n<p>Shockingly, no. Though you\u2019d assume younger artists are more equipped to embrace new tools, trends, and mindsets, they\u2019re often just as likely to suffer from stale modes of thinking. Not sure how that happens, but this year, here are five things we should all let go of!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Waiting_to_get_signed_to_a_label\"><\/span>1. Waiting to get signed to a label<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Here\u2019s how labels actually work now: No traditional A&amp;R discovery and no artist development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not going to find you at a bar playing to 20 people, love your song, and sign you.<\/p>\n<p>And if they DO find you and love that one song, it\u2019ll be because you already got millions of views on TikTok. And lucky you, they\u2019ll give you a one-song deal. Wow, one whole song!<\/p>\n<p>If you get signed and your first album isn\u2019t a hit, they\u2019re not going to keep you around for another 5 albums like you\u2019re early-1970\u2019s Bruce Springsteen.<\/p>\n<p>Stop waiting for a label to enter the scene as a long-term partner in your success. Labels now wait for YOU to prove you have massive market viability, then they\u2019ll sign you to a deal you probably don\u2019t need (because, ummm\u2026 you proved you have massive market viability on your own), and you\u2019ll work harder than ever before to pay them back for the privilege.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t wait for a label to validate your artistry. Make a direct connection with fans today.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_The_idea_that_yesterdays_music_industry_wouldve_worked_better_for_you\"><\/span><strong>2. The idea that yesterday\u2019s music industry would\u2019ve worked better for you<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Oh, you thought there was a \u201cGolden Age?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>That everything was better in the 1960s? Or the 1990s? Or whatever?<\/p>\n<p>The truth for 99% of artists is that it was much more expensive to record music \u201cback in the day,\u201d and it was much harder to get those tracks to listeners. And unless you were one of the extremely lucky few who get signed, you would have almost no meaningful (sustained) access to industry outlets like radio, press, and music stores.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, the affordability and ease of recording, distribution, and listening today means you have a different kind of problem: Competing against the glut of music for limited attention. But at least the starting point today assumes you\u2019re involved in the expressive process of releasing music \u2014 along with the benefits of \u201cfree\u201d reach through social and algorithmic discovery.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get lost in what might\u2019ve been. Make the most of how easy it is to create music right now.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Hiring_predatory_PR_playlist_and_radio_promotion_help\"><\/span><strong>3. Hiring predatory PR, playlist, and radio promotion help<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Of course there are reputable publicists and promoters. And they\u2019ll tell you that PR and promotion are not golden tickets.\u00a0<\/span>Those pros will work hard for results on your behalf, but they won\u2019t guarantee success.<\/p>\n<p>Then there\u2019s the promoter, publicist, manager, agent, agency, or consultant who WILL guarantee something. And if they guarantee results, they\u2019re usually scamming you to some degree.<\/p>\n<p>These predatory \u201cexperts\u201d dupe artists who\u2019ve got big dreams, artists who think \u201cif I just get some vanity metrics\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the truth about even successful press and promo is that it usually doesn\u2019t build a sustainable stepping stone. You get some nice reviews, you get some radio plays, you get on some playlists \u2014 and then, what? Did that create \u201ctraction?\u201d Did it sell concert tickets, move albums, drive streams long-term? Sadly, the answer is usually no.<\/p>\n<p>Now imagine you\u2019re working with a predatory agency or promoter; it\u2019s probably costing you a fortune for zero results. Or outright counterproductive results, driving fake and passive plays that harm your music\u2019s present and future algorithmic performance.<\/p>\n<p>If you find yourself working with someone who won\u2019t set realistic expectations upfront, you should expect the worst.<\/p>\n<p>And the experts that truly CAN help you move to the next level of your career, just remember you usually need to go out and find them, not the other way around.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Your_hatred_of_social_media\"><\/span><strong>4. Your hatred of social media<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Somehow in 2023 there are still musicians who won\u2019t embrace social. This includes some younger artists.<\/p>\n<p>And I don\u2019t mean you need to embrace EVERYTHING about social. But you have to understand it\u2019s a crucial tool for reaching audiences.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the new radio, press, discovery, touring, branding, fan club, and A&amp;R \u2014 all wrapped into one.<\/p>\n<p><span>To put it simply: If you won\u2019t go where the people are, don\u2019t be pissed that no one notices you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps you hate social because you used it wrong in the past and got burned? That\u2019s okay. The same sting might be just the lesson you need to start making <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-promotion\/how-musicians-should-use-social-media-in-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">social work for you<\/a>, instead of the other way around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Literally_holding_your_music_back_until_%E2%80%9Cofficial_release_date%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><strong>5. Literally holding your music back until \u201cofficial release date\u201d<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>When I first started working at CD Baby, I sometimes spoke to artists who wouldn\u2019t listen to their own music at home unless they had headphones on, terrified the neighbors would hear the brilliant song and steal it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Now, obviously that\u2019s an extreme example, but we can probably all relate to some form of that paranoia. It\u2019s why we share an unlisted Soundcloud link before the official release and tell the person \u201cPlease don\u2019t share this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps our reservations aren\u2019t about theft, but more to do with conserving energy and mystery in order to release the music \u201cright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Either way, I think our caution is unwarranted.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, while our songs can become a priceless point of connection, music itself isn\u2019t rare. In fact, A.I. is starting to compose massive catalogs of songs for all kinds of purposes. To say nothing of the millions of recording artists putting music out every month.<\/p>\n<p>So I don\u2019t think there\u2019s the same dangers of willful infringement in an era where music creation is both easy and accelerating. But also, the moment your song is recorded, you control the copyright. Of course there are additional benefits to registering that copyright, but don\u2019t hold your music back because \u201csomeone might steal it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lastly though, we have to completely rethink a \u201crelease.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Cassie Petrey of Crowd Surf recommends:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cYour REAL release date is the minute you share a clip on TikTok. The release of the full recording should be thought of as more of a remix in the imagination of your audience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>So put your music out, as a clip, a teaser, a demo, a prompt, a challenge, a hook, a feeling\u2026<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s your official release, using engagement, anticipation, and storytelling to get people interested in the full track that follows.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bonus_gripe_Complaining_about_auto-tune_boring_pop_music_etc\"><\/span><strong>Bonus gripe: Complaining about auto-tune, boring pop music, etc.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For some reason our brains default to thinking the music of our youth is the best stuff and everything else is junk.<\/p>\n<p>But beware our brain\u2019s default mode! There\u2019s no quicker way to go stodgy than to make blanket critiques about modern music.<\/p>\n<p><em>Too much this. Not enough that. It\u2019s all\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>No, it\u2019s not \u201cit\u2019s all\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There is incredible, mind-blowing music being made today. Find some and stay inspired. Your own music will thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Did I forget something? Have you had to move past a habit or mindset that held you back? Let me know in the comments.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-career\/5-bad-habits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">5 Things Musicians Should Leave Behind in 2023<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DIY Musician<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you holding your music back? I talk to a lot of artists at gigs, at conferences, and online. Many are hard-working, clear-eyed, and creative. But whenever I hear an artist rationalize why they haven\u2019t achieved a certain level of success, it often seems like they\u2019re getting in their own way due to some outdated beliefs or faulty priorities. And this has nothing to do with the quality of their music. Sometimes people with amazing songs aren\u2019t reaching the audiences they could because they\u2019re holding too [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-marketing-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8474\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}