Every upcoming musician wants to BLOW (make it big) in the Nigerian music industry.
A major question they ask at the beginning of their musical journey
is how do I promote my music? Since major record labels like Mavin,
Kennis Music, Chocolate city and Storm records that can manage, package
and promote your songs will hardly get you signed, you will need to take
up responsibility as your own music promoter.
Experience shows that unlike the USA where big labels like Sony BMI,
Rockafella and Young money records can sign up an artiste based on raw
talent alone, in Nigeria you will have to showcase your talent and songs
to a certain extent before you will be noticed by the music promoters,
marketers and record labels.
There is the believe that without the big bucks you cannot promote
your music on the radio stations which prompts thoughts like if only I
had a record label/marketer/promoter.
The good thing is you can do it yourself without putting a big hole
in your pocket and you do not have to rely on any record label, marketer
or promoter.
Following the tips below will show you how to promote your music and
get that basic exposure while also increasing your fan base.
Note that nothing good comes easy and you will need to sacrifice
either in form of time, efforts, a night’s sleep just to get what you
want.
Apply the tips to your success.
- MAKE GOOD SONGS:
Sorry I cannot teach you how to write a song. I believe you are
reading this because you have the talent already to compose and record a
good song. The type of song you do should be targeted to an audience
with a good taste in music. It does not matter the genre hip-hop, rock,
dance hall, Rap, R n B, classic, alternative- whatever! You should do
music to impress thousands of fans and not just your family and close
friends.
- ATTEND SHOWS REGULARLY:
Be it a club performance or sponsored show just be noticed. Keep your
ears on the ground for upcoming shows and try to make friends with
event organizers and tell them to put you on the list of performers and
that you don’t mind doing it for free. Talk to the DJ at the club, give
him a promo copy of your CD and encourage him to play it on his shows.
You get to meet music industry people at musical shows. Build and
maintain your contacts with them. You don’t know who has a marketer in
Alaba or who has a friend in that radio station.
- USE SOCIAL MEDIA:
Open profiles on sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Naija side
which gives you the platform to interact with your fans. Update your
social network profile regularly with interesting pictures and videos of
you. Photos from an event you performed or a video of a studio
recording session should do. You get not only fans from Nigeria but all
over the world with these types of websites. Social networking site
gives you an online following which is good for your music career. Do
not underestimate the power of the internet in building your music
career.
- OFFER YOUR SONGS FOR FREE DOWNLOADS:
You want your songs to reach a wide audience and people generally
love free music downloads. Upload your songs to music sites like
Reverbnation, Soundcloud and 4Sharedand promote your download links to
your fans on the social networking sites.
You can ask your fans to checkout your profile on these music sites
and also share it with their friends. This will keep your songs in
circulation. Do not worry about not being paid right now. People will
pay you to perform at shows when your songs become popular.
- PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC ON BLOGS:
You should submit your songs with a little profile and album art/
pictures to the top entertainment and music blogs and websites. Some of
the best Nigerian Music and Entertainment blogs include Letsdanzit.com, Naijaloaded, Naijaside.com,
Notjustok, 360Nobs, olodonation.com, Naija Music, BellaNaija, Lindaikeji and many more. You might ask for an interview. Some of them will feature
your profile and music; others may not even reply your email. It is
normal as an upcoming musician to face those things. When you become a
celebrity, most of them will come begging you for an interview.
- ALABA IS A FACTOR:
There is always a headquarters of any industry. Alaba being the
headquarters of the Nigerian music marketers, you should familiarize
yourself with the people at Alaba. Try to get your song on the monthly
Alaba produced DJ mixes even if you may be asked to pay for this.
Most Nigerian celebrity and superstar musicians went to Alaba for
promotion in their upcoming days. That’s the home for Nigerian music and
movie marketers. Imagine what a contact at Alaba will do for your
musical career.
- LISTEN:
The tips here should help you so stop asking “how can I promote my
music” since you now know how to. Its different strokes for different
folks so feel free to personalize all I have said. There should be
something unique your songs, charisma and stage performance. Note that
you may still have to “grease some elbows” in the process of trying to
become a big name in the music industry and money makes the whole
process faster.
When you finally succeed in your music career, do not fail to say thank you to the crew at Letsdanzit.com
We wish you good luck
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