How to Promote your Band and/or CD

This is not yet complete,
more details will be coming soon.

     AFTER you have submitted your CD and information to us, start working on the following (one place is not enough):

1. Have a web site.

  Including:
  1. Basic band information and pictures.
  2. Gig schedule.
  3. CD or CDs available.
  4. Links to:
    1. Where your CD (or CDs) are sold or promoted (including 1iE-Bands).
    2. Other bands and musical influences.

2. Get listed.

  1. General search engines and directories.
  2. Music specific search engines and directories, including:


    www.musichits.org ** The big music-search-engine
    Add Your music-related site for FREE to the big music-search-engine MUSICHITS
    and receive a lot of new music-interested visitors to Your site!!!

  3. Add your music to online music sites (MP3, promotion sites, etc.).

    BURBs - British Underground Rock Bands
    BURBs - British Underground Rock Bands

    Musicans Cafe, Showcase & Resource Center.
    Musicians Cafe ** Showcase & Resource Center

    Independent Artists, Bands, CDs and Musicans promotion site.
    ArtistsDirect2U.com ** America's Music Store

3. Get a UPC code for each CD available for sale.

     It makes your CD look more professional and it is the only way that most record stores will even consider selling it.

4. Sell your CD (or CDs):

    Unless you want to start your own record store, DON'T worry about selling your CD yourself. You should offer it for sale on you web site, BUT that is not where your CD sales priority should be. Having your CD (or CDs) for sale on other sites, and in other places, makes you look more Successful and Professional. In many cases it really doesn't mean squat, but now one needs to know that. The more places that offer your CD (or CDs) for sale, the better it looks and the more people that will see (and possibly buy) it.
  1. On Amazon: They will take anyone's CD, as long as you follow their submission procedure. The first step is to get a UPC code for each CD you want to sell (see #3). Amazon also has an associate program where webmasters can place your CD for sale on their site through Amazon by clicking a link.
    1. Artists - more info on Amazon Advantage (selling your CD on Amazon).
    2. Webmasters - more info on Amazon Associate program.
  2. On CDNow: I will look into how this can be done.
  3. On any other site that will sell it. Get any of your friends, family, fans, etc. that have a web site to offer your CD from their site (IE: link to Amazon, etc).
  4. At any record store that will take it. Try any local mom and pop record stores first. Then see if the local store of any record store chains will sell it, some will but most won't (but it is worth a try).
  5. On your web site: This is the LEAST important place. If a record store gets enough sales, they might do some in store or online promotion of your CD. IF it is available from Amazon (or another online source) you should probably link sales to them, rather than try to sell them yourself. It will save you time, probably generate more sales and although your GROSS profit per sale will be less it will most likely make you more money in the long run.

5. Get local air play.

FIRST: Submit your CD to LOCAL Radio stations playing your style of music. You will need to show WHY a local radio station should play your music.

  The reasons a radio station MIGHT be interested in playing your music are:

  1. You are popular with their listeners (it helps A LOT if they ask to hear your music).
  2. People are buying your CD (the more sales, the more it shows interest).
  3. One or more DJ's at the station likes your music.
  4. You music is good (least likely reason).
  To submit your CD, send the following to EVERY DJ at the station (one may not like it, another might):
  1. A copy of your CD.
  2. A picture of the band (a professional one. If you have to, go to Olan Mills, Sears, etc.).
  3. A Bio of the band (short, 1 page maximum), including:
    1. Information about the band and it members.
    2. Musical style and who influenced your music. 
    3. A schedule of where you are playing.
    4. A list of where your CD is being sold (IF someplace other than at your gigs and web site).
    5. The number of CDs that you have sold (IF your have sold a reasonable number).
  4. An invitation to your next PROFESSIONAL performance, at a REAL VENUE. If you're playing a concert, get tickets from the promoter and include them. No they probably won't come; it's the gesture that counts.
  5. A thank your paragraph for taking the time to listen to and consider your CD.
SECOND: Try doing this with the local Disc Jockey's that play at parties and owners of Juke Boxes that lease them out in public places.

Other Resources:

    Here are other resources for information, etc. I am not recommending any of them, only listing them for your information. Check them carefully before using them and use them at you own risk.

http://www.taxi.com/: Taxi is an A&R company helping unsigned bands, artists and songwriters get record deals, publishing deals and placement in films and TV shows.

http://www.amazon.com/: Amazon will accept items from individuals for sale, if the items have a UPC code.

   Don't forget the one above with banner ads.

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