SONG CONTEST BLOG

Music marketing is hard. Really hard.

I have made all the rookie mistakes and then some.

From building websites to building an email list, I have spent a small fortune creating my business. Had I known then what I know today, I could have saved thousands of dollars, spared myself countless sleepless nights, and achieved the success I enjoy today much sooner.

If you’re already enjoying the success you deserve, read no further.

But if you’re feeling disgruntled with the music industry, frustrated with the promise of a multitude of internet services, and darn right pissed off that all the work you’re doing isn’t paying off, please read on. I’ll make it short.

Secret #1: Email Is The Holy Grail
Whether you’re tricking out your MySpace page or performing at your local venue, always think about what you can do to collect more email addresses. Believe me, there is nothing of greater importance than your email list. If you’re not using a professional email service, start now.

Secret #2: Passive Radio Is Passé
Massive online radio sites get your music in front of targeted music fans. They are not your average passive radio listeners, they are music fanatics feverishly searching for music just like yours. Yeah, you have to pay for the privilege, but the exposure you get in return is guaranteed and trackable. In the music biz, it’s hard to find that kind of bang-for-your-buck value. Jango Airplay is the largest online radio promotion service I know of. Are you on it?

Secret #3: Get Professional Help
Whether it’s your songwriting or your marketing (or anything else), never underestimate the value of expert advice. We Are Listening provides professional assessments for songs and lyrics. It’s what we know and what we’re good at. But you can find a service, coach or consultant for any project you wish to fast track to success. The humility required to ask for help and receive critical feedback is the mark of an independent artist and entrepreneur that people want to listen to and associate with. Personally, I can use all the help I can get!

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Song Contest & Critique Status Manager

We Are Listening has brought together an exceptional panel of judges for an extraordinary international singer songwriter competition called The Singer/Songwriter Awards.  Six gifted song contest winners will choose from six attractive songwriting, recording and marketing related prizes packages, including an exclusive recording session with producer Steve Williams (Sting, Eric Clapton, Seal) in London, England; a one week songwriting retreat in Stockholm, Sweden; television and film placement; 8 week US college and community radio promotion; record mixing and mastering; and CD duplication.  As part of the singer songwriter competition prize package, We Are Listening undertakes to non-exclusively represent the winning songwriters and provide global digital distribution, sync licensing administration and bespoke online promotion.

Launched in 2005, The Singer/Songwriter Awards is We Are Listening’s first and foremost singer songwriter competition.  Since its inception, We Are Listening has added new music industry opportunities to its service roster, venturing beyond the singer songwriter competition to niche initiatives like lyrics-only and World music genre contests.  The company has become one of the leading forces in independent music promotion and boasts the most prestigious singer songwriter competition available to both unsigned and signed songwriters and recording artists.  Its founder, Lior Shamir, is committed to making We Are Listening a next-generation, turn-key solution for independent artists.