you recorded your first album in your home studio. what do you do now?

[josh166]

So now that you have that long awaited first album out of your home studio, what do you do and where do you go with it? I'm asking. do you try and sell it to a major record label? do you just get it mass produced and go around to stores and ask if they will sell it? What do you do?

[richiebee]

I would say it would depend vastly on the genre. In some cases, no one will buy unless you're out gigging. In others, gigging is not a pre-requisite - getting radio air play is. In most, it comes down to a lot of luck. How are people going to find your album out of the millions out there. Honestly - people are not going to buy your album unless they know at least a little about you.

R.

[brandondrury]

Getting Started With Music Marketing

Brandon

[josh166]

Thanks for directing me to that article brandon, It explained a lot! It was even pretty detailed for a short article.

[brandondrury]

I could probably write an article about each one of those subjects (and probably eventually will). But for now that will get you going.

Brandon

[metrio]

You need to Market the hell out of it! If you're not gigging, then you need some major internet presence. How you get that is up to you... it seems like a dog eat dog world out here

The stores won't want to sell your album unless you are well known in your location. Unless you are a popular gigging band in town, they will probably consider you a waste of their time.

Major labels? I'm not sure you want that. But that may be my own biased opinion. I've read too many horror stories and seen too many bad numbers with regard to them.

I think that you should go at it on your own. You really need to market it. This may mean going back and re-doing some of the album if it doesn't fit your market.

[brandondrury]

The stores won't want to sell your album unless you are well known in your location. Unless you are a popular gigging band in town, they will probably consider you a waste of their time.

In our town, there are at least 3 music stores that gladly carry local cds. It's more of an issue with the people who buy cds. No one will buy a cd unless it's a band they've heard of.

[spellcom]

I have known people who basically ask a CD replication/duplication company to cheaply mass-produce their albums and to do good packaging. I personally have met lots of bands who do it this way. I personally know of one myself who has great prices and graphic artists on hand to help you get the packaging just perfect. I think it's one of the best ways to go, since you can also put barcodes and shrink wrap to make it look very pro. The CD replication/duplication companies pretty much help you through all the steps it takes to make a disc ready to sell or handout. It's a great way to go that gives a lot of bang for the buck.

I know all about marketing music albums and feel free to ask me any questions about marketing albums through CDs and DVDs.

[brandondrury]

I know all about marketing music albums

How many platinum records have you marketed?

Brandon

[adam12]

Ouch that hurt. Spellcom??? I haven't seen a reply to that yet.