Looking for ways to place/push my music.. help?

[MotifStudios]

I have been through a lot of the topics looking for the answer, and it's always different.. It seems there are a few avenues to take. However I have tried for a long time, and when I mean tried I mean dedicated my whole life to it. I don't work at the moment as I am lucky enough to have a supporting partner to help me push through the tough time. I am very determined and just want to no what steps I need to take in order to get my music out there and make some money. I don't care about the fame, or recognition, I just want to be successful!

Sounds very cliche probably to many of the experienced musicians, but it's a fact..

I make all kinds of music, mainly Pop music/urban style music. I also love doing Electro and dance. My Myspace is currently under development but you can check it out, the tracks are just instrumentals of some of my old work but its nothing special, but feel free to check it out and let me no what u think

anyway, any guidance or help or just ideas would be very beneficial for me.

Thanks everyone.

Aj

[rack gear]

youtube is the new myspace.

[author]

Originally Posted by MotifStudios

I am very determined and just want to no what steps I need to take in order to get my music out there and make some money.

Write one very good song!

[MotifStudios]

Thanks for the answers but it doesn't really address the question. Writing a good song is great, but I know several incredible song writers who are in the same boat as me. They struggle to get the songs to the right people for it to really get any further.

As for youtube being the new myspace I'm not sure what your trying to say.. if u mean in terms of plugging your music then that's fair enough I will definately put some of my stuff on youtube too. Do you usually make your own videos to your music or pictures etc?

I have seen several people mention managers, a+r's etc. However I have met so many and they all seem to say a lot, and do nothing. So it has me second guessing my ability as a musician. I'm going through a tough time and would love some advice/guidance on how to get moving.

I'm all ears/eyes.

[rack gear]

in my two and a half decades in the business I've seen very talented people, work very hard and get pretty much nowhere - I've also seen people of lessor talent not work so hard and get very lucky... I've seen great people end up with nothing and less than great people become stars

every now and then I see people work hard, get lucky, and be thankful.

at some point, in my opinion it's just luck

some will say the harder they work the luckier they get, and I certainly believe that up to a point ...but call it karma, luck, or the will of the universe... in the end I'll damned if I know what advise to give anyone other than

follow your heart, work hard and hope for the best

[AwwDeOhh]

Thanks for the answers but it doesn't really address the question. Writing a good song is great, but I know several incredible song writers who are in the same boat as me. They struggle to get the songs to the right people for it to really get any further.

well, if there was a magic formula, everyone would be a sucessful songwriter! Talent alone doesn't mean all that much... no one is going to "discover" you! You need to go out and get it! (what does that mean? .. well, when i figure that out, i'll get back to you! )
This is a buisness filled with broken dreams and empty promises!

+1 to RedVelvet's comment "..at some point, in my opinion it's just luck.."

However..
There's a few books/publications i would recommend you read:
"Songwriters' Market" (annual book, get the newest one)
"American Songwriter Magazine"
"Billboard"
"Music Connection"

~Good Luck!

[author]

Originally Posted by MotifStudios

Writing a good song is great, but I know several incredible song writers who are in the same boat as me. They struggle to get the songs to the right people

There's no need to struggle if the song is great.

[The Byre]

Firstly, 'Take Your Shirt Off!' is a very good track, though it needs something extra to 'lift' it as it gets too repetitive after a while. Also the overall sound is a bit too conventional - it needs a sonic hook.

OK, so far so good.

Tip, get that song to the club DJs in your area and individualise the track for them, so if the guy is called Fred, have a line in the song about Fred. That will give him a reason to play the song more often.

It ain't quite a floor-pull yet, but with a little touching up, it could be! Well done!

And if the guys are using vinyl, then get the song (with long-play instrumental flip side) cut by Vinyl Carvers or a similar company.

As for the techno stuff, na, sounds like every other techno track I've heard. Concentrate on the 102-110 BPM urban stuff, that is obviously what you are best at!

[MotifStudios]

hey Byre!

Thanks so much for your feedback! Yeah I totally agree about the techno tracks, to be honest I have just put those up to fill it up for now, once I got my stronger stuff ready I will put it up too

What do you think would be nice to lift the track? Any ideas would be great help!

Sorry author but I disagree. I have heard several great songs written and struggle; if your dealing with people who love the track and don't push it, get caught up in politics and personal relationships, then what can the songwriters do to progress? As with me, I am dealing with managers and AR's who say a lot and do very little... So yes, the song doesnt NEED to struggle, but it does due to the lack of help.. So what I am asking is what ways the song can be pushed.. the question is not of whethr the material is good. I no it is.

[author]

Originally Posted by MotifStudios

Sorry author but I disagree. I have heard several great songs written and struggle; if your dealing with people who love the track and don't push it, get caught up in politics and personal relationships, then what can the songwriters do to progress? As with me, I am dealing with managers and AR's who say a lot and do very little... So yes, the song doesnt NEED to struggle, but it does due to the lack of help.. So what I am asking is what ways the song can be pushed.. the question is not of whethr the material is good. I no it is.

It has never been easier to reach the right people. YouTube is a click away -- millions are waiting for the next great song.

There's no need to trick them; they love music. If the material is good, they'll come running.

[MotifStudios]

Really? Wow. Ok I din't realise youtube was an effective way to reach people to sell a song!! Ok, with that in mind I am definately going to hit the youtube audience for sure. Thanks for that

Thanks for all your responses guys. Any other info would be very helpful if anybody has anything?

Have a great new year!

AJAI on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

[author]

Originally Posted by MotifStudios

Really? Wow. Ok I din't realise youtube was an effective way to reach people to sell a song!!

It's an effective way to build an audience, and when you have an audience...

[The Byre]

Originally Posted by MotifStudios

What do you think would be nice to lift the track? Any ideas would be great help!

Go back to basics and start to listen to hip hop from 1980 or there abouts.

Check out the 'Ow!' sound and bass line with Cameo on this, not very tuneful, but nevertheless well produced and with all the right sonic hooks -

YouTube - Cameo--Keep It Hot (1980)

One of the BIG mistakes that hip hop producers make today is to imagine that commercial and off-the-shelf samples will cut it. They never do. If you can buy it off the shelf, so can every other dweeb out there!

Yes, you can use commercial samples to some extent, but only as a filler or padding for your own sounds.

My favourite producer working today in Dr Dre and he is all analogue, all tape, all real instruments, but in the past couple of years, loaded into PT for the final polish.

Another 80s band that really went for a unique base (remember it is all about the musical base, not just bass, but the whole base!) is Club Nouveau.

YouTube - CLUB NOUVEAU LEAN ON ME

The use of whispering and white noise made for a great sound for Salt n Pepper (prod. Teddy Riley, if I remember rightly)

YouTube - Salt`n Pepa - push it

Soull II Soul had good vocals and great peano sounds YouTube - Soul II Soul - Back to life 12 Inch Remix

I nearly forgot Whodini, great synth line pulsing in the background, that one tends to forget, but without it, the whole song wouldn't work. Also the great bass line and the early use of vocoder - YouTube - Whodini - Freaks come out at Night (original)

And so on and so on!

In other words, you've got to make a sound that nobody else can make, because they are not you!

And yes, You Tube is the best place, but you will also need to get played by club DJs, form a live act and build a proper website. Those last three are important and you will need to tick all three boxes to get ahead.

In particular, I would take a long, hard look at getting together with one of the urban dance groups that seem to be forming all over London in the past few months. That will let you tap into an existing fan base there and then.

[author]

Originally Posted by The Byre

And yes, You Tube is the best place, but you will also need to get played by club DJs, form a live act and build a proper website. Those last three are important and you will need to tick all three boxes to get ahead.

You are, of course, correct -- the more approaches, the better. But YouTube takes you a LONG way, no matter how annoying they can be.

Example: This guy made a video on a $300 budget and uploaded it on a Thursday. Next Monday, his inbox was full of mails from Hollywood:

YouTube - Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!) 2009

[AwwDeOhh]

It's possible that your A&R guy is waiting to see if YOU actively push your own work!
The days of 'just writing' have gone and went. You need to actively promote and push your stuff. The harder you work, the chances are the harder your "people" will too.

[captainbeefheart]

no way in HELL was that movie made with $300. those special effects were ridiculously close to hollywood standards from what i saw. maybe the first scene was made using $300 bucks.. even thats doubtful. but whatever..

youtube is great though. it lets you reach millions of people for free. just do something creative/new or whatever. as long as its good. if its good, people will come. thats just how it is.

[rack gear]

and then there's this info...

The Myth of Free Music... Case Study Mia Rose

[dan p]

Originally Posted by MotifStudios

I have been through a lot of the topics looking for the answer, and it's always different.. It seems there are a few avenues to take. However I have tried for a long time, and when I mean tried I mean dedicated my whole life to it. I don't work at the moment as I am lucky enough to have a supporting partner to help me push through the tough time. I am very determined and just want to no what steps I need to take in order to get my music out there and make some money. I don't care about the fame, or recognition, I just want to be successful!

Sounds very cliche probably to many of the experienced musicians, but it's a fact..

I make all kinds of music, mainly Pop music/urban style music. I also love doing Electro and dance. My Myspace is currently under development but you can check it out, the tracks are just instrumentals of some of my old work but its nothing special, but feel free to check it out and let me no what u think

anyway, any guidance or help or just ideas would be very beneficial for me.

Thanks everyone.

Aj

Music Library Report
MIght find a place to park some traks with one of these companies.
Good place to start.


Dan P