Generation DIY: Pressin' the Media
posted in: Features
So January is coming to an end and there’s only 11 months left in 2010. Well don’t fret, your musical journey has just begun. As discussed in the past month’s posts, promotion and marketing are some key components to your success. One subject we haven’t touched upon that involves promotion is something that many of you subscribe to, read everyday ” maybe something you’re reading right now (hint hint). If you haven’t guessed it yet, I’m talking about none other than press and media features. Many young artists have a preconceived notion that getting themselves featured in a national magazine, or an online blog visited by millions is close to impossible. You are wrong. It’s quite feasible in fact. This week’s post for “Generation DIY” is all about getting that press you need to help expose your band to the national (and worldwide) public.
Let’s first start off by brainstorming about the different types of magazines, blog sites or fanzines out there. Again this goes back to my original post about social networking and the process of research. Search high and low for national and baby national (smaller spread on distribution) print medias as well as blog sites and fanzines that feature artists (news, reviews, interviews, etc. Some that you may recognize would be Rolling Stone, Fader, USA Today, Magnet etc. There are plenty publications out there that cover every genre under the sun and they’re waiting for you! But remember, print media is time sensitive, meaning that many of them publish monthly but prepare issues a few months (sometimes 4 months) in advance.
Before I go into detail about what steps you should do to get in touch with these different media platforms, let’s break down each and explain who, what and how they can help you.
Magazines
You can pretty much pick these up anywhere from gas stations, grocery stores, book stores and various retailers that hold niche magazines such as music, art & culture, home & garden, cars ” you get the point. Many to most magazines have freelance writers who are always looking for the next hot subject to write about. In the entertainment business (as well as in the journalism business) you’ll find people who want to help you because you can help them in the end. Give a writer a great story to write about and the majority of the time they will feature you.
Blog Sites
Since the Internet swooped into our lives and an endless stream of sites featuring editorials have sprouted up over night, print media has taken a huge blow to their business. This type of publication is a very inexpensive platform that higlights news articles on many different topics (such as that of a magazine ” just the digital version). One comment I always hear from bands is that “blog sites aren’t the same as a hard copy magazine.” As much as this is true, it’s only accurate in the mere sense of attaining a tangible item. Blog sites have no distribution costs (other than server space) so they can deliver the news worldwide whereas some magazines only distribute to certain regions, cities, towns, etc. Remember, if you’re featured on a blog page you are being exposed to the whole community that follows that page. So follow them closely and see which ones get the most buzz. It may just be your lucky break. Press is press in the end, so do not underestimate any platform this can be showcased through.
Fanzines
This type of media is very interesting and quite unique. Many times fanzines give no compensation to their editors, publishers and contributors. It’s people like this that write about what they love and have a closer connection to their work than most national magazine writers, so if you find that writer who sees you as something special, they may just go that extra mile for you. As many bands know, there are hundreds of fanzines out there (usually run by high school aged kids) that blog about basically anything and everything they want to get their hands on. They are the PERFECT medium for young bands to gain exposure to smaller communities and build up their fanbase ” really what more can you really ask for? Network with these fanzines and you may be surprised as to how much pull they have when going to shows to review baby national and national artists. You may just get a chance to hook up with one for a tour.
Now that you have somewhat an idea of what each of these featured platforms does, let’s move onto the steps (which are quite simple and not very long) to get yourself in the hot seat!
1. First off, research the proper magazines that can/will showcase your band. Again, don’t put yourself in an awkward position ” if you’re a metal act don’t try and get into Vibe Magazine. Stay true to your genre and keep yourself in check.
2. Secondly, the press WANTS and SHOULD know where you’re playing your next gig. It gives them something to write about other than just a review on your sound and a history of your band. Be sure to contact the proper people at the magazine and tell them about the show you are playing in their city or area (again, time sensitive so get this info out 3-4 weeks before the concert).
When putting together the package to send out to various publications (almost all require physical copies of your album and information) be sure to include the following:
That’s it! Simple, right? It sounds quite easy ” just a matter of getting yourself up and out there. Don’t be afraid of hearing “No” because for every ten there will be at least one “yes.”
I want to thank all my readers for a great month and cannot wait to hear the progress on your journeys. Feel free to get in touch with me because I’m always here to help. Until next time!