The Heretic’s Comments: Music Blog Hypebot has recommended three sites to target your music marketing in 2012.

To cut straight to chase, the three sites are:

1) Facebook

2) YouTube

3) Your own website.

We have provided a direct link to the full article below. The article is short and will only take you a few minutes to read, but is worth the read because HypeBot provides good explanation on why they believes this is the best way to focus your efforts (and we agree).

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/12/mobile-marketing-for-independent-artists-reality.html

Closing Comments:

YouTube in a lot of ways is becoming the center of the Universe to market independent music. If you don’t have a YouTube Channel, then you are setting yourself up to enter the fighting ring with one hand tied behind your back. That being said, the ultimate goal is to use social media sites as road post pointing Fans to your own website. This is the most critical aspect in marketing your music. You must invest the time, money and effort into developing, launching and maintaining your own website as the hub for your everything that you do and everything that you are attempting to sell.

Go into 2012 seeing yourself as a STORE and not just as a artist/musician/songwriter!!!

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The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

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The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comment: We ran across a great Forbes article by columnist  Zack O’Malley Greenburg discussing Mac Miller’s independent march to fame and fortune. If you want some motivation to keep you going in this brutal game called the Music Industry, take time out to read this excellent article. The article will take you about 10 minutes to complete. The link appears directly below.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/12/19/mac-miller-indie-music-savior-30-under-30/

Closing Comments:

Read this article!!! It will motivate you!!!

The thing I love about Mac is that he gets it. He understands that it is better to get a bigger slice of a smaller pie, than almost no slice at all from a huge pie. When you do the numbers, dollars wins over pennies. But what artists/musical groups/bands get caught up into thinking is that having the major label machine behind them will translate into them making more money. It sounds good, but in most cases it is not true. Now I grant you, if you are signed to a major label you may be able to charge a higher fee for your shows, but those days are rapidly coming to an end. Nowadays, you can’t draw people to a show just because you are an artist signed to a major label, instead people attending live shows are there because somehow they feel connected with that particular artist whether or not that artist is signed to a major label.

It boils down to your efforts to consistently connect your music to a fanbase that is loyal to you as opposed to being loyal to the record label you may happened to be signed to. We have a post called Rent-A-Fanbase versus Own-A-Fanbase that goes into this topic much deeper and we highly recommend you to read.

Find a way to get your music and products into your fans’ hearts and that will get you to the money. It is not easy….but it can happen…just read Mac Miller’s story!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: George Howard (a Berklee Professor of Music Business/Management) contributed an article describing strategies you can use to make your music successful (whatever success means to you) for the upcoming year of 2012.

We have provided a direct link below to Mr. Howard’s article. It will take you about 10 minutes to read. Also (as we always recommend you do) if you have time to read the comments following the article make the effort to do so. In a lot of instances you can learn more from reading the comments, than you do from reading the article itself.

http://blog.tunecore.com/2011/12/7-ways-to-increase-your-odds-of-success-in-the-music-business-in-2012.html?utm_medium=email&ref=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newseletter12_15_11

Closing Comments:

Don’t chase someone else’s musical style!!! I call this the flavor of the month syndrome. Instead, in 2012 make the determination to create the music that personally moves you and brings you enjoyment as opposed to creating music simply because you think it will sell (but it doesn’t move you)!!!

Have the courage to believe………..in YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: For years Billboard has been the primary barometer on confirming whether a project was a success or failure and every artist fights like hell to make the Billboard charts.For the recording artist, there is nothing quite like seeing your name in Billboard.

Well times are changing. Recently Billboard announced a change in its policy that essentially states that from this point forward albums priced below $3.49 will no longer chart on Billboard nor will these albums be given credit on Soundscan during the first four weeks of retail release.

I guess Billboard felt that labels/recording artists were trying to game the system by flooding retailers and e-tailers will heavily discounted product so that their products would make a higher Billboard charting.

Oh Well, by implementing this policy,  Billboard will force an artificial floor to what can be charged for product. I don’t know whether this is good thing or bad thing!!! What are your thoughts?

You can read more about this story on the excellent blog Hypebot.com. We have provided a direct link below.

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/11/billboard-magazine-declares-that-discounted-music-doesnt-count.html

Closing Comments:

Making the Billboard Charts is not as impressive as it use to be, but it is still important for artist who are trying to secure live shows in larger venues to be able to promote that they have a song/album charting on Billboard.

Let us know you thoughts on Billboard’s revised “chart” policy. By the way, Billboard’s policy went into effect effective as of November 21, 2011

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Steve Albini providing wisdom on how Recording Studios and Engineers can survive in the music game that has been turned upside down.  Let us know your thoughts!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Chris Payne at Billboard.com has written an informative post concerning 10 do’s and don’ts in using the blogging program Tumblr. We have provided a direct link to Chris’ article later in this post. Fortunately, more and more artists/songwriters/musical groups/bands are finally understanding and accepting the importance of blogging to help build connection points between their music and their fanbase. Tumblr is a great blogging vehicle, because the platform is easy to setup and you can literally began blogging and posting within minutes of opening a free account.

Closing Comments:

In looking at Blogging, we want you to keep the following in mind:

1) Once you start, don’t stop!! If you get fans following your blog, you can’t disconnect. Keep the content coming. I know that this is easier said than done, but it’s a fact of life if you are going to achieve a positive outcome from your blogging activities.

2) Develop a thick skin!! Know that when you start a blog, most people will ignore you. This can be quite discouraging, especially when you put your heart and soul into coming up with great and inventive content. Despite the lack of initial response, however, don’t quit. Keep plowing forward. People are looking at your content even if they are not commenting. Stay consistent!!!

3) Keywords!!! Began understanding how Keywords and tags can help get you higher rankings with search engines such as google, bing, etc. There is a wealth of information on this on the web. Just type in something like  “Understanding Keywords” to get yourself up to speed on this very important topic.

4) Create a Universe around your Music/Product!! If you are using your blog to develop a connection between your music/products and your fanbase, then make sure to create an inviting environment for readers to feel comfortable in getting to know more about you, your music and your products. This means that you don’t hard sell your readers. Instead, you provide them with informative insight and information about why you do what you do, what you have done in the past, what you are doing now, and what you plan to do in the future. In other words, focus on building relationships and not just customers (who will come and up). You have to develop a core fan base and the only way to accomplish this goal is to build relationships and building solid relationships takes an investment of time and effort on both sides of the equation.

A link to Chris’ article appears below. Let us know your thoughts.

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/indies/musicians-on-tumblr-ten-dos-and-don-ts-from-1005541772.story

f you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Vinny Ribas over at Indie Connect Magazine has come up with a great post today entitled “10 Places You May Never Have Thought About Looking For Gigs”. We did a somewhat similar post a couple of weeks ago entitled “Creating Music to Generate Cashflow through Everyday Life Events”

We encourage you to click on the link below and gain wisdom from Vinny. The holiday season is in full swing and for the performing musician/artist its money time as well as crunch time to get gigs secured. Be creative and get your music before a live audience!!!

Closing Comments:

If you are successful in getting gigs booked, make sure you give them a show. Don’t just give them a performance….give them a show!!!

The Link to Vinny’s post is directly below

http://indieconnectmagazine.com/2011/11/indie-artist-tip-day-10-places-thought-gigs/

The Heretic’s Comments: If you use LinkedIn, please consider joining our Occupy Music Industry LinkedIn Group which was started earlier during this week.

We know that for some it will take courage to support the Occupy Music Industry effort because many of you still see signing with major labels/distributors as your best opportunity to achieve national and/or international success of your music.

We respect your concerns of not wanting to ruffle the feathers of those controlling the music power structure, and many of you have told us such in your feedback, however, we want you to consider that what we are proposing is to make a fundamental change in how Record Labels muscle ownership over content and control artists like indentured slaves.

We know what we are attempting to do now is extremely difficult because we have already been fighting this fight for years to enlighten artists to the importance of maintaining ownership and control to their content and products, and it has been a uphill battle to change belief systems that success can be had outside the control of the major music system.

We really feel that with the occupy movements sweeping the country, right now at this moment presents a great opportunity to also push and advocate for the rights of men and women trying to make a living through their music.

We will keep you posted moving forward and our goal is to use the Occupy Music Industry LinkedIn Group as a gathering place  to share information and encouragement to further turn the tables on Conglomerate control over the music business.

Steve Jobs & Apple: 10 Pitch-Perfect Music Ads

The Heretic’s Comment When Steve Jobs died on Wednesday, the Apple co-founder left behind a major mark on the music industry. Since the launch of iTunes and the iPod a decade ago, Jobs and Apple’s impact cannot be overestimated — yet Jobs’ legacy goes beyond technology to the music itself.

When iTunes famous gained the Beatles‘ digital catalog in 2010, it came after years of lawsuits between Apple and the Fab Four’s Apple Corps., which worried about the tech giant’s growing interest in music. The victory was a personal coup for Jobs, who was known to be a Beatles fan and, according to some reports, named Apple as an homage to their record label. Though some critics wondered about the digital demand, the freshly available albums dominated the iTunes charts, helping the group connect with a new generation of listeners.

Jobs showed his taste more publicly when Apple partnered with U2 in 2004 to launch a special-edition iPod. “U2 is one of the greatest bands in the world and we are floored to be working with them,” he said in a statement at the time.

Lesser-known acts, too, have benefited from their association with Apple, which became not only a music retailer but a tastemaker thanks to its colorful iPod and iTunes ads. The eclectic spots, once characterized by dancing silhouettes, bold colors and Apple’s distinctive earbuds, have included groups ranging from the Gorillaz and N.E.R.D to the Ceasars, Wolfmother and the Fratellis. Among the bands and songs the company has helped hit the charts: Feist, the Canadian indie chanteuse whose “1, 2, 3, 4″ became a certified hit, peaking at No. 8 on the Hot 100; U.K. duo Ting Tings, who contributed sassy breakthrough “Shut Up and Let Me Go“; and even Coldplay, whose Apple-tapped “Viva La Vida” became the group’s first No. 1.

http://www.billboard.com/#/news/steve-jobs-apple-10-pitch-perfect-music-1005391362.story

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Let us know your thoughts and comments.
The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY Movement……..

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Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” a is August 1, 2011. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  On May 1, 2011 pre-order your copy. More details coming soon. We are very excited about this Project!!!!

Jenni Rivera Thrills & Surprises Her Fans at L.A. Show

The Heretic’s Comment: The American dream arrived in long curly locks, 6-inch heels and a skin-tight turquoise-colored dress with an extended tail that flowed into white puffy ruffles behind the entertainer, Jenni Rivera.

She entered the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday (Sept. 3) brimming with surprises as the first female regional Mexican singer to perform at the venue (home of the Lakers) in front of more than 10,000 people. These were not fans, but worshipers who held on to every single note. They stood, danced country-style, screamed and mouthed the lyrics of dozens of ballads in themes of love lost, cheating men, romantic escapades, survival and empowerment.

This was Rivera’s night to commemorate an achievement that is all her own. A seasoned performer, the Los Angeles-born songstress has made it this far by keeping the offerings simple. She’s accessible, brassy, charming and speaks to a bicultural and bilingual group also hoping to achieve their dreams like the woman who has struggled, beaten down barriers and become an ultimate symbol of can-do with an unstoppable bravado.

You could have been anywhere tonight,” Rivera told the audience. “But you choose to be here with me. I know you could have paid bills with the money you used for this concert, but you decided to be with me.”

Chants of “Jenni” echoed throughout in the first part of the three-hour spectacle. Rivera looked to the ground. She took a deep breath and whispered, “Thank you. Thank you.”

Known as the “Diva of Banda,” the singer was recently nominated for the Billboard Mexican Music Awards in four categories including female artist of the year. The show will take place at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles and will air Oct. 27 on the Telemundo network. Rivera also recently renewed her contract with Universal Music Latin Entertainment/Fonovisa and will release two albums on Nov. 22.

http://www.billboard.com/#/events/jenni-rivera-thrills-surprises-her-worshipers-1005338802.story

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.
The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” a is August 1, 2011. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  On May 1, 2011 pre-order your copy. More details coming soon. We are very excited about this Project!!!!