Tuesday, July 25th, 2023.
Hey, it’s TJ Miller, “you want some game?” Let's #tipundathehat!
For the best indie music from indie artists, click, and follow Indie Artist Of The Week Unda The Hat. This week, The Curtis Family CNotes. Be sure to hit the like button and follow this amazing group of indie artists. They will be big time soon.
Let’s go worldwide - Let’s go -
Ever wonder what your music would sound like in a foreign country, in a far-off land, or as the old folks used to say way ‘cross the water. Well, it can happen and they call it the “world-wide web” for a reason. So let’s start here; International music marketing is the process of promoting and selling music to a fan base outside of the artist's home country. It can be a complex, confusing and challenging process, but it can also be very rewarding. But it can be done, and you can do it, don’t sell yourself short. America is a small territory and if you can include Canada, Africa, Europe, South America and even some Middle Eastern continents and countries to become fans this will bode well for you, your discography and brand persona. Sometimes you have to break in a totally different place and come back to the home territory, it’s not a new phenomenon so don’t overthink it.
Did you know the Roots lived in London for a while before they blew up? Yes, everybody's journey is different. And if your music
playing in Amsterdam or Puerto Rico is a part of your journey it helps you holistically. Nowadays you don’t necessarily have to move to another country, I mean it would be nice to live over there for a while, but the internet allows you to promote your music to relevant countries without going there first. Many countries not only enjoy the art form, but support American music and don’t mind paying, yes I said PAYING for it; whether it’s Hip Hop, Gospel, Jazz, Pop, R&B, or even Country.
Now with that said, there is a bit of homework you will need to do. You can’t (I mean you can if you want to but…) just throw music in different countries without knowing the culture. As a matter of fact, social media platforms will mute certain songs and videos in countries that find some of the images and music offensive. You want to know this. It’s easy to run Facebook ads and in the location section just add a lot of different countries that you “think” will dig your music. You will find yourself wasting time and money like that. Your ad will be rejected and you won’t even know why.
There’s a lot to consider when marketing music internationally. One of the most important is to understand the local music scene in the country or countries you are targeting. What are the popular genres? What are the trends? Who are the local artists, and what makes them popular?
If you are doing Jazz for example, find out where the big Jazz festivals are and target those markets. Japan has a huge hip hop music scene, but you want to know what type of hip hop they are looking for and like.
Once you have a good understanding of the local music scene, you can start to develop a marketing strategy that will appeal to your target market. This may include things like translating lyrics, working with local DJs and radio stations, and creating marketing materials that are relevant to the local culture.
International music marketing can be a great way to reach new fans and build a global following. However, it is important to do your research and develop a well-thought-out strategy before you launch your campaign.
Here are some mo tips unda the hat (see what I did there?) for international music marketing:
- Use social media to connect with fans in other countries.
- Create localized versions of your website and marketing materials.
- Partner with local businesses and organizations.
- Attend music festivals and conferences in other countries.
- Hire a local marketing agency to help you with your campaign.
International music marketing can be a great way to expand your reach and grow your fan base. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success.
This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is - The Curtis Family C Notes. San Francisco’s First Family of Song. Their first album “Awaken” is opening doors all around the country and now they have a new video for the new single “Keep A Positive Mind.” They are known for being one of the only soul bands that features Mother, Father, and five very talented kids.
Click on their name link, scroll down to their picture, then click and support. You won’t believe how talented they are.
For more information on this or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. See you next week!!