Tuesday, September 13th, 2022.
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Are music conferences worth it nowadays? - Let’s go -
A few years ago, one of the best ways to debut a new artist, or introduce new music from star artists was to take them to the music business conventions. “Back in my day” of the late ’80s through the 2000s, it seemed like conventions like Jack The Rapper, Impact, BRE, NARM, R&R, Billboard, and SXSW were the lifeline of the industry. Want a record added to radio - go to the convention, want your IO (Initial order of CD's you want a retailer to buy) to go from 10,000 to 30,000 - go to the convention, want a job or a promotion - ok you get it. Of course, there were more and that just goes to show how important they were. But are they today? Why would a DIY musician/artist spend money to find out what they can find out on Zoom, or YouTube? Nowadays, few of them are left, and of course, covid derailed those that are still hanging on. Don’t get me wrong some like Midem in France, NAMM in Cali, and even SXSW has picked back up and had good numbers show up post-covid. But is it worth it for you the musician who still has a 9 - 5 and can’t afford to miss any gigs in your hometown? It boils down to networking. At the end of the day this is a people business, and the more you can actually meet someone, shake their hand (or just give them a fist bump) the better off your career. Let’s be clear, some of the smaller conferences like some YouTubers who ask for a lot of money upfront to make you a star only exist to feed off ambitious, starving artists and dreamers; so you have to be smart because like most DIY musicians you don’t have money to waste. Know who’s who and what’s what. Some of these conference promoters will say come pay to go to the conference and pay to be in the showcase because there will be record industry executives there that can change your lives. The record industry personal part is true, but they may not be in a position to sign artists or do anything for you because it’s not their job description. Even if you go to a NAMM or SXSW and meet a radio promotions person or one of the social media managers, it is not their job to sign artists so, sure get to know them, establish a relationship, just don’t think they are going to get you signed. A little advice that I can offer is to go there knowing exactly what you want and prepare your elevator pitch. Are you looking for a manager, a label, a marketing company an indie radio promotions person? Don’t waste your time, know what you want and go for it. Know your brand, and make sure everything you have and do speaks in your brand voice. Do your research. Know who’s going to be there, what they do, and what they can possibly do for you. Google them, start working LinkedIn like you work TikTok, and know what their company is looking for. This is not vacation, now is not the time to just belly up to the bar passing out streaming cards to anybody who will take one. Have your goals in mind. What happens after the conference? If you are performing know who plays your music genre on their internet station. You don’t want to hound the person who plays hip hop if you are a rock artist.
So though the times of conferences have changed, the right ones are still good to network and maybe even see an artist that you are a fan of, and it could possibly change your life.
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This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week - Averi Burk. A Dallas native and singer-songwriter and instrumentalist. You can find Averi burning up stages in and around Dallas/Ft. Worth and her new music on her website and all other platforms.
Click on her name, scroll down, and click the picture to learn more about this amazingly versatile artist. Be sure to like and share the Spotify playlist.
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 Tuesday.