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For some of the best independent music from artists you need to know, click, listen and follow spoti.fi/3td3Xol. This week Mercy Club. Know any Indie artists that need to make the list? Send them to me, if we dig ‘em, they take the number one spot.
This week, The Fan in the music biz - Let’s go -
Week three of talking about Influencers, brand advocates and now fans. The core word fan is short for fanatic. Someone who is really over the top about your music, your persona, your vibe and the way you do what you do. Now I know a lot of my gospel folks out there don’t want to admit that they are fans of the artists but disciples of the word of God. But trust there is a reason you like Mali Music rather than the Fairfield Four - but I ain’t judging just saying. Now from a marketing perspective, it’s great to have fans but don’t you dare treat them like customers. A customer is just someone you have a dealing with, and a fan is someone who is devoted to your brand. And in looking back over the past few weeks, both influencers and advocates can become fans. They can sometimes look the same but they are indeed different. Influencers and even advocates can be just that and not be fans. If you are going to use influencers or advocates, make sure they are fans of your brand, you will get more out of them that way.
Now as far as the fan goes, you need to establish a connection with them, and it is important to understand them. You need to understand why your fans love your brand. When they know that you know it validates their love for your brand and helps them promote your brand helping them to become brand advocates for you. Now we all know that superstars with millions of fans don’t always try to connect with their fans, but some do; that’s how you get things like the BeyHive. Take care of your fans and they will take care of you, even if it’s only 37 of them - hey gotta start somewhere. There are things you can do to help them help you. You can help them promote your music. Whatever it is you feel is special about your music and your brand is what you want your fans to talk about. Are you an acoustic performer that loves everything green? Whatever your niche is, that’s what you want them talking about. If given a clear call to action, your fans will tell their friends and their supporters to not only follow, but to actually download or stream your music and that’s what you want right? Of course. And did you know they can even offer a bit of customer service and be a feedback channel for you. It’s hard for them to do, however, when you don’t reply to their comments, positive or negative. Let them know you hear them and that you feel what they had to say was valuable to your process. Look at the amount of times fans have come to the rescue of their favs on twitter, the BeyHive have swarmed and attacked more than a few times. Your fans can let others know to be careful what they say about you on social media. And trust me you want that. Let them know that it is ok to tag you so that you can have the official voice on what is said about your brand however, but a fan is a fan is a fan is a fan and you want as many of them as possible, so encourage them, interact with them, show them some love, and even break them off something free from time to time.
This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is Mercy Club, musicians on a mission to spread a mercy message while being a light in darkness. Their new single “Who’s gonna Love Me.” comes out April 15th on Good Friday! Click this link to pre-save your copy now.
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.