Andrew Southworth is an industry colleague who I admire deeply. He kinda reminds me of me (except he’s wicked smart at math and stats), and what I mean by this is he truly loves musicians and wants to help as many artists as possible regardless of whether or not they pay him.
Here are seven key points you’ll learn from our discussion:
1. Mindset is Crucial -Marketing is challenging, and having a positive mindset is essential for success.
Marketing is challenging. A positive mindset is essential; without it, your efforts may falter.
2. Understanding Your Core: Know why you make music and what your signature story is to form the foundation of your marketing strategy.
Understand why you make music and your signature story. This foundation is critical for your marketing strategy.
3. Brand and Fan Personas Identify your brand pillars and understand your audience to create effective marketing strategies.
Identify your brand pillars and understand your audience. Aligning these helps create effective marketing strategies.
4. Importance of Networking Building and maintaining relationships is vital for success in the music industry.
Building and maintaining relationships is vital. Keep a detailed list of VIP contacts and leverage these connections.
5. Education and DIY Educating yourself and being proactive about marketing can significantly benefit your career.
My journey began with traditional publicity and evolved into a full-service marketing agency. Adaptability and continuous learning are key in the music industry, which constantly changes.
6. Strategic Partnerships Collaborate with trusted partners to ensure integrity and effectiveness in your marketing efforts.
At Cyber PR, we focus on long-term marketing plans and collaborate with trusted partners to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of our campaigns.
7. Navigating Industry Challenges: Be aware of scams and focus on genuine growth and connections.
Andrew Southworth and I also touched on the pervasive issue of scams in the music industry. Seeing artists fall victim to services that promise growth but deliver fake results is disheartening. This is why I emphasize working with partners who maintain integrity and transparency.
Andrew Asked Me About My Reason for Helping Artists
I come from an artistic background, being the child of a filmmaker. Watching firsthand what happens when artists don’t understand how to adapt and market themselves, I saw the potential for disaster. This experience fuels my empathy for artists and drives my passion for helping them. As I said during the interview with Andrew Southworth, “I watched firsthand what happens when artists don’t understand how to adapt and when they don’t understand how to market. It doesn’t go well; it turns into a disaster. So, my reason for existing is I’m very empathetic to artists and what they have to go through. I don’t think it’s fair that when you decide you want to make music, you now have to learn an unbearable amount of things.”
We Also Talked About Booking Agents and Touring
As Andrew Southworth noted, finding a reputable booking agent can be daunting. Many artists struggle with this, and it’s crucial to understand that self-booking and networking can sometimes be more effective than relying on major agencies. However, self-booking requires significant effort and knowledge about the industry. Building personal relationships with venue owners and promoters can often lead to more consistent and reliable bookings.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
Take a deep breath, stay clear-headed, and tackle your marketing one step at a time. Remember, you don’t need to build Rome in a day.
Marketing music requires strategic thinking, genuine relationships, and continuous learning. Our discussion offers a roadmap for artists to thrive in the competitive music industry. For more insights, follow Cyber PR and explore our marketing and publicity resources.
