The Top 5 Ways to get your Band Heard Online

by Heather Donovan
Listen To Our Band
May 22, 2006

With millions of unsigned and independent musicians on the internet, it's hard enough to get one person to check out your music. It's also extremely difficult if you don't know the right ways to promote or the right target audiences to reach. Believe me, I’ve been there. We have all spent hours on the web, desperately trying to find a way to grab a few ears; hoping that these listeners will miraculously become fans and buy all of our albums.

There are many sufficient ways to get your music heard. However, it can be difficult especially since there are hundreds of promotion sites – all displaying the same formula: upload your music, wait a few minutes, and your fans will come running! If only that were the truth! In order to generate an online fan base and get yourself at the top of the indie list – it’s necessary to follow these steps:

1. Make a website: Yes, it is great to have a Myspace or a music profile – it’s a wonderful tool to connect with others. However, this shouldn’t be your only means of communicating with your fans. A personal website (www.yourbandname.com) will not only bring in more visitors, but you will have the opportunity to put anything on it. Photos from each of your shows, lyrics, message boards, press clippings. It will be easier to stay connected, plus you could get great search engine rankings. More visitors await you!

2. Find other bands in your genre! By becoming friends with other popular groups in your city or genre, you will double your fan base. Why? It’s simple! You can exchange gigs and book shows together. This will let other band’s fans hear what you have to offer. Networking is the best thing about the internet.

3. PROMOTE wherever there is a large group of people and a music community. Although I did say Myspace shouldn’t be your only avenue to pursue, it definitely does need to be on your list. I have found many tricks to promote on music communities like this one.
A) Music Forums – There are music message boards dedicated to specific genres. Use these to connect with others and ask for feedback. Put your website in your signature and if you think spamming them with your link is inappropriate, start a special thread or message them separately.

B) Other band pages – Send the band a message, asking to promote you or if you could put one another on the Top 8 list. By doing this, everyone will see you immediately once they view the other band’s page. This will bring in more potential fans.

C) Groups – Look at the Myspace groups (by interest) and pick which ones may have potential fans. I would suggest finding similar mainstream artists that sound like your music. If your music sounds exactly like Britney Spears, find a few Britney Spears fan groups. These people already love your type of music. Therefore, it will be easier to get them to check out your stuff. Post your music link, or website, but be careful not to spam! Most groups are willing to hear what you have to say, as long as you aren’t pushy.
4.Upload your music to A&R sites, including Talentmatch.com and Garageband.com: There are many industry execs looking for the next best band, so this will increase your chances. Garageband.com allows you to create a music profile, and listeners will rate your songs. It’s a great way to get constructive criticism.

Another great way is to list your bands at indie sites; including Listen to Our Band: The site is dedicated to music fans who are dying to hear something new and non-commercialized. It is pretty much a site for bands and fans to find music gems before they hit the big time. Sites like these will bring in a lot of traffic to your music.

5. Blogs and E-Zines: Right now these two things are a hot trend on the internet. There are many blogs dedicated to finding the next best band and music trends. If you contact the blog owners, perhaps they will include you in their posts. Another popular item is E-Zines. They are online magazines that are flooding the web. Many of them have to do with independent music, so you have a huge opportunity to get your band’s link in their magazine.

So there you have it. There are many great ways to promote your music online, but these have worked the best for myself and other bands I have helped out. It is all about connecting with others in a way that isn’t too aggressive. You want to not only help your band, but you also want to give music to people who are sick of hearing the same thing on the radio and MTV. In the end, everyone will be happy if they hear some new music. So get out there and promote until it finally pays off. Who knows, maybe after all of this, you will be the next best thing.

Contact Anderson Web Design today to get your Band online and heard!