What to include in your band website

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You now have your band web hosting and domain name sorted, you have a good web designer, but what pages should include?

  • Home Page: This is the first page most visitors will see, have interesting content linking to other areas of the site.
  • Biography: Include the band story, members story, influences, equipment etc..
  • Contact Details: Band members, Booking, management and any other relevant people such as the webmaster.
  • Gig Listings: Dates with the gig information – ticket price, venue information, directions/map.
  • Gallery: It’s good to have as many good pictures as you can, use thumbnails linking to full size images, maybe have a fan folder too.
  • Links: Remember to use text links and alt tags on banners to help with SEO
  • Blog: Showing the latest news and updates, an rss feed is essential, Remember to keep it updated regularly.
  • Downloads & Merchandise: MP3s, video, images, photos, lyrics/music tabs, t-shirts, stickers, badges…
  • Reviews: Include as many as you can find (even the bad ones). If you don’t have any Don’t write your own.
  • Lyrics: This will help people to know your music and sing along at gigs feeling more part of the live experience
  • Press Pack: include, Biography, Press Release, Photos,  Demo, Copyright and contact information.

Get committed to creative web design with ASYLUMseventy7.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

101 record labels on Twitter

March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

101 record labels to follow on Twitter by ASYLUMseventy7

101 Record labels to follow (in no particular order) on Twitter

  1. Fearless Records
  2. Epitaph Records
  3. Victory Records
  4. nuclearblast usa
  5. nuclearblast eu
  6. Century media
  7. Century media eu
  8. Trustkill
  9. Aural music
  10. Listenable Records
  11. ED BANGER RECORDS
  12. Atlantic Records
  13. ANTI Records
  14. Basick Records
  15. EMI Music Publishing
  16. EMI Music Ireland
  17. EMI Music Australia
  18. EMI Music Germany
  19. EMI Music Norway
  20. MERCURY RECORDS
  21. Bieler Bros. Records
  22. Roadrunner UK
  23. Roadrunner USA
  24. Decaydance Records
  25. RCA Music Group
  26. Vertigo Records
  27. Deathwish Records
  28. Ninja Tune
  29. Relapse Records
  30. Hopeless Records
  31. Polydor Records
  32. Geffen Records
  33. Defected Records
  34. noiselab records
  35. MuteRecords
  36. Warner Nashville
  37. Hospitalrecords
  38. Earache Records
  39. Stillborn Records
  40. Facedown Records
  41. Nightbreed
  42. blue note records
  43. VP Records
  44. Warrior Records
  45. Equal Vision Records
  46. 1332 Records
  47. Bloodshot Records
  48. fascination records
  49. Universal A&R Dept
  50. Eyeball Records
  51. WarnerMusicGroup
  52. QwiLite Records
  53. Hassle Records
  54. Risen Records
  55. Disturbing Tha Peace
  56. PledgeEmpireRecords
  57. tbd records
  58. Tragic Hero Records
  59. Sony Music Brasil
  60. noiselab records
  61. Noisehead Records
  62. Stillborn Records
  63. VP Records
  64. Equal Vision Records
  65. Warrior Records
  66. aQuarius recOrds
  67. DBM RECORDS
  68. Arrow Records
  69. wichitarecs
  70. Tokyo Dawn Records
  71. Suretone Records
  72. Ekobeats Records
  73. Fiction Records
  74. Doghouse Records
  75. inpoprecords
  76. Standby Records
  77. Lex Records
  78. Authentic Records
  79. 604 Records
  80. Nowhere Records
  81. Goner Records
  82. NTN RECORDS
  83. broken_records
  84. Sickboy Records
  85. TDR Records
  86. Reaper Records
  87. unionblackRecords
  88. Carnival Music
  89. Alcopop Records
  90. Polyester Records
  91. Sonic Records
  92. tigerbeat6 records
  93. Excelsior Recordings
  94. WAX ON records
  95. OTP Records
  96. Six Shooter Records
  97. Panic Records
  98. Dead End Records
  99. HauntedHouse Records
  100. Brutal Panda Records
  101. Island records

And dont forget to follow ASYLUMseventy7 on Twitter as well

Feel free to add your Record labels Twitter @ in the comments below.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , ,

Band promotion on Twitter

February 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

Twitter is a great promotional tool, and a useful way to get new fans and traffic to your gigs and other web presences. Following these 10 tips and hints to get your band promotion rocking on Twitter!

Make your bio interesting

Make your bio interesting, this doesn’t mean try to fit your bands life story into the allowed 160 character bio allowance (this is 20 more than a standard Tweet) You are trying to get peoples attention and show them why you should be followed. Maybe try using a strong lyric from one of your best songs or an interesting profound message.

Use a relevant Background image

Make your background interesting, try using a good design featuring a band photo or base it around your latest CD release.  *If you are doing this yourself I have made a useful Twitter background template to help you lay out your design here >>> http://www.asylumseventy7.co.uk/blog/2010/11/customize-your-new-twitter-layout

Spread the word

Now let the world know you have a new outlet for your gig info, band updates and general rantings For example, you could also add your Twitter URL in your site’s Footer, so it will appear at the bottom of every page of your website.  Also add your Twitter URL and follow me message to any other online presence you may have: FaceBook, Your Blog, YouTube, MySpace, Bebo, Tumblr, etc (For example: “Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ASYLUMseventy7 “) Don’t forget about your email signature as well!

Remember your URL

Twitter has a space for you to add your website’s URL to your profile. This doesn’t mean you have to use the main page of your website, you could use your Myspace, facebook or maybe the gigs, contact, bio or blog page of your site.

Try to use keywords in your tweets

Phrasing in your tweets can be important for SEO . Try to start your tweets with a keyword/phrase to theme each message. Don’t fill your tweets with keywords and search able phrases ignoring the interesting relevant info your followers are looking for.

Make your Tweets retweetable

By having interesting and useful Tweets as well as keeping the character limit down, allowing for retweeting space. This means leave room for your followers to add RT @YourHandle in front of the tweet and maybe add a short comment as well.

Tweeps love links

Add links to interesting and relevant things such as gig dates, other interesting events, news updates of your favorite/influencing bands.

Run a Twitter Contest

Contest are great for getting engaged followers. These can be run really easily and simply, giving away a prize (such as, sticker, T-shirt, CD etc) for Retweeting the competition or promotion is just one commonly used idea.

@ people/band/labels/venues/promoters

It may sounds obvious, but if you want the attention of a certain twitter account/person (or Tweep) try Retweeting a post of theirs or mentioning their Twitter name often brings you up on their radar.

Be aware of basic Twitter etiquette.

Be polite to people and follow these 5 tips

  1. Reply back to people asap.
  2. Don’t use Auto DMs.
  3. Don’t swear.
  4. Don’t just tweet your own stuff and Credit people  using Via @whoever.
  5. Follow back, this way people can direct message you and feel more welcomed to your band/twitter presence.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Band promotion: Press Packs

February 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The main idea of a press pack is to be attention grabbing. Presenting your bands information in an interesting way that gets the full attention of managers, labels, Gig Promoters, Venues, Labels, Press (on and off line), Radio DJs and anyone else in the music industry.

Sending a hard copy of your press pack is much better than sending an email with your Myspace/soundcloud URL.

Press Packs should 
include:

  • band name
  • genre
  • email address
  • website URL and social media links.
  • Photographs
  • CD/DVD
  • Business Card
  • A small bio not your life story.

Band name: This is obvious, no need to explain this one :p

Genre: Keep it simple and not overly confusing with really bizarre sub-genres only your band has heard of “coat-hanger chutney thrash,” ” lollypop jazz grind” and  “sub yogurt crunk”

Email address: It is best to use your Manager’s if you have one, Also using a band domain email address (such as contact@yourband.co.uk) will help show you are a committed band

Website URL and social media links: Having your own domain website will show you are a committed serious band. Include your Myspace as well as a couple of your other social network URLs showing how you interact with fans but don’t go overboard and list 100′s!

Photographs: Get a professional to take some photos of the band for press and promo purposes as well as using a professional for some strong live shots, you will see the difference! (photos at 300dpi +)

CD/DVD: You shouldn’t judge a CD by it’s cover but… make a good first impression by taking a bit of time over the packaging and presentation. Include 2 or 3 tracks and lead with your strongest song! Most people will only give you a minuet to impress them, remember they are getting loads of songs thrown at them everyday by loads of bands.

Business Card: This is good to have included so promoters, managers, venues and labels have your contact details to hand on a pin board or on file with out taking up to much room.

A short bio of the band: This should be kept short. Your target is only after a brief intro to the band, your style, aesthetic and not your bands favorite foods and first pet. If you think they may want more just wet their appetite with a brief intro then direct them to your website where you can put a mini bio for each member and go into more detail if it is an interesting story.

  • Tip: Do your research and make sure you send your press pack to the right people.
  • Tip: It’s a good idea to contact the recipient of your press pack first, to find out if they want it, and how best to deliver it.
  • Tip: Create different versions for different targets.
  • Tip: Keep it simple and direct.
  • Tip: Make a PDF copy or single web page press pack for those not wanting a hard copy.
  • Tip: remember to double check spelling and grammar.

Contact me to get committed to a creative eye catching press pack.

Read more on press packs and what to include here (Via www.unsignedbandpromotion.com)

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

50 tips for band promotion

January 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Band promotion is one of the keys to success in the music industry, you need to get your band out there and heard by potential fans, promoters, managers, labels etc…

Here are my 50 top tips to promoting your music!

  1. Follow and get the @unsignedguide for lists of venues, promoters venues and help
  2. Join Myspace, start a Myspace group, start a band fan group/profile to support the main band page.
  3. Do the same with facebook
  4. Do the same with Twitter
  5. Regularly change your profiles avitar
  6. Network a lot, add friends, comment and @ people
  7. Tell your fans and followers about your website and social networks
  8. Join relevant forums and interact
  9. Start a blog and keep it up to date with your activities, good practis stories new songs etc
  10. Get a proper website and use your bands name for the URL
  11. Use your URL and social network URLs everywhere and on everything, CDs t-shirts, stickers etc..
  12. Start a street team to help promote your band and upcoming gigs.
  13. Start a mailing list.
  14. Take part in #MusicMonday on Twitter.
  15. Give away something for free.
  16. Give away exclusive material in return for joining a group.
  17. Run competitions where you give away merch in return for promo activity such as RTs.
  18. Sell cheap CDRs of your gigs.
  19. Make a video and put it on Youtube or VimioLook for keywords related to your genre and use them on your Website.
  20. Start a e-newsletter about your band and/or genre.
  21. have a facebook Share button on your site
  22. Have a tweet this button on your site
  23. Keep it all local to start with, and from this grow your fanbase out.
  24. Design your fliers with a striking image/artwork and the minimum of legible text.
  25. Brand your band!
  26. Make an  PDF Promotion Package.
  27. Optimize your band websites front page
  28. Link to other bands from your Website and blogs.
  29. Write a controversial and or political song.
  30. Ask your fans to retweet, share and talk about your music, blog, site etc
  31. See if your local record/music shop will give away your free CD/demo.
  32. Make a Shared promo CD with other local bands of the same genre
  33. publish your lyrics and tabs in a blog or eBook.
  34. Trade links with other bands and appropriate websites
  35. post fliers and posters around your town in local shops and venues
  36. Dress for your music genre
  37. Give away band t shirts to popular and cool members of your fan club to wear when they are out and about.
  38. Get some good band photos
  39. Get a strong band logo
  40. Look around for E-zines as well as Magazines looking for content.
  41. Ask your Myspace fan page to target venues, music magazines, other bands, promoters.
  42. have a lot of photos of fans, gigs, practising, nights out even, let the fans know you.
  43. Sell your band with your personallities, so have member band Twitter accounts too.
  44. Sell your music online.
  45. Ask friends, fans and family to text your gigs and releases.
  46. Make a link page with with reviews
  47. Let people know the kinds of events/gigs you’re happy to play next to your contact information.
  48. Search the web and Myspace for similar bands, make friends.
  49. Network with other similar bands for gig swops.
  50. Follow me on Twitter @ASYLUMseventy7 I usually retweet and help out where I can :)

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marketing your music

January 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Whether you’re in a band, a manager, producer, sound engineer, promoter, or in music marketing and PR, it all comes down to contacts, and the best place to start is with a marketing strategy.

There are several steps you should follow.

  • Step one: Have something to market!

“The fist bite is with the eye”

A band logo is a key factor in getting your band noticed and remembered. Think of the Iron Maiden logo, or Areosmith, Oasis, Megadeth, or NIN, their logos are known all over the world.

Band photos are also a strong visual element to band identification, Think of the press pictures from your favorite bands, you don’t need to listen to the music to know what style and sound they are going for. for example you wouldn’t see a photo of black metal band Emperor and think its going to be in the same style and sound as Mumford and sons and vice versa.

CD album artwork and design can all be tied into the look of the band and carry alot of weight in identifying with your fan base. think of Cannibal corpse, Fear factory and Queens of the stone age album covers and their strong visual relationship with the music genre they inhabit.

  • Step two: Get online.

Next you need a place to direct people to hear your music and see your band so sort out a band website and social media.  There are lots networking sites to choose from these are the 4 most popular and  therefore get your message to the largest audience.

Remember to include your band logo, Photos and music where possible, a small bio and of cause up to date contact information. If you don’t have a website yet, use MySpace or Facebook as your link, remembering to change it when you have a .com/.co.uk/whatever domain hosted site.

  • Step three: Get networking and find some good contacts!

You can have the best songs and the strong coherent look of a top signed touring band, but if you don’t have any decent contacts and fans you’re not going anywhere fast. The way to do this is with a good strong marketing plan, just like you would in any other business venture.

Here are some of the basic guidelines to help you get started.

  • Know who your future fans are.
  • Know where your future fans are.
  • Know who can help you.
  • Know where you can find help
  • Know who your competition is.
  • Know where your competition is.

There are many types of marketing you can use and you will need to focus on in your marketing plan. The three main types are…

  • Brand marketing,
  • Promotional marketing,
  • Online marketing.

I plan to go into these and other helpful tips and advice over the coming weeks in this new series of band/music promotion, information and advice.

If you have any questions on anything in this or future articles feel free to contact me.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Customize your new Twitter layout

November 23, 2010 By 1 Comment

Well the new Twitter layout is out now for most/all users and I’ve seen alot of complaints that your background designs have been destroyed. SO here’s some good news I’ve created a simple, easy to follow twitter background template PSD to help you layout your custom designs. To help more it comes complete with common screen resolution guides.

Have fun getting committed to creativity! and if you need any help get in touch with ASYLUMseventy7 for your designs

Also don’t forget to follow ASYLUMseventy7 on Twitter!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Graphic design Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

FREE social media icons from ASYLUMseventy7

September 19, 2010 By 1 Comment

Just recently I had some spare time on my hands and I was playing about with some ideas so decided to make five different styled sets of downloadable social media icons.

You are very welcome to use them for free in any way you wish on your own site – all I ask is that you stick a credit (and ideally a link) to ASYLUMseventy7 somewhere on the page.

Clicking on an image will download the whole set as individual buttons – easy :)

Neon!

neon social media icons by ASYLUMseventy7

Rust!

Rust social media icons by ASYLUMseventy7

Steel!

Steel social media icons by ASYLUMseventy7

Stone!

Stone social media icons by ASYLUMseventy7

Wooden!

wooden social media icons by ASYLUMseventy7

Hope you like and enjoy :)

Check out more art, illustration, design and photography by ASYLUMseventy7

More freebies coming soon. Any requests? Comment below. :)

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Filed Under: ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design, Illustration Tagged With: , , , , ,