Welcome to Part 9 of an ongoing, immediate experiment. For the last 8 weeks, and over the next 8, we’ll learn together as I (Secrets in Stereo) write, record, promote, and release my new album.
Here are links to the past 8 weeks worth of blogs…
Part 1 – Meet The Artist
Part 2 – 3 Things That Have Let Me Quit My Day Job
Part 3 – 5 Things Music Supervisors Are Looking For in You and Your Music
Part 4 – 5 Truths About Licensing Companies
Part 5 – 5 Rules to Follow When Getting Your Music to Music Supervisors
Part 6 – The First 3 Questions of Artist Positioning
Part 7 – A Real Life, Current Example of Artist Positioning at its Finest
Part 8 – Applying Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics to an Album Release
This week, I want to focus on 3 key Tactics that are being implemented during the release of my new album. I would highly recommend opening another page with last week’s blog, so you can see my comments on the Objectives and Strategies that these Tactics are addressing. But, just for a recap, here are the 3 Objectives for this project…
All to be reached by the street date of June 1st, 2010:
1. The Production and Distribution of the album are paid for
2. Double the size of SIS’s email list, Twitter followers, and Facebook fans respectively
3. Receive coverage from popular Music/Web 2.0 blogs
Now, having stated those, here are the key Tactics that will help meet those Objectives:
1. Fan Funding
I have yet to hear of an artist that tried fan funding and had it bomb. Sure, there are different levels of success. Ellis Paul, who Sorted Noise had the honor of producing his fan funded record, raised over $100,000. I, on the other hand, have a much lower goal money-wise. But, I’m about to reach it. Last week, someone purchased my $2,500 package.
There are really two questions you need to be able to answer “yes” to… One, do I have at least 2,000 emails on my email list? And two, do my fans have credit cards? If the answer is yes to both, go for it. You can either design the page on your own, and use Paypal buttons (That’s what I did, with the help of my buddy Jimmy Jernigan). Or, I would recommend Kickstarter. They take a fee, but seem to be good at what they do.
You can view my fan funded page at www.secretsinstereo.com/newalbum And, you can view a case study on Ellis Paul’s fan funding project at here at Nimbit.com
2. Utilize Topspin’s Email for Media, Re-Tweet For a Track, and Fan and Share on Facebook For a Track Widgets
Topspin is ridiculous. The Sorted Noise crew just finished our Berklee course on the platform, and the suite of widgets they offer is game changing. Not to mention the invaluable data you gather with them.
For my campaign, my goal is to double my direct to fan reach (email list, Twitter, Facebook). Topspin has a widget for each one of those tasks. For each one respectively, I will ask for either an email, a follow and re-tweet, or a become a fan and post. In exchange, I’ll offer an download of a track off of the yet-to-be-released new album. If a fan does all three, they’ve got almost a third of the album before it’s released. Again, the goal here isn’t monetary (although I’m sure these actions will turn into dollars), it’s building awareness and a fan base.
3. Write Blogs Detailing Your Experience
Wait a minute! Don’t worry, you haven’t’ been duped. I do have a passion for this information, and I do want to help other artists. No doubt about it. That’s my main goal. But, yes, these blogs do gain attention for myself and my project. No doubt about that either. And, you should start thinking through that prism as well.
Until next week!
Josh
www.twitter.com/SecretsinStereo
www.facebook.com/SecretsinStereo
P.S. If you’re finding what I’m saying interesting, maybe other people will too! Pass along these blogs on Twitter, Facebook, and through Email. Thanks!
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