How a Music Video Can Make Your Career

If you haven’t seen this music video for “Big Booty” by Jennifer Lopez featuring Iggy Azalea, you need to press play asap. This video is at 33 million plus hits and counting, and it only came out 5 days ago. Now not all the feedback is positive, but people are watching regardless. There’s a lot artists can learn from a video release like this one.

First of all, the ad at the beginning of the video is making J. Lo and her record label tons of money, but ads only come once you’re bringing in enough traffic. In other words, popularity can go a long way even if not all the responses to your content are positive (let the haters hate). That being said, however, you should absolutely strive to create relevant, engaging and high-quality videos
Though music videos aren’t necessarily played on network television like MTV anymore, that doesn’t mean you can’t leverage them to help boost your career. They can definitely make money on sites like YouTube and anywhere else they’re promoted, but more importantly they keep your fans interested in your work. Releasing content, from a full performance or narrative video to behind the scenes recording your new album, is just another way for you to reach out to fans. These videos can then be promoted on your social media sites, which gives them the possibility of going viral and you the possibility of becoming the next #1 artist. 

New Rules for Making Music in the Digital Age

1. Put it in perspective. The number of YouTube hits you have on any one video can communicate more than the number of sales that were made. For example, a video that has 50 million views may only have sold 50,000 units. Though this number may seem low, today’s industry actually deems it a success.

2. It’s what you can do for others. If you can prove that you will bring ticket sales and a line out the door, promoters, agents and club owners are far more likely to book you. Record labels will want to sign you if you already have an audience they can sell to. 
3. Money will most likely come later. Real success doesn’t happen overnight and you’ll need to grow your audience little by little. The longer it takes for you build your fan base, the more likely you’ll have a long-lasting career instead of being a one-hit wonder.
4. Create music regularly. With so much music available on the internet, fans have a shorter attention span than ever. Keep them excited about your music by putting out songs, even if they’re just acoustic covers or lyric videos, to stay at the forefront of their minds. 
5. Cultivate an organic audience. Friends and family are great for spreading the word about your career, but they don’t count as real fans. Finding an audience that loves your music without even knowing how great you are as a person will result in a loyal fan base.


What to Avoid: 4 Ways to Ruin Your Music Career

Navigating the music industry can be tough, but there are four basic ways to ensure your career isn’t a flop. Pro Music Records has the tools to help you avoid these mishaps!


1. Depending on anyone but yourself to build your career
These days, having a solid fan base is essential to even getting noticed by a record label. They want artists who are working and developing their fan base, which means that you need to make sure you’re fulfilling fans’ needs (ie. putting up new material often, interacting with fans through comments).


2. Not having a serious web presence
Be everywhere. Not only do you need to be on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, but using other platforms like Instagram or blogs can help reach your target demographic. This will make it easier to interact with your incoming fans, too.

  
3. Not selling merchandise
Selling a variety of merch at all your shows (and online) is key. It helps pay for all the little things that got you there, like gas and food. Not only does your stand or site need to exist, but it needs to be easy to get to and easy to purchase from.

  
4. Delivering subpar press kits
A strong, well-crafted press kit can greatly increase your chances of getting into a venue or onto a radio station. With only a few slots to fill, you’ll need to be noticed immediately through your marketing materials. A powerful bio, press release, EPK and one sheet can ensure your submission won’t simply get deleted.  

  
For music promotion services to get your work out to radio stations, blogs, podcasts and magazines, as well as merchandising and publicity services, visit www.promusicrecords.com


YouTube Fame: Still Very Real (And Very Relevant)

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Social Media is invaluable when launching your music career. The proof? A capella singer Peter Hollens has just been offered record deal after unleashing a series of other innovative covers via the internet. His YouTube channel has over 63 million views and features collaborations with other YouTube musicians. Now, Sony Music’s classical and crossover label called Sony Music Masterworks has signed Hollens, whose album will be released on October 28th. 
What we can learn from Hollens’s success is the importance of being visible, accessible and prominent on the internet. Your launching point? High quality videos. Using a good camera and editing can go a long way.
Additionally, the buzz that is created around your music can take you from unknown to #1 in just a matter of time (Vine star Shawn Mendes just hit #1 on iTunes in 37 minutes). Not only do you need to consistently be uploading new content to keep your fans engaged, but also communicating with them to build and maintain relationships. By being genuine and friendly, you can attract more and more people. That being said, you’ll want to watch and support other musicians or music blogs too. Spreading the love is an easy way to double your fan base.
Finally, tagging your videos with descriptive and specific key words will help you get found! Use words that are relevant to your content so viewers won’t be misled.
Having the tools to carry out these crucial steps can be the most challenging part of the process. Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media offers services for Video Production, Promotions and Marketing to produce and keep up with your social media presence. By taking advantage of Pro Music Records experts, you can rest assured that your fan base and video views will increase exponentially. We can even submit your music to record labels, radio stations, and other entertainment resources to further promote your music. Save time and money today by calling Pro Music Records at 818.971.9301 or e-mailing info@promusicrecords! 

4 Ways To Make Your Music Go Viral

Dream Big, but Start Small. 
Instead of focusing on the endgame, which can be both daunting and discouraging, prioritize the steps you’ll need to get there. For example, you’ll probably have more success submitting to an independent publication than Rolling Stone, and more luck trying to get signed by a record label if you play outside your town/state. There are many steps you can take to launch your career and amongst them are building a solid website, advertising, optimizing your results on search engines and reaching out to music blogs. PMR has experts on each of these tasks to leave you more time to work on your music and make the process less overwhelming.

Know Your Competition. 
Make a list of competing bands or artists in your genre. Who motivates you? Who is getting sponsorships and airplay? Who is being interviewed? Then, understand why. If they have a stronger brand, it may be worthwhile to rethink yours by seeking consulting or brand development services. If they have better marketing, spend some time getting your name out. PMR can submit you to hundreds of the best internet resources for independent music and entertainment to drive traffic to your site.

Focus on Your Music as Your Business
Once your music is released, you are no longer just an artist, you are a business owner. Selling your music and personalized merchandise is your #1 goal. Entertainment professionals exist to help you succeed by marketing your talents, gaining publicity and spreading the word about your goods. 

Get Popular. 
Be everywhere for everyone and never underestimate the power of social media. Your music needs to be available on Rdio, Spotify, iTunes, CDBaby, YouTube, underground music sites and discovery platforms. Making money is great, but the more people can hear your music for free, the more likely they will be to purchase it, attend your concerts and talk about your talent. PMR can handle your physical and digital distribution as well as promotions on social media.
For more info, please contact Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media:
502 S. Verdugo Dr. Suite 204
Burbank, CA 
91502
Office: (818) 971-9301
info@promusicrecords.com




6 Steps to Releasing a Record with PMR

Navigating the music world can be challenging, but Pro Music Records & Entertainment Media can guide you through the process to releasing your next (or first!) album.



Step 1: Create a website! You’ll want to showcase your best self through high-quality photos and videos so that people can know you’re a legitimate artist.  

Step 2: Save Up! You’ll have to spend money to make money. Setting aside a budget for marketing, promotions, merchandise and studio space can ensure you’ll have a product that fully exemplifies your talent.

Step 3: Network Network Network. And wisely. People need to know you exist, but without being bombarded with information. That being said, not all people need to know. You’ll want to connect with other artists or music professionals using social media (creating profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) and create relationships. People want to know you care about their work too, instead of feeling like they’re just a means to an end in your career.

Step 4: Present your best work. Your single should be your absolute best song, but every track on your album should be “the best.” Make sure each song is mixed and mastered to perfection because the higher the quality, the more likely you are to be looked at by top producers and labels. 

Step 5: Set a Release Date. Typically, if you’re releasing a single off an album, you’ll want to share it anywhere between 2-4 weeks before the album comes out. Timing is everything! If it’s too far in advance people will forget and if it’s too close to the album date, no one will see it coming.



Step 6: Spread the word! Make sure your fans know about your upcoming music through your social media profiles, website, e-mail newsletters and any other music forums. Word-of-mouth marketing can spread like wildfire if you target the right people to start it!

At PMR, we can take care of all these steps for you, creating customized packages to suit all your marketing, promotion and distribution needs. Releasing your music can be scary and overwhelming, but we’re here to help and make the process easier. Ultimately, your goal is to become a successful, working artist and we can get you there! Please visit us online at http://www.promusicrecords.com

Using iTunes Pre-Order to Build Buzz: Digital Distribution

When releasing a single or album, it is key to make sure fans know your music is out there so they can find it and purchase! By using an iTunes Pre-Order, you can build fan buzz and sales before your release even goes live. This buzz builds excitement quickly and can easily be spread by word-of-mouth, social media and other promotions.


At Pro Music Records, we handle all the distribution services for you, making it efficient and effortless for your music to be heard and generate revenue. To maximize sales potential, we suggest adding an iTunes pre-order 2-3 weeks prior to your release date. We can set up a pre-order with an iTunes “Buy” link, Instant Gratification tracks and special pre-order pricing. Any pre-order sales count towards iTunes chart positions, which can lead to greater exposure, profit and success. In addition to iTunes, we can set up your single or album on our website and our store, thegoodzonline.com.

Visit promusicrecords.com to learn more or call 818.971.9301 to get a quote on your distribution package today!

Business Strategies: Translating Social Media Popularity into a Career

In an era of social media obsession, it seems almost senseless not to utilize these platforms to grow a business or brand. Some social media users have even more followers than celebrities (ie. teen idol Nash Grier has double the followers of Oprah Winfrey)! These users have leveraged their fame to generate income, receiving free products (clothes, food, alcohol, cosmetics, etc.) or invitations to exclusive events as long as they promote whatever it is they receive. These social media superstars all have one thing in common: using their popularity to launch a potential career.
Being virtually free of cost, social media is an ideal way to market a brand, especially since it holds the potential to reach broader audiences at a much faster rate. Updating all of these social media platforms or even a website can take up a ton of time, so when you are ready to build your own personal brand, it may make sense to hire someone to keep up with your posts. This can generate visibility and take advantage of online advertising capabilities. Here at Pro Music Records we offer services that guarantee social media popularity, increasing your likes, fans and followers. The more followers a profile has, the more chances it has to target potential customers. Today’s day and age requires that a new artist or brand maintains social media profiles and we can do that for you! Using entertainment marketing business strategies, we guarantee a certain number of real fans depending on your plan and less than 1% unfollow rate or your money back. Save your time and money and allow PMR to build your brand and increase your fan base by using social media promotions.

Usher Previews New Single, “Good Kisser”

Usher Is Back! Check out this video teaser off his forthcoming new single ‘Good Kisser’

Usher shows off his dance moves in an empty warehouse 

before busting out his trusty U chain.
Expect more details on the “Good Kisser” to arrive soon 

as Usher has been steadily working with heavy hitter 
producers Pharrell Williams, Jermaine Dupri, Diplo, Skrillex, 

and more on his upcoming eighth album.




Raise the impact of your marketing with a highly effective, top–quality, affordable video personally written, produced, and directed by Pro Entertainment Media. Our promotional team can push your video to MTV, BET, VH1 & hundreds of broadband video companies & shows worldwide!

Getting Your Songs Out There: A Pro Music Records Experience


As an independent artist, it can be really hard to get your music out there without some serious help! That’s where Pro Music Records comes in! We can guide you through the process of becoming an established musician with our vast array of services.
Here’s the Top Eight Things we can do!
  • We know what the music reviewers are looking for!!
    • Nothing slow burns a radio host, music editor, label owner, or blogger like getting bombarded with music that is totally unrelated to the style they promote. It displays a total disrespect. Your songs, of course, are trashed immediately.Our Promotions department knows how to get you air play.  
  • Let’s Make Contact:  We have contacts, so you can get your foot in the door.
    • Most music services ask that you contact them before sending in your music, just to make sure your music is a good fit. It’s for this reason that many services do not post their physical address online. There are a lot of local music resources. Local can mean several things; it may be a particular city and its surrounding suburbs; it may be an entire state or province. Local could also include several states, or even a specific section of a state and still yet local can be a whole country. Our SEO Local Marketing  services can help you make those first contacts with your region!
  • Reaching the blogosphere. 
    • Many bloggers don’t post any contact information at all. In order to get in touch you have to post a comment on their blog. Pro Music Records can find relevant music blogs and contact them on your behalf!
  • Get Formatted
    • Music services usually post their format of preference. Often it’s a combination of several formats. They may also welcome videos. Or they may be old school and will ask for physical submissions only. No matter what format their asking for, our Mastering department can work with you to get you single ready.
  • College radio. 
    • Some college radio stations allow you to send your music directly to a show’s host, but many insist that all music must be sent to the Music Director. The Music Director then passes on the music to the various shows, according to the genre. Make sure you’re clear on whom to address your music to.
  • Time sensitive material
    • There are a number of music blogs, radio shows, promoters and review sites that will only deal with music that has been released recently. The cutoff date varies, but the allowable time of release is usually six months or less. Work with our  Music Production department to get your relevant work ready and out in a timely manner!
  • Which reviewer accepts my style of music?
    • There are a large number of music blog and review websites that have a stable of reviewers. Each reviewer accepts one or more particular styles of music. So, even though the overall website may welcome many styles, the responsibility is on you to find out which of the reviews/bloggers deals with your particular style of music. Our Promotions department knows who should be listening to your music and can put it in their hands!
  • Sending a press kit
    • Another important consideration when sending your music is the accompanying bio information about you or your band. Submission guidelines are usually specific about what sort of information they would like to have included. Our Publicity Services will put your press kit together and make it shine.

At Pro Music Records, a distribution and marketing program for our clients has been implemented to generate revenue from the growing digital download and entertainment industry market.  We do everything we can to bring success to you!