How to Get on the Music Industry Radar Screen

As you or your band performs, be it from club toyour shows so when they have a chance to connect
club around town or nationally, there is usually oneyou to a scout, your band is on their list of hot new
thing lingering in the back of your mind...acts.
How do you go about getting that one big break* Never miss a chance to network but look for
that will push you ahead toward greater recognitioninnovative ways to advertise yourself as well. The
and success artistically?internet has lots of new and interesting sites that
You know it happens to artist and bands all the time.scouts are starting to watch for new talent. If you
That time could come soon for your group to breakhave the resources, get a web page up and get
out of the local scene and land that recordingsome MP3 samples of your performances out there.
contract or national tour that will get you on yourYou can easily set up a website using a service like
way to greater success.and you can also easily put your music on your site
You know there are tried and true methods. Havingor anywhere else online, even in emails in MP3 format
a great demo or being interviewed on the local radiousing a service like the one offered at .
shows at once seemed like a good idea. But timesThe services offered by these two websites are
have changed in the music industry. In this article, weextremely inexpensive and so simple to use, a 5 year
will discuss some up-to-date information and insideold could do it, yet they will have you looking like a
tips on how to get noticed in this tough business, inmusic industry professional in no time at all.
short I�ll give you some info that will literallyIs the Demo Dead?
place on the music industry radar screen. TheFrom what we have learned so far, you would think
knowledge that I�m about to share with youthe demo is ready to go into the hall of fame as an
will work for any and everyone: Songwriters, Singers,out-of-date tool. But the demo tape still has some
Musicians, Rappers and for all genres of music: Pop,real value to you. The best demo is one that
Rock, Rap, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Grunge, Country andshowcases not only your musical skill but the
everything in between!personality and the performance skill of you or your
Where are the Scouts?band. If you can have someone put a demo together
You have had the thought run through your mind asfrom one of your performances, that gives an agent
you perform for an enthusiastic crowd in a club oror scout a bit of a feel for what to expect from you
bar. Are there music industry scouts in this crowd?when he comes to see you.
Maybe you just laugh it off but you have heard thatSo treat the demo as part of your bag of tricks but
they are out there watching bands like yours andit isn�t the thing that is going to seal the
signing the talented ones to develop into stars.deal. If a scout likes what he hears or at least his
What you have heard is true. Industry insiders tell uscuriosity is peaked, he will then seek out ways to
that now more than ever, scouts are everywhere.see you live. Then we are back to the club
You may worry that you are not living in one of theatmosphere, your relationship with your crowd and
big �music industry towns� like Newyour performance. Those are the things that will get
York, Chicago, L.A. and Nashville but thatyou noticed in a way that will lead to bigger breaks.
isn�t important. Remember, SeattleLook at the demo as just the hook with a little bit of
wasn�t on the map before grunge hit andbait on it. You can also use your demo on your web
they found Sir Mix A-Lot and for you Rock Heads,page along with some video footage of your live
Kurt and Eddie.performance to showcase the excitement of your
But what if you don�t always have theshows. Remember both and offer some of the best
biggest audience in town. Well, some of the biggestservices in the industry for doing this.
acts in the music business wereVideo Didn�t Kill the Radio Star
�discovered� playing to a small andRadio used to be the primary medium for distributing
intimate crowd. If your performance is strong andinformation about new acts and for getting your
you are getting good word of mouth, the musicmusic played and noticed. But changes in ownership
industry scouts will find you and check you out. Soof radio stations and in how they are programmed
perform every night like they are out there becausehave changed that too. The radio station is no longer
there is no reason to believe that they are not.a significant communication channel for you to use to
Go Get Themget on the music industry radar screen.
But you don�t have to sit around and waitA lot of factors have dropped radio off the radar
for them to come to you. The new �huntingscreen for getting noticed. Airplay is not as much of
grounds� for bands and talent are wella factor as it used to be when there was a lot of
known to the insiders. Once you know who it is thatdiversity in radio. Radio is nearly a monopoly with all
is feeding the information to music industry scoutsof the play list decisions made by one central national
and agents, you can learn the tricks of the trade tofirm. So if you think that any one individual at your
feed information about you or your band into thatarea radio stations makes airplay decisions, you
system. Here are a few of the newest methods andshould revise that opinion because they do not. This
venues you can use to get yourself noticed:little insider tip alone can save you huge amounts of
* Perform, Perform, Perform. These days the localwasted energy and frustration when trying to get
club scene is the most important way to get noticed.noticed.
Don�t wear yourself out chasing agents orBut don�t worry, scouts and music industry
scouts. If your performances are strong, that willagents know they will not find the new, the
create a buzz and the word of mouth will get youinnovative and the creative music on radio. They
noticed. Then the scouts will come to see you ratherhave turned from it to use local networking and club
than you having to go and chase them.performances as their radar screen for new talent.
* Build your relationship with your audience. InsidersYou do the same. Do not concern yourself a great
tell us that scouts will come to a show for a musicaldeal with local radio coverage. Even college radio is
venue they don�t even understand. If youvirtually a dead venue for getting noticed in this new
are doing something bold and new that they are notmarket. Focus on where the real contacts are being
able to evaluate musically, they will go by the crowd.made today, through local contacts, word of mouth
If your audience responds with excitement andand above all club and local festival performances.
enthusiasm, that is what gets the eyes and ears ofOther good habits include using music industry
music executives. So pour yourself into the peoplecontact directories like the one found at which list
for whom you are performing. That�s whatcontact information to over 20,000 important people
you love to do anyway so it�s an easy wayin the music industry.
to get noticed and the right way too.It�s all in your network and what is
* Build your local network. Industry agents know clubhappening on the street that will make the difference
owners and booking agents for local events verybetween you getting noticed or not. In a way,
well. If you have a strong reputation with them, theythat�s the way it always should have been,
will pass that information along to the scouts whohaving the focus placed on your band talent,
are looking for new talent.performance skill and live shows. That is where your
* Indie (independent) labels are also a rich source ofstrength is anyway. Be a savvy marketer and use
information for the larger recording houses to findthis knowledge to raise the awareness of your band,
out about up and coming bands. You may have indieyour talent, your songs and your performances.
labels near by so get to know them and get them to