For the past couple of weeks I’ve been banging a drum, talking about how important it is to have an image that fits your music. Apparently, I’ve been banging it so hard nobody wanted a free edit of their photos, which surprised me at first. Then I realized that it can be pretty scary to send “you” out there to someone you don’t know. I hope that this isn’t the case because even though I can be brutally honest, I really want to help give your bands something to think about. May sound cheesy, but I thought I’d throw that positive vibeage out there. *sniffle*

So if you had to pick one thing that your band knows everything about, it’s your music, right? From funk to emo and everything in between, your music defines you and your band. In terms of business, your music is what you make. If you think about that way, your songs are also your “product.”

What do you do with your product after you make it? Do you sit on it, only playing it at rehearsal? Do you perform it? Only offer your product on an LP? Here’s what I’m getting at: the whole idea of thinking about your songs as your band’s product will help you figure out better, smarter ways of distributing it. Not only will that focus take the pressure off of you, as a band, it will also give you some ideas on how to market yourselves better.

Rules for Distributing your Music

*cue music* Example time! All right, so when last we checked in with Biff and his fabulous band Moonsliver, they were a little shocked to be playing at a country music bar. Well, they got into a huge fight after the gig was all done. There was some band drama (not good) and the drummer threatened to leave. So now they’re wondering what to do next, how to get their music out there. The guys at Moonsliver are on a limited budget, but they really love 8-tracks because it fits that whole “exclusive” retro feel kind of a thing they’re going for. So they go ahead and focus all their time, energy and moolah on publishing their music on an 8-track.

Like the Fail blog says, “EPIC FAIL!” Why? Well, if your music is your product, then smart distribution is key. If you only offer your music in one format, you are limiting the depth and scope of how far your music can reach people. You may love 45s, but not everyone else does.

So what is smart distribution? Well, in my book it follows three rules:

• Your Music is Accessible: By “accessibility” I mean that anyone, regardless of how they listen to their music, can listen to YOUR songs. It’s kind of like buying an awesome computer game, but you find out it only works on Windows 95.
• Your Music Reaches People: By only providing your music in a particular “physical” format, you are killing your chances of distributing your music to a broader audience. Ensuring that you have good reach means that you are targeting a broad audience.
• Your Music has Different Methods of Distribution: By “method” I mean that you are able to distribute your music both online and offline. Depending upon how technology-savvy your “customers” (i.e. fans) are, you might find that you have a greater reach for MP3s than for CDs

Next week I’m going to give you some cheap-and-easy ways to distribute your music. I have a thousand and one different ideas, so I will probably break up distribution into two posts (online and off).

Thanks for staying with me, and I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of “Off-Stage.” Until next time, party like a rock star!