RHG Publicity

New CD Tips

CD Check List:

Make sure your CD has at least 8-12 songs on it
Try to keep songs between 3.5 - 4 minutes in length
Watch for profanity (swearing can kill airplay on many stations)
Have identifying info on CD itself (CDs often get separated from cases)
Number the songs and list song times on the CD case (for DJ reference)
Use full size jewel cases, with easy to read spine labels (so radio & press folks can find them in a pile)
Make contact info easy to find on the CD
Make sure the CD cover art, and all press related items look professional!!

PLEASE avoid the same old cliché for CD covers: an artist leaning on a fence, car, wall, or whatever, holding a guitar. Close up shots (head shots) may be fine, if you're 'easy on the eyes'. If not, then reconsider. Try to make CD cover art interesting to look at, so people will want to check it out! When picking final cover art, ask for opinions from those you KNOW will tell you the truth!

Save your money and do NOT shrink wrap or get barcodes printed on promo copies. CDs that are mailed out to press & radio should not have barcodes (or barcodes should be destroyed). If the CD has an intact barcode, and then someone should return these copies to the distributor, then they will charge a fee back to the artist/label for each CD! Shrink wrap is inconvenient for press & radio to remove from each CD they get, especially knowing that they get hundreds!

You've got a brand new CD or are working on one. Here's what you can do next!

Collaborations

Network with other musicians in your area, especially if they have already finished their own CD. Also, network with artists who are well established in the music formats you want to work in. Pick their creative brains: ask them about producers, studios, publicists, promoters, website designers, etc., that they would recommend. If you really dig this artist or band, ask them to collaborate on a song for your CD. It never hurts to add some other creative source when you're ready to put together your first musical "baby".

Production

1. DIY - Be careful!! Production on your CD is VERY important!! It needs to be really good, or DJs will be less likely to play it! Production quality will affect airplay, and placement on the music charts! Unless you are a production god or goddess, do NOT do it by yourself. If you decide to do this anyway, take the best version of one song to a DJ, and ask them to listen to it. If they give it the thumbs up quality-wise, then go for it. Otherwise, get a professional to do it.

2. If you hire someone to do your production, make sure you hear samples of what they've produced before. Ask friends for referrals about producers that can make this CD sound full and clear!

3. If you've already completed the production on your CD, and you are not happy with it, or others suggest it isn't up to par, then don't panic. There are people who can help digitally enhance your music. Check into studios in your area that may be able to "fix" this, or get in touch with me, and I can recommend some people to contact.

Music Publication Services / Songwriter Associations

Protect your baby! Make sure you entrust someone to protect your song rights (like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.). Check out the list on LINKS page for contact info. Again, ask for referrals from other musicians before going with one agency or another.

Duplication

Check into the best quality CD duplication, for the best price. Oasis & DiscMakers are well known, and help out with any final "polishing" the CD will need. There are many other services like theirs that will do this, so ask around for a referral, before you get locked into an agreement.

Distribution

There are terrestrial & digital download services, that will help you get your music to the masses. National distribution is important because some publications will not review your CD, if the readership cannot buy the CD in their area (even if you can buy it online). Check out the list of distribution services on LINKS page, and also check into digital download distributors like CD Baby, iTunes, Yahoo music as well as RadioSubmit or IndieHighway. Click HERE for more info about RadioSubmit & IndieHighway.

Tracking

Make sure you submit your music to services that will track radio airplay on your music:

1. Send your CD to Mediaguide, and they will track the digital "thumbprint" of your songs when they are played: Mediaguide Monitor, 1000 Chesterbrook Blvd., Berwyn, PA 19312-1084 Radio Station Contact: Paul Wright 610-560-4119 (email: pwright@frequencymedia.com)

2. Send your CD to BDS-Nielsen. Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems is the world's leading provider of airplay tracking for the entertainment industry. It's free to submit your music to BDS for tracking. You do not need a bar code to register with BDS. Radio formats monitored include Adult Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Album Rock, Classic Rock, Contemporary Christian, Country, Light AC, Modern Rock, Oldies, R&B (including Rap and Hip Hop), Spanish (including Latin Contemporary, Regional Mexican and Tropical Salsa), and Top 40. Additionally, Nielsen BDS monitors 7 U.S. Music Video Channels and 9 Canadian Video Channels. Nielsen BDS information is utilized exclusively by Billboard, Airplay Monitor and Canadian Music Network magazines in determining their radio airplay music charts.

Submitting Your Music to BDS
Send all mixes of your single releases (preferably on CD) to:

BDS
Guy Tino
8100 N.W. 101st Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64153
Attn: Encoding Department

Booking

1. DIY - Have someone in your circle of friends or family (or band) set up gigs wherever they can. Look at places where acts like yours perform, and try to book there. Ask fellow musicians where they recommend to play, and for their contacts (if they're willing to share this). It's a good idea to volunteer to play for local charitable events, too!

2. Hire someone, if you can afford it. Some agents may help out with just select gigs, like showcases at SxSW or the IBMAs, etc., so check out the list under LINKS page.

3. Set up an electronic press kit (EPK) on Sonicbids, so you can submit you/your band for songwriting competitions, conferences, & seasonal venues.

Promotion

1. Self radio promotion. Warning: sending out your CD to only a few DJs at a time will limit your chances of getting reported to the music charts. This is a tricky venture, but it can be done. Read my article about some promotion ideas you can do yourself. If you'd like to talk about other things you can do, then be sure to give me a call or drop me an email: RHG CONTACT

2. Your best bet would probably be to just hire a promoter. They already know the radio reporters, and have established ties to help get your CD more airplay. Check out list of promoters under Music Promotion Links page. Again, ask for referrals, and if you have any questions, don't be afraid to get in touch with me.

Publicity

1. Self PR is very challenging, but if you (or whoever will run your PR) are really organized, then you can do it! Read my article about some ideas you can do yourself.

2. Ask around for referrals before hiring someone. Contact RHG Publicity, and I'll do what I can to help you. I try to accommodate indie budgets, as much as my calendar allows. If you can afford it, and/or I'm not available, then check out the list of publicists under Music Promotion Links page.

Talent Agent / Manager

This one is an option that many artists forego. It is difficult to find a person that you can trust to give creative control to. There are a few managers on my LINKS page, but often, the reputable ones are already accounted for. Don't let that stop you from asking them, though. Remember to ask around for referrals!

Label?

Many artists want to go without a label, but there are some financial aspects that can drag your project down. I can give you some free suggestions on how to raise money yourself, and make self-releasing your CD possible.

Some labels help out with financing your CD, and with the promotion, PR, distribution, etc. So, it may be cool if a label says they want to sign you, but just remember to be cautious!! The choice of going with a label can be a good or bad one depending on which label you choose. Ask for referrals from artists that you know, to see if they can help get you into a certain label. If the label has a lot of clout, and a good reputation for looking after their artists, then you will want to seriously consider them. Always watch out for the fine print, because many artists have lost their shirts when they did not know what they were signing. It wouldn't hurt to get an attorney to check out the major details. The cost of a reputable attorney will be worth it, whether you stay a local act, or become that next big thing!

CD Release

OK, if you've finished your CD, and want to get the ball rolling, so there's a lot to do. Start off with a party; a CD release party, that is! Set up a gig (or several) for your official CD release! Get a press release together announcing the CD release, and the date(s) and location(s) of the CD release party. Submit it to the local and national press/radio to pique their interest. Invite radio & press folks to the party, along with your friends, family & fans (don't forget your email lists)!

The CD will have to be sent out to radio and press. Many folks get their radio promoters to do the radio mailing, and their publicists to send out the press one. Some try to send it out themselves. Before doing either of these, give me a call, or drop me an email to talk about which of these options are in your best interests.

If you have any questions about any of the services mentioned on this page, or want to get my thoughts about your CD process, just give me a holler: RHG CONTACT. I'll be glad to help!