From Top of the Pops to Celebrity Big Brother via lots of plastic surgery, Pete Burns was one of British pop’s larger-than-life personalities. Pete Burns, the flamboyant singer who has died at the age of 57, shot to fame with his band Dead Or Alive in the 1980s. Their single You Spin Me Round...
When social media first appeared and spread around the world several years ago, it was billed as a fun way to keep in touch with family and friends. In the decade or so since, however, it’s taken on a life of its own. Social media has become incredibly important for everyone, whether it’s...
When it comes to promotional campaigns, the devil is always in the details. This is doubly true if you’re a DIY musician, or even if you’re just working with a small team. You generally have your hands full enough as it is, so there are certainly some items that can easily slip through...
There are many reasons why that took-you-all-night-to-write-and-now-you’re-late-for-practice email you crafted to spread the word about how incredibly awesome your new album is got deleted – or even worse, triggered and flagged as spam. Perhaps the reason lies in the lack of power and punch...
Artists often talk about being “too close” to their own work, being so immersed in the process of making music that they know longer have a strong sense of whether the work is good. Philosophically speaking, that’s a worry for another time. During a show or a recording session isn’t the...
Making a career for yourself in music typically requires a lot of luck in addition to many years of dedication and hard work. For some people, it takes longer than expected to get their careers moving. Disappointment can come easy when you feel like you aren’t moving forward, and that can...
There’s a false assumption about songwriting that some magical moment of inspiration will suddenly strike a person sitting in a room with a guitar, causing them to give birth to a small piece of artistic brilliance, and until that happens, it’s not worth picking up a pen and a piece of...
Despite mountains of easy-to-find evidence to the contrary, musicians still have some serious delusions about the music industry and how to “make it.” To quote the amazing Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones – because what he says is #truth “If it was an overnight success,...
Making a band work is a balancing act. The recipe for success in a group music setting is a very delicate one that requires a good attitude from everyone involved. Unfortunately, there are plenty of musicians out there who can single-handedly drag your beloved project straight into the mud. Even a...
In the world of independent music, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of stressful days where you’ll find yourself wanting to give up on chasing a seemingly unattainable dream. As technology and the means of making a sustainable living as a full-time musician continue to change,...
The brain is a complex organ the most complex, in fact. As important and complex as it may be, though, most people go throughout their day without giving their brains a second thought. Instead, they sit and ponder, often in confusion. Perhaps you as a musician are one of these people. You know...
As an artist, you are the CEO of your music career and the way you handle band related situations is a reflection of your entire brand. Being professional with your band-mates, as well as venues, can lead to more work, greater guarantees and a better overall experience for everyone involved.
With...
Take care of your instrument, people. We can’t stress that enough. You already know the importance of cultivating the vocal instrument through breathing and proper technique. Today we’re going to talk maintenance. If you think of breathing and vocal technique as the cornerstones of the voice...
Touring is the bread and butter for acts both big and small, especially with the current climate of record sales. Direct fan interaction across countless towns and cities – what’s not to love? However, committing to go on the road is no small feat. Here are five signs that you’re not ready to...
Is your band’s social media presence lacking thoughtfully crafted material with keen attention to strong content variety? Oftentimes, bands starting out spend too much time focusing on self-promotion. The conversation is one-directional, leaving followers with no way to engage other than to...
