http://sivers.org/

http://musicbizacademy.blogspot.com/

http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/index.html

If there is anything more demoralizing than producing music that “doesn’t matter,” someone please clue me in. At Find Your Fans, we firmly believe that every artist, and every song, matters to someone, somewhere. There are roughly 6.725 billion people on planet earth. There’s a good chance a couple thousand of those want to hear your songs.

But how do you overcome that initial position of obscurity? Awareness on the internet tends to grow exponentially, starting slowly, then accelerating – great for those who have some traction, but not so great for brand new artists. How do you break the rules and jump-start that process?

We’re developing a little tool here at Find Your Fans. It has to do with validating and empowering your true-est and most loyal fans. That’s all I’m going to say for now. The first people to learn about this simple, poweful system will be our current website clients.

When I read the book, I was working for a large music production company in Charlotte NC. My job title was Business Development Account Manager, and basically I was responsible for growing our digital music business. This book was partially responsible for growing our sales by a factor of 10. When I moved on to start my own business, we were making a quarter million dollars per year, with digital downloads only (that didn’t even include physical CD’s).  More about Andrew.

So, enough said. This is a great resource from a guy who has really done it. It has helped thousands to succeed (including myself) and should be on your virtual bookshelf, if you’re serious about succeeding with your music online.

I decided to use Kunaki for a recent project that I had co-produced. Below is my experience.

1. Download the Kunaki software here.
2. Install and run the software. After installation, there will be a link on your desktop to start the program.
3. Progress through each screen of the software by clicking the green arrow buttons. Very straightforward.
4. If you need a free UPC barcode, make sure you select “yes” for this option on screen 2.
5. Enter as much or as little data about the CD/DVD as you’d like.
6. On screen #3 you’ll choose from two main options: auto design or custom design. The main difference is that auto design uses only 1 image, and “intelligently” resizes and stretches it, providing images for every part of the project from cover to back. Then the software adds text that you’ve entered in the previous screen. Using custom design, you’ll choose 4 separate images, one for each part of the disc. I’ve used both, depending on my timeframe and the “professionalism” that the final product requires. I’ve had success with both, but the custom design is really the way to go if you need full control over the product.
7. After you’ve chosen either “auto design” or “custom design,” play around with the images, text and data until you’re happy with the result. The software provides a nice preview of the product, as you’re creating it. Check and double check each part of the CD by virtually opening the case, rotating it, and inspecting it.
8. The next screen will capture data from the master disc you are trying to replicate. The Kunaki software will make an exact copy of the data on your physical CD (or DVD). Make sure the CD you are copying is perfect, before starting this process. You may want to spend some time learning about the Redbook Audio Cd Standard. This involves properly authoring the disc, making sure it is finalized, and that it plays in all manner of CD player from the cheapest to the most expensive. The finished product you receive from Kunaki will in fact be an exact copy of this master disc. When you’re ready, insert the disc into your drive, select it and its contents, and hit the green next button.
9. Click “save as” and name your product (something easy to remember, hard to forget)
10. Click the green arrow button, and the software will begin compiling your product (this takes about 10 minutes)
11. By hitting the “Launch Product” button, you’ll do a final check of the project, before uploading. You can print out the artwork, test the audio files for glitches, etc. Hit “publish.”
12. In this next screen, either login to your account or create a new one. It’s free and easy.
13. The next step is to upload the compiled product (which includes artwork, data, and the songs on the CD) to Kunaki’s servers. The amount of time this takes will depend on your internet connection, but whatever you have, it will take along time. Use a computer with a solid internet connection that won’t go to sleep on you. started 1:45

Andrew R Rogers, founder of Find Your Fans.

For 16 years I’ve been writing and recording music in home studios. During this time I also worked proffessionally for commercial recording studios, first as intern, then engineer, then account manager. Read about co-founder Jonathan R Rogers.

As time progressed and the old industry imploded, I became more and more convinced that all the interesting action was happening in the independent space. I began hearing stories of indie artists who were making a living with their music.

This was inspiring… would it be possible in the future for musicians to manage their own careers, produce their own music, and make a living at it…!?

I left my corporate job with a large music production company to pursue this vision of helping artists to succeed with their music. It’s a great time to be a musician. Join us for the ride.

P.S. BTW I’m a musician also – check out my music right here.

Hailed by many as a walking encyclopedia, Jonathan is able to answer nearly every technical question people ask. His areas of expertise, however, are open source software, internet security, and media on the web. This is the type of person you want to build a solid website.

Jonathan studied computer science at LeTourneau University, meanwhile working on stability and engineering calculations for oil drilling rigs at LeTourneau Technologies. He then moved on to help brother Andrew R Rogers create Find Your Fans. He also installs and fixes IT networks for individuals and business.

Click Here!

What’s a musician to do? Well for starters you should really care about your online presence. You need a strong website, and your music needs to be where fans can find it. Those are the pre-requisites to the course, the auditions for the band, the try-outs for the game. Give your fans the chance to find you. Then you can try all sorts of cool experiments and fan-finding activities like the megabands above. And make no mistake – the demand for interesting new music has never been greater.

For the unencumbered artist, success can still be extremely elusive.  But possibly a bit less elusive than it has been in the past.  With digital technology and the internet, it is possible to write, record, and promote your music from your home.  You can create your own fan base.  People have done it and are doing it now. Find Your Fans is about helping you be more of a musician, and less of an internet marketing guru.  You do the former, we’ll do the latter.