The Start of Something — Stephen Bartlett

I know that this will end up turning into something far more. It’s like a dark hole, the more i think, the more i research, the deeper it goes.

The Changing Face of the Music Industry.

I’ve been around for 15 years full time now, and before that as an amateur playing in many bands. We were releasing before MySpace existed. We had a street team. We mailed them. yes we MAILED them posters. We had BBQ’s with them when we were on tour. We had a forum. A website that our friend coded, from scratch where people came and hung out. We didn’t even have download cards, because everyone had a cd player in their car and several at home. Man, how things have changed. Over the years I’ve remained on the fence about it all. I work with Major Labels all the time, and have never thought they were the all evil thing that they are represented as. (I do have problems with lots of other companies who take a lot from the artist….. ) but labels, they put in a lot. They take risks, and they choose (mostly) good music, and then they let artists create, literally helping them by doing all the back office stuff that is needed. I’m yet to meet a truely great artist who knows how to turn up to anything on time.

As Rob Burgundy said without understanding, “The time’s they are a changing” and I do see lots of positive about how the industry is now. But with Spotify releasing more than 1M tracks a month, it’s very easy to get lost in the wilderness of a great track that no one ever hears. (To adapt a zen koan - “If a great track is added to Spotify, does anyone hear it?” © SB ;P )

To that end, I’ve created a little list that will be constantly updated, as a resource for artist who are going the lonely road, who are willing to do the boring stuff as much as the fun stuff. Enjoy and good luck

Of course, thanks to the internet and all the lovely writers who wrote these wonderful things.

Advice for musicians

Playlists and distrobution

https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-promotion/submit-a-song-directly-for-spotify-playlist-consideration/

https://fortheloveofbands.com/2019/01/09/how-to-get-your-music-on-more-spotify-playlists/

https://cyberprmusic.com/want-spotify-playlists/

https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-promotion/how-to-get-your-music-in-a-playlist-on-spotify-or-apple-music-2/

https://www.fiverr.com/categories/online-marketing/music-promotion

Royalties

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u4qf12yb3dw93hl/Songtrust%2BEbook.pdf?dl=0

https://www.manatt.com/Manatt/media/Media/PDF/US-Streaming-Royalties-Explained.pdf

https://www.soundexchange.com/artist-copyright-owner/digital-royalties/