Trying to break into the music industry can be frustrating if you’re an aspiring artist looking to land your first record deal. You’ll encounter plenty of rejection when sending samples to music executives and may find that folks overlook your efforts in favor of more trendy bands and artists.
Rather than seeing rejections as failures, use the feedback you gather to round out your professional skills and hone your offering as an artist. This shows that you’re willing to take constructive criticism on board and are ready to turn your passion for music into a full-time job.
You can also take some initiative and start working on your brand identity as a musician before you’ve even landed a deal. This will prove that you understand the importance of marketing and already have a dedicated audience that is ready to engage with your work. Even simple steps, like setting up your own social media page, can impress music execs and help you land a lucrative signing deal.
Understanding the Market
As an emerging artist, you may be reticent to change your offering to align with trends in the music industry. This is understandable, as retaining creative control over your production is crucial if you want to create a brand identity that suits your style.
However, understanding the market doesn’t instantly make you a sell-out. In fact, showing that you’re aware of emerging trends in your genre can build your appeal amongst music executives and make you a more attractive prospect as an unsigned musician.
For example, if you play country and folk you should focus on trends in the country music scene today and follow in the footsteps of artists like Shaboozey, Morgan Wallen, and Kacey Musgraves. While you don’t need to mimic their music, you should be aware of emergent trends in the country scene like the increased inclusion of other genres like Americana and hip-hop. This shows you’re aware of the market and can produce music that appeals to a pre-existing audience.
Creating a Personal Brand
As a musician, creating a personal brand that people love will almost certainly build your appeal amongst executives. Having a following before you approach decision-makers in the industry gives you a certain level of credibility, too, as you can point towards a fan base of folks who already enjoy your work. If you’re just starting out, you can begin building a personal brand today by:
- Conducting an audit of your current branded materials (like social graphics, website colors, and album art);
- Creating brand guidelines to give yourself a clear sense of direction and speed up the content creation process;
- Consistently posting to social media platforms that reward regular engagement (like Instagram and Facebook);
- Listening to your audience and altering the way you engage with them based on their feedback.
If you’re struggling to create a clear brand identity, simplify things by considering how you see yourself within the market. For example, if you want to be seen as a progressive pop artist, you’ll probably want to follow in the footsteps of acts like Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo. Once you’ve established a corner of the market for yourself, start putting together a playbook of posters, graphics, colors, and fonts that resonate with your overall brand mission. This will impress music executives and may help you land your first deal.
Finding a Mentor
Managing the expectations that come with being an emerging music artist can be tough — especially if you’re encountering a lot of rejection. If you’re new to the scene, but are keen to break in, consider asking your local network of musicians for help.
Asking for help can help you achieve professional goals by ensuring that you’re aware of your current strengths and weaknesses. Trusted mentors can seriously bolster your skills and will share your music with their contacts once you’ve brushed up your act. Finding a great mentor can help you overcome common barriers in the music industry and will aid your efforts to build strong connections in your community.
If you’re still struggling to improve your offering for music executives, consider recording your practice sessions and sending them to a trusted musical mentor. Recording your practice can help you spot flaws in your performance and help you sharpen up your act. This also gives any mentors you may have a chance to tell you what you’re doing well. This is key, as you need to put forward your best work when in front of music executives. By doubling down on your strengths you can enhance your offering and really stand out on samples.
Conclusion
Music executives are always looking for emerging artists with a lot of talent. However, you may find that you encounter plenty of setbacks on your journey to landing a record deal. Use these experiences to refine your offering and improve your skills as a musician. At the same time, try to build a following for yourself by posting branded content to your social pages. This will show executives that you already have a following and that you will be a popular choice amongst audiences in the future.
By Indiana Lee