In the competitive world of music, it is very important to create polished and professional tracks to separate you from your competitors. If you're just starting out, the following basic tips will help you find your own voice, mostly from your computer chair.
Instructions
1. Buy a music software program that will help you manage your tracks. There are many on the market right now, starting at around $100. Some suggestions for software are Cakewalk Home Studio 9 and Adobe Audition 2. The prices go up from there, and as a new artist, a less complicated software package is fine. Some software programs also provide music beats with software like FL Studio 8. The type of software you're looking for is one that allows you to overdub, or add layers to the track, such as the vocal layer, the main music layer, the background vocals, harmonizing and additional background music.
2. If you don't buy a software program that offers music beats, shop around for producers that sell beats. You should always strive to build relationships with producers. You can also search online forums or find someone locally. You may be able to find free beats, but make sure they are totally free. Many artists have found out the hard way that the tracks purchased were not royalty free after the song became popular.
3. Before promoting your music, first try SliceThePie (see Additional Resources section), which is a British company that features artists from around the world. It gives the artist an audience with powerful feedback (in written form) about what works for the song and what doesn't. As a serious artist, you want to listen to the general gist of comments and improve accordingly. There is an initial investment, but it rewarding to know what people really think before putting yourself out there.
4. Promoting your music to as many people as possible is the goal. Of course, you want to make sure you have a quality product, but it doesn't matter if no one is listening. Fortunately, there are many ways to get your music out there for free or almost free. Many people have used Youtube or Myspace as vehicles for music promotion. Try newer websites like Promote My Song, Pandora or Pure Volume (see Additional Resources, below). You can always go old school and send in CDs to radio stations, but in the digital age, a lot of companies are tuning in to the Internet.
