8/10/2015 12:20:46 PM
What do people think of paid-for 'blast-out' promo sites?

8/10/2015 12:20:46 PM

What do people think of paid-for 'blast-out' promo sites?
Hi all,

Was wondering what people's opinions are of sites that offer to blast your single/EP/album out to a set number of supposedly interested parties (radio DJs, magazines, etc) for a sliding scale of prices? Sites such as Music SUBMIT and Promobuzz.

I've used Music SUBMIT in the past, and for, say, $220, they offer to send out your music to 1000 recipients, no questions asked - although said recipients remain murkily non-specific, and I don't know if they've opted in, or if Music SUBMIT is simply on most of their 'blocked' senders by now. For a couple of hundred dollars, everything seems frustratingly opaque. (Though from what I've read, Promobuzz are more transparent in reporting back to you.)

When I used Music SUBMIT, there was some feedback, but on balance it struck me as wasted money. However, I think I'm releasing better songs these days, and would be interested in people's opinions.

J

8/10/2015 1:26:43 PM

Just my opinion but...
THEY are making money. I don't know anyone who has got anywhere from "Paying" to get noticed.

Annoyingly it just happens to people, call it luck, call it talent, call it hard work...
Mostly it can be being in the right place at the right time..

Ed sheeran used to play in our local pub on open mic nights... look at the ginge now! He didn't pay anyone....
He doesn't ask us for gigs anymore either :)

8/10/2015 1:50:36 PM

Yeah, sort of a money trap that most likely won't get you anywhere. The problem is that they may have lots of people on their lists but most of those people have the blast site stuff going to their spam folders. They never even see it. Then, there is no guarantee that they will do what they say. How can you possibly confirm that you stuff was sent to thousands of people? Just another racket to get your money. I promote myself and even though I am not a household name and I am not rich. But I have a big enough following to sustain my stability as an artist. I WORKED hard for many years to establish my email list and contacts. Anyone can do it but you have to put in the work. Or, you can hire someone like Bryon. That man works night and day to promote his artists.

People and internet companies are always claiming that they can do this or that or the other thing for a small amount of money. But only those with proven results deserve your attention. Don't waste your money on BS.

8/10/2015 2:10:32 PM

As somebody who has been in online music for awhile, I've generally concluded that most of these kind of services are exploitive of artists. They take advantage of folks' dreams and while they always have their faithful who will swear by them, when it comes down to it these satisfied folks are usually just convincing themselves of their progress.

8/10/2015 2:11:21 PM

btw, welcome to the pipeline, James!

8/10/2015 3:31:41 PM

I agree with Scott. This kind of thing reminds me of the constant requests I get to put my songs on so called "Compilation Albums" for a fee of course. The albums supposedly go to "industry types" as they are often described. It's all a waste of time and money.

8/11/2015 4:02:12 AM

I appreciate the replies - these are my suspicions exactly. I confess that back in my wide-eyed days I might have paid to have one of my tracks on a compilation CD... Needless to say, I didn't find myself headlining Burning Man the following year.

You should get in touch with Ed Sheeran's manager, I'm sure he'd be happy to come back to his local!

Cheers Scott :)

8/11/2015 11:08:04 AM

I'm pretty wealthy and I go anywhere and everywhere and pay whatever it takes even though I know these schemes will make far more out of my talents than I would but it's kind of exciting to think that you might have the edge over other artists who have even more talent than me but way less cash - I would gladly buy some action heeheehee!
..... Nah, just jesting, really came on to welcome you to the Pipeline James ;)

8/11/2015 9:48:41 PM

ooch, I've tried them all, but nothing beats 5 hard core fans of your music, if you are looking for truthfull love of your creations. The paid root is very stimulating to our ego and may even bring millions of fans to a song or two for a very short time. It can never bring you spontanious love of you music from a random fan who came into your space of music at that moment. For those who want massive exposure (smiles) it will cost you more money then you can ever get back, unless you hit the top 40 spots. For that root, you will need to have a perfect song.

8/12/2015 6:27:09 AM

Hi James, as others have done, a hearty welcome to the pipeline

Well as one who has done promotions for the past 15 years i guess all i can say, it is as Zeeza says, its all about the song for the most part, does it have that magic and a message that resonates with people, does it have those hooks in it that the average everybody can sing along with, and or hum and go, oh year, thats me, or that is how I feel right now, or that is right on and connect with. and there are so many good songs here, so why have some got the je ne sais quo,or that special something and then again do you do it for the art. I think we all know the answer to that already, its all about the art in the song and the inner substance of you and your feelings that express some special quality, experience and or relationship in a song or how something special struck you and you felt the need to express that particular situation and convey it to the masses, or yourself.But bottom line you need an advocate someone who believes in you and your art, and more!

It also Depends who you are working with and if the ones who know the business of pitching songs to the right people in the entertainment business, in the challenging business of getting your song on the radio, that is no easy task, let me tell you. If I felt like spending hours on this subject I could go into the details of this industry as it stands right now, and explain how commercial radio works. simply put, is commercial radio willing to sacrifice a spot of time for your song, its all about money my friend in music,can your agent, promotions representative or you convince the music directors, program directors that they at least should give it a spin or two, it is more then how great it is, does it have the big push behind it, because it is all about the money in commercial radio since they are going to evaluate what they can afford to fit into their programming time.It is a big subject, and I could spend a lot of time explaining the whole scheme of how it works, but that is it in short form., so much more then what I have offered here.
And it is getting more desolate out there with the transition in the whole landscape of RADIOLAND as it stands, that is the commercial end of it, (now college radio or university or independent regional radio, well that is a great place to start for artists, or places like CBC in Canada, BBC England, US NPR is good for an aspiring artist to get their music heard, ) . I was one of the first promo guys who got into the digital aspect of pitching peoples music in Canada via dmds and radiosubmit, to some degree airplay direct when these outfits first started in getting musicians music to radio. So they were about the first around back around 2000 perhaps just a bit before. prior to that it was sending out thousands of CDs, at a huge cost. and some still operate that way, Over the years I have seen so many others in this digital submission system jump onboard in this way of doing things. too many of them promising artists they can get their music to thousands of stations, (unlikely and for the most part in reality, unlikely) , oh man, the cash these people are rolling in is near criminal, yes, there will always be shysters and people preying on the naive musician. But then what is the answer. well bottom line. you better have a hell of a good song, know a lot of people in the music biz, have a sh*tload of money to invest in yourself , learn the business inside out. because it is more then about the music, it is about the business of music..

Like I said there is so much more I could explain here, but I just dont have the time. I have other things happening at this time and will only be swinging around here infrequently over the next number of months. Stuff happening i have to attend to. cheers, and to all who aspire to wanting to get your music on the airwaves, cable, satellite, TV movies it is possible, just immerse yourself in the whole essence of the music thing, not just right writing songs, learn about the whole aspect of how this industry works, get educated. then again, do it for the art of it first, love what you do, do what you love cheers and best of luck James and all you fine musicians. Some of you will indeed break into this world of craziness. You will have to sacrifice and almost sell yourself to the business.

Like in anything sacrifices, dedication and perseverance are the necessary factors to success in anything you aspire to do. Good Luck but more then that Work Hard, Learn the ropes study about how it works, rub shoulders with people in the biz, get out into the real world of this biz, get connected more then you are on the internet, that is a conduit, not the end all. As I ramble, a million others like you all are hoping their dream is just around the corner to be an overnight success in twenty years. : )

bryon

8/12/2015 7:49:23 AM

one more thing

building your career from the grassroots., as many have grinding it out, can you build a fanbase, do you have that thing, that connects to people, can you move people, do you have the right motives, man, lets just build this subject more, cause its more then the song, it is about what you have to offer as a person. it is bigger then you too. build your brand, learn the ropes. jump into the fire

later

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