Strategies for Marketing and Distributing a Debut Music Album

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the music industry, focusing on the strategies and techniques employed by a DIY artist to release their debut album. It examines the crucial role of marketing and promotion, including pre-order setups, single releases, and the utilization of digital platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. The report delves into digital distribution methods, highlighting platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes, and emphasizes the importance of selling music directly through websites and bundles. Furthermore, it explores crowdfunding as a viable means for artists to raise funds and build a fan community, outlining its benefits and essential considerations. The report concludes by discussing ticketing and merchandise as additional revenue streams for artists, providing a holistic understanding of the music industry's multifaceted landscape.

The Music Industry

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Part 1 – Marketing and promotion ..................................................................................................1
Part 2 - Digital distribution .............................................................................................................2
Part 3 - Releasing and selling music................................................................................................3
Part 4 – Crowdfunding.....................................................................................................................5
Part 5 - Ticketing and merchandise.................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Music industry is one of the biggest creative and entertainment industries across world. It
consists of various elements of business to develop and sell music to a large audience. Music
industry has evolved on a very big scale since the 19th century, when the printed sheet music
became the leading product. This report is in context to the release of debut album and
supporting promotional activities by a DIY artist. The report will evaluate various roles and
functions of digital tools, platforms, network designed to increase commerce, self-promotion and
intellectual property ownership. The various areas of release such as marketing and promotion,
digital distribution, releasing and selling music, crowdfunding as well as ticketing and
merchandise will also be described in the assignment.
PART 1 – MARKETING AND PROMOTION
It is very important and necessary to promote the music album produced by the artist;
even popular or famous artist needs to promote their album at the time of release as there is high
competition in music industry both; locally and internationally. Any new artist needs to build a
fan following or excitement among the audience before launching the music album or any other
entertainment activity. This supports in increasing the chances of a successful release. It is
essential to spread awareness of any new product or service that is introduced in the market so
that customers can get attracted. In order to promote the new music album, following methods
and stages can be used -
1. Setting up pre-order – To set up a pre-order is the first step for the promotion of the
music album, an excitement or buzz can be developed by introducing pre-order for the
music album. It helps in allowing accepting orders as soon as the promotion of release
gets started. The pre-order technique helps in targeting people who like to listen music.
Pre-orders can be highlighted on popular websites and other online portals so that people
can get attracted and buy the pre-orders (Waldfogel and et.al, 2017).
2. Releasing a single – Releasing a solo or a video along with is also considered as a great
way for promoting new music album leading to the official release of the album. The
most appropriate song must be selected for release that should also consist some effective
thoughts and experience of the artist. After selecting the song, it needs to be released on
various music websites like YouTube, social media platforms, etc. It can be a great
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technique to acquire fans who are excited about the new album. It can also help in
attracting new fans or people. It is also beneficial if this released video consists of a call
to action to pre-order the album on the websites.
3. Getting album on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play etc. - It is
important to introduce the album on different music and streaming store platforms as
possible. A huge majority of listeners or music lovers can find the music there and it can
help in attracting new fans or listeners if one of the songs in the album gets on a popular
playlist (Robin, 2018).
4. Using mailing list – Email is known as the most effective and easy way to generate more
sales with regard to any products and services. The artist can use his mail list as well as
send promotional emails that clearly attract people to purchase or buy the new music
album. Mail can be send to the user along with the purchasing song link where user can
buy music easily and effectively.
5. Promoting album on social media – Social media is the most influencing element
which affect a large audience. It can be useful for promoting the album. There are many
albums that can compete in the market. It is very important to ensure that the album gets
popular among the people. For this purpose, social media can be highly beneficial.
PART 2 - DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION
Platforms are places people go to watch or buy films; aggregators are conduits between
filmmakers/distributors and platforms; distributors usually take more rights for longer terms.
And some companies combine more than one of these functions. Distribution is a method that
helps in recording music. It gets to the listener or consumer. Traditionally distribution
organisations signs deals with record labels that provide the right to sell the labelled product. The
distributors take a share of revenue from each of the units sold and later pays for remaining label.
Most of the distributors evaluate record labels to offer them with ready to market or finished
products. In the twentieth century, movement associations were the associations in between
record names and retail outlets, which included music-just stores, large number of box retailers,
for instance, Wal-Mart and Best Buy, and book shops. It is helpful to consider the music dealers
as wholesalers to better appreciate their part in the music business (Frith, 2016).
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Record marks checked - and still sign - contracts with music authorities. They
coordinated music recording, displaying, and progression. Digital distribution provides a
platform to the artists where he or she can launch his or her work in effective and efficient
manner. Digital distribution allows artists work to spread in the market. Listners purchase music
which benefits the artists and henceforth he or she able to get popularity in the market. With
precise distribution platforms artists will able to get his music to all major players like Spotify,
iTunes, TIDAL and more.
There are various tools and methods which can be used in order to distribute musical
digitally as described below -
1. Spotify – It is the leading website that offers music streaming, supported by non-paid ad
and paid subscription options. The music album can get highly popular if released on
Spotify as it has many consumers that are increasing day by day (Vidos and et.al., 2017).
2. Apple music – This is also an effective and beneficial online music streaming store.
Apple music store is in very high demand in regards to streaming service. It also focuses
on popular playlists that can be very useful for making a new album that is famous
among the audience or music lovers.
3. iTunes – It is a leader in the music download business from the day it was launched in
the year 2004. Music album can get a boost in its sales and popularity if it gets released in
iTunes.
Digital distribution helps in promoting music to a large audience easily and efficiently.
The number of people using internet and online sources are increasing day by day. Therefore,
music album needs to use various digital distributors in order to promote itself and gain success
all over the world.
PART 3 - RELEASING AND SELLING MUSIC
There are various ways of releasing and selling music album in the market other than
digital distribution. There are many artists such as DIY or local singers or musician who fails to
effectively promote their album through digital distribution. Distribution is a means through
which music reaches to the consumers or listeners. For letting them use those technologies or
distribution methods, it is important to first sell it with the best possible way (Brock, 2014).
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There are various methods through which music album can be sold in the market which are
described as below -
1. Selling directly through a website – The music album can be sold directly through the
website. There are so many ways or methods to sell the album through online means. It
can highly effective and beneficial for the company or artists to sell the album to a large
audience. The use of websites is essential as there are many visitors or online users who
can easily buy the album online.
2. Sale pricing – The music album can offer various discounts on the sales of the album to
attract more customers (Denisoff and et.al, 2017).
3. YouTube: - YouTube is one of the best and efficient source where artists can earn money
for his or her work (Vesey, 2015). With the increase in internet technologies and digital
transformation, YouTube become one of the most popular, easy and accessible source
where the artists can launch his music effectively and efficiently.
4. Physical and digital bundles: Bundles present a great opportunity for publishers and
consumers alike. Digital products have many benefits–frictionless buying, immediate
delivery, and no shipping. But marketing isn’t one of them. Digital products have no
glossy product shots, no features in gift guides, no celebrity photo-shoot endorsements.
One can also offer analogue bundles by joining with corporal merchandise like T-Shirt,
abundant control stick and other items. Whether artists falling a single, advance a record
album, a live cut, or an auditory communication video, brand sure you section a nexus to
internet site and Tunes exhortation viewing audience to get that limited musical
composition or record album
5. Back catalogue deals: - Back catalogue refers to the previously produced recording of
artists or record company. Artists can sell their previous records which at appropriate
price in order to earn money. Known the one subordinate bed that their manner too
uncomfortable to let out? When pull out good from 10 geezer bonnets ago, or from ahead
they ever began play-acting out, sports fan will consume it up.
6. Mailing list : In this context, to be focus on mailing list a small indefinite quantity times
in this area, but it's genuine that newsletter are the most crucial implement for creating
income. Electronic mail merchandising is 40 times as effectual as Facebook and Twitter,
consortium. Artists, compose, business firm. On the other hand, continually orientated
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about approaching shows, approaching releases, and your vocation in general, will be
sterling activity. Ever consider links course to Online Mercantile establishment, YouTube
in news-sheet (Du, 2017).
PART 4 – CROWDFUNDING
Crowd-funding is one of the most effective ways for musician or artist to collect fund for
a new project, whether it is a production of album or other projects. On the other hand, it helps in
creating a strong community of fans and supporters. Crowdfunding is the use of small amounts
of capital from a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture. Crowdfunding
makes use of the easy accessibility of vast networks of people through social media and
crowdfunding websites to bring investors and entrepreneurs together, and has the potential to
increase entrepreneurship by expanding the pool of investors from whom funds can be raised
beyond the traditional circle of owners, relatives and venture capitalists (Emanuel and et.al.,
2016). Crowd-funding is the practice session of financial backing for a project or speculation by
increasing small amount of money from many people. For artists, it is a possibility to raise
medium of exchange via sports fan, often circumferential more conventional structure of
producing and publication physical EPs and record album. It offers those who are signed or on
small description a feasible way of acquiring their sound out there in whatsoever form they
wishing. Despite this, there have been plenteousness of booming, impressive and forward-
looking crowdfunding campaign performing artist. There are various benefits of crowdfunding
which are as follows:
 Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve: Band superficial is to be made,
launching and releasing a record album, artist will demand to sit behind and look at the
Numbers; your sports fan base, the locale size etc. Compose a list of what the fewest
essential reimbursement are and what are the property artists can truly do themselves.
This helps to reduce the cost of album and create a more realistic champion.
 Timing is the key: - Being able to advance release or promotion in a appropriate time
framing, where there may not be many big names road or even bands enterprise to
accomplish similar end as your band is important for your race being a happening. The
more possibility you get to advance yourself the amended. Crowdfunding is help at the
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time to increase the number of customer and buy the ticket online and offline both. In
addition, band playing on the same night (Hughes and et.al, 2016).
 To create a budget : Create a monetary fund to know precisely how much medium of
exchange needed to wage hike. Keep in head demand medium of exchange for pre-
production reimbursement like hiring manufacturer, industry reimbursement like studio
time and CDs, and monetary system for selling and publicity subsequently. Make a short
and interesting video for new music album: A funny and attractive video is the top-grade
tool to encourage your movement to your fans and prospective activity. Nevertheless, it
can get deadening if music organisations try to explicate the entire acitivity from start to
finish, as well as explicate why they need financial support. Former it is improved to
leave of absence the finer inside information out and focusing on what sports fan need to
do and what the end consequence of the campaign will be (Robin and et.al, 2016).
 Give ourself proper time: Likely no more than a period preparation, no advance than 6
months after the release. We had a beautiful tight agenda after the album release which
wasn't the high-grade thought, but after all, it was truly corking to use all the promo we
had from the crusade for the launching.
 Don't give up: - Belongings might expression indistinct in the in-between of promotional
activities. Individuals had whatever tough minute when we content it wasn't departure to
pass off, and even close person revealing us it was too much. We didn't pay attending to
any of that and conveyed electronic mail and face-to-face content to our individual to
prompt them about the race. Many grouping are too engaged and can forget, but they
always want to support you if they knowing the run is for a good cause (Hofmann-
Stölting, Clement and Albers, 2017).
PART 5 - TICKETING AND MERCHANDISE
Everyone loves to listen music because this gives the internal pleasure and fits the mood
in different rhythm. People have been listening music from the old times. The music composed
in old days is totally different from the current days. Earlier, there was no promotion of music so
that the most of the people could not listen the music. Nowadays, music is composed in different
languages and it can be heard by people at any place. There are many big industries across the
world that are putting their great efforts in composing every type of music.
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There are many music companies that hire the good singers and release their music
albums under their company banner. On the other hand, few singers release their own music
album without collaborating with other company’s banner. Singers are not singing the songs only
for the pleasure of public; additionally, they also want to earn money (Strähle and Jackson,
2018).
It's not easy to earn money even with good voice because there are also many competitors
present in the market. This is the reason; companies need to promote and merchandise their
albums by using different parameters.
Parameters for ticketing and merchandise for new music album
It is one of the reasons that a big music company hires famous singer under its banner
because a big company’s name and a good voice can make a boom for their audience. People
would love to listen a good voice with very good music sound quality. For example: Tips is one
of the best music companies. A famous singer release his album under its banner, obvious selling
of albums will be more. There are other parameters implemented for the expansion of music
albums. This is being done globally and locally (Collins, 2017).
Open concert: Singers perform different concerts at different places so that they will get
visual recognition and people would start buying their albums.
Charity show: Music gives a heart touchable emotions and feelings. If a charity show is
held by a singer or a music company, it is helpful in creating good images of their music.
Online promotions: Promotions of new released music is done through online
marketing. Online music marketing is one of the biggest businesses in current days. There was a
time when music was being heard by playing the cassettes or CD players but now, people used to
listen music directly through internet or by downloading them. Online reviews of music is the
top way to earn money and popularity by a released music album.
Music is listened in all over the world but the way of promotion is different. In developed
countries, music album is mainly promoted by performing more concerts. Here, ticketing is made
available for the audience and people go to watch live concerts. Company also sells their albums
at the place of concert. Regarding local music, it doesn't have more options for concerts and so,
the album songs are released through films where actors and actresses play an important role to
promote the music albums.
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CONCLUSION
The above report concluded that there are many stages that are important in order to
promote and sell the new music album successfully. The report included different methods for
promoting a music album such as releasing a single, using various online tools such as Spotify,
iTunes etc. The report also described various digital distribution methods which can be used in
order to distribute the album in the market to that it can reach to the consumer easily.
Furthermore, methods for releasing and selling music are also described in this report such as
Selling directly through a website, Physical and digital bundles, Sale pricing etc. Crowdfunding
method is used for collecting funds form the people which can be useful for releasing a music
album successfully as described in the assignment The concept of Ticketing and merchandise is
also discussed in this report along with the Parameters for ticketing and merchandise for new
music album.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Collins, K. ed., 2017. From Pac-Man to pop music: interactive audio in games and new media.
Routledge.
Hofmann-Stölting, C., Clement, M., and Albers, S., 2017. Sales Forecasting of New
Entertainment Media Products. Journal of Media Economics, 30(3), pp.143-171.
Hughes, D., Evans, M., Morrow, G. and Keith, S., 2016. The New Music Industries: Disruption
and Discovery. Springer.
Du, L., 2017. New transition of digital music copyright protection in China: A case study of Jay
Chou’s model/Du Lei(Doctoral dissertation, University of Malaya).
Vesey, A., 2015. Putting her on the shelf: pop star fragrances and post-feminist
entrepreneurialism. Feminist media studies, 15(6), pp.992-1008.
Brock, D., 2014. FOUR SEASONS. Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century, p.224.
Frith, S., 2016. Writing the history of popular music. In Stereo: Comparative Perspectives on the
Sociological Study of Popular Music in France and Britain (pp. 27-38). Routledge.
Robin, W., 2018. The Rise and Fall of “Indie Classical”: Tracing a Controversial Term in
Twenty-First Century New Music. Journal of the Society for American Music, 12(1),
pp.55-88.
Waldfogel, J., 2017. How Digitization Has Created a Golden Age of Music, Movies, Books, and
Television. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(3), pp.195-214.
Vidos, H.C., Talley, D.W. and Zoller, D.E., Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC, 2017. Media
software navigation with conditional links. U.S. Patent 9,836,729.
Denisoff, R.S., 2017. Ted Turner’s Crusade: Economics Versus Morals?. In Inside MTV (pp.
175-200). Routledge.
Emanuel, K., 2016. Climate fate. Green Left Weekly, (1097), p.21.
Robin, W., 2016. A scene without a name: Indie classical and American new music in the
twenty-first century (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill).
Strähle, J. and Jackson, C.S., 2018. Merchandising in the music business. In Fashion &
Music (pp. 159-176). Springer, Singapore.
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