First things first, much love to Complex and everything they do.
Hopping in the blog game introduces you to the antics of independent music artists. As an artist, getting on blogs is a crucial part of the come-up process and is one of their main focus. Blogs are helpful in establishing credibility and give artists a chance to reach new audiences. But receiving a blog post will not make or break your career.
The amount of pressure artists tend to put on getting posts isn’t necessary. The blogs are meant to help you. They are an additional boost to the campaign that you should already be running. The number one rule is that if you’re hot then the blogs will find you. That’s what bloggers do. We want to find the hot music and be the first to share it to the world. Make yourself known and the blogs will surely follow. Too many artists put an emphasis on reaching out and getting mad when blogs don’t immediately show support.
Focus on your music not the write-ups.
Artists tend to focus only on certain websites as well. With so many blogs out there, you have to be smart about which ones you want to show love. Complex, Fader, XXL, and major publications aren’t the first websites you should aim for. Those are mega sites with huge audiences that probably aren’t looking for independent music artists in the first place. Think about it. The average Complex reader doesn’t count on Complex to put them onto new music. They want the hottest and latest. They want the news, the troll, and everything in between. There are websites that are built around showcasing independent music artists with readers that look to them to actually break artists.
There are sites out there that actually want you to submit music to them.
These are the sites that you need to focus your attention. Find out who the early level influencers are. Study the game and learn how the flow of everything goes. Writers are connected and even though it seems intricate there is a system to it all. Artists would rather focus on winning over an intern at a major publication than make friends with someone who is an editor of an underground site. As an artist, you have to learn how to use your resources and tap into what is being offered to you. Find a website that is getting dedicated hits on all the independent music they’re sharing. I would rather be on 5 websites with people checking for underground artists than to have a Complex post when I’m not ready for it.
There’s timing in everything.
Understand that major publications hold a purpose. When you are ready you will reach them and be able to properly use what they have to offer. The artists that you do see “pop” on the major publications rode through the process. Just because the process isn’t shown right in front of your eyes does not mean that it is not there. Trust in the process and pay attention.
Written by DodgerOnDeck. For more articles visit HERE.
