What Does Your Music Brand Say About You?

As a performer, it's important to draw attention to your background, personality, and general overall brand appeal as a band or artist. Here we look at the most effective way to communicate your identity to fans.

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Guest post by Rachel M. of Push Power PromoAs an artist or musician, it is important to spotlight your background, personality and unique appeal to listeners who are current and potential new fans. What has molded you into the person you are today? How are you sharing your personal experiences through your musical releases? The image you give off to people on the receiving end of your music and videos is crucial when it comes to being successful in the industry. Be sure you have a clear persona and unique style that will set you apart from the rest of the music-making crowd.Your HistoryEvery artist or musician has a story. What’s yours? Be sure to leave out the boring parts. If you don’t already, you should have a biography written in 3^rd person that briefly tells the story of your music career. What really stands out about your journey thus far? Make sure you cover key points about yourself including where you are from, what inspired your career and any previous projects you’ve worked on. Bios don’t really need to be over 300 words, but should also not be anything under 100 words.Your RelatabilityAside from your bio, it is important to try to relate to your target audience as much as possible. As an Indie artist, you already have the advantage of being seen as ‘just another person’ instead of a celebrity. Use that to make your music brand more appealing. Reach out to your fans and market yourself as if you’re a friend, not as if you’re some god that needs to be worshipped. Let people know that you are just like them, just trying to be noticed in the world. Talk on Snapchat about how you’re out of gas money but will somehow be making it to your gig tonight. Share your creative process. Create a picture in your head about your ideal fan and present yourself as someone who could be their best friend.Your Uniqueness

Since your music brand is your business, you should be thinking of business tactics that will help you to stand out. One popular business tactic that is well-known in the marketing world is to have something known as a Unique Selling Proposition or USP. Your unique selling proposition is what sets you apart from other people offering what you offer.As a musician, having a USP is very relevant in the overcrowded music world. Everyone is aware of how many starving Indie artists are out trying to get their songs in the limelight. Your job is to simply be different. If you are in a band, what makes your band different from any other band playing local shows and applying to big name festivals? If you are a producer, what makes your beats stand out from the thousands of others offered online with a simple Google search? Start brainstorming the ways you can set yourself apart from artists and musicians similar to style.You have so many options in choosing your USP. One example could be the way you present your music on your website. Or, you might have something weird that you do at the end of each of your songs. Maybe you wear your hair in a way that no one can forget. Maybe your USP is that you know everything about the music industry, while your competitors are just running in circles! You can have multiple USPs, but it’s important to focus on one major unique selling point that will put you a few steps ahead of the competition. After finalizing your USP, it won’t hurt to include it in places like your bio and social media pages!Your EffectHow does your music make people feel? Material that relates to a listener’s feelings and emotions tend to leave a lasting impression. Heartfelt musical art includes the type of songs and videos that get played back to back on repeat by a listener. Material that leaves a lasting impression tends to also get shared way more often. The more people that feel your musical release relates to their life and personal journey, the further your music has the potential to spread. If they feel you are providing something that will help encourage their journey, you will have much more success; not to mention that your career path will feel very rewarding! Not only are you making good material; you are making others reflect intensely on themselves with your material.