Post Post-Production

So, you completed your track and mastered it, but how many versions do you have to market with? Before you begin building your marketing map, make sure you have all the necessary versions of your mastered track. Using Virtual Publicist you get instant access to producers and mastering specialists and other technicians. These individuals in your network are fundamental to your professional entourage.

Marketing Your Music with AI

The version you should consider having when marketing your music release

1. The original version:
   • This is the version of the song that is shared the most. The one you will have in your video and the one that will be featured on your channels.
2. A radio edit:
   • A shorter version of the song that is specifically tailored for radio play. Shorter intro, a shorter outro, and may be edited to be more concise overall.
3. An instrumental version:
   • An instrumental version of the song has no vocals. It is Best for remixes, freestyles, background music in a video or karaoke.
4. An acapella version:
   • Only includes the vocals, with all instrumentation removed. Best for people who want to create remixes of the song.
5. A live version:
   • A live version of the song is recorded during the live performance at the venue. This can be a good way for fans to experience the energy and excitement of a live show.

Preparing your networks with Virtual Publicist

As a musician, there are key networks you need to create relationships with in order to advance your career. Some of these might be more useful after having mingled in the industry. But having grouped these personality types together, and identifying the order in which you need to work with them is perfect way to measure if you are progressing or not.

Technical Teams:

• Technical teams are specialists that are related to the production of music or the production of content. Always create a list of your technical partners and even organize them in subgroups.
• If you are working with people from different cities this is essential as their services are usually rendered in person rather than digitally shared like an advertising partner.

On the left-hand side of Virtual Publicist dashboard, you will find the smart list section. Title your list properly with the subgroup’s name and start collecting people from the roster. These are the wizards that make your music shine and your videos engage so make sure to find the right people by looking up their work once you have used Virtual Publicist to identify them.

Booking partners:

• A booking partner or talent buyer are all the people that have to do with booking gigs, venues supervisors, agents, etc… Having these people on standby is essential because they are the individuals that will ultimately manifest all your hard work onto a stage.
• Keeping a close relationship with them is also an important step in a musician’s career, as they will be able to help you both on a collaborative front and will serve as an asset when you start working with other musicians.

Booking partners also known as agents or talent buyers are an essential elements of your growth as a musician. Although they might have certain requirements from your music exposure, building a solid relationship with them will allow you to know what is missing and adjust your objectives.

Press and Media:

• Finding good press is a challenge, with Virtual Publicist this process is streamlined by first giving you the best picks in your smart suggestions and second, by providing you a full roster of blogs, editors, and journalists.
• Building lists of different leveled outlets is vital for a scaled climb to the top, it also helps you psychologically as many big names won’t necessarily pick up your story if it’s a debut drop. It’s always best to start with blogs that have an easier entry barrier and then go up to the magazines on the first draw.

Virtual Publicist offers curated lists of these contacts titled and aggregated in relation to your rank as an artist. Be sure to inspect the requirements of these blogs so you send them the correct information the first time. Keep in mind these editors receive 100ds of emails per day and if you have not formatted your information properly it will without a doubt be ignored.

Playlist Curators and Taste-makers:

• These are the first line of music promotion assets you need to collect to start your climb into notoriety.
• Although many of them have submission requirements when it comes to music, your sound helps the name grow into the cycle of streaming platforms. Its important to work your way towards entering editorial playlists.

Optimized Content Creation

Creating content for fan engagement and press activation is a complex and ever-changing activity. When releasing music it is important to consider the story-line, branding direction & asset collection you have chosen, as this will ultimately influence the type of people you are bringing around your sound.

As an artist, your role is to know, understand, and create novel experiences by using your music and artistic abilities to project a story. You should think of the musician’s story-line as something that is divided into 3 levels.

3 Things to Optimize your Content Strategy

1. Narrative: The journey presented to the public of how you are going through your life, and the creation process of your art. Your narrative is reflected in your interaction with media, in the music you make, and in the way journalists tell your story.
2. Branding Kit: the collection of colors, styles, typography, imagery, mock-ups, and any other kind of icon that represents you and your brand.
3. Media assets: This is the collection of both imagery and text that will tell the story of your release. Things like a press release, biography, EPK, sample, demo, or banners fall into this category. and are

The Power of Authenticity in Content

In an age where there are thousands of new songs released every day, standing out from the crowd requires a sense of genuine connection with your listeners.

Sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of your creative process, whether through social media posts or in-person events, can help build anticipation for your new release and create a sense of intimacy with your fans.

Look up influencers who are trending, see what is in the market and adapt your branding to push your new release

“music tribe,”. Crucial for promoting your new release, Indie artists in particular can benefit from cultivating a strong sense of community among their followers. Encouraging fan engagement through calls to action and celebrating the success stories of your most devoted supporters can help foster a sense of ownership and belonging within your music tribe.

Get onto networks like Twitter, Discord, Twitch, and even Instagram and make this the hub for your interactive content with fans. hold conversations, questions, get feedback and make your presence reverberate

In the digital age, utilizing social media and online platforms is essential for promoting your new release. Advertising through targeted campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Instagram can help reach potential fans, and utilizing email marketing to keep in touch with your subscriber list can also be effective. Don’t forget about the power of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as online music distribution platforms, which can help get your music in front of new listeners.

Using the networks that are at your disposal, you need to build distribution groups where you know your music will be going and which audiences it will resonate to. Virtual Publicist is a crucial partner in identifying the right influencer’s to be reached out

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of traditional marketing tactics, like radio airplay and press coverage. Submitting your music to college radio stations and internet radio programs can help get your music heard by a new audience, and pitching your release to relevant media outlets can also be a useful way to build buzz. Consider seeking out the assistance of a virtual publicist, who can help you navigate the industry and make the most of your promotional efforts.

Radio Outreach is either done by building a relationship with hosts or DJ’s, or works on a submissions method to the station producer. The bigger the stations the more likely it will be a submission.

Outlets & Playlists

As an indie musician, marketing your new release can be a daunting task. With so many other tasks to attend to, such as keeping up with social media, email, and new technology, it’s easy to overlook the importance of creating a long-term relationship with outlet contacts. A crucial step, these contacts will be following you for a long time throughout your career and its best to build something solid early.

Outlets and playlists are groups that you can resubmit too regularly and have multiple publications to be featured. In an ideal world you will have multiple types of publications that are released in sync with your song being featured on playlists.

These content types can be blogs, interviews, premieres, reviews, including:

1. Interviews:
   • Feature the musician being interviewed by a journalist, where they can talk about their music, career, and personal life.
2. Album reviews:
   • These articles review and critique the musician’s latest album or EP.
3. Live reviews:
   • Critique the musician’s live performance.
4. Feature articles:
   • These are in-depth articles that delve into the musician’s career and personal life, often including interviews and background information.
5. Opinion pieces:
   • Allow the musician to express their thoughts and opinions on a particular topic or issue.
6. Articles:
   • Articles are lists of things related to the musician, such as their top songs, best live performances, or must-have gear.
7. News articles:
   • These articles cover breaking news related to the musician, such as new album releases, tour announcements, or collaborations.

Choose the right distribution channels. Digital distribution has made it easier than ever to get your music out there, but it’s important to choose the right distributor for your needs. Options like CD Baby and Distrokid offer a range of services, including marketing and promotional tools. Once its out your going to what to publish on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, the works, these platforms don’t cost you money and each has a very distinct crowd of listeners.

Playlist Curation for your music release

Playlist Curators are essentially broadcast outlets that cater to specific groups of a platforms subscribers. Playlist get shuffled into the platforms algorithm and depending on the reach of your song will be drawn into the editorial class of playlist and the platform curated ones that are usually 5 – 15 x more popular than the ones that are privately curated.

Types of Playlists to consider when planing a music release:

1. Genre-specific playlists: Feature songs from a particular genre, such as rock, pop, hip hop, or electronic dance music.
2. Mood-based playlists: Songs that are suited to a particular mood or activity, such as workout playlists, chill-out playlists, or party playlists.
3. Decade-specific playlists: These songs are from a particular decade, such as the 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s.
4. Artist-specific playlists: Playlists that feature songs from a particular artist or group of artists.
5. Curated playlists: These playlists are hand-selected by music industry professionals or taste-makers, and are often based on a particular theme or concept.
6. User-generated playlists: Created by users of the streaming platforms, and can be based on any number of themes or criteria.
7. Personalized playlists: These playlists are created by the streaming platform’s algorithms, based on the user’s listening history and preferences.

Virtual Publicist creates a comprehensible database of these categories for you to choose from. Search, segment, save and start pitching your story n songs to the right individuals. To start off consider getting the lower hanging fruit and make your way towards the editors and submission entries. Most playlisters will ask for a submission of your song and will reject it based on merit. As a musician, you can always donate to support playlisters after all most of them do not make an income from there contribution to the community.

Radio Play and Fanbases

Radio is still a prevalent form of entertainment distribution in North America, particularly for indie artists. Not only does it provide a platform for musicians to gain prestige and reach, but being played on the radio also demonstrates that an artist’s music is available for mass consumption and has enough commercial appeal to be supported by advertising dollars. Radio play can differentiate an indie artist from the rest and help put them on the radar of industry professionals and listeners.

Despite the rise of streaming platforms, radio continues to play a significant role in new music discovery for consumers. In fact, radio represents approximately 50% of new music discovery in consumer habits. This means that radio DJs and talk show hosts have significant influence and can be important allies for indie artists as they create their marketing strategy. By building relationships with these taste-makers and getting their music played on the radio, indie artists can reach a wider audience and gain valuable exposure.

College Radio

College radio stations can be a valuable resource for indie artists looking to get their music played on the radio. These independent channels often have a dedicated community of listeners and are responsible for campus news that affects thousands of students.

In key states like California, Ohio, Michigan, and Florida, college radio stations may even outperform regular radio stations. College radio stations often have key listening programs that provide opportunities for independent artists to gain exposure, such as during college sports games or parties. These stations can be a major influence in promoting indie artists, and are worth considering when crafting a marketing strategy.

Digital Radio

Online radio has become an essential part of modern broadcasting entertainment, with over 60,000 stations available in North America. The popularity of podcasts, online radio, and smart speaker curation has exploded in recent years, with listener-ship increasing by an average of 41% in the post-pandemic world. This trend is expected to continue well into 2022, as radio becomes more tailored to individual and micro-communities.

For indie artists, online radio is an incredibly powerful medium to consider for several reasons. There are many different channels to choose from, and your music can be saved and shared across various digital platforms. Online radio also has a low barrier to entry compared to traditional radio, and it’s easier to create a multi-faceted show that includes both music and interviews. Online radio listeners are often very loyal to their favorite channels and have a higher conversion rate when it comes to supporting the artists they love.

Sequence of a Music Release

1. Choose the right distribution channels:
   • Digital distribution has made it easier than ever to get your music out there, but it’s important to choose the right distributor for your needs. Options like CD Baby and Distrokid offer a range of services, including marketing and promotional tools. Don’t forget to consider other outlets like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Pandora, as well.
2. Build a professional online presence:
   • A well-designed website is crucial to your marketing efforts. It should feature sections on your music, biography, and latest happenings, as well as an electronic press kit (EPK) and email sign-up form. Keep in mind that artist branding is also important, so make sure to choose colors, fonts, and copy writing that align with your image and style.
3. Use social media to your advantage:
   • Social media is a powerful tool for reaching new fans and keeping in touch with your existing ones. But it’s important to have a solid strategy in place. Think about themes and narrative, and plan consistent content to nurture your audience. Don’t forget to use hashtags and tag relevant people and organizations in your posts to help them get noticed.
4. Plan a release party or tour:
   • A release party or tour is a great way to celebrate your new music and connect with fans in person. Plan ahead and consider working with a promoter or venue to help spread the word. Don’t forget to offer physical copies of your music and other merch at your events.

PR and Media Syndication

Public Relations is more than just articles coming out on outlets. its about the chain of media outlets that are going to be releasing them. What an artist needs from a pr campaign is visibility and wave visibility to flood the internet. having their name being pushed by key outlets is often more valuable in terms of exposure vs having the article on a syndication list of 10 000 outlets around the world.

Syndication outlets can have a positive effect too. some are media organizations that control multiple outlets who offer the rebroadcasting of your article across the board. Virtual Publicist was built to accommodate this part of your career, by giving a suggestive lists and combinations of these organizations to reach out too.

Here is a 3 point checklist to consider when starting a PR campaign during your music release

Using the AI Copywriter will help you write your own copy, but getting professional help is always a plus. A professional writer, especially one that is connected to the industry and the scene will be able to create a more nuanced and compelling narrative.

A clear and compelling story:

The most successful PR campaigns for musicians are built around a clear and compelling story that captures the attention of the media and generates interest among potential listeners. It’s important to have a strong narrative that can be easily communicated to journalists and media outlets.

High-quality assets:

In order to gain the attention of the media and make it easy for them to cover your story, you’ll need to have high-quality assets that they can use in their coverage. This might include a press release, a video showcasing the music-making process, audio clips of the new song, as well as high-resolution images.

Targeted outreach:

Finally, a successful PR campaign using Virtual Publicist to release will involve targeted outreach to journalists and media outlets that are most likely to be interested in the story. This might include reaching out to music journalists at mainstream publications, as well as technology and innovation reporters at more niche outlets.

The Virtual Publicist Database gives artists a selection of outlets when planning their music release

1. Traditional media outlets: These include newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, and online news sites that cover a wide range of topics.
2. Industry publications: Publications that focus on a specific industry, such as technology, healthcare, or finance.
3. Trade publications: These are publications that cater to specific trades or professions, such as law enforcement, education, or construction.
4. Blogs and online influencers: Many bloggers and social media influencers have a large following and can be a powerful way to reach specific audiences.
5. Broadcast Media: Live or recorded television or radio programs that can be distributed through terrestrial or satellite broadcast to a general audience.
6. Podcasts : Audio or video show format that can be distributed via web to audience that are interesting in specific subjects
7. Social Media: Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, that allow users to share and create content and have huge reach within a certain audiences.

Also if the budget allows, you may consider investing in a music promotion service or hiring a music PR agency. With the right resources, experience and networks, they can help you to reach and engage with your target audience and industry partners effectively.

Influencer & Celebrities

Virtual Publicist has begun its climb to becoming the most comprehensive influencer database available for artists. Unlike a brand, musicians require a particular combination of of tags, audience and factors to make the right impact. Often times, an influencers value for musicians will come with their engagement factors rather than just the reach.

With Virtual Publicist the influencer market can be segmented by type, genre, and platform so that you can follow the group that is most relevent and integrate them toy our campaign in the most effective way.

Checklist for influencer marketing campaigns

1. Reach out to relevant influencers in the music industry:
   • Ask these key individuals to share your new song on their social media platforms. This can help to increase visibility and exposure for your new release. You sould also consider
     • In video placement as background music
     • Tag the song or use the song in their story / reel
     • listener video
     • lip sync
2. Collaborate with influencers:
   • Create content that promotes your new song. This could include things like music videos, lyric videos, or live performance.
3. Utilize influencer’s testimonials and reviews:
   • As a form of social proof, as they could help increase credibility and encourage people to listen to your new release.
4. Host a listening party or exclusive event for influencers:
   • Invite these heavy hitters to share their thoughts and reactions to your new song on social media. This can generate buzz and excitement around the release.
5. Partner with influencers on a promotion campaign:
   • Influencers can offer exclusive discounts or giveaways to their followers when they buy or stream your new song.

Keep in mind that when working with influencers, it’s important to find individuals who align with your brand and are a good fit for your music. Also, influencer marketing is most effective when done authentically and with transparency, rather than just trying to buy influence.