The document summarizes a presentation on developing an independent music career in India. It provides tips on building a band identity, marketing through social media and press, and securing corporate sponsorships. Key advice includes creating an online presence, booking your own shows, developing a press kit, and networking within the small independent music community in India. Overall, the presentation aimed to provide musicians with practical guidance on promoting their original music both nationally and internationally.
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Musicpromotion
1. DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE
MUSIC PROMOTION & MARKETING:
Date: 20th February, 2011
Venue: Delhi Technological University- Rithala
Snapshots from speaker presentations: (For more detail, please view the corresponding presentation)
Indian Indie: Gaurav Vaz ( The Raghu Dixit Project)
At the start:
No live venues
Few shows
Things began to turn around with the Internet Revolution:
Greater connectivity across states in India
Recognition that original music was being composed across the country
Internationally:
India is slowly developing into a global music destination: Not just for international bands past
their prime, but for newer talent.
And now:
Mushrooming of live venues across the country
Bands touring nationally & internationally
High level of equipment available
For more insight on the development of Indie music, quips and great pictures, check out Gaurav’s actual
presentation here (for link)
Check out: http://raghudixit.com/
“Band Building”: Sahil Makhija (Demonic Resurrection)
Beginning with the basics:
The importance of developing a band identity.
Book your own shows
Create and sell your own merchandise
Make a demo tape, build your online profile
Develop a press kit:
1. Make sure the contact details are correct!
2. The band biography shouldn’t consist of personal details only; add your most recent
achievements. ( More details on the same, in the press section)
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DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE
As a solo artist, begin composing music at home (for more details on the same, refer to our video
resource from our Music production workshop).
Finding the right producer/studio is important
VALUE your music
Check out: http://www.demonicresurrection.in/
Social Media: Jishnu Dasgupta ( Swarathma)
Social media is a way to put out your identity
Create interesting content
Put information out in narrative form, reach out to your fans
Document your experiences!
Having more “friends” than “fans”
The internet serves as an opportunity to reach your fans, wherever they are- find them.
ACTION REPLAY:
1. Taking music to those who can’t usually access it
2. For more details: www.swarathma.com
Tips:
Maintain a database of fan email Id’s
Map your audience: If you have 500 fans in Lucknow, it’s a good idea to book a show in Lucknow.
If you’ve hired a cab to go from one place to another, give the driver a copy of your CD!
Press passers will be prosecuted: Sahil Makhija & Neysa Mendes
Neysa:
Print media is the easiest to access in India, currently.
Online media is a rapidly growing field
How do you approach the press?
Make a database, send them new content regularly
Target the music writers, invite them to your gigs
Inside a press kit:
Add your most recent achievements in your press kit
Good photographs with 300 dpi minimum
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N-204 Greater Kailash, New Delhi – 110048. T.: +91.11.46792243
E.: theypfoundation@gmail.com. W.: www.theypfoundation.org
A Registered Charitable Trust
3. 3
DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE
Bipgraphy (200-500 words), band member full names, significant milestones. Discography.
Don’t use fluff words. Be clear, specific! Give them information they can directly use
Include relevant links of your facebook page, twitter ID and website/blog. Include Quotes, add
review by relevant people/ Press excerpts.
Make a hard copy of all the information
Make sure you mention contacts of your management/ members/ booking agency.
Ask famous people to quote something, even if it might sound cheesy!
Put useful and valid achievements- remember the press works differently from your audience; give
them a reason to write about you!
Make songs or stories around important events – EG: If you are doing anything on festivals make a
story around it and send it to press
You can write your own press release, then find contacts in papers and send it across. This works
well if you are on a tour and travelling in different cities.
It is also good to be written about not only for your music but other aspects of music production
and promotion. An example would be how the press wrote about Them Clone’s marketing strategy,
post their album release.
Add media clippings in your press kit.
Add social media stats and outreach.
Try on do regular updates with press
Check out Neysa’s column on Indie Music: http://www.missmalini.com/2011/03/04/indie-music-report-
apaches-circus/
Structuring a corporate proposal: Surojit Dev: Them Clones
Reference: Them Clones association with HP.
Its worth investing in a band/brand association, especially if you’re looking at earning money
from your music.
Keep your proposal clear & specific: The brand manager should be able to clearly identify how
he is benefiting from an association with you and your music
It is important to have a band identity to sell before approaching a sponsor- what works for the
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N-204 Greater Kailash, New Delhi – 110048. T.: +91.11.46792243
E.: theypfoundation@gmail.com. W.: www.theypfoundation.org
A Registered Charitable Trust
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DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE
clones, is their presence/image in the rock circuit.
Use high quality images/videos
Know what you want from the association: Its important to clarify deliverables from both sides
Be creative. Make everything seem larger than life!
Check out: http://themclones.com/
Excerpts from the Q&A:
Q: Do facebook ads work?
A: Yes, because you can target the audience.
Q: What about protecting your music?
A: A lot of young musicians are obsessed with protection. You need to establish by a verifiable means that
you produced it.
Q: Should we sell our CD as a new band?
A: Give it out for free in the beginning. Look at it from a long term perspective- look at your album as a
business card.
Q: What should we do before the album release?
A: Create a strategy. Create a buzz. Give yourself some time. Have a house gig.
In a nutshell:
The Independent industry is still developing, and is a very small circle of people, who are always
willing to help out
Go to competitions: School/college/ external
Facebook and other forms of social media, can only take you so far. Nothing beats physically going
out to network and meet people.
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N-204 Greater Kailash, New Delhi – 110048. T.: +91.11.46792243
E.: theypfoundation@gmail.com. W.: www.theypfoundation.org
A Registered Charitable Trust
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DEVELOPING POTENTIAL IN YOUNG PEOPLE
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N-204 Greater Kailash, New Delhi – 110048. T.: +91.11.46792243
E.: theypfoundation@gmail.com. W.: www.theypfoundation.org
A Registered Charitable Trust