How to Get Your Music Heard by an A and R
By Jermaine Dimitri

With today's over saturated music business, a lot of artist/producers want to know how to get the big players, the gatekeepers to listen to their music and HOPEFULLY sign them or cut them a check. If that's something you're trying to do I can honestly tell you for myself it's all about the way you market YOURSELF. Jay z said it best "I'm not a businessman, I'm a business man." Your creativity is one thing but if you don't know how to market yourself effectively you won't get heard by anyone let alone a A&R. Think about all the B******t you hear on the radio (I'm not gone say names) and how you thought to yourself "I can make a better beat/song then that." The reason they're out there and getting heard is because of marketing. If you want to get noticed you must think big, take risks, and stand out from the masses. Here are a few tips you can start applying today to how you market yourself and get noticed.

SOCIAL NETWORK
You're probably thinking, "Duh, of course I'm going to use social media to promote myself." A lot of people say that but how many people are actually doing it right. You ever login on twitter just to have a bunch of new followers flood you with their music? It gets annoying. If I learned one thing it is that by nature humans are narcissistic creatures. We're all looking out for our own self-interest. That's why a lot of people will push their music off to you but will rarely listen to your music. SO don't do the same dumb annoying spamming that everyone else does. Nobody wants to be flooded by selfish rappers and producers trying to promote themselves. Instead engage with people on your social networks with stuff OTHER than music. Give them your personality. Build some rapport with people. I remember walking into a BMW car dealership one day (BMWs are my favorite cars) just to look around. As I looked around one of the salesman walked up to me and asked if there was anything he could help me with. Of course I told him just looking around but it was interesting because I ended up having an hour conversation with the guy. A little bit about cars but more so just about random things. By the time I got to the end of our conversation I felt like I just got a new mentor or something. If I had the money I definitely would've bought a car right then because the guy built rapport with me. He wasn't just trying to be a salesman and see if I wanted a car and then just go out his business. It works the same way with all businesses. Direct selling is okay sometimes but you want to create a personal connection with people. Make them feel like they know you. People are much more likely to buy into somebody they know with a real human presence rather than just people who are hardcore robot selling machines. When you go on your social sites give some helpful information, share an article, be funny, but whatever you do NEVER EVER come out directly just selling and promoting to people. No one likes a salesman.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Building relationships might seem like a task for some artist but's it's really simple. Whenever I read books on business they would always say just that. "Ohh you have to build relationships" "it's not what you know it's who you know". That intimidated me because it made me feel like I had to know some person who was way higher up in the field I was looking to break into to get noticed. But as I learned its just about building connections and relationships with EVERYONE you come across. Don't overlook the little people you never know who knows who. Someone who you think is a nobody could have connections to a popular rapper or a popular producer A&R etc... So just trust me when I tell you don't look over anybody. The relationships you build with people are very essential to your success.

THE HELL WITH AN A&R
Don't get it twisted an A&R can take your career to a whole other level probably instantly BUT SO CAN YOU. It's all about your grind. It all ties back to the previous points. Your connections the rapport you build with people, utilizing social media. It's so many ways to put yourself out there. Don't wait on an A&R or anyone to listen to your music and cut you a check. Get online start making mixtapes, singles, beats, whatever it is you do put it on a platform and let your hustle and grind speak for itself.

BE DIFFERENT
Last but certainly not least. Just be different. I ran across so many artist with chips on their shoulders thinking they was hot s**t when they really just sounded like a low budget version of another rapper that was already out. Be different don't be afraid to take risk. Choose different beats, choose different ways of making beats, come up with an unconventional style of rapping. Study the history of your craft and deliberately flips certain things and do it different. Music is always evolving and you may just create the next big thing. Don't be afraid to take a risk and try it out.

 
 
 
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