Creative Methods to Sell Your Music

The days when musicians and their record labels could rely on selling their albums through traditional record stores are gone. Today, very few musicians get the opportunity to have a multi-million dollar campaign as their force to distribute and sell their music. Your team has to learn to do it themselves. Artists, manager and their labels need to start finding creative ways to disburse their music.

The article on UK’s The Independent describes several different and creative ideas that new-coming artists on independent labels use to sell their music. One idea is of a rising pop star, Alex Roots, who had a poster at different Claire’s Accessories stores with the words “"Win! the chance to meet Alex and see her perform live in one of our stores". Later in the year, her debut album was stacked alongside with Claire’s merchandise.

Alex Roots’ story is one of many. Others include finding different outlets to sell CDs for instance, clothing stores. Urban Outfitters sells CDs in their chain that customers listen to while they shop. Upmarket retailer Agnès B has also sold records by French and African artists which customers often got on sale along with other items.

Indie artists aren’t the only ones doing it themselves. Paul McCartney drew a lot of attention when he announced he was leaving EMI to join the Starbucks’ Hear Music label. This paved the way for other artist who joined in later. The coffee shop would sell the artist albums that were also being played at the same time. This exposure to more than 10,000 outlets gained artist a ready-made audience of millions.

So you see, there are more than several ways to sell your music without the need of a major label. You and your team can’t rely on the traditional ways that the record labels in the music industry use to distribute music. Times are different! Take advantage of the fashion market, the movie and TV industry, commercial & advertisements, and, of course, the Internet. Be creative and find your way.

Look out for posts next month on building your team, making money and the music industry.