(excerpted from his book, Indie Marketing Power: The Guide for Maximizing Your Music Marketing).

How many times have you thought this: “I’m just not cut out to be a salesman”; “I don’t like promoting myself;” and “I’m too busy to spend my time marketing”?

Marketing your self, your songs, your CDs or your live shows is imperative in this dense media market we inhabit. But getting your signal through all the noise out there often seems like a hurculean task, leaving us feeling paralyzed or powerless.

At one time or another we’ve all shared these feelings. They are real.

Fortunately, to get the business you need, you don’t have to have a “sales personality,” or try to become someone you’re not, or grit your teeth to do things that you find offensive. (more…)

Getting ahead in the music business today means setting your sail in the right direction. Peter Spellman (mbsolutions.com) presents four guidelines to help musicians ride the winds of change towards success, and to thrive (not just survive) in their music careers.

This is an episode of “Music Career Juice”. n. Music Career Juice:1. Tools & tactics to help ‘juice’ your indie music career; 2. Mind & soul supplements designed to move your music career forward; 3. Illuminating insights on the music business, music marketing and music career development.

Peter Spellman is Director of Career Development at Berklee College of Music, and author of numerous music career guides. Find him at mbsolutions.com.

(excerpted from his book, Indie Marketing Power: The Guide for Maximizing Your Music Marketing).

Remember Lisa Loeb? She was an unsigned artist who went to school with the actor Ethan Hawke. When he was doing the movie “Reality bites,” he brought her music in for soundtrack consideration. RCA liked it, put her on the film’s soundtrack, and that track of hers blew up and launched her music career.

Film and TV song placements aren’t just for the big stars. For the past ten years or so there has been a trend to look for something edgier and offbeat, like an underexposed pop tune or a song from an undiscovered band. In turn, the placement can catapult them into hits. Moby, Feist, Band of Horses, Wilco, Of Montreal and numerous others have experienced career accelerations through the visibility created by film and TV music placements.

What follow are some guidelines for approaching these markets with your music. The key is first understanding the context of each market, then forging an approach that makes sense. (more…)

(excerpted from his book, Indie Marketing Power: The Guide for Maximizing Your Music Marketing).

It is not essential to register your copyrights with the government’s Copyright Office (copyright.gov) but it is advisable. Registration creates a clear paper trail in the event of an infringement on your copyright. Plus (and this is ultimately most important), formal registration allows you to collect statutory damages as well as attorney fees from the infringer when you win your case. ‘Nuff said.

There are five music-relevant copyright registration forms obtainable from the Library Of Congress. They are: (more…)

(excerpted from his book, Indie Marketing Power: The Guide for Maximizing Your Music Marketing.)

Besides the obvious profit potential, which is attractive to anyone seeking a good business to start, there are several situations that make setting up a publishing company a natural move:

• Songwriters may want greater control over their own copyrights, as well as earn more money from their use.

• New songwriters may want to short-circuit frustrations of trying to get publishers to accept their work.

• Record producers and recording artists may want to own some of the copyrights that they record. (more…)

Peter Spellman is an artist development specialist, helping musicians apply their entrepreneurial instincts to create success. He is Director of Career Development at Berklee College of Music, and founder of Music Business Solutions, a training resource for music entrepreneurs.

He has over twenty-five years’ experience as a performing and recording musician, and has worked as a booking agent, label director, music editor, artist manager and producer.

Peter’s many writings include:

• The Self-Promoting Musician: Strategies for Independent Music Success (2000/2008)

• The Musician’s Internet: Online Strategies for Success in the Music Industry (2002)

• Indie Power: A Business-Building Guide for Record Labels, Music Production Houses and Merchant Musicians (2006)

• Indie Marketing Power: The Resource Guide for Maximizing Your Music Marketing (2006/2008)

• Your Successful CD Release: Market Planning for Singer-Songwriters (with Dave Cool, 2007)

• Plan Your Band!: Sample Band Business Plan and Investor Agreement All-in-One (2007)

Peter also produces a podcast called Music Career Juice available through iTunes.

You can find out more about Peter and his career-building books at mbsolutions.com.