This article was posted from GuitarPlayerZen.com. You can check out his band The Spirits of Music or his myspace page.

Do you have a Personal Brand Statement that defines you as a musician? If you are like most musicians/guitarists you probably have never even thought about it. This morning I attended a Marketing Seminar where the key note speaker, Valerie Pelan, lectured on Personal Brand and Visibility Management, and I sure did learn a heck of a lot that can be applied directly to one’s music career. Having a Personal Brand Statement sets you apart from 99% of the other musicians, as well as helping you to more effectively and efficiently realize your goals. (more…)

Fellow Sonicbidders,

This is my first post at the new home for my blog that I call “Panos’ Brew” (good, pitch black coffee = heaven).

I promise to keep updating my blog frequently so keep coming back for random thoughts and unbridled musings on this fun new world we’re all a part of. If you want to access my previous blog posts, you can find them here. (more…)

You’ve put together your EPK and are ready to submit your materials to the many awesome listings on Sonicbids. Now what?

Do your homework

A lot of artists treat submissions like lottery tickets. This might seem like an exciting idea, but remember that the lottery has its downside – like the fact that your odds are generally 1 in several million. However, the odds of getting even the most in-demand gigs are not only significantly better to start with, but by choosing gigs wisely and being sure you present yourself in the best possible way, you can make the odds even better. (more…)

Sometimes overlooked, your photo is what a lot of promoters use to judge what level you are at in your career. Displaying professionally done photos can show that you are serious about your craft. Hiring a professional is a great way to make sure your band looks their best. However you might have to do some research to make sure their art complements your art, and that they have experience working with bands. It is also a good idea to know what you are looking for when choosing the right photographer.

Here are some tips- (more…)

(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…)