You’ve written the songs, worked out all the arrangements and rehearsed them endlessly. You went into the studio, painstakingly recorded and fussed for weeks over the final mix. At last, your record is finished. You’ve uploaded it to all the streaming services and posted about it on social media. Job well done, right? Wrong.
Just because you’ve finished recording doesn’t mean your record is ready to release into the world. There are many other steps you can and should be taking – from registering copyright and performance rights protections to metadata to building a groundswell of excitement. They’re all intended to make sure your record hits with a bang and not a thud. There is much to do. But never fear – Sync Up has you covered.
This is part of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's free Sync Up music business workshops – this one on the topic "Making the Most of Your Record Release." The presenter is Ariel Hyatt, founder of Cyber PR and one of the pioneers in digital strategy and fan engagement for independent artists. Hyatt will talk you through a detailed “to do” list of specific, bite-sized actions that can help your music attract the audience it deserves.
Step one: Give yourself plenty of time. Building excitement for a record requires multiple steps over many weeks. Don’t rush it.
What they’re saying about Ariel Hyatt: "My PR guru & social media mentor." Derek Sivers, Founder of CD Baby "Thanks to Ariel’s simple strategies, I am no longer afraid of what can be truly overwhelming when it comes to social media, online marketing, and 21st century technology." Talie Melnyk, Actress, Writer & Certified Movement Specialist
About Ariel Hyatt: Ariel Hyatt has been a fierce entrepreneur for more than 20 years and runs Cyber PR, an artist development, social media & content strategy firm based in New York City. Her agency advises on how to create online influence and release impactful projects. She has spoken in 12 countries to over 100,000 creative entrepreneurs and is the author of four bestselling books on social media, marketing, and crowdfunding including “Cyber PR for Musicians” and “Music Success in 9 Weeks.” Her newest book, “Crowdstart: The Ultimate Guide to a Powerful and Profitable Crowdfunding Campaign,” went to No. 1 on Amazon in the music, investing, and entrepreneurship categories.
The Sync Up series of music business workshops is produced and presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised funds, for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment. For more on what they do, please visit jazzandheritage.org.
