Like plenty of other college radio stations across Canada, CJAM receives hundreds of CDs weekly, and our music director sifts through the good and the bad entries. Musicians who send in their material often wonder what types of submissions make the cut. What is missing from their submission? This book will get your feet wet as a professional musician, whether you’re looking to send your work to stations, needing help promoting shows, or just looking for extra tips to spruce up your act.
There are many ways in which bands choose to convey themselves and their music. As a frequent concert-goer, I’ve seen some great bands play shows to a few people, and wondered why no one was there. As a programmer, I’ve seen bands perform that I’d have love to play on my radio show, but they didn’t have a website or even a demo to purchase their tunes. This is an opportunity lost for them to gain exposure to new fans.
If you’re a musician or group new to the area or the local scene, I strongly encourage you to go to shows. See what everyone else is doing. Make friends, form partnerships, and create new things from these connections. Understanding the way the music scene works is key, but it doesn’t mean you can’t shake things up a bit and try new things that haven’t been done before. I had many opportunities to speak with musicians who have found success in the local scene and beyond. Most have found a successful formula for themselves with the right promotion. It takes time to find something that works for you, but if you’re dedicated, you’ll see some progress.
You don’t have to treat it like a business (even though there is one) but for those starting out, it doesn’t hurt to take business concepts and apply them to your band. If you make good music, you need to find ways for people to hear it and appreciate your hard work.
If you’re looking to get serious about taking your music career to the next level, this is where you start.
Every time you tune in at 99.1 FM you’re hearing a volunteer on the air. Volunteers also help by maintaining our enormous music library, writing radio scrips, producing public service announcements, interviewing cool artists, reviewing music, helping out at festivals & events, updating our social media, and so much more!
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