LIBERIAN MUSIC ADVANCEMENT: TOOLS TO GET YOUR MUSIC MEDIA BUZZ

LIBERIAN INTERNATIONAL ARTIST JON BRICK & TOP CHINESE ARTIST
ZHENG ZHENG

LIBERIAN INTERNATIONAL ARTIST- DSP

HOW TO GET MEDIA ATTENTION FOR YOUR MUSIC!

BY JMK Publicist- Owner: Junda Morris – Kennedy

With the Liberian Music industry in its infant stage many artists lack the know- how on what it takes to create media buzz on the African continent and the diaspora for their music. Without an audience you have nothing. Creating buzz means simply getting your name out there and getting people talking about you. With the international success of Liberian artists like DSP, Jon Bricks, Musulyn from Project Fame West Africa, Liberian music portal Liberian Stars View and I REP LIB, it’s almost like there is a daily emergence of new artist to the industry. Liberia being newest to the growing African music industry, artists find it hard to not only get support from their community but from other African communities. Liberia artists here are few tips on what it takes to create a buzz not only in Liberia but the entire Africa and the world.

 

#1, Place Your Footprint: Let African media know who you are and what country you represent. Africa is a wide open music market and Liberia is the new kid on the block. Show the African media you are worth their time and can give them innovative music that can be a crossover on the entire continent, place your footprint. What this means is you must take advantage of social media to give you an edge. Create your twitter account, YouTube Channel, Facebook fan page, MySpace, blog or your own website. Remember social media sites are FREE and they are great tools to showcase your face base to media.

 

#2, Know then by name (African/International Media): Spend some time doing research to build a contact list of top music journalists, magazine editors, television show producers, publishers and bloggers. Know their genre, style, how they like things sent to them and read some of the articles they have written/published. Time is money; don’t waste precious time sending information to media that do not focus on African music.

 

#3, It’s Press Kit Time: Every Liberian artists “MUST” have a press kit. “NOW YOU COOKING WITH CHICKEN SOUP! A press kit let’s music industry professionals know that you mean business and you take your work seriously. What goes into a press kit?

Biography

Music clips (with accompanying lyrics)

High resolution press photos

Tour dates (only if apply)

Promotional videos

Website or website links

Press reviews and interviews, etc.

“RIYL” or “Recommended If You Like” list: a listing of artists of similar styles or genres

High resolution photos or images of the band logo, products, etc.

• Contact information

With media professionals being extremely busy, when emailing your press kit, make sure it’s not more than one page long. Let it be straight to the point. LEAVE OUT ALL THE FLUFF!

 

Our friends at Sonicbids offer the most popular electronic press kit (EPK). Liberian artists this is a great tool that can get you booked for gigs.

 

#4, Absolutely- No MP3s: To make sure your music stands a chance of being heard, send to your music embedded in your press kit.  The easier you make it the better your chances.
 

# 5, Submit press release as an embedded text: Do not submit your press release to the media as an attachment.  The media receives tons email on a daily basic so make sure yours does not go to their spam box. Take advantage of email marketing tools on the market. E.g. Constant Contact, IContact, etc……. Make it as easy as possible for them to notice your release.

 

* After 2 weeks of sending your release, just send a courteous thanks you note to all media outlets you submitted your release to. Even if they didn’t do a story on you the first time you send a release, they will remember you for the next time.

 

Let the World & Africa know that Liberian Music Industry means business.