Looking to commercialize a rap artist, need ideas

9 years ago

Can you add more detail? When you say "commercialize" what do you mean? Sell records? Build brand? Book shows?

I love hip hop so if I can help, I will.

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Underground 9 years ago

The music has to be good enough to create a buzz. You need to create one on social media.

I don't know if in the States, there's channels like SBTV like in the UK.

This guy was in a very good underground collective called the Kraftsmen, where they sold lots of records on the street themselves, but then he did a video for SBTV, which had a massive audience:

English Frank | Warm Up Sessions [S2.EP13]: SBTV...

After that, I started seeing more of him promoting his older stuff on the back of the buzz, and started watching him. He was using social media himself as good as any record company could do for him.

Without creating a buzz, he wouldn't have been listened to and been able to massively increase his audience and fan base. He didn't just sit back, he used the platform SBTV gave him to full effect, got massive recognition for it, then continued to build on it and get millions more views for his other music.

This guy has intelligence and a drive and work ethic very few people have.
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Jason Kanigan

9 years ago

I think that is the main issue, finding a platform with an existing audience you can plug into.

This is what is most often done on Shark Tank. It's the distribution platform the Sharks provide which is more important than a cash infusion or business expertise or anything else.

Get your artist's work in front of a big audience, and a fraction (large or small) will like it. Much quicker and better than trying to eke out one new fan at a time.

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JodyRossDeane

9 years ago

Youtube.
Instagram.
Possibly Twitter.

BUILD BUZZ

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DABK 9 years ago

Like Jason said, find out what kind of music it is and who likes it... Then figure out what's the best way to reach those likers.

One way is to find music like theirs on youtube and follow the channels that display that similar music... Of course, that assumes you and them are good at matching their music with existing music... That there's similar music out there that a good enough number of people like.

You could also identify a singer/group that's in the same kind of music and see where they're advertising, where you find them.... Then make sure your guys get seen in/on the same places.
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mani222

Banned 9 years ago

The Need for Foul Language in Rap Music I believe that when we look at this question the main issue that one must confront is one of content and the use of that content. Any type of music whether it be rap, rock and roll, opera, country, or even Christian music is about expression. Expressing ones ideas and emotions though music is as old as music itself. Take for example the latest craze of Latin music. The vernacular of the people in which the music comes from is reflected in the music in the form of Spanish words and phrases throughout the songs

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quadagon

9 years ago

I think I would be looking at YouTube adverts and targeting similar music videos and artists.

Drive them to your YouTube channel and then to your website

Originally Posted by mani222

The Need for Foul Language in Rap Music I believe that when we look at this question the main issue that one must confront is one of content and the use of that content. Any type of music whether it be rap, rock and roll, opera, country, or even Christian music is about expression. Expressing ones ideas and emotions though music is as old as music itself. Take for example the latest craze of Latin music. The vernacular of the people in which the music comes from is reflected in the music in the form of Spanish words and phrases throughout the songs

Are we spinning posts now?

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bizgrower

9 years ago

What is he currently doing?

CD Baby

ITunes

"Down load a jingle" sites

Contacting/networking with local recording studios, radio and TV stations - they do ads in house as well as work with the agencies

Performing original (emphasis on original if he wants to get build a following) music locally.
It's very hard to go from being a local cover artist getting a following for originals.

Local band here has received a big boost via the lead singer performing the National Anthem
at the local major league baseball games (I think the Rockies are about 1 and 99 for other reasons, though)
The bands' music is a lot different than the National Anthem - more of a fun/rock/hip-hop style.

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nmwf

9 years ago

There are a bunch of websites that might help, and I really wish I kept my list of them. But what you want to do is look for sites like:

Getsigned.com | Products for aspiring artists of all kinds
Free Music Online - Internet Radio - Jango
http://www.musicxray.com/

My oldest son and I had a song playing through Music Promotion | Radio Airplay and Market Research for Every Musician | Audiokite. For more feedback, there are sites like Market Research for Every Musician | Audiokite. What's cool is that you get access to feedback for a very low monthly fee. I don't know if anyone has been discovered from it, but these two sites supposedly provide some (vanity?) leads for musicians that rise in popularity/rank.

Then there's also college radio stations...

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Almost forgot about TAXI: record deals, publishing deal, film TV placement, recording your music, songwriting

Also, other artists going the direct to market route who need soundtracks or songs, such as independent filmmakers - especially in the documentary or commercial arenas

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tiffanymika

9 years ago

All that they are telling you above...

And also Branding... They need to be branding themselves.

That's first thing set up their branding

Have their own site in their name, with everything they do on it. Their site is their hub

Cheers

Tiff

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cjsparacino123

9 years ago

well i guess ill be more specific, im looking to sell some of his tracks for commercial use, as that would make the most sense money/effort wise.. he also wants me to sell tickets for his upcoming show... how could i go about doing that? And he's a rap artist, so i need to find where people who like rap music hang, its tough, but i would start somehow through FB... bleh confused

One thing i did realize though is that if i can sell these tickets, i can give him the ROI that hes looking for... hmm interesting! must get off of someday isle!

But my plan right now is to promote through a major FB page giving thousands of soundcloud plays, and do that for a few days, then im not sure haha

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TheBigBee

9 years ago

Originally Posted by cjsparacino123

well i guess ill be more specific, im looking to sell some of his tracks for commercial use, as that would make the most sense money/effort wise.. he also wants me to sell tickets for his upcoming show... how could i go about doing that? And he's a rap artist, so i need to find where people who like rap music hang, its tough, but i would start somehow through FB... bleh confused

One thing i did realize though is that if i can sell these tickets, i can give him the ROI that hes looking for... hmm interesting! must get off of someday isle!

But my plan right now is to promote through a major FB page giving thousands of soundcloud plays, and do that for a few days, then im not sure haha

I have friends who are independent artists who live quite comfortably. One thing about them all is that they made sure that no matter what, they were on stages performing - anywhere for free when they got started.

One buddy of mine was on the same stage performing for free every single Thursday for almost a year at this one particular spot in NYC. He got to see hands on which material connected, what didn't. He would distribute free CDs (this was in 2005) and stick around after shows to hang out with people. Before facebook pages, he added folks as friends and kept the content he published consistent with his brand. The result, was he built a small but cult like following of a few thousand people who were willing to pay him for t-shirts after the show, for signed CDs, and for tickets. Then, the "dam broke." He was invited to perform with a fellow artist in Europe. He went out there and his material connected way more than here in the states and his 3-4,000 person fan base grew to 25,000+ out there. He defines a fan as someone who gives him at least $10 a year... $250k / yr not bad for doing what you absolutely love... While owning your own rights to your own music, brand, and publishing.

The mainstream music industry paints the picture of musicians success as all glits and glamour. No, you've gotta get with the people. George H. W. Bush would have never been elected President if he didn't decide to go knocking on doors as a candidate for Congress. No answer, he hand wrote a note. He could have easily just opted to by ads in the paper to have the paper boy deliver them. Chris Rock is rumored to have been in LA Comedy clubs bombing his brains out as he's honing material for his next HBO special. Gotta get out there and connect with the people...

Now... if he's more of a producer and not a lyricist... Then the focus should be the same for him as well now... Get as many people performing over his music as possible - give it out for free. The objective there is if you give out your stuff for free under a subjective license to enough people, then ultimately someone is going to "hit." When they hit, as a producer you then get paid for that track plus the other tracks and publishing that will be done for the artist.

Finally... there's no monetization without love. If he doesn't love it enough to give it out free until people are impelled to pay him, then maybe you should let him figure this all out hon his own...

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acornhill

9 years ago

WORLDSTARHIPHOP | Entertainment and News Media is probably the biggest hip hop website in the world. uploading a video cost, but will definitely help your artist get their name out

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Looking to commercialize a rap artist, need ideas

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