There are many avenues for promotion, with the internet being a major avenue

people flock to in an effort to gain promotion. Apart from the additional

costs associated with promoting records most promotion companies will

quickly assure you that spending more with them will almost certainly

guarantee your success! But really, is it true that the more you spend, the

better the quality?

So is there a way to promote yourself and your product in a more cost

effective and relevant fashion? Here are is one powerful, tried and tested

method that I would like to suggest... *Working With Independent Record

Stores!*

That’s right. Independent Record Stores are one of the most underrated and

unused resources by bands and artists today. Why? Firstly they believe in

the myth that CD and Vinyl is dead. Secondly, they follow the misleading

news that says that all independent record stores have gone for ever.

But people forget that the Music Business is a People Business, and no

matter the amount of broadband speed we may have it will never ever remove

the need for face to face interaction. I’ll say it again; "the Music

Business to remain a People Business!"

The Local Independent Record Store is so strategic to the success of any

artist/band because of the following reasons:

1.  This is a place where the industry converges. It is the place the
   

product creators, product promoters and product sellers meet. It is the place

the industry comes to if anyone wants to get their music sold. Every player in the music business ascribe immense value to record stores.

2.  It is the frontier of contact with the buyer. This is the place that
   

the early adopters go to listen to and be informed about the latest music.

I have a saying that "the record stores know best". They know what the

customers are buying. They know what the customers more than the singer does.

3.  Most people in the stores have contacts within the industry. Because
   

of the assembly of experts, creators and innovators gathered in one placed,

they become a credible source of information. Therefore industry

professionals such as like Label Managers, A&R personnel and DJs would much

rather listen to their recommendation than to some CD randomly chucked on

their desk.

Beside if a song is selling by the bucket load through the store it is an

indication of great sales if signed by a record company. This risk reduction

is very appealing to record companies!

4.  Sales staffs are generally working within other areas of the
   

industry i.e. as DJ’s, promoters etc. The beauty of this is that staff in

the stores can promote your record if they like it for no cost to you at

all!

5.  They are willing to help credible, creative artists! Most store owners are interested in music themselves and entered the business because of love. If they find a product interesting  they will also help to see it attain the position it deserves!
   

So start building a relationship with your local record store today and see

your business change and your income increase! It is time to dispense with efforts that only produce a small result but rather we should follow tried and tested avenues that work!