The other week I went on a rant about the sloppy, disorganized, or the otherwise non existent state of PR, EPK’s and Advances for the ever growing slew of West Coast (and beyond) electronic music producers, independent labels, or booking agents out there.

I want to highlight an artist kit I received recently as a possible example of inspiration. The key to this press kit was that it got my attention. The depth of its presentation was such that, no matter if I was going to like the music, I was going to clear a space in my day to give this group the attention it deserved.



Here’s what I got: My letter carrier delivered a notice that something was waiting for me to pick up at my local post office. When I got there I was surprised to find that a redCola Records (http://redcola.com/)had sent me a long poster tube. Within I found a limited edition silkscreened poster titled “Venus,” which I’m totally going to frame, a letter describing the music project they represent, called Obtain (http://www.obtain.name/)(a new project of East Hollywood artist and producer Jonathan Paul and Dutch artist Von Munchausen) and a business card with a 128MB USB thumb drive (photos, links and music) taped to it. Wow. Okay, now you have my attention!



Not every band has to go to this length. But if you can dream up something like this and can afford it in both time and money, then do it. Custom USB sticks are so cheap if you buy in bulk. When the project demands it, send an experience, items that underline and enhance the landscape of your musical experience.

Shit, that's a record label really doing their job...

Great stuff. One thing I want to add is MAKE YOUR LINKS WORK AND SIMPLE TO FIND.

All to many times I see facebook fan pages that have 3-page-bio's but no obvious link or widget with the actual music of the artist in it.
Soundcloud has this "Tracks" tab you can add to facebook. And there is a load of other band-like facebook plugins.

also:
Make sure you get your soundcloud url right BEFORE you send it to a hundred blogs... you CAN customize the url to a track youknow.
i.e. I have a track called "Inofaith - Restless Nights (ft. Calendargirl)".
Now when you upload the mp3 file the default url extention on soundcloud could end up messy like "/inofaith-restless-nights-(ft-calendargirl)-version3-320mp3-mastered/", you see?

Please shorten it to the basics like "/resteless-nights/" and do so before you give the link to blogs etc so you don't get any broken embedded players.
Also people can actually remember the track title and type it in and find it again, and this way it can actually fit in a twitter message.

I've been thinking of putting together a submit page on my blog.
Going to see if do it over the week-end.
Thank god I have a fellow blogger and been covering my ass since super busy at work.
Hopefully work slows down next week but if ever want promo work done I'm only here to help.
I assure you nothing gets leaked from me. My partners even know that my playlist is listenable but can't be removed from my laptop.

Debating on what to start to help out most efficiently: label, PR group, or management
I have a lot to say on this subject but crazy busy at my day job, SEO firm
Considering the skills I have in SEO I want to use them to help out the indie guys out

and seriously massive complements to Shilo.
She works hard and does an amazing job.
She's a huge inspiration to me.

Will be sending some new stuff your way Mr Monk!

Great thread. Way too much knowledge to absorb in one night. Sticky this and let's make an eBook!

Branding is everything for a music artist, even if people have never heard your music, if they heard/ seen the name/ logo
you are 1/2 way there, is like standing on a supermarket isle and picking up a cereal box from a familiar brand name.
I'm not trying to compare music artists to cereal boxes, but instead the choices we make as consumers when it comes to choosing something new.

When I used to work at a skate magazine, I would get tons of both, music and video game releases, and some of their promo kits were just insane, this with the intention to buy you into checking it out, and earning the chance of a product review.

Here's an example done by a small agency for a big client (vh1) to promote a release called "50 greatest hip hop artists"

The packaging had an illustration of a boom box...when opened it becomes a step by step break dancing mat.

This thread is a much needed and far-too-rare kick in the ass.