This blog post is part of an ongoing series openly sharing how I’m attempting to promote my new music CD.
I’m going to eventually post a detailed summary of the kinds of marketing efforts I’ve made and the actual results, but this is one of the more exciting ones so I wanted to post about it as soon as I could.
Last week I shipped about 25 CDs to various radio stations across Colorado. Finding stations that are most friendly to Independent music was relatively easy. After a quick Google search, I discovered this link.
In the packages, I included a cover letter, a biography, and the lyrics to my songs. In addition to the paper, I added some buttons and stickers that I had created (more about that later) and, of course, the CD. I have requested specifically that stations play “Pain is a Megaphone” as my first “single.” I also included a hand-written note on each cover letter. My desire in this mailing was to be a little more personal and fun than the typical indie artist CD submission most stations are likely to receive. Having worked in radio for several years myself, I know the kinds of things you get in the mail there.
On the outside of each envelope, I added one of my stickers in hopes that the packaging would stand out a little beyond just a simple padded envelope.
RESULTS: We’re still early in this campaign, but I’ve heard back from a couple people who received my CD. One was quite enthusiastic and said they would play the music immediately. The other had a couple follow-up questions. Another station here in Colorado Springs, unrelated to this mailing, has said they are going to play some songs from the CD starting this Tuesday.
Incidentally, I do realize that this kind of transparency isn’t exactly how you build mystique as an artist. I’m taking some of the magic out of things just by posting so openly about the process. I think mystique is pretty overrated, though.
NOTE TO STATIONS: If you’re reading this and trying to figure out if my CD was part of some kind of joke or experiment, it’s not! I’m a legitimate independent artist trying to quit my day job. This blog is part of that, but it’s also designed to encourage and advise other artists of the pitfalls and rewards of doing your own PR. If you are playing the CD or happen to have comments on the package you’ve received, please respond in the comments or send me an email at jeff [@] jeffcaylor.com.
Popularity: 6% [?]
