How to Get the Attention of Music’s Tastemakers

 

By Cari Cole

How to Get the Attention of Music’s Tastemakers

 

You’re a serious, hard-working independent artist committed to making music that matters. And you’re tired of not being able to get the attention you need. You may be experienced, with albums under your belt and a busy tour schedule—but unable to break through to the next level—wondering, Can I keep doing this? Or maybe you’re emerging, and heavily invested in a record, and trying to get attention, only to find it isn’t getting any real response, even though everyone you’ve shown it to says it’s great.

 

There’s always something in the message, songs, brand, business or the artist’s mindset that’s creating a block. One famous artist once said to me, “it’s never about industry, it’s always about you”. Overtime helping artists in the industry, I have found this to be absolutely true. Often it’s just a few tweaks, or that the artist is not yet at the pivotal point in their evolution where the fountain is overflowing and they need a push to take that deeper dive and up their game.

 

Here are my top 5 tips to get you to the place where Industry Tastemakers Are Looking for You.

 

1. Don’t Put Out Music That is Less Than Your Very Best

Deliver exceptional music. It is really is all about the music. Period. People respond to great music. If people aren’t responding, you haven’t arrived yet. Never stop going back to the drawing board. Your next song could be the one.

 

2. A Brand That Sizzles and Pops

No matter how good your music is, if your visual brand is not up to snuff, you’ll get passed on. And no one wants that, especially when you’re trying to get an important blogger or industry tastemaker attention.

What makes a brand pop? It’s definitely a longer conversation, and one I’ll blog about soon, but for now, here’s a few quick tips:

  1. You need to be in step with today’s visual world of brands. Research artists like Rihanna & Beyonce who have big marketing budgets. Their “look” is usually in step with, or ahead of what’s current.
  2. White Space. An artist we recently rebranded had an old look to her site that was holding her back. Once we hit refresh with more white space, a cleaner look and a big capital letter font for her name, it looked enticing, more modern and ultimately more compelling.
  3. Compelling Photos. Artful professional photos that deliver a clear message of who you are are paramount. The world is visual and your brand is your music in visual representation. Tell a story through your photographs.
  4. Art Direction. We recommend getting art direction and a stylist for your photo shoot, don’t try to do it alone. Creating a visual story requires some heavy lifting and professional eyes.

 

3. Do Your Research

Whenever you are trying to get someone’s attention, know who they are. Do your research. Today you can find out who pretty much anyone is through your friend, Google. And don’t think that any attention is good attention, or treat everyone the same in the business. The marketing guy at Warner may have some good ideas for your brand, but he doesn’t have the power to sign you (or introduce you to anyone who will.) So be careful about whose attention your seeking and then what advice you take to heart. Knowing who you are dealing with is super important. It informs all of your decisions. Like, should you listen to them? And one of the biggest stumbling blocks for most artists is finding the right people who will help them. Most people in the music business move around and have a richly pebbled path. The more you know who they are, the more informed and inside the business you sound. People in the business like to deal with people who know the business and know who they are.

 

4. Get Representation

Most music blogs, music supervisors, publicists and label reps get their referrals from inside the industry. So when an independent artist reaches out themselves, it is obvious they are not working with a team. Which then says, they are nobody. If you want to be somebody, it’s way easier when you have people inside the industry represent or refer you.

People who represent are: people in music with connections. Those would be in 3 stages:

Stage 1: Easier to reach — music consultants, mentors, PRO reps even vocal coaches and music teachers (the ones with connections.)

Stage 2: Harder to reach (or have to hire) — lawyers, publicists,

Stage 3: Top tier — These are people you are working with … music supervisors, licensing companies, booking agents, managers, radio promoters.

If you don’t have access to any of that, you might want to think about starting your own faux management company and when you talk to industry have a fake name. Many artists have risen that way, but you need to have a business brain ;).

 

5. Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You

As I said in #1, it really is all about the music. Meaning that the quality of your songs, your recordings & production and your artistic statement and direction, are really what everyone responds to. If people are not responding as much as you’d like, it’s not there yet. Keep going back to the drawing board to create your greatest work of art. It’s ultimately, the only way you’ll rise.

Looking for Attention from today’s Music Industry Tastemakers? Join our live free training and find out How to Get Them Looking for YOU! (without selling your soul…) Get the low-down, the real deal on what it takes to get serious attention from industry tastemakers and talent scouts — and what you might be doing right now that’s actually sending them running in the opposite direction or passing you by.

 

Blog

Share this post

Categories

Hi, I’m Cari Cole.

You’ve got talent, but you want to become great at it. You’re in the right place! My mission is to help you refine your unique artist vision to bring to the world.

About Cari Cole

Cari Cole is the CEO / Founder of caricole.com and CCVM: Label Without Walls. She is a Holistic Vocal Coach, Artist Development Expert, A&R Director, and Songwriter based in New York City helping artists for the past 38 years. She is a mentor for Women in Music and The Association of Independent Music Publishers.

Her latest venture, CCVM a label services company, provides artists with a seamless path from creation to completion. After 30+ years of observing the overwhelm and challenges that artists face, Cari pulled together the best top creative professionals and designed a new approach to supporting our artists.

Disclaimer:
The information provided on Cari Cole's website is informational only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on Cari Cole's website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Worried About Losing Your
Voice During a Performance?

In a few minutes you'll learn:

  • Where your voice rates on the vocal health scale
  • How to realign your voice and regain vocal health
  • How to stay healthy and vocally fit throughout your career

Get Your Free Vocal Health Quiz

A Gift from Holistic Vocal Coach, Cari Cole.

Assess your vocal health + get my proven techniques and holistic remedies to support your vocal health.

INSTANT ACCESS

FREE DAY TRIAL

FREE DAY TRIAL

... I’ll show you how to manifest your music and get on track to the career of your dreams.

Kickstart your craft + career with FREE access to my Step Up to the Spotlight Artist Development Program

30 Videos      30+ Worksheets      52 Week Artist Plan

INSTANT ACCESS

FREE DAY TRIAL

FREE DAY TRIAL

... I’ll show you how to manifest your music and get on track to the career of your dreams.

Kickstart your craft + career with FREE access to my Step Up to the Spotlight Artist Development Program

30 Videos      30+ Worksheets      52 Week Artist Plan

Announcing a brand new experience...

Cari Signature_White

Presents:

VOCAL PERFORMANCE CIRCLE

8 weeks to your best performance, ever.

Ease. Execution. Excellence.

Cari Cole Vocal Coach Signature

free vocal workshop

The Power of the
Singing Voice

Thursday, May 4th at 2:30pm ET
*Limited seats available

Held LIVE on

Untitled design (3)

WORLD VOICE DAY

SAVe up to

50% OFF

ENDS APRIL 17!

Love yourself with a special gift...

VALENTINE’S DAY

SAVE UP TO

30% Off

ENDS FEBRUARY 15!

CCVM
Monthly Musician

MEMBERSHIP

CCVM

VOCAL
EXERCISES

CCVM

PROGRAMS

with Cari Cole

CCVM

PRIVATE
SESSIONS

with Cari Cole

Cari Cole Vocal Coach Signature
Cari Signature_White

Black Friday

SAVE UP TO

50% OFF

ENDS NOVEMBER 28!

CCVM
Monthly Musician

MEMBERSHIP

CCVM

VOCAL
EXERCISES

CCVM

PROGRAMS

with Cari Cole

CCVM

PRIVATE
SESSIONS

with Cari Cole

Back by popular demand!

Cari Cole Presents:

VOCAL FREEDOM CIRCLE

20 minutes a day.
3 months.
Your best voice ever.

*Program starts February 7 - April 10, 2024

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions