The ManageMental Podcast with Blasko and Mike Mowery

Article: https://www.quora.com/How-do-bands-break-out-and-become-famous   How does a band break and become famous? We all know there is no simple answer to this. However successful people do have habitual similarities that have been theorized as the foundation for their success. So... it stands to reason that perhaps there are reoccurring themes and actions that can be found in successful bands that can be reverse engineered for a new generation.    So… How do Bands break out and Become Famous? According to Matt O-Dowd a self proclaimed band dude, songwriter and composer the answer is not easy, but attainable. He writes:    Be extremely good at music. So good that people can't ignore you.   Some ways to achieve this: Develop a unique sound that is unmistakably you. Most successful artists of all mediums become famous for a signature style. Write extremely good songs that total strangers are interesting in hearing again. Your friends and your mom will say everything is great. They cannot be trusted.Listen to tons of music in a diverse range of genres, thus acquiring better instincts, greater knowledge, and better tastes. Listen to songs and sounds you love, and try to figure out why you love them. Find excellent creative partners and collaborate with them. Most great music is a team effort. Get used to the idea of ditching bad ideas and freely exchanging criticism. Be awesome at playing live, and find ways to make your shows memorable and unique.Record good stuff on your own. In your bedroom. In a friend's studio. Whatever. You really don't need very much money to make an excellent sounding record.   Mentions in this episode: Lorna Shore commercial (https://youtu.be/VdQZpNNbxY4), Refused’s Shape of Punk to Come (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-shape-of-punk-to-come/id300995967), and Cryptic Slaughter (https://www.facebook.com/CRYPTICSLAUGHTER/)   Email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is dedicated to answering questions from you, the listeners. Blasko and Mike tackle the following questions, submitted via email, with great detail and real world examples.   From Jesse: “My question is if you could explain the different types of record label deals for bands. I work with a few bands that have been approached to sign 360 deals. Please explain the difference in some deals you know of for artists.” From Cat: “I have been fortunate to find myself in a lot of songwriting writing sessions. Some with local acts and some with more established names in the music business.  My question is what is the best way to handle oneself in these situations when it comes time to discuss how things should be split?   I have received many opinions on this from: ‘you should establish this before your start writing’; to past mangers telling me not to discuss it at all, because they (manger) are going to do that. Would love to hear from your perspective how things should work. Is there a standard?” From Bobbi: “I was wondering about your opinions on street teams. When should you assemble one, how do you decide on incentives for the fans involved, and are street level ones really necessary anymore or is viral the way to go?”   Email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Article: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/04/the-art-of-using-cover-songs-to-grow-your-audience.html   Dave Kusek is the founder of the New Artist Model, an online music business school for independent musicians, performers, recording artists, producers, managers, and songwriters. He is also the founder of Berklee Online, co-author of The Future of Music, and a member of the team who brought midi to the market.   In this episode Mike and Blasko explore the points laid out by Dave Kusek in his article “The Art of Using Cover Songs to Grow Your Audience”. He writes:   Many artists may have conflicted feelings about cover songs, for although they can be fun to play and offer an easy way to connect with your audience, it can also be irritating when cover songs are all an audience wants, or when they get more attention than original compositions. Here we look at the best way to make cover songs work for you.   1. Make it Your Own Best way to get people who hear your covers into your original music? Put your own unique spin on every song you cover. That means bending the songs stylistically to fit with the kind of music you play and write.    2. Subscribers Over Views There’s this fascination with “viral” videos in the music industry. But a ton of views on a cover aren’t worth much on YouTube unless you can get in touch with those people again. We’ve seen a lot of musicians hit it with a crazy viral video only to release an original music video on deaf ears.   So instead of thinking, “How can I get 10,000 views,” get yourself in the mindset of, “How can I get as many viewers as possible to subscribe?”   Setting up suggested videos or playlists on your YouTube channel can be a great way to get people to continue watching, which increases the chance they’ll actually subscribe.   Don’t Be Afraid to Use Call to Actions  And that leads us into the next point – utilizing call to actions. So what exactly is a call to action? It’s basically just you directly asking your viewers or listeners to take some further action. Maybe it’s watching another video, or subscribing to your channel, or entering your contest, or clicking the link in your description box.   If you’re releasing covers on YouTube, you can easily use “cards” to suggest other videos your viewers can watch next. As you upload your video, you’ll be able to add cards in the “Cards” tab across the top of the upload screen. Use cards to suggest other cover songs or even original songs when people reach the end of your videos.    We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Missed out on Mike’s 60 Days to Signable course? Head over to www.outerloopcoaching.com to stay on top of the latest courses and news from Outerloop Coaching. Get $30 your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is inspired by 60 Days to Signable student Jeremy Miller who writes: “I met Mike briefly at Launch Music Conference and I’m really excited for the 60 Days to Signable class coming up. I’ve noticed a lot of different “music business help” sources contradict others, and I hear a lot of different opinions on the state of the scene/industry and how to get “big” with your music. I get it, different tactics work for different people and like I’ve heard Mike say, that there’s exceptions to everything. But I've personally noticed what works best is Having killer music, that's obviously the main thing.Always putting out consistent great content.Being fearless, persistent, but not a pestRealizing it takes time so be patient.Yes a bit of luck seems to be a factor for sure, but I truly feel like that seems to be the main mix for a successful path. I really think your podcast & things like Mike's outerloop coaching are great tools for people who are trying to make this their career.  So basically I just want to say thank you.  Keep up the awesome show & much respect to you both.”  Mike and Blasko go through Jeremy’s list above, point by point to give listeners a deeper understanding of what they mean in terms of the industry. Also in this episode: Mike’s comments about his visit to Launch Music Conference –  www.launchmusicconference.com We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Missed out on Mike’s 60 Days to Signable course? Head over to  www.outerloopcoaching.com to stay on top of the latest courses and news from Outerloop Coaching. Get $30 your next order at  ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network.  www.jabberjawmedia.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Ghost Lawsuit  http://www.metalinjection.net/metal-crimes/the-entire-ghost-lawsuit-document-leaks-more-info-on-why-former-nameless-ghouls-are-suing-papa-emeritus Do We Need A Band Agreement? https://www.thebalance.com/do-we-need-a-band-contract-2460671 This week, we take on the topic of band agreements, suggested by listener Eric Peterson, who also happens to be Mike’s neighbor! We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Join Mike's webinar “Sixty Days To Signable” at signup.outerloopcoaching.com. Classes are conducted online in seminar format with time for interaction nearly every week. Wednesdays 8 PM April 19 to June 7 with a fully interactive class session on June 7. Get $30 your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Blasko and Mike take on the subject of VIP Meet and Greets, requested by listener Jason Buggle. VIP packages are sold in addition to a show ticket and includes a number of perks. These packages have become almost somewhat of a necessity to assist in reducing expenses of touring while providing an additional stream of income to the bands.  What are the values of VIPs? What kind of experience should fans expect from a VIP? Why do VIPs exist? Do fans want it? What makes a VIP experience worth it? Find out in this episode.  We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313  Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Join Mike's webinar “Sixty Days To Signable” at signup.outerloopcoaching.com Get $30 your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag This podcast is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blasko interviews Mike for an in-depth look into Outerloop Coaching’s webinar course "Sixty Days to Signable". The webinar is 8 weeks long and each course brings something new to the table, students will learn from real-life experiences, and have access to Mike and his team to answer questions throughout program. At the end of the 8-week course students will be able to walk away with new knowledge and resources to allow them to project their careers within the music industry.   Sign up for Sixty Days To Signable at signup.outerloopcoaching.com  Courses are Wednesdays at 8pm EDT April 19 - June 7 Tune into Mike's Facebook Live event Thursday April 6th at 8pm EDT for a special offer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Article: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/03/how-to-run-a-successful-crowdfunding-campaign-10-tips.html   Author: Leah Waldo is the Curriculum Manager for massive open online courses at Berklee Online. She is a Berklee College of Music alumna and received her Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.    We’re digging in to the subject of crowd funding and tips on how to successfully run one. Mike most recently had great success with the Darkest Hour crowdfund campaign and we explore Leah Waldo’s article “10 Tips to Run a Successful Crowd Funding Campaign” with the following points laid out in the article:     Grow Your Email List and Social Media FollowersSet a Realistic GoalIdentify Potential Donors Outside of Your Email List and Social Media FollowersMake a Compelling Video That Tells your StoryDon’t Sell Yourself ShortDon’t Give Too Many OptionsMake Your Fans Feel Like They Are on the Journey with YouKeep in TouchBe GratefulIf at First You Don’t Succeed, Try and Try Again    We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop   Mike is opening his knowledge base of the business to aspiring musicians! Join his webinar “Sixty Days To Signable” at signup.outerloopcoaching.com   Get $30 your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Article: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2014/05/28/myths/   Author: Bob Lefsetz   In the last episode we talked more about record labels and how to score that elusive “deal". This week we dig into some music business mythology. Blasko uncovered an article written by the ever so controversial Mr. Bob Lefsetz simply titled “Myths” on his Lefsetz Letter Blog. We discuss each point in detail from myth to reality.     Sales count.It’s no longer whether someone buys your album, but whether they listen to it, that’s the relevant metric that everybody seems to ignore as they trumpet irrelevant SoundScan numbers. Want to know if an act is truly happening, check their TICKET COUNTS!   Social media builds careers.This would be like saying a baseball player’s statistics make him a star. No, it’s what he does on the field. Social media is a way for fans to stay in touch with their musical heroes. Music always has been and always will be the epicenter of any career. In other words, if you’re good enough, you don’t have to tweet, you don’t have to maintain a Facebook page, your fans will spread the word and keep you alive. But you must have your music on YouTube and streaming services, you’ve got to make it easy for people to access it and listen to it.   Publicity sells tickets.If this was so, Miley Cyrus would sell out. But she doesn’t. And she’s gotten more press than anybody. It’d be like expecting Kim Kardashian to fill arenas.   Terrestrial radio is forever.It is the dominant listening format, it’s still the best way to break a record. But if it’s so big and powerful, why can you not name the number one record?   Record companies care about art.They only care about money, it’s a business, and if anybody tells you different, they’re lying.   Google Glass is the future.It breaks the number one rule of fashion, it’s dorky! Wearables will play a part in the future, but they’ll be relatively hidden, accessories. Only the geeks at Google could miss this. In other words, give a nerd a billion dollars and he’s still a nerd.   Selling out is cool.No, credibility is cool.   Raising a ton of money on Kickstarter means anything other than the money.It’s not about money, but how many pledgers there are. And in most cases, especially music, the number of people ponying up is miniscule. They’ll support the artist, but they won’t help grow the artist’s reach/career.   Sound quality counts.If it did, no one would be wearing Beats headphones. They sell because they’re a fashion item. By APPLE aligning with a laughable enterprise built on momentary hype they are squandering brand equity.   Email your questions/comments to Blasko at askblasko@gmail.com   Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @Mikeoloop   Mike is opening his knowledge base of the business to aspiring musicians! Join his webinar “Sixty Days To Signable” available now at signup.outerloopcoaching.com     Use the code: mentalflag to get $30 off your next order at ArtistFlags.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Article: http://music3point0.com/2017/02/23/4-things-record-deal/ Author: http://www.bobbyowsinski.com Bands tend to think that the holy grail is scoring a record deal. I imagine a lot of that thought process comes from the need for validation of their art. There is nothing wrong with that but in this digital age a recording contract is not necessarily the end game. Many a career has been established at the hands of many independent artists for many years. But nothing can change the fact that whatever your goals are, if you want an actual career in this business you need to build some kind of foundation and fan base with your music. I and many others put a lot of stock in bands that can build a strong social media presence early in their career. However, Blasko recently came across a post written on Music Three Point 0.com by Bobby Owsinski that somewhat argues my position and kicks it back old school.   He writes:  It wasn’t that long ago that A&R execs at record labels were scouring the online platforms, looking for acts with the high view numbers, page visits or Likes. All that’s changed as artists and their webmasters became more sophisticated in gaming the system by using bots or fake users to drive up their numbers. Today you can easily purchase big numbers of views or likes for a relatively small amount of money, but does that actually help you get that elusive record deal?  Gone are the days of A&R executives scouring artist's social media to determine an artists popularity. Now, these executives have in many ways fallen back on older methods of gauging whether an artist will be a label success. Here, we look at four factors they are likely to be considering. Do you actually draw an audience when you play a gig?Do you connect with an audience in a live show as well as you do in an edited video?Are you charming and memorable in off-the-cuff interviews and interactions?Do you actually sound good live? In this episode, we go over each question with real world examples. We encourage you to send any questions/comments you may have for us and the podcast. Email Blasko at askblasko@gmail.com. Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @Mikeoloop Get Mike’s “Music Management Primer – The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterlopCoaching.com  Use the code: mentalflag to get $30 off your next order at ArtistFlags.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we answer a question from long time listener, Wade. He voiced some concerns regarding PR and Publicists and specifically when is a good time to hire one and what can they do to further your career.   Below are the questions we cover:   "My band is currently building a package to launch very soon. We all have a lot of experience but this is the birth of this band. We just finished our EP, built a website, set up an online shopping store, acquired thousands of followers across the big social media platforms (without any audio), etc…Now that we have all our ducks in a row, is now a good time to cultivate a PR relationship?"    "We haven't played any shows. Will this stop a PR from being interested in us?"   "Should we release this EP, play some shows, build more of a following, record our next EP in four months and then pursue PR for our second release?"    We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com.   Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313   Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop   Get Mike’s "Music Management Primer - The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterloopCoaching.com.  Mike's brand new course - SIXTY DAYS TO SIGNABLE is now accepting sign ups - which will run Wednesdays from April 19 to June 7 at 8 PM EST. Space is limited and is expected to sell out quickly.  If you’re serious about your band’s or your personal success, there is no time like the present.  Visit OuterloopCoaching.com/signup for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  We were recently contacted by a music biz colleague, Attorney Mark Kesten. He voiced some concerns regarding issues that he encounters with a lot of young bands feeling misinformed about when and why and how to hire an attorney. We even call our good friend Los Angeles-based music attorney Eric German to weigh in on today's topic.   This was the basis of Mark’s email to us…    "I check out a good number of music industry podcasts and find that, for the most part, nobody speaks about the role an attorney can play in the very early stages of an artist’s career. Some bands have made critical mistakes in signing agreements early on without seeking counsel and these agreements end up really hurting their chances for success.  Similarly, I also speak to a number of young managers that are unaware of the role attorneys can play in a young artist’s development."   So, let’s dispel a few myths…  1. You don’t get a good attorney until much later in your career.    2. You cannot afford a good music lawyer.    3. A band's manager should be reviewing and negotiating their contracts for them in the place of an attorney.     Eric German, a music attorney who represents a number   - What are some of the bands you represent?    - Where does one look to hire a music biz attorney?    - Do bands need to hire a specific music business attorney or will any legal representation be sufficient?    - When is the right time to hire a music biz attorney?    - How much does it cost?    - Your best piece of advice for developing bands?    We encourage you to send in any questions/comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com.     Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop   Get Mike’s "Music Management Primer - The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterloopCoaching.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“15 Very Quick and Helpful Things You Can Do To Help Your Music Career” by Sari Delmar for MusicThinkTank.com is the basis for this episode's discussion. http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/15-very-quick-and-simple-things-you-can-do-to-help-your-musi.html   We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com.    Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop    Get Mike’s "Music Management Primer - The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterloopCoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we reference the article on Music Think Tank written by Simon Tam: http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/6-ways-to-get-more-people-to-your-shows.html  Do you sometimes feel that your band’s draw is languishing? Are you tired of seeing the same people at your shows and want to play to a new crowd, even in your hometown? If you’re like most musicians, you know that you absolutely can do better, that you have more fans out there than who actually show up at at the venue, and despite always receiving positive feedback, you don’t know why more people aren’t showing up. If you have a great show that people thoroughly enjoy, you’re off to a great start. However, these days it simply isn’t enough. Chances are, you and your bandmates can do a little more to help bring the crowd out to your shows. A bigger crowd means you’ll have some more income, as well as a buzz about your music that can get you into larger venues. We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com. Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Get Mike’s "Music Management Primer - The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterloopCoaching.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Article: Is your band REALLY ready to be on a record label? By Shan Dan Horan  http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/is_your_band_really_ready_to_be_on_a_record_label   If you’re currently grinding it out in a basement or garage somewhere, chances are “being signed” is on your list of long-term goals. But, we offer a reality check: Are you actually ready to be in a partnership with a record label?     1. Is your music not just good, but great? With the advent of the internet, music has become so universally accessible that every band in the world now has a platform to take center stage. This is a great way to garner attention from fans and record labels across the world; however, now it’s harder than ever to get noticed. One of the greatest ways to shine through your competition is having a spectacular album—after all, that’s what this is all about. While some people would disagree with me, one of the most important factors with any successful band is having not good, but greatmusic.    2. Do you have a tour history? You can only advertise your album on Facebook so much. With a new album comes an intense touring schedule. Getting out on the road and spreading your music is by far one of the best ways to gain new fans (especially a tour with bands that have a similar following). The perils of the road are harsh, and being away from the comforts of home can break the most hardened individual. If a band hasn’t proved themselves on the road, most labels will view that as a risk.   3. Are you open to suggestions and change? With being signed to a label comes a vast cloud of knowledge. There are people who have dedicated most of their lives to breaking bands and know the ins and outs of what works and what doesn’t. Sometimes you will get asked to do things that won’t make sense to you at first, but the reasons behind the changes will become apparent over time. If you aren’t open to change or input from someone else, you most certainly aren’t ready for a record label and should maybe maintain a DIY approach.   4. Do you view your band as a business, or a hobby? At some point, every musician needs to sit down and ask themselves this serious question: “Is music something I just want to do for fun, or do I want this to be my full-time job?” If you are serious and want your band to become your career, it's time to treat it like a job. Get up early, set goals and tasks, start managing your money, calculating costs and expenses and printing merch. Is your product good enough, or does it need more work? A record label will always pick up a band that has their business together over one that is a complete mess.   5. Do you have a fanbase? On the daily, I receive hundreds of band submissions at Artery Recordings, and most convey the message that “all they need is to get signed.” No music, no shows, no fans, just that message. The truth is, I don’t have a button under my desk I push that makes a band instantly famous with an army of instant fans. All bands take time and effort to develop. Before committing to such a huge task, every label looks to see if you already have “buzz.” If you have “buzz,” most labels hope to intensify that on a bigger scale. So promote, play shows, place ads, premiere videos—all are small steps in the right direction.    We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com.   Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop   Get Mike’s "Music Management Primer - The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterloopCoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices