December 23, 2015

How To Organize & Promote An Open Mic

"Open Mic is about 3 things – Location, Hospitality, and Camaraderie. Whether or not you agree with that statement, it’s hard to deny the fact that musicians want to go to open mic so they can rub shoulders with other like-minded and talented artists, plug into their local music community, and be where the action is."

An Open Mic show can be a great opportunity for local and independent artists to showcase and perform their music, get on-stage experience, connect with other artists, and build on their overall music promotion -- check out this great new article from our friends at Tunecore, all about performing at or even starting your own local Open Mic night, and best utilizing it for your music!

Read the full article here: http://www.tunecore.com/blog/2015/12/how-to-organize-promote-an-open-mic.html

How To Find A Great Booking Agent

"Finding and having a great booking agent can be invaluable for any up and coming band or musician -- agents have important connections and experience in the local and regional music scenes, and can be a deciding factor in the frequency and quality of an artist's shows, and overall music promotion..

Our friends at Music Think Tank just posted an excellent new article, with 4 important strategies for finding the very best booking agent to help take your promotion, shows, and music career to the next level!"

Check out the article here: http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/how-to-find-a-great-booking-agent.html

December 17, 2015

Center Stage - Bad Wave

Our latest Center Stage band Bad Wave has been making quite the splash in the indie-synth world and among Jango listeners worldwide. Their vibey sound and memorable melodies, reminiscent of Phoenix and Foster the People, take us on a trip in the clouds, around the sun, and back to a warm summer day on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Get to know the duo, and what they've got cooking for their promising music career. 

Bad Wave is the electro-pop duo of Tucker Tota and Patrick Hart. Starting as a side project of two members of L.A. surf-rock outfit Nicky Blitz, Patrick passed along some electro beats that Tucker penned catchy melodies to, and Bad Wave was born. Bad Wave's new single, "Runaway," will come out in early 2016 on 10K Islands.



Describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence.
Lazers! Intergalactic apple pie in a jacuzzi, also lazerz. (two sentences)

What inspires you to make music?
Tucker: The fire burning inside me. 
Patrick: It's less about inspiration, and more about the difficulty not making music.

What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
New technology! We can be on opposite sides of the city of Los Angeles (like being in different countries) and still collaborate on music together. It's so easy now that there are no excuses.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a musician?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

What's one of your all-time favorite recordings?
Tucker: Bobby Darin, live at the Copacabana. 
Patrick: Amon Tobin, ISAM

Name three people who have influenced your music, and tell us why- Living or dead.
Nicky Blitz, who brought us together. Green Day, who taught us to keep it punk, even when you're in an indie-electro band. Weezer, obviously.

Do you have any recent or upcoming projects you'd like to share with us? Tell us about it.
Our new single Runaway comes out in January, with a video Tucker directed.

What is your ideal or target audience?
Fans of retrofuturism.

Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process.
Tucker checks his email, finds a new track from Patrick, finds a quiet place and thinks for a few days. Patrick then checks his email, finds fresh vocal recordings from Tucker, assembles and ships. Infrequently, we complain about each other's work and revise. Occasionally we just record a Green Day cover (coming!).

What do you like the most about Radio Airplay?
New technology to reach new fans!


Bad Wave originates from the Chilean phrase “Mala Onda”






https://www.facebook.com/badwavemusic/
https://www.instagram.com/bad.wave/

December 16, 2015

Five Things to Consider When Launching a New Single

"Ready for the world to hear to hear your brand new track after spending hours in the studio recording it? Not sure exactly how to go about it? You’re not alone!" Check out this excellent new article and checklist from our friends at Music Think Tank - with great, useful information on what to do when you're finally ready to launch your new single to the world!

http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/five-things-to-consider-when-launching-a-new-single.html

Post A Short Album Trailer To Build Anticipation For Your New Music


"Album trailers are perfect for our moment. Short-form videos satisfy our short attention spans. And users of social platforms like Facebook and Twitter are now accustomed to viewing lots of video content in their feeds."

Learn about album trailers and what they should contain to compress the most important parts of your release into something that’s highly digestible in this great post by DIY Musician.

December 15, 2015

Submit Your Music and Get Your Music Heard By The People Who Matter

Submit Your Music

ArtistPR can help Submit Your Music To College and Internet Radio as well as music magazines, blogs and podcasts worldwide. They can connect you with Music Licensing Opportunities for TV, film and video games. Create an Electronic Press Kit to showcase your songs, photos, videos. Distribute a Press Release to get media coverage for your songs. Gain access to over 28,000 Music Industry Professionals, including music managers, supervisors, A&R reps, booking agents and more!

ArtistPR Premium Members get exclusive access to:

  • The Music Selling Machine Blueprint: Create a loyal following of music BUYING fans and sell more albums
  • Music Magazine and Radio Game Plan: Learn the insider secrets for getting featured in music magazines and getting interviews live on the air
  • Over 100 Music Legal Contracts, created by top entertainment attorneys
  • Music Grants Sources: Find funding for your music projects
  • Artist Consultation: Learnn to avoid the costly mistakes and pitfalls in the music industry
  • Band Website Hosting and much more!

Submit Your Music to get started. Give your music career the jump-start that it deserves!

December 11, 2015

2015 Holiday Contest Winners Announced!

Thank you to everyone who submitted to the 2015 Holiday Song Contest. We received a record breaking 3,000 submissions this year! Since there were so many great songs it was hard for us to narrow the winners to just 100, so we have added 180 to this year’s Independent '15 Holiday Station on Jango. 

You can tune in to listen to this year's winners HERE!

Out of the 180 winners, we've chosen Top 10 and 10 Runners Up. The Top 10 winners each received 4,000 play credits and the Runners Up received 1,000 play credits. These 20 winners also received prime spots in the station Today's Pop Christmas!  

All other winners got 100 free play credits added to their Radio Airplay account. So now check out who made the cut!







Top 10
The Cains - Merry Christmas To You
Emcee N.I.C.E. - Christmas With U ft. Who Am I?
Maya Rae - I'm Still Waiting For Christmas
Kelsey Lewis - Christmas Beside You
Marcus and Monika - Shooby Doop Christmas
Michael Aaron - Greatest Gift- Lyle Divinsky 
Playya 1000 and The Deeksta - It's That Time Again
Mike Stocksdale - Christmas Good Time
Russ Lorenson - Let Me Be The First To Wish You Merry Christmas
Olivia Penalva - Christmas for Two

Runners Up
Todd Herfindal - Christmas Star
The Delivery Boys - You're All I Want For Christmas
Chuck Eaton - Take this Christmas
Frank & Friends - Snowflakes & Candy Canes
Ginai (Jazz) - Endless Christmas
Bub Zulu - Santa bring my baby back to me
Elizabeth MacInnis - Let Christmas Be The Same For You and Me
Jonny Blu - Happy Happy Hanukkah
XOVA (Pop) - Christmas is Here
Dan Diasio - Visions Of The Season

Joi Veer - Already Christmas
Mike Hyden - Christmas Eve With You
J. Carson - Be Alone On Christmas
The Wildcat O'Halloran Band - Xmas Divorce
Karen Smith David Snyder - Angels We Have Heard On High
adrian libertini - Holiday
Geoff Aymar - O Tannenbaum
Candace Bellamy - O Holy Night
Ryan Flores - My Christmas Dear
Nathan Sink - Indoor Wonderland
Charles Ellsworth - Another Log On The Fire
The Larch - Images of Christmas
Little Red Ambulance - Christmas In The Morning
Jonie Stone - O Holy Night
Tamara Boyes - I'll be home for Christmas
Karling Abbeygate - Christmas Party
Bird Mancini - Because It's December
Cold Beer & Broads - Get Me Home By Christmas Eve
Izabeka - SILENT NIGHT
Briz Mar - Mi Triste Navidad
The Vara-tones - What Child Is This
Taggart - Father Christmas
Trench Town Oddities - Christmas - Favorite Time of the Year
Megan Zurkey - The Greatest Gift
The Brothers Figaro Orchestra - Old Time Christmas
Dave Hogan - Christmas Every Day
Benny Turner - I Want Some Christmas Cheer
Madison And Shannon - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Madison And Shannon - This Christmas
Alexandr Ossipov - Way To The Santa's Country
Brooks Maguire - Surfing With Santa
Sweet Honey In The Rock - SILENT NIGHT
Maureen Russell - CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS
Claude E. Reed - When Santa Lost His Spectacles
Giangobbe - All I Want for Christmas is You
American Legacy Jazz Band - A Happy Christmas Year
Dog Society - Shine On Through
John P. Flynn - Christmas Time For Them
Nightmare River Band - First Christmas
The Spirit of Bury - Christmas For Everyone
TuneTraffic feat. Carrousel - A wonderful time it's Christmas
Jeremy Neal Willis - The Cows Don't Know It's Christmas
Kenneth Kucera - The Christmas Window
Lisa Music - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Jeff Stottlar - Honky Tonk Christmas
Rock Bass - O Holy Night
Scott Arthur - First Christmas Night
Jesse wortham - All I want for Christmas
James Carter Cathcart - Christmas Morning (I'll Be Home With You)
The Jared Project - Christmas Cheers
Those Dreaded Gnats - Down With Xmas
Sentinel - Last Christmas
The Wag - Feels Like Christmas
Jerry Kennedy - Baby It's Cold Outside
Emily McNally - Snowfall
Coral Jovem do IPAE - Louvai
Tony Halchak - Christmas For Cowboys
Crazy Snake Rebellion - Santa Drove a Dump Truck (down my chimney last night)
Sugarbeach - My Perfect Christmas
Judy K - X-mas song (Longing for New Year)
Sunday Mitsuru - Holiday Dreams
Tom Moran - Santa and His Angels
Barb Maxey - Greatest Gift
Tamara Boyes - Christmas Snow
Bob Evola - Sleigh Ride to Grandma's
Ken Snow - Family Man
Jeff Alan Greenway - Angels We Have Heard On High
Aimee good - star that guides you home
Barbara Graff - Christmas Magic
Off Track - O Come All Ye Faithful
Howlin' Bill - Rudolph
Evan Silva - This Is Christmas
Vel Lewis - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Nelsen Adelard - Santa's Coming To Town
Endurance - Reason for the Season
Andre Chrys - Favorite Frozen Town
The Hipwaders - Here Comes Santa Claus
Fred Hughes (Jazz) - Winter Wonderland
Fred Hughes (Jazz) - Silver Bells
Fred Hughes (Jazz) - White Christmas
Fred Hughes (Jazz) - The Christmas Song
JoJo Worthington - Winter Wonderland
Steven Hardy - If I Don't Make It Through This Christmas (featuring Megan Schroder)
Marco Buono - True Christmas
Ilias Chrissochoidis - Christmas
Mike Hyden - The Loneliest Lonely
Lorrie Newman Keating - Silver Bells
The Layaways - O Christmas Tree
Simon Strauss - Christmas Tree
Franklin McKay - This Christmas
Anelda - Christmas Love Story
Danny Satin - Jingle Bells
Mark True - Christmas Crazy
Tom Oprendek - Ring Ding A Ling (Christmas Is Coming To Town)
Still Moving Project - Waiting on Santa
Cowboy-lone - Dear Santa
Bone Poets Orchestra - Christmas Down South
Tollak - Silent night
Staci Smith - His Face
Dog Society - Shine On Through
BroWhy - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Audrey Williams (Classical) - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Black Magic Johnson - Happy Holiday Baby
Brandy Moore - Grown Up Christmas List
Cookie Price-Drayton - Our King Has Come
D.Staggers - It's Christmas!
David Raleigh - Winter Wonderderland
Don McAvoy & The Great Whatever - Best Little Christmas
Donovan Peters - (My) Christmas Eve Song
Eliza (Dance/Electronic) - Little Drummer Boy [Cover]
Eliza (Dance/Electronic) - Silent Night [Cover]
Garfield Mayor - Two-Eighteen
Geila Zilkha - Baby It`s Cold Outside (duet w/Ayumu Yahaba)
Geila Zilkha - Yukino Hitohira (duet w/Ayumu Yahaba)
Ginai (Jazz) - Who Threw Santa Claus Under The Bus
J. Marie - Celebrate Christmas
Jeff Rogers - Rockin' Santa Claus
John Kribs and Gwen Tracy - When I Hear White Christmas
Josh Renton - Christmas Night
Kristin Chambers - It's Not Christmas (Without You Here)
Lara Ruggles - All the Christmas I Need
Myles & the Longshots - Run Rudolf Run
October - The Spirit Of Christmas
Orbit Monkey - It's Time For Christmas remix
Panayiotis Lianos & Syn-Plin - Anavosvinei O Ouranos (The Sky Flashes-Christmas Song)
RW Wales - Together For Christmas
Rachael Sage (Folk) - Hanukkah In The Village
Randy Scott - Sugar Daddy Santa - Randy Scott
Reina Collins (Rock) - River (Joni Mitchell cover with permission)
Rob Dye Band - Moves Like Santa (Moves Like Jagger parody) vocals AK
Ron Roy / Moodtapes - You'll Never Ever Be Alone At Christmas (Radio Vers)
Runaway Rodeo - Christ for Christmas
Russ Lorenson - Mrs. Claus
Sage Hill - Yeah, It's Christmas
Sean McMorris - 'Tis
Shattervox - Home for Christmas
Shot O' Soul - You Won't Get No Christmas Card From Me
SoulJahm - Christmas (C'mon)
Stephanie Stack (VA) - Under the Mistletoe
Stephen Lawrenson (Pop) - Glad It's Christmas
Taste Of Dream - Don't Lose Your Smile (It's Christmas Time)feat. Carly Harvey
The Faretheewells - 25-Dec
The Oldzkool Band - The Only Thing That Should Be Frozen
The Universs - Happy New Year
Tom Rule - Away in a Manger
Fat Freddy's Cat (US) - A Simple Thing (We Call Love)
Francois Couture - Noël Stella Luminosa - SOLSTICE
Lee Branden And The Black Harness - EVERY CHRISTMAS
Matthew Crafton Music - I Can't Wait For Christmas (feat. Matt Hutchison)
Opus One - Dream & Believe - Ranger's Song
Rebel Station - Meet Me Under The Mistletoe
Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii - Feliz Navidad
Ron Roy / Moodtapes - Sizzlin Christmas
Rozzy Osbornes Blues Band + - I'll Give You The Blues for Christmas
THL - For The Holidays
Tabitha Music Limited - A Christmas WIsh
Tabitha Music Limited - Maybe next year
Tonya Terry - Night Called Christmas by Tonya Terry
Bruce Bergh Christmas - Christmas Time of the Year (Studio Version)
E Gail & Dean Dollar - It's Another Holiday (Auld Lang Syne)

December 9, 2015

7 Basic Design Principles to Clean Up Your Band's Website Without Coding


Finally building or improving your own band/artist website?

"If you have the budget for it, hiring a professional designer or marketing firm will always give you the best results. But usually, indie bands don’t have that kind of savings account. Luckily, there are a few traditional web design principles that anyone can use to clean up their website. Best part? No code required." 

Check out this great new article from our friends at Music Think Tank - with simple steps, tips, and guidelines for building the very best website for your music!

http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/7-basic-design-principles-to-clean-up-your-bands-website-wit.html

December 4, 2015

How Do I Add Lyrics To My Profile?

To add lyrics to your page, first visit your Jango Radio profile page, by clicking on “Public Profile” at the top-right corner of your Radioairplay account page, once signed in there.


lyrics1.png


Clicking on “Public Profile” will take you to your public Jango Radio profile page. Once there, scroll down the page until you see your list of song(s) - each song will have a clickable “Lyrics” link. Click on “Lyrics” next to your song.


lyrics2.png


Once you click on “Lyrics”, you’ll be redirected to an external lyrics website - like “AZlyrics.com”
lyrics3.png


Once on the “AZlyrics” website, scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll see the option to “Submit Lyrics”. This is the option for creating a new AZlyrics.com page for your song lyrics.


lyrics4.png


Clicking on “Submit Lyrics” will take you to the page on the AZlyrics.com site, where you can create and submit the page for your song lyrics. Once that’s done, it’s up to AZlyrics to actually approve and create the new lyrics site for you.

Realistically, this can take some time, as a site like AZlyrics.com receives many new lyrics page submissions for both major and indie artists from around the world. Once the new lyrics page is indeed approved and created there, this will cause the “Lyrics” next to a song on your Jango Radio page to link up with that new lyrics page for your song, on AZlyrics.com.


Alternatively, you can also add lyrics and any other information directly to your Radio Airplay account - within the “Artist Bio” field. This is on your ARTIST CONTENT > INFO & LINKS page.




Once on the INFO & LINKS page, scroll down to the bottom-left, and you’ll see the “Artist Bio” field.

lyrics6.png


Anything you add in that "Artist Bio" field will become accessible directly from your Jango page, within the “Artist Bio” section there. Make sure you click UPDATE to save your information added.

December 3, 2015

Center Stage - Lyriqs


Lyriqs a native of Linden, New Jersey is not just an artist but a producer, writer & poet. He started his interest in music as a DJ from the early age of 15. Taking cues from the elements of Hip-Hop and blending them with beats from old records acquired from his father's collection. As time & skill progressed Lyriqs self taught style of production utilizing cassette tapes and turntables gave him local notoriety. He honed those skills to start his own independent label Spoken Music, in which he single handled produced his own releases along with producing others like R&B newcomer Jey Raphael.

Lyriqs attributes his musical influences to talented greats; such as, A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, & Marvin Gaye. Not to forget the influence of a distant relative had on him growing up. Funk legend George Clinton along with and ranging to his aunt, jazz artist Antionette Montaque and many more. His musical foundation was grounded in the truest sounds of genuine melody that can still be heard in his album today. Lyriqs music is reminiscent of early hip hop without losing relevance, thus staying current and fresh.


Today Lyriqs has embarked on operating his independent label "Spoken Music Entertainment." Under his label he self released his debut album "Welcome To My Creative Mind" in the summer of 2010 which was raved about about by critics. (http://www.ourstage.com/blog/2010/10/12/hip-hop-habit-lyriqs)That album was followed up by "Life & Other Things" (released in Sep 2011). Then in 2012 he released his debut album with his group Abstract Nothing entitled Cassette Tapes which achieved rave reviews(http://www.datpiff.com/Abstract-Nothing-Cassette-Tapes-mixtape.415088.html). He followed up that success with another solo effort, Perfect Imperfections which was released in 2014. Lyriq's has just released his best work to date, the new album "OPUS"


As a producer, artist, lyricist, & song writer, Lyriqs is out to set a new standard in music! He lives by the motto "I'm not a rapper! I'm an artist that paints pictures with the beat as my canvas."


Describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence

It’s a mixture of soulful 90’s hip hop that sounds fresh current & new.

What inspires you to make music?

I love to create & life experiences along with the experiences of others & what I see in the world inspires me to create in a musical form.

What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

Right now it’s the production aspect. I love coming up with fresh ideas and collaborating with other artist to make something fresh & new.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a musician?

With the music industry being flooded with so much music it’s a challenge to get people to take the time to listen. So I’m always trying to find new ways to reach people's ears.

What's one of your all-time favorite recordings?

There is so many to choose from, but If I have to choose one it would be Lauryn Hill's Ex Factor. The emotion in that song that she displays is incredible. It’s a timeless song. Ok I can’t choose one Electric Relaxtion by A Tribe Called Quest is a close second.

Name three people who have influenced your music, and tell us why- Living or dead

First I would have to say my mother. She always encouraged & supported my creativity without that I wouldn’t of had the courage to share myself with the world.
Second would be a distant cousin by the name of George Clinton. Growing up a lot of his music was around & in my father’s vinyl collection. I was in awe of how creative & different his sound was compared to everyone else at that time. It made me want to be creative & different in my music. 
Third would be the group A Tribe Called Quest. Because of their music I fell in love with Hip hop. 

Do you have any recent or upcoming projects you'd like to share with us?

Right now my latest album Opus is in stores. 

What is your ideal or target audience?

My target audience would have to be anybody that lives the everyday ups & downs  of life. I can’t put a age limit or gender to my music. I make music based off real life experiences & feelings.

Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process.

Yes, I don’t really have process. A song can strike me at any moment. I can be sleep or driving somewhere & something I see or hear in the news or a conversation can spark an idea. So I’m always creating and writing down ideas.

What do you like the most about Radio Airplay? 

I like the option to be able to put my music in front of listeners & let them choose if they like the music or not.
Website: www.lyriqs.net
Twitter : @lyriqs
Instagtram: @Lyriqs
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lyriqs

December 2, 2015

A Musician’s Guide to Getting the Most Out of Social Media


"Social media gives artists the opportunity to connect with fans, promote themselves, and share their music with the world. And because almost everyone has a smartphone in their hands at all times, creating a social media presence is more important than ever. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been building a dedicated community of fans, these best practices will help you develop your online identity." 

Take a look at this awesome post by our partners at Reverbnation, with some great advice on how you can get the most out of social media for your music career.


3 Tips To Maximize Merch Sales


"While over the past 20 years merchandise has been an appreciated part of band revenue, it has also increasingly become a key part of their earnings.
Luckily, the quality of merchandise also continues to dramatically improve, with more product choices than ever before. Plus, as with most things today, the barriers to success have lowered thanks to technology."

Check out this short, great new article from our friends at CD BABY, with 3 simple but important tips for maximizing your merchandising sales!

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/musician-tips/3-tips-to-maximize-merch-sales/