Mike from SongCast here to discuss digital music and finding a unique style.

Digital Music

Do you know that 62% of all digital music is bought from iTunes?  How about that iTunes is the number one digital music service in the United States?

Digital music is gaining so much traction that some suggest that CD’s won’t be around in a few years. Digital music is big business, too.  It accounts for 32% of record company revenue.  Digital media is the next big thing for music artists.  Last year online shoppers around the world spent $5.2 billion on digital music downloads (that was billion with a “b”).  Online music sellers aren’t the only ones taking advantage of new digital media.  Music streaming service, Spotify, has over 10 million subscribers, with over 2.5 million paying for subscriptions.  (Latest reports indicate that Spotify has 5 million paid users.)

Getting your music noticed and getting your music out to fans is more important than ever.  On Spotify alone, digital music has been shared 1.5 billion times.  Think of how your music could be reaching that many people.

 Find Your Unique Style

As an artist, you know how to show your creativity in your music, but do you know how to convey your creativity in photos?

Make sure your image is polished and professional.  One way to convey a polished image is to use a photographer to take pictures of yourself or your band.  As an independent artist, there is no need to spend a fortune on photography services.

If you are looking for photo services on the cheap, you have some different options.

Find local photographers online or by searching in the phone book.  Local photographers might be able to work with you and your budget, all while finding an edge that distinguishes you from other artists.

Are you near a college campus?  Reach out to the photography department and find photography students who are eager to work on their portfolio.  Not only will you be helping a student, but you may be able to get professional photos taken for very little money, or by simply writing a letter of recommendation for the student.

If you don’t mind a studio setting, chain photo studios found in department stores (and some discount retailers) may be a good option as well.

Remember, if you want to use photos for promotional purposes be sure to ask for a copyright release from your photographer or photo studio.