Got dreams of stardom in your head?

There are more paths into the music business than ever before today, but there’s a lot of things an independent artist has to keep in mind if they’re going to succeed.  We’ve picked out five things a new musician must remember on their road to stardom !

1 – Nothing matters more than the fans.

Honestly.  It’s even more true today, in the world of social media and digital music purchases – keeping your fans happy and spreading the word should always be your #1 priority.  Independent artists today live or die based on the fervor of their fanbase.

2 – Quality matters more than quantity.

While it’s important to keep a steady flow of releases, keeping your fans sated, a focus on quality will serve you better in the long run.  Building up a back catalog of solid releases gives you an extra revenue stream, and gives new fans more material to explore.

3 – Save your money.

The life of a music star isn’t all-day booze and groupies if you blow all your money.  You’re always going to want some cash in reserve to handle emergencies as they come up, whether it’s a van breakdown on the road, or ‘accidentally’ smashing your keyboard at the climax of a show.

(Hey, it always worked for Keith Emerson…)

4 – Keep your commitments.

Few things can sink an artist’s chances faster than getting a reputation in the music business for being unreliable.   After all, bookers and promoters only make money if the acts they contact actually appear on stage, so they remember no-shows vividly.

If you book a gig, you show up for the gig.  It’s that simple.  Being known as a reliable worker will only help your booking prospects.

5 – Sell more online music.

There’s no better source for ongoing income for the modern artist than what you can make through online music shops.  Every store has its own audience, opening up opportunities for new fans to find you.

Consider using an online music promotion service, if you’d like to automate the process of populating your music online!