Big Bang Out of the Gates for Variance Magazine

VersaEmerge landed the cover of the January issue of Variance Magazine and we are so glad they did. The magazine has had such a great response and their fans are coming out of the woodworks requesting more. This issue of the magazine also features Disciple, Venus Infers, Barats and Bereta, Kurt and Sam and many more.

A Musician's Guide To Setting and Achieving Goals for 2011

By: Ariel Hyatt

http://ow.ly/3yGDM

It’s a new year and a clear slate is in front of all of us. The turning of the calendar from 2010 to 2011 is an ideal time to set your goals. I see a marked difference between artists who set finite goals and those who do not.

Many of you may have seen a previous version of this article (or another one) on setting goals as they crop up at this time of year.

Ask yourself: Is this the year I want to make a difference for my musical career? And if so – what difference and how?

Think of goal setting as if you were driving in a foreign place - You wouldn’t get where you expect to go without a clear set of directions. Goal setting is like drawing a map for yourself.

This article is designed to assist you in creating a personal roadmap for achieving what you would like with your musical career this year, whether you consider music your hobby or you are making a living out of it full-time.

I have included a few links from some of the best musician related posts on how to think about and achieve goals as well. So, bookmark this long article and refer to it throughout the year!

MAPPING OUT YOUR GOALS

Many studies have proven that long-term perspective is the most accurate single predictor of upward social and economic mobility in America. And it has been proven that people who have goals written down are much more likely to achieve them.

FOCUS AREAS – CREATING ORDER

STEP 1: Write Down Your Focus Areas

Here is a list of some areas you may want to focus on. Skip the ones that are not for you and write out each focus area goal.

Branding - Your look and feel your image and health or your pitch.

Marketing - What will you do this year for your marketing plans.

Rick Goetz at http://musiciancoaching.com has written a great 2 part guide on how to attack a record release social media marketing plan with intention

Newsletter - Creating and sending it 12 - 24 times this year & how many people can be added to your fan mail and e-mail list.

Website - Building a new one or diversifying your online presence.

Social Networking - How’s your Facebook fan page looking?

PR - Getting covered on radio, print or online.

Booking - Touring or local gigs this year or a combination?

CDs & Downloads – How many would you release, distribute and sell.

Money - How much money you would like to earn?

Film and TV Placements - Will you work towards them this year?

Expanding Your Fan Base - How will you do this?

Team – Will you be trying to get a manager or a booking agent?

Time – How will you manage to balance your time this year to make sure you can focus on your musicial goals?

Writing & Recording – Songwriting or recording an album or EP this year?

Your Instrument - Buying a new instrument or taking lessons?

Personal Health - So your performance is better – exercise, eating etc.

STEP 2: Write Your Goals Down

• Write each goal as if it is already happening – use the present tense

• Give dates by when you want to achieve each one

• Your goals should involve you and only you (they can’t be contingent on someone else)

• Make them so they are realistically achievable

• Start with small goals so I can get them checked off the list and get in momentum fast!

• Make sure they make you FEEL MOTIVATED to complete! Derek Sivers wrote a great post on this.

STEP 3: Look At Goals Everyday

I highly recommend writing your goals neatly on paper or creating a vision board that illustrates them. Use colored pens or make a collage that brings them to life and hang them in a place where you can see them everyday.

Keeping them within your sights will keep them in your mind

Carla Lynne Hall at Rockstar Life Lessons has a fabulous guide on how to create a vision board on her blog.

TECHNIQUES FOR ACHIEVING GOALS

1. Start With An Easy Goal And Complete It

One of the main reasons people don’t end up achieving their goals / keeping their new years resolutions is they set themselves up for failure by choosing goals that take a lot of discipline and time to achieve. There is nothing wrong with having big goals however, here’s what I recommend to overcome this issue…

Choose a simple goal and get it achieved within the next two weeks. This will start your momentum and get you feeling like you are in full forward motion.

Think of a small, achievable goal that only takes four to five hours to complete.

Choose something like:

• Organize cluttered studio
• Clean off desk
• Delete unwanted files from computer
• Recycle last years unwanted papers
• Write one new song

Next, set a date when you will get it done by and go for it.

Now that you have achieved a goal within the first two weeks of the new year, the rest of your goal setting will seem a lot easier to accomplish, and you will be able to get things off your plate.

2. Make Lists To Stay On Track

• Make daily lists of what you need to do to get your goals met – the night before! Do the hardest thing first in the morning - don’t procrastinate.

• Do something everyday that moves you towards the goals

• Delegate the little activities that waste your valuable time to other people (you would be amazed what you could do with 4 hours it takes to clean your house).

• Don’t overload yourself – studies show that 6 tasks is the maximum you can achieve in one day!

3. Take Derek Sivers Advice: Zip It!

Derek gave a riveting 3 minute TED talk about keeping your goals to yourself because announcing them to the world may hurt your motivation. I know I just said hang them in a place where you can see them – this is very different from announcing them.

Embedded media -- click here to see it.

4. Get Help

Build a TEAM to help you!! Get an intern or two – log on to http://www.entertainmentcareers.net and post as an employer seeking interns – you will be amazed at how many bright young people would like to get their feet wet in the business.

If you are not comfortable with the idea of an intern then ask a friend or a family member to help you. Schedule just 2 hours a week with that person to attack the goals and get them in motion.

Or (shameless plug here) join my Cyber PR Mastermind Forum – there are hundreds of musicians participating in it and helping each other along with questions aspirations and goals (yes you have to buy my book but 35 bucks is a small price to pay for support and guidance from a great group of like minded artists). http://www.musicsuccessinnineweeks.com/ TIP: enter your email address and get a coupon for $5 off by downloading the free chapter.

5. Structure Time to Achieve Goals

They won’t happen unless you have time to make sure they do!

Artist Christina Horn from Hudson K the winner of my Music Success in Nine Weeks Blog Challenge created a GREAT video on how to manage time well from an artist’s perspective.

Embedded media -- click here to see it.

6. Remember You Can Change The Goals As You Go

Goals should be looked at as beacons and guiding points for you to keep yourself on track along your journey. I would not recommend changing them every week but the music industry is changing so rapidly it’s hard to know what goals are reachable in this landscape. So if the course of the year your goals change its OK to cross one off or modify as you go.

7. Write Down 5 Successes Each Day

I’m inviting you to write down five little victories a day for this entire year.

I learned this powerful technique from T. Harv Eker. Once you start getting into this habit, you are training yourself to put the focus on the positive and get your brain to stop being so critical.

Put a notebook in your gig bag or next to your bed and each day write down 5 things. Make one or two of them music or band related.

Here are some examples:

1. Went to gym.

2. Wrote lyrics for a new song.

3. Called three clubs for potential booking.

4. Did the dishes.

5. Wrote and posted a blog.

MY FINAL PIECE OF ADVICE – GO EASY ON YOU!

This is a process intended to take a whole year and you will have your days where you may get frustrated, and you will start to beat yourself up (sound familiar?)

Self-criticism will interfere directly with achieving your goals and dreams. So, the next time you are making yourself wrong, take a step back and instead acknowledge the good, and celebrate your achievements.

Another thing that will stop you is not taking time for YOU so schedule time to reflect and take it all in. Maybe that’s a walk in the woods, maybe that’s cooking yourself a decadent meal, or maybe it’s spending time with people you love and turning down your power for a few days without the pressure of a holiday or an event….

Here’s to your success in 2011.

You need social networking!

The Cartography of the Social Networking World
a Paste Magazine blog post by Beca Grimm

If you guessed Facebook appears as the largest landmass, you’d be right.

On his website, cartographer/cartoonist Randall Munroe said of his map, “This updated map uses uses size to represent total social activity in a community — that is, how much talking, playing, sharing or other socializing happens there.”

The latest rendering is an update from his 2007 edition.

The drawing’s information comes from data collected over spring and summer of 2010.

You can pre-order a poster of the image here. Munroe said he hopes to have all of them printed and ready to ship by Oct. 18.

[Dear Reader/Artist/Fan, If you are not using social networking to your easy benefit, you are missing out. The world of the social networking is growing fast! Just look at Munroe’s 2007 version to see how much it has evolved! Be encouraged to spread the word about the music you have worked hard to make and the music you love because the world is just waiting to hear from you.

To read more posts from TMG's Radio Girl, visit her blog here: http://tmgradiogirl.tumblr.com

A look into TMG Radio

Our goal in Radio is create opportunities for your music to be heard.

RadioSubmit.com

RadioSubmit.com is one of these opportunities we open up to our artists here at Tate Music Group. Over 40,000 Radio Stations and Industry Professionals around the world have the ability to find your music, listen, and download for radio play. Because we are a VIP Partner and featured label on RadioSubmit.com, Tate Music Group artists have a special advantage to be heard.

You can browse the TMG Artists available on Radio Submit, here, or search for your favorite artist at http://www.radiosubmit.com

Online Radio Stations

As we are looking to promote the music of our artists to FM radio, we have a real opportunity to share the music with the online community. We have developed two online stations thus far, as a way to make music available to the public and to expand the fan base of our artists.

TMG Radio

Tate Music Group launched a new radio station, TMGRadio, that focuses primarily on the Christian AC, Rock, and Urban formats. TMGRadio has seen quite a bit of success as it has climbed into the top 50 stations of its genre since the launch in August. It is a great mix of chart topping artists like Matthew West, Skillet, NeedToBreathe, and Lecrae…as well as great TMG artists like Justin Cross, Michelle Buzz, Chuck Tocco, and Vanessa Vasquez.

You can listen to the station by going to the radio page at www.tatemusicgroup.com. Youcan also go directly to the station page. You can also listen on many smart phones, including the iPhone. Check out our program schedule here.

You can also listen from the TMG Radio Girl blog by streaming the station here, on the right side of this screen. If you would like to create a widget to share this station on your own page, you can click ‘Get Widget’ on mine.

Tate Radio
Tate Radio is an online radio station for TMG artists and it is another way for us to track feedback for our artists and their music. We currently have 316 Tate Music Group artists spinning on Tate Radio. To listen, follow the link: http://loudcaster.com/channels/442-tateradio

Radio Shows

Tate Music Group produces weekly radio programs that go out to over 400 radio stations nationwide! These are FM…listen while you drive…terrestrial stations…all across the country! One program is called Breakthrough and it focuses on new and heartfelt worship music from all over…including many TMG artists. The other programs are title, X-Tracks, and they run everywhere from Minnesota to Texas and Pennsylvania to Kansas City. This is more of a Christian rock and contemporary based show with a lot of local flavor to them. We keep things regional to showcase the talent these areas have to offer. Here are the places you can check out these programs. Be on the lookout for more.

CSN International
The Refuge
WCTL
rockradiolive.com

Research

At TMG Radio, we log countless hours researching the radio market for our artists. We are able to track the listening hours on Tate Radio and our TMGRadio station, as well as receive listener feedback.

We scout for non-commercial radio stations with local artist spotlights, as well as the larger commercial stations. As we build relationships with radio stations, we continue opening this market for our artists.

Another avenue we have been looking into is TV/Film Placement. So many great artists have seen a following grow due to TV, film and advertisement placement of their music. We have started submitting music to a few projects and continue to look for these opportunities.

Radio Ads

Tate Music Group has a national radio advertising campaign for our artists and their music. TMG understands how important it is for artists to have as much radio exposure as possible…and this is another way for Tate Music Group artists to be heard. Our TMG design team customizes ads for our artists and they run nationwide…creating incredible opportunities for artists to grab new fans. Contact Tate Music Group for more info. Keep listening for TMG spots on air.

TMG Artists to perform in Michigan:

If you are in Michigan, you are in luck! We have several local/regional artists performing in your area this month. Be sure to check these guys out!

Nick Beaudrie, Trenton, MI
Genre:Alt Rock/Pop/Worhip
View his music/bio here!
Visit Nick’s Store Page

Events:
January 8, 2011
Caribou Coffee 5-7 p.m.
401 South Main Royal Oak, MI 48067

January 25, 2011
AJ’s Music Cafe @ 6 pm
240 W. Nine Mile Rd. Ferndale, MI 48220

January 29, 2011
The District Cafe @ 6 pm.
4005 South Baldwin Road Orion, MI 48359

Medisin Wheel, Westland, MI
Genre: Christian Hard Rock
View their music/bio here!
Visit Medisin Wheel’s Store Page

Events:
January 7, 2011
New York New York
33151 23 Mile Rd., Chesterfield, MI 48047

January 22, 2011
Rock of Ages
31015 Ford Road, Garden City MI

Restoration, Muskegon, MI
Genre: Contemporary Christian/Worship
View their music/bio here!
Visit Restoration’s Store Page

Events:
January 22, 2011
Hage’s Christian Book Store, 3 pm concert
4949 Harvey St, Muskegon MI 49444

January 28, 2011
Biggby Coffee, 7p.m.
3295 Henry St., Muskegon, MI 49441

Sweet Crystal, Canton, MI
Rock/Progressive Rock
View their music/bio here!
Visit Sweet Crystal’s Store Page

Events:
January 22, 2011
The Ritz @ 9:00 pm.
24300 Hoover Rd. Warren MI 48188

TMG Artists to perform in Texas:

Everything is bigger in Texas.. especially the local music scene! Here are a few TMG artists local to Texas that will be performing this month:

FEDUP, Arlington, TX
Genre: Pop/Hip Hop/R&B
View their music/bio here!
Visit FEDUP’s Store Page



Events:
January 8, 2011
America’s Best Coffee - 6:30 p.m.
3751 Matlock Rd., Arlington, TX 76015

January 21, 2011
Mochalux Coffee & Tea Co. - 5:30 p.m.
1101 E. Bardin Rd, Ste 101 Arlington, TX 76018

Tune In Tomorrow, Denton, TX
Genre: Rock/Pop
View their music/bio here!
Visit Tune In Tomorrow’s Store Page

Events:
January 15, 2011
The Prophet Bar - TBA
2513 Main St Dallas, TX 75226

January 15, 2011
Hastings - 6-8 p.m.
2114 TEXOMA PARKWAY SHERMAN, TX 75090

January 22, 2011
Hastings - 6-8 p.m.
2311 COLORADO BLVD. DENTON, TX 76205

Michelle Buzz, The Woodlands, TX
Genre: Alt Rock/Contemporary Christian
View her music/bio here!
Visit Michelle’s Store Page

Events:
January 18, 2011
Lone Star College, 11:30AM - 12:30 PM
3200 College Park Dr., Conroe, TX 77384

No Sugar Added, Borger, TX
Genre: Christian Hard Rock/Screamo
View their music/bio here!
Visit No Sugar Added’s Store Page

Events:
January 8, 2011
Calvary Baptist @ 7:30-10:30 pm
900 E. 23rd Ave. Pampa, TX 79065

January 22, 2011
Hastings - 4-6 p.m.
1329 WILSON STREET BORGER, TX 79007

January 22, 2011
The Refuge @ 7-10 pm
822 Weatherly St. Borger, TX 79007

January 29, 2011
Hastings - 4-6 p.m.
1205 N. HOBART PAMPA, TX 79065

Connection!, Houston, TX
Genre: Gospel
View their music/bio here!
Visit Connection!’s Store Page

Events:
January 22, 2011
God’s Property Community Church @ 6:00 pm
1731 E. Houston St. San Antonio, TX

DeMarcus Jones & Next Dimension, DeSoto, TX
Genre: Gospel/Contemporary Urban
View their music/bio here!
Visit DeMarcus Jones’ Store Page

Events:
January 15, 2011
Hastings - TBA
2311 Colorado Blvd. Denton, TX 76205

January 21, 2011
Cedar Valley College Performance Auditorium @ 6 pm
3030 N. Dallas Ave. Lancaster, TX 75134

Why Social Media Matters to Artists- Part Two

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by Jonathan Robles, Exclusive to TMG

(Note: The preceding article is a follow-up piece to last month's TMG feature Why Social Media Matters to Artists.)

When the 2011 Grammy nominations were announced this month, 50% of the nods went to independent artists. In comparison to a decade ago it's a dramatic jump forward.

The definition of "indie" is certainly blurring. More musicians are choosing non-traditional alternatives to the powerhouse labels and the means by which we share music and connect with musicians have also changed.

As mentioned in the first part of this feature, your music career is your business. A recent study revealed that 94% of companies do not use social media channels to gather customer feedback. Instead they rely on email and phone surveys. (When is the last time you participated in an email or phone survey?) Meanwhile, as Billboard has proven to be true, there is a noticeable correlation between the top artists in sales and the top artists on social media.

Pat Monahan, the frontman of Train, says that "if you don't have a Twitter account, you're not going to do as well as you think." And for the most part, he's right.

So, what does that mean to YOU?

1. You have to start somewhere. Pick three social media channels. (Or start with one!) Don't just create the account. Complete the profile (and put yourself in the position of a fan--or potential fan!--when they view your page). If it's a Facebook or Myspace page, make sure you have music samples. Do you read ten paragraphs of bio information? They won't either. You can even sync your pages so that you only have to update one of them. Start a blog, like Posterous.
2. Connect with people. Do you have an email list or 50 contacts in your personal Gmail? Search Twitter or Facebook to find out how many of them are on those sites and follow them. Once you follow people, talk to them. Both Twitter and Facebook suggest other friends based on your current connections. Use these tools. If you're a jazz artist in upstate New York or a country singer from Tampa, connect with people in your area first. Then build on those connections.
3. Listen. The Facebook generation is very familiar with updating their status every hour. While this might also come naturally to entertainers, don't forget to observe. If you're a musician just starting out or trying to build your fan base, it is especially important for you to have two-way conversations online. If a new fan follows you on Twitter, follow them back.
4. Don't start, and then stop. It's very easy to give in to hype, create a Facebook page, update excitedly for a few weeks, then phase out because you get bored. Adam Smith, whose following is the envy of many in Twitter Nation, recently acknowledged that tweeting often helped him obtain and retain followers.
5. Be authentic. "Transparency" isn’t just a buzz word; it’s a strategic imperative, which should apply to your social media participation as well as all other aspects of your career or business. You might be your grandmother's favorite rapper, but there are many folks trying to be Jay-Z. Be you. Follow back. "Re-tweet" others. And follow the Pareto principle (the 80-20 rule): Spend 80% of your time in social media activities that are not self-promotional and 20% or less on activities that are self-promotional.
6. Contribute something. A quick online search will tell you that there are millions of music artists in the pool today. If you're trying to make even a splash in the industry, you have to set yourself apart. When it comes to new media, think about your fans. If your content doesn’t add value to your audience’s lives, they won’t talk about it and share it with their own audiences.
7. Establish goals. Determine to update your Facebook and/or Twitter three times a week and blog twice a month. Don't commit to more than you can handle, but challenge yourself. Reach out to a set number of people online each day or week. Define your "niche" and focus your efforts accordingly.
8. Be realistic. A common thought on Twitter is, "if I only had more followers..." If more people thought of Twitter followers kind of like money, they'd realize they wouldn't know what to do with 1 million. Even the Bible says that whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with very much. Remember, the people that follow you on Twitter are still people. Don't think of them as numbers. And keep in mind that most Twitter users with large followings probably have accomplishments outside of Twitterland. Many folks see 1,000 or 100,000 followers and they want to duplicate that, just like many folks see a millionaire or billionaire and they wish they could just snag a quick million or billion. Building a social media base is not easy. Don't ever let someone convince you that it is. It's not just a matter following a bunch of people and hoping they follow you back. Honestly, when you see someone with a "successful" social media presence, that person has probably done a whole lot more offline than online.
9. Network, build relationships, network, build relationships. Connect with like-minded people. Join communities. Go to other shows. Talk to others with similar interests who are in a similar phase of life. Life still requires that you reap what you sow. Sow good seeds offline. When others in the industry ask for favors, oblige them. (Favors usually have a nice way of being returned.) Perform live every chance you get...live events are still the cash cow. Remember, if no one knows who you are, they can't search for you online, they can't follow you on Twitter, and they can't find your music.

Ultimately, social media efforts reflect what we probably already know. Lady Gaga may be the "queen of Twitter", but she's also topping charts, selling millions of albums, and winning Grammys. If a business has a problem online, chances are the problem didn't start there. If an artist has a dozen "likes" on Facebook, there's probably more that can be done offline. But for the time being, treat those 12 people like they are the world...Don't discount a small online network. You'd be surprised how powerful that small, well-preserved network can be. Thanks to new media and an evolving industry, it's really anybody's game. And it's not too late to start...