Promote your music and manage your band with the best online resources and reviews. Discover music business opportunities for musicians, bands, producers and music managers to sell music online - BandTools
BandTools Ep 53 – Podcasts are becoming more and more popular in today’s world for learners and entertainers alike, but musicians aren’t quite capitalising on it’s potential yet. In today’s episode I chat with Andy, host of the Andy Social and Self Starter podcasts about how podcasts work, and why musicians should be getting involved. […]
BandTools Ep 52 – Music artists always need to share private music and info with other musicians, promoters, record labels and businesses, so we need to know the most appropriate file sharing platforms. File sharing is needed when getting promo photos or video clips done, when pressing CDs, getting logos or artwork, or even sending demo […]
BandTools Ep 51 – In today’s DIY musician environment we are blessed with an array of online platforms offering unique takes on music sharing to give artists options on the most suitable tools for them to use. SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio.
BandTools Ep 50 – Hearing from active DIY musicians is a great way for other musicians to learn whilst getting inspired and motivated. Maty Eichorn was the first to sign up as BandTools member, and now on episode 50 we get an insight into his music life, projects, favourite tools & tips.
BandTools Ep 49 – Finding social platforms outside of Facebook & Instagram can be important for musicians, especially if there are dedicated music platforms such as Reverbnation. Music sites that are also used by fans make the potential even greater. However you must be careful not to use sites that aren’t in line with your […]
BandTools Ep 48 – You’ve got an idea in mind, songs written and ambitions, but you need band members to come along for the ride. It’s not easy finding the right people, a balance of musicianship and personality is a must. We talk about how to recruit band members, what to look for, and how to […]
BandTools Ep 47 – In most cases a song is not finished until the lyrics are written, and for some that is a daunting task. For some listeners, the lyrics and meanings can be the most important thing about a song, and when it comes to royalties the lyrics are technically considered 50% of the […]
BandTools Ep 47 – Playing local gig after local gig can sometimes become boring and turnouts can start to fade, so thinking about different event ideas can keep things fresh. The standard local gig will generally have 4 bands over 4 hours, 20 minutes between each band and the punters just want to drink. This […]
BandTools Ep 45 – Finding your way around on tour isn’t always as simple as some might think, especially when touring overseas without global roaming. Understanding current map technology can help you get to your next venue on time, or find a late night food shop after the show. Google Maps is a web mapping service […]
BandTools Ep 44 – URL shortening is an online technique that makes links substantially shorter and still direct to the required page. It is done by using a redirect which links to the web page that has the original long url. It can make your link look prettier, disguise the address, and more recently has been […]
BandTools Ep 43 – Playing live can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things for musicians to do, and the world’s best bands know how to write a setlist that flows with a purposeful song order. A setlist is the order of songs during a live music set. It is commonly written by […]
BandTools Ep 42 – Writing, learning, and teaching your bandmates eachother’s songs can at times be an exhausting and tiring excercise, but platforms like Guitar Pro can make it a whole lot easier. Never again will you forget that killer riff you came up with, and never again do you have to sit with your band […]
BandTools Ep 41 – Funding musical instruments as a poor struggling musician can be difficult, so many people look into music gear endorsements as a way to help. There is a common perception that big brand logos on CD booklets and tour posters mean that band is making it big, but in reality that is […]
BandTools Ep 40 – It isn’t easy getting your band to stand out from the pack online, so bring your band to life with iMovie. Make an effort to gather video footage of your band members doing just about anything, so you can make an eye-catching video to promote quickly and easily.
BandTools Ep 39 – Keeping all aspects of your band organised on your computer is never easy, but using Google Docs as a musician can absolutely make everything neater and under control. Google Docs brings your documents to life with smart editing and styling tools to help you easily format text and paragraphs. Choose from […]
BandTools Ep 38 – If you play gigs then you must have a merch stand, and with less people carrying cash these days Square Reader lets you accept card payments. Never miss a sale again and don’t worry about carrying a kitty for change, get the money transferred to a bank account safely and promptly.
BandTools Ep 37 – Every band member needs to organise things from time to time, so if you manage your own band’s tours, recordings and money, then Microsoft Excel will be your best friend. Spreadsheets help to plan, track, report and organise your projects in a visual and easy-to-maintain way so that your band is on top of […]
BandTools Ep 36 – Streamhear is a free tool for bands and fans alike, all about finding the best gigs in your area with the ability to listen to the artists there and then. Streamhear is a broadcasting app that connects fans to musicians no matter the size, distance or isolation. This episode chats with the platform’s founder Craig […]
BandTools Ep 35 – Bandaidz is a new platform for bands in app format that focuses on the social aspect of music and delivering an opportunity for Artists to reach an audience that are interested in attending their gigs and perhaps meeting a new ‘special someone’ whilst they are at it. We chat to co-founder Justin […]
Merchr is a new platform for bands to sell clothing and CDs, with the added benefit of only paying for what you sell rather than having to place a bulk order. With a monthly subscription package, there are no other initial outlay costs or a minimum order, simply send your design to Merchr and they […]
BandTools Ep 33 – The music industry is increasingly telling us all to treat our band like a business, so to take that suggestion seriously we need to understand government expectations and business structures. For a lot of musicians, being in a band is a hobby and the members all still have day jobs, so is […]
BandTools Ep 32 – So many ideas and motivation but so little money, it’s increasingly important to look at music funding options. A day in the life of a musician, tell me about it! But where there’s a will there’s a way, so here are some ideas to help you fund your next music projects.
BandTools Ep 31 – One of the best promotion methods for your band is music video. These days YouYube is a search engine of it’s own, and often people will hear your music here for the first time. Therefore you want to make an impact and take charge of your online video presence. Having a good […]
BandTools Ep 30 – When your band is on a tour where driving isn’t possible, booking flights for musicians becomes a big deal. Balancing cheap prices with good times and sufficient luggage is essential for efficiency in the air.
BandTools Ep 29 – Get your band support slots with bigger bands that are touring to your city. This is not always as hard as it seems, and you will benefit from playing to bigger crowds and boosting your band’s resume. Networking and making a good impression has never been so important. […]
BandTools Ep 28 – You might not have thought to include this in your promotion plan to attract new fans, but customer service for bands is an incredibly important concept in order to retain existing fans, build brand loyalty, and help potential customer trust you when enquiring about making a purchase. Whilst the prospect of […]
BandTools Ep 27 – One of the biggest and most reliable income streams for bands is selling merchandise. Not only that, it’s the perfect promotional tool because other people are donning your designs and doing the unbiased marketing on your behalf wherever they go. With the sales from the actual music experiencing a decline since the […]
BandTools Ep 26 – While physical music sales are unquestionably plummeting, astoundingly vinyl is enjoying a resurgence. Older music fans as well as the younger generation are turning to vinyl as their physical preference, some for the sound quality and some for collector purposes. Record labels and large scale bands are taking advantage of the phase, […]
BandTools Ep 25 – Some say it’s a dying format and there is no denying the damning statistics, but neverless bands are still undertaking CD pressing, so let’s learn about how to do it properly.
BandTools Ep 24 – Ensure your songs can be traced and identified by giving them ISRC codes. Each code is unique and is permanently encoded into a product as its digital fingerprint. It’s free to set up and royalties to be made.
BandTools Ep 23 – If you’ve got an itch to get your band on the road, it is worth considering learning how to book a tour for yourself. It’s not as hard as you think, you’ll learn plenty in the process, and can strategically increase your band’s profile for future endeavours.
BandTools Ep 22 – Stop desperately waiting for that next show offer, and learn how to book a gig yourself. It’s not as hard as you think, you’ll learn plenty in the process, and can strategically increase your band’s profile in the local scene.
BandTools Ep 21 – No matter how many high-level marketing strategies you try, finding and impressing potential fans can be done by recording awesome songs and honest credible promotion. Reviews, interviews and radioplay are often overlooked by the modern musician, but they are easy and free!
BandTools Ep 20 – A milestone episode focusing on how we can get the listeners involved!
BandTools Ep 19 – Perform at house shows for new gig experiences and another source of income
BandTools Ep 18 – Book your band high quality, convenient & unique accommodation at a fraction of the cost for your next tour.
BandTools Ep 17 – Promote your concerts online with Songkick, a platform focusing on concert discovery services and ticket sales, by connecting artists directly with millions of fans around the globe.
BandTools Ep 16 – Getting your songs on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music & more streaming services has never been easier. In today’s music world it is important to expand outside just CDs and Vinyl to reach more listeners, and Distrokid is a great option to do it cheaply and easily.
BandTools Ep 15 – With 6 billion hours of video being streamed every month, YouTube for musicians is imperative to maximise effective promo. There are plenty of opportunities for bands to promote cleverly and think outside the box.
BandTools Ep 14 – There is information overload on the internet especially on Wikipedia, but it’s not always 100% accurate. When people search your band on Google, what will they find?
BandTools Ep 13 – Sell your music and merch online even if you don’t have a website – Quick, easy and free!
BandTools Ep #12 – What is more valuable, a one-off sale or an email address? Here is a new way of looking at digital distribution.
BandTools Ep #11 – Want to know what your fans really think? Survey Monkey gives you the opportunity to stop guessing and start asking.
BandTools Ep #10 – It’s been fairly hectic learning a new tool every week, so for the 10th episode let’s take a step back, reflect on what we have discussed so far and focus on what is really important being a do-it-yourself musician.
BandTools Ep #9 – Music streaming is officially the most popular form of music consumption. Spotify is a music streaming platform where users can stream songs online, save to play offline and discover new music through personalised recommendations.
BandTools Ep #8 – Graphics & video are increasingly dominating social media feeds. Instagram is one of the leading platforms that musicians & bands can share their story and reach new fans.
BandTools Ep #7 – Like it or not, streaming is steadily taking over the music world. Bandcamp is an online platform where bands can create a store to stream and sell both digital and physical products, and fans can have direct access to their favourite artists through desktop and mobile.
BandTools Ep #6 – A DIY email marketing platform that makes it easy for beginners to look pro. It is a place to collect your fans email addresses, store them in an organised way, and promote with a good-looking email to send directly to the right people.
BandTools Ep #5 – Say goodbye to outsourcing your band’s promo art, Canva offers a free online built-in tool that is easier than photoshop and allows bands to create their own designs to look super pro in the blink of an eye!
BandTools Ep #4 – Chat with your band members all at the same time and all in one place with Bandwerkz. Add in your gig dates, jams, setlists & songs to learn, and your band members will be motivated and not forget a thing!
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