Month: January 2022

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Industry News News

This Week In Music (January 28, 2022)

This Week in Music

From Neil Young’s war against Spotify and Joe Rogan to the surprising second coming of Wig Wam, we have gathered the biggest stories in music this week.

The last week of January 2022 did not disappoint. Everywhere you look in music this week, big things were happening. From massive tour announcements to another impressive wave of big-budget catalog deals, it’s safe to say the entertainment business is fully operational once more.

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. That is why we are thrilled to introduce This Week In Music, a brand new weekly column highlighting the best and most talked-about stories throughout the music industry. Each Friday, we will post links to various need-to-know articles and information. 

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

The Biggest Stories of The Week

Neil Young Versus Spotify and Joe Rogan

Music legend Neil Young made headlines after sharing a now-deleted post on his official website. He took issue with streaming giant Spotify over the company’s relationship with controversial podcast host and comedian Joe Rogan. In his post, Young asked his managers and record label to remove his music from Spotify because he said the music and podcast platform is “spreading fake information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe this disinformation spread by them.” Spotify announced the following day that it would be removing Young’s music, which inspired the company’s competitors to begin promoting his presence on their platforms. SiriusXM gave Young his own channel.

The Unlikely Resurrection of Wig Wam, the band behind Peacemaker’s incredible opening theme

Have you seen the HBO MAX original series Peacemaker yet? Starring John Cena and written by James Gunn, the series includes an incredible opening sequence featuring the entire cast performing a choreographed dance to an 80s hair metal song by the oft-forgotten group Wig Wam. The credits have become so popular since the series launch in early January that the band has seen renewed interest in their otherwise quiet career. Billboard spoke to Wig Wam about everything, and the results did not disappoint.

Move over, emo festivals. The emo cruise is here!

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, the Emo’s Not Dead cruise has arrived to carry your residual teen angst on the high seas this November! Organizers have revealed that Dashboard Confessional and Underoath sit atop the bill, with New Found Glory, Thursday, Plain White T’s, Silverstein, Hawthorne Heights, William Ryan Key (formerly of Yellowcard), Cassadee Pope, and Emery helping to transport fans back to the genre’s early 2000s heyday. The cruise also promises the live debut of Your Broken Hero and live band karaoke group The Emo Band.

‘American Idol’ Creator Simon Fuller Unveils First Group Formed on TikTok, The Future X

TikTok has given us dozens of modern music stars in its short lifetime. It seems that previously undiscovered talent is catapulted onto everyone’s For You page every few weeks and given a brief moment to shine, but can the platform produce an original group? American Idol creator and Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller says “yes,” and he’s out to prove his belief with a new group called The Future X. The collective comprises three singers and four dancers, each discovered on the social media platform. All seven members — Angie Green, Luke Brown, and Maci Wood, plus dancers Jayna Hughes, Sasha Marie, Tray Taylor, and Drew Venegas — auditioned last fall by posting a video on TikTok using the hashtag #NextInMusic. The Future X is currently living together in Malibu, creating content and developing original material.

Dylan, Fonsi, and Tritt sell their catalogs

The music industry’s gold rush to purchase every artist catalog available continues this week with another round of acquisitions from the biggest names in music. Sony acquired the rights to Bob Dylan’s catalog of hits and originals for a deal rumored to be worth more than $150 million. Country star Travis Tritt sold his catalog to Reservoir Media for an undisclosed amount in a sale covering his entire recorded music career. Elsewhere, Latin sensation Luis Fonsi made a deal with HarbourView Equity Partners rumored to be worth above $100 million.

The Weeknd is the number one artist on Earth (On Spotify)

Following the successful release of Dawn FM earlier this month, The Weeknd continues to add accolades to his already storied career. According to Spotify, the Canadian vocalist is currently the number one most listened to artist on the planet, with 86.1 million monthly listeners. Justin Bieber formerly held the record for the most monthly listeners on Spotify, and the “Peaches” artist currently has 81.24 million on-platform monthly listeners in second place. Ed Sheeran is ranked third (78.04 million), against fourth for Dua Lipa (69.21 million), and fifth for Adele (60.49 million).

Song of the Week: Vein.fm – “Fear in Non Fiction”

Trying to briefly describe the music Vein.fm makes is a lot trying to explain the beauty of a starry night without light pollution. You may convey a basic understanding to the average person, but some things have to be experienced before you can understand them. Vein.fm makes the kind of hard-hitting and unpredictable rock that keeps you glued to each thumping beat and throat-scorching scream. It’s the musical equivalent to a high-speed freight train barreling down a mountainside with sparks flying as brakes fail and the cars begin to wobble. There is a chance for disaster at every turn, yet the band makes it work. For Vein.fm, there is fun to be had in maintaining a constant sense of chaos, and it makes for one of the most exciting listening experiencing in recent memory. Preorder the band’s new album, This World Is Going To Ruin You, today!

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Editorials Industry News News Writing Tips

Become A Better Music Writer In 30 Days Or Less

Become a better writer this February by participating in the 2022 installment of #MWE, otherwise known as the Music Writer Exercise

Have you ever thought of writing about music?

Did you watch Almost Famous and feel like you might like to pursue a career in music journalism?

Do you ever wish you were a better writer?

If the answer to any of the questions above is yes, then we have the perfect exercise for you. The Music Writing Exercise is a month-long event created by journalist Gary Suarez in 2015. Participants attempt to listen to one new album every day throughout February and craft a tweet that summarizes their thoughts on the record.

#MusicWriterExercise: Each day in February, listen to one full album you’ve never heard, from start to finish. Write one tweet about it.— I’m Gary (@noyokono) January 30, 2015

The Haulix team participates in the Music Writing Exercise every year. It’s hard to know how many other writers will join in the fun, but you can follow along and engage with the global writing community by using the hashtag #MWE on Twitter.

As for the albums you cover, that decision is ultimately up to you. Some people plan out their entire month of listening in advance, while others choose to pick a record at random each morning. Others develop one or more themes for the month, such as live records or third albums. Gary himself has a suggestion:

https://twitter.com/imgarysuarez/status/1484181941167575040

You won’t win anything for completing #MWE, but like any other exercise, you will develop your skill set. As writers, we all fall prey to repetitive phrasing and tired wordplay. The Music Writing Exercise challenges us to create bright new ways to discuss music. It also encourages community. There is no cost to participate, so what do you have to lose?

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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Editorials Industry News News Writing Tips

How To Pitch Music Editors in 2022

Successfully selling story ideas to music editors is difficult, especially in 2022, but we can help make your next pitch the best one yet.

The only thing worse than the state of streaming royalties in 2022 is the state of music journalism. Each year for the last half-decade, dozens of music blogs have shuttered as audiences shrink and the demand for content continues to boom. Most writers are creating solely to chase their passion. The amount of money earned by the average music critic is well below the poverty line, and even those who manage to find full-time work are constantly waiting for the next shoe drop.

We wish we had a solution to the way things are, but that’s not how entertainment works. You can only do so much to convince people to try a new blog, podcast, or YouTube channel. Your content either shines brighter than the stars or ends up overlooked alongside a million other well-intentioned articles that never found an audience.

But there is hope for the talented. Dozens of major publications are still operating with a budget for freelance submissions. The competition for this money is fierce, but with the right story and well-worded pitch, you can stake your claim at the cash.

To help you better understand what makes a great pitch, we are resharing a submission from bestselling author and former Noisey editor Dan Ozzi. Enjoy:

Make Sure You Have a Fully Formed Idea and Aren’t Just Talking Out of Your Ass

You don’t need to have your whole article written, but you should have a clear idea of what the topic is and what points you will cover. I get a lot of pitches along the lines of: “How about a piece about how Michael Jackson was like, the original Drake or something?” These emails tend to come in after midnight and smell like Adult Swim commercials and Doritos if you know what I’m saying. Then I will send a response saying, “Cool, can you further explain WTF you’re talking about plz?” And surprise, surprise, the explanation is usually: “Like… Because they both wore red jackets and stuff. I don’t know, it might be stupid.” Cool, I’m glad we bonded over the shared experience of wasting our time together. Never forget.

Condense Your Piece Down to One Sentence

Instead of writing out five long-winded paragraphs explaining what you want to write about, give me a summary in one sentence. Or even a proposed headline. Have you ever heard of an elevator pitch? Sure you have. It’s how you would describe a larger project to a person if you had only a brief elevator ride with them. So imagine this: You are in an elevator with me. I am quietly sobbing because I suffer from severe vertigo and crippling phobia of smelling farts in enclosed spaces. How do you make me interested? Go! Sell me this pen!

Know the Outlet You’re Pitching

If you are pitching a site that is both #cool and #hip and sometimes even #edgy, you should craft your pitch to reflect that. Know their voice and also their audience. Do they mostly cater to people under 25? Do their readers use phrases like “on fleek” and “trill?” Is their audience primarily interested in cool vape tricks on Vine? Know all of this stuff and when pitching, don’t come across like you’re trying to write for some academia blog. Conversely, if you are pitching an academia blog, you probably don’t want to use phrases like “on fleek” and “trill.”

Know the Editor You’re Pitching

If you’re introducing yourself to an editor, start with a quick, personal opening line like, “Hey Dan, I really liked your last thinkpiece about how stingrays are the most punk fish in the aquatic kingdom. Good stuff.” This does two things: One, it lets me know that you are a real person who is catering to me, a fellow real person, and that you are familiar with what genres/beats I cover. And two, it kisses my ass just a tiny bit which I need because I am a music writer and require constant stroking of my ego in order to survive.

“Pitch” Is Not a Good Subject Line

That’s it, really. You won’t even get your email opened, let alone answered, if the subject is “pitch.” Put the basic idea of the article in the subject.

Here’s a good subject line: “This Venezuelan Hardcore Band Holds the World Record for Most Consecutive Hours Spent Masturbating”

Here’s a bad subject line: “pitch for you”

Check to See if It’s Already Been Done

Here’s a good use of two seconds that will save everyone involved a bunch of time: Before you pitch an idea, go to the site you’re pitching, enter the topic in the little search box, and hit “enter.” If this topic—or a similar topic—has already been covered, take your business elsewhere.

Be Timely

Different pitches have different lifespans. A long, well-researched investigative piece has the potential to live on forever and ever in the ethers of the interwebs. But something quick and dumb about the Left Shark or escaped llamas has a shelf-life of a day, if that. Send a pitch about a day-old meme and prepare to have your email printed out and passed around the Secret Society of Editors to be mocked while you are forever branded as that freelancer who wanted to write something about the IKEA monkey.

Pitch Ideas, Not Bands

This is probably the single most important piece of advice and I guess I should have put it at the top but am too lazy to change it now. As a music editor, roughly 8,000% of the pitches I get are just interviews with bands the writer likes. “Hey Dan, I want to interview this band The Shitty Pitches. They rule.” Well for starters, tell me something interesting about The Shitty Pitches or what you plan to interview them about. Is there something special about them? Did they grow up on a remote island and not hear music until they were in their thirties? Do they play on instruments they hand-made from their parents’ checks to their liberal arts colleges? TELL ME. Otherwise I’ll just assume it’d be a generic interview that asks my least favorite questions and will pass.

Do Not Pitch to Ask if You Can Pitch

I get this one a lot and it never stops confusing me. Someone will email me and all it will say is “Hey Dan, I wanted to send you a pitch about a band. Would that be cool?” No one has time to lure a timid writer squirrel out of its hole. Pitch or get off the pot.

Do Not Send Generic Garbage Pitches for Garbage People

This is another one that seems like common sense yet happens all the time. Someone will send me something like “I want to write about the current state of punk.” This is kind of like pitching a Hollywood producer a movie about love. Narrow it down.

Do Not Rattle Off Any Old Whatever the Fuck from Your Phone

When you send me a one-line email with “sent from my iPhone” at the bottom, what that basically tells me is that a thought ran across your brain and instead of thinking it out, you just fired it off to me while waiting on line at Cinnabon.

Don’t Pitch Out of Your League

If you pitch an editor with “I want to interview Kanye West,” you damn sure better know Ye personally and had him sign a blood oath saying he’d be down for an interview. There is nothing more obnoxious than someone requesting to interview a celebrity and then asking the editor to put them in touch with that celebrity. We don’t have giant rolodexes of famous people here. (Just kidding, we totally do. But don’t assume that.)

And Lastly, Here’s a Good Sample Pitch Email

Subject: Bands and their grandmas

Hi Dan, [Hey, you used my name! Now I know you are a real person and not a Pitch-Bot 5000. Cool.]

Nice piece last week on how peanut butter is the punkest food. Thought it was pretty… nutty. Was that terrible? [Woah, you have a sense of humor and are maybe a person I could stand working with on a regular basis? Sweet.]

My name is John Q. Writer and I am a freelance writer who has written for CoolBlog dot com and OtherCoolBlog dot com. [Include a link here to your online resume or blog or something where I can get a feel for your style. DO NOT go into your life story—where you went to college, what you studied, the first time you did hand stuff under the bleachers. I do not care.]

As you probably know [assuming that I am on the pulse of culture, nice nice…], a lot of bands are taking their grandmas on tour these days [maybe include a link to something on this on the very, very small off-shot that I, a person “in the know,” am not glued into this particular important cultural trend]. I wanted to write a piece called “Get in the Van, Nanna” exploring this idea. Why do bands do this? What benefits are there to touring with your grandma? I want to talk to Band Number One, Band Number Two, and Band Number Three who have all done this and also speak with their grandmas. [Woah, all of this info is helpful and interesting and I could totally see my readers digging this and sharing it on TweetBook.]

Let me know if you’re interested. [I am.]

Many thanks,

John

[This is the blank space where you’ll notice it does not say “sent from my iPhone.”]

Sound good? Cool.

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News

Save This Simple, Must-Have Social Media Sizing Guide For 2022

Your music is going to end up in a lot of places. We have the shapes and sizes you need to ensure your social media makes a big impact on your fans.

Where are you going to post your next announcement? If the first answer that popped into your head was “everywhere,” then you are not alone. Most musicians find themselves sharing and re-sharing content across various social media platforms. There is a quick and dirty way to do this, of course, but if you want to maximize the impact of your content, you need to follow the guidelines of each platform.

Social media platforms do not play nicely with one another. Twitter has different rules and guidelines for media than Instagram or Facebook. Likewise, the requirements for Facebook and Instagram are almost nothing alike. One utilizes square images and videos, while the other does better with more traditional content shapes.

Knowing where to post and what sizes fit best for each post can be tricky, but we can help. Below you will find a complete sizing guide for social media in 2022. These measurements are based on the latest information provided by the leading social platforms. Check it out:

Instagram

Profile photo – 320 x 320 pixels

Feed photos

  • Landscape – 1080 x 566
  • Portrait – 1080 x 1350
  • Square – 1080 x 1080

Thumbnails – 161 x 161 (recommended 1080 wide)

Stories – 1080 x 1920

Carousels 

  • Landscape – 1080 x 566
  • Portrait – 1080 x 1350
  • Square – 1080 x 1080

Reels – 1080 x 1920

Twitter

Profile photo – 400 x 400 recommended

Header photo – 1500 x 500

In-stream photos – 1600 x 1900 recommended

Card image – 120 x 120

Fleets – 1080 x 1920

Facebook

Profile picture – 170 x 170

Timeline photos – 1200 x 630 recommended

Cover photo – 851 x 315 (phone)

Cover photo – 1200 x 628 (desktop)

YouTube

Profile photo – 800 x 800

Banner – 2048 x 1152

Video – 1280 x 720 minimum

Thumbnail – 1280 x 720

TikTok

Profile photo – 20 x 20 minimum

Video – 1080 x 1920

REMEMBER: The size of an image or video that appears on social media may differ from the recommended size in these guides. Ignore what you see and always follow the guide. That will result in the best, highest-quality content.

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Business Advice Industry News News

Everything Publicists Need From Musicians in 2022 [VIDEO]

Hiring a great music publicist can change the trajectory of your entire career, but only if you’re ready for them. We can help.

We’ve spent over a decade helping record labels, independent artists, and publicists worldwide share new music with influencers. We cannot tell you how many campaigns we’ve witnessed, but enough have come and gone that we feel confident in saying that we’ve seen nearly every variation of an album/single/tour rollout imaginable. If we have learned anything from this time, no two campaigns are alike, and most have no idea what they’re doing.

But we understand that the cause of this problem involves us. Like many other blogs and voices in music, we have spent decades telling artists to go independent. Many have listened to us, and quite a few have found success. Others, however, have tried to go it alone and wound up worse off than before. Why? The answer varies, but one thing is always true: The person behind the promotional campaign wasn’t up to the challenge of promoting new music/tour dates in the current industry landscape.

We believe in independent artists. We believe everyone should make the music that fulfills them, and we urge musicians to release music themselves whenever it makes sense. 

That said, we also believe in asking for the help you need. Adding a publicist or manager to your team at the right time can make all the difference in your career. But how do you know when you’re ready for something like that? Well, today we have an answer.

In the latest Music Biz update, host James Shotwell breaks down the key things every publicist is looking for when considering whether or not to work with a new client. These answers are pulled from conversations with music PR from the worlds of rock, pop, metal, and hip-hop. Their responses may not shock you, but they will ensure you are prepared to make a big impact with your next campaign. Check it out:

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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News

Instagram Is Testing A Subscription Feature For Content Creators

The latest effort by Instagram to attract and retain creators puts a paywall between you and your fans.

Instagram and Facebook will do anything to connect fans with creators except forge those connections for free. The Zuckerberg-led behemoth has understood the value of direct contact from day one, and that’s why they charge us for it.

In its latest move to connect artists and fans, Instagram began testing a subscription feature with select U.S. content creators this week. The tool, which launched earlier this week, allows users to charge followers to access exclusive content.

What kind of exclusive content, you ask?

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook and chairman/CEO of parent company Meta, announced the test in a post Wednesday. “This will help creators earn more by offering benefits to their most engaged followers like access to exclusive Lives and Stories,” he wrote. “I’m excited to keep building tools for creators to make a living doing creative work and to put these tools in more creators’ hands soon.”

Subscribers will also gain access to exclusive badges, not unlike what YouTube offers users who subscribe to their favorite channels.

Again, the new feature is only available to a limited number of creators at this time. Instagram has given no date for a wide release, but later in 2022 is likely.

As for pricing, create can set a monthly price of their choice and unlock a “subscribe” button on their profile. The program will let creators select from eight different price points, starting at 99 cents/month and ranging up to $99.99/month.

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Editorials Industry News News Recommendations

This Week In Music (January 21, 2022)

From the Weird Al biopic to the most ambitious emo festival ever, we have gathered the biggest stories in music this week.

2022 is barely underway, and the music industry is moving at lightning speed. We have a hard time keeping track of everything happening throughout our business, and we have a good feeling you do as well. After all, who has the time? Between ambitious goal-setting and endless tasks, most professionals barely have time to clear out their inbox, let alone read the latest industry headlines.

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. That is why we are thrilled to introduce This Week In Music, a brand new weekly column highlighting the best and most talked-about stories throughout the music industry. Each Friday, we will post links to various need-to-know articles and information. 

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

The Biggest Stories of the Week:

REST IN PEACE: Meat Loaf (1947-2022)

Friday morning started out rough with the news that rock vocalist Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74. The singer’s manager, Michael Greene, confirmed Meat Loaf died Thursday night. Sources with knowledge tell TMZ he was supposed to attend a business dinner earlier this week for a show he’s working on—”I’d Do Anything for Love”—but the dinner was canceled because he became seriously ill with COVID. Sources tell the outlet that condition quickly became critical.

Daniel Radcliffe to play ‘Weird Al’ ‘ankovic ‘n biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to play ‘Weird Al’ ‘Yankovic in a biopic written by the famous parody master. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will enter production later this year with plans for an exclusive Roku release soon. “When my last movie UHF came out in 1989, I made a solemn vow to my fans that I would release a major motion picture every 33 years, like clockwork. I’m very happy to say we’re on schedule,” Yankovic said in a statement. “And I am absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying me in the film. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for.” 

Paramore, My Chemical Romance to headline massive When We Were Young Festival in October

The aptly titled When We Were Young festival released its official lineup on Tuesday (January 18), bringing every 2000s emo-pop band to Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 22, 2022. The single-day festival will feature more than 60 bands performing across multiple stages. Emo veterans My Chemical Romance and Paramore will headline. Other nostalgic bands set to take the stage are Bright Eyes, AFI, The Used, Bring Me The Horizon, Boys Like Girls, Avril Lavigne, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, We the Kings, Alkaline Trio, Manchester Orchestra, Dance Gavin Dance, the All-American Rejects, Anberlin, 3OH!3, Atreyu, the Ready Set, Jimmy Eat World, La Dispute, the Wonder Years, Hawthorne Heights, Car Seat Headrest, Wolf Alice and many more.

Bono says he doesn’t like the name of his band U2 and gets ’embarrassed’ listening to their music

During an interview on the Awards Chatter podcast, legendary rock icon and 61-year-old singer Bono said he finds many of U2’s songs cringeworthy, and he now struggles to listen to his vocals. “I’ve been in the car when one of our songs has come on the radio, and I’ve been the color of, as we say in Dublin, scarlet. I’m just so embarrassed,” Bono told the podcast. Later, in the same conversation, he mentioned the band’s early-2000s hit “Vertigo” as one of the few songs in U2’s catalog he enjoys.

GRAMMYS move to April 3, will now take place in Las Vegas

COVID is messing with awards season. The latest victim of Omicron’s continuing havoc is the GRAMMY awards, which were originally scheduled to take place on January 31 in Los Angeles. The awards celebration will now take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, the Recording Academy has confirmed. The CMT Awards, originally scheduled to air live that night on CBS, will be moved to later. Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, will host the event.

The Weeknd’s ‘Dawn FM’ Breaks Billboard Global 200 Record

Don’t let those “blinding lights” fool you. The Weeknd may not have the GRAMMY nominations he rightfully deserves, but he does have the biggest album of 2022. Dawn FM has been out less than a month, but the eclectic record is already outperforming its competition. The album continues to be at the top of the charts across the globe, including The Weeknd’s home country Canada, U.K. Australia, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The album debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music U.S. and in 125 countries and is also No. 1 on Spotify U.S. and Globally. The Dawn FM tracks positioned in the Global 200 list include “Sacrifice” which holds the No. 2 spot, “Take My Breath,” “Gasoline,” “Out of Time,” “Is There Someone Else?” and “How Do I Make You Love Me?.” The “Save Your Tears” remix assisted by Ariana Grande from his 2020 album After Hours is also on the list. According to Billboard, only one other artist has ever had more Global 200 entries in a single week, making The Weeknd just behind the country-pop artist, Taylor Swift. Kanye West trails The Weeknd with 23, followed by fellow Torontonian Drake at 22 and 21 songs on Global 200.

TikTok is falling in love with one of Celine Dion’s biggest hits

There is nothing TikTok users love more than a sound with endless possibilities. The insanely popular video-sharing platform has made a habit of resurrecting forgotten radio hits to amuse young audiences, and the latest trend is no different. As you can see below, people are using the bridge to “It’s All Coming Back To Me” to live out their wildest performance fantasies. While Celine gives the track her all, TikTok users return the energy with wildly creative lip-syncing efforts. Check it out:

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige Featured In Blowout Super Bowl Halftime Trailer

The biggest game of the year is right around the corner, and it boasts one of the most exciting Halftime shows in recent memory. The program itself remains a mystery, but fans can expect to hear some of the biggest pop songs in history performed on the world’s largest stage. This year, taking the mic will be none other than Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. We doubt you need another reason to watch, but if you do, check this out:

Song of the week: Undeath – “Rise From The Grave”

Our friends at Prosthetic Records know how to find the best cutting-edge metal bands on the planet. Their decision to sign Undeath a few years back signaled the start of a death metal revolution in the U.S. We can think of no other heavy band that has undergone the growth or sonic evolution that Undeath has experienced in the last two years. “Rise From The Grave,” the lead single off the group’s upcoming second album, showcases how far they’ve come with brutal instrumentation and guttural vocals. If you like what you hear, please consider preordering the record.

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Industry News News

NIVA Tells Congress 50% of Ticket Buyers Are No-Shows; Asks For Help

Appearing before Congress earlier this week, representatives for NIVA revealed the messy and unpredictable state live music in 2022.

Concerts are back! Unfortunately, fans aren’t.

A representative from NIVA (the National Independent Venue Association) testified before a US Congressional committee Wednesday to address the ongoing financial impact of the pandemic on live music. Among the topics discussed were no-show ticketholders and their impact on venue operating costs.

NIVA was represented by its Plains chapter secretary Raeanne Presley, the co-owner of Presleys’ Theater in Branson, Missouri, who shared the ongoing challenges faced by small venues and the entire sector.

During her testimony, Presley noted that since the Omicron surge safety concerns had both stalled future ticket sales and decimated current attendance. “Usually 5% of ticket buyers don’t attend,” said Presley. “Now the number of no-shows is often closer to 50% and most of us rely on in-venue sales to cover our expenses.”

The comments above make sense. Ticket sales primarily go to cover talent. Venues depend on foot traffic to sell food and drinks, not to mention merch and anything else available. A sold-out show can still lose money if not enough people turn up ready to spend cash.

During the hearing, most members of both parties appeared to endorse some form of additional aide for the sector, but did not coalesce around a single solution. In other words, we made no progress beyond being heard.

Other witnesses included representatives from Be An #ArtsHero, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Actors’ Equity.

You can view the full congressional presentation below:

NIVA finds itself in a tough position. Many assume that reopening venues resolved the initial problems caused by COVID-19. Making people understand the disconnect between hosting shows and making money will be an uphill battle. It’s a necessary one, however, because change won’t happen until enough people demand it.

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Business Advice Industry News News

How To Reach New Audiences on Instagram in 2022

You’ve got an Instagram account, and your fans know it exists. Now what? We can help.

Boasting more than 1.3 billion active monthly users, Instagram is now the fourth most popular social media service globally. Every day, worldwide, millions of people open the app repeatedly in hopes of seeing a new post or Story update from their favorite friends and content creators. Those same people are looking for new accounts to follow, and that’s where this article comes in.

Building an audience on any social media platform in 2022 is a challenge. Most people have been online the majority of their lives, and many have used Instagram for over a decade. They know what they want and where to find it, so that’s what they do. Breaking those individuals out of their normal behavior patterns on the app is highly unlikely. Convincing someone there is another account they need to follow requires creativity, so today, we will share five small changes you can make right now to attract new followers using tools already available on IG.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Don’t have time for the video? No worries! Here are five quick tips for building an audience on Instagram in 2022.

Instagram Collabs. No artist is an island. Every musical act has peers, and those peers have followers whose lives would benefit from following you. The problem is, how do you convince them to change? Instagram Collabs allow users to co-author a post or Reel with another Instagram user. That content can then be shared on both collaborators’ pages, including mentions/tags of everyone involved.

Example: Let’s say you’re planning to tour with three other bands later this year. You can create collaborative content with the various other artists/musicians and share that content to boost one another’s followings and your fans’ familiarity with the other bands on tour.

Instagram Reels. Since their introduction, Reels have proven to be one of the best tools for exposure. We recommend consistently sharing Reels that align with your niche to reach new audiences via Instagram’s suggested content feeds (aka the ‘Explore Page’). Artists should be making at least one Reel per week, though 2-3 would generally be better. You should also include 3-5 relevant hashtags in your captions to help the Reels algorithm categorize your content. OH! And don’t forget to share a preview of your latest Reel to your feed to boost reach.

Instagram Carousel Posts. The goal of Instagram is to keep you on Instagram. The company wants its users to spend as much time as possible on the app each day, and its algorithm aims to achieve this goal by promoting content that encourages that behavior. A perfect example of this is carousel posts, which are main feed posts containing two or more photos or videos. The presence of a carousel post encourages users to swipe between images, which keeps them on the app a split-second longer than a normal post. That might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up over time.

Adding A Keyword To Your Instagram Name Field. We’ll be the first to admit this one is a little weird, but it works! By adding a common search term to your Instagram name field, users can increase the likelihood their content appears on the Explore Page. 

Example: Let’s say you’re a young country artist trying to build a following around your music via Instagram. Rather than have your name appear as ‘John Smith,’ you should instead try “John Smith, Country Artist.” The IG algorithm will detect that phrase and consider promoting your account to any users who commonly interact with content it identifies as being similar to “country artist.”

Giveaways. Never underestimate the power of free stuff. People love free stuff, and most will complete a few basic tasks to receive something for nothing. Giveaways of any kind can make a huge impact on your Instagram. Not only does it boost engagement from your existing fans, but contests requiring entrants to share content in their feed or stories will also give the giveaway host a massive boost in exposure. 

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Boost Engagement With These Clever Haulix Promo Banners

Haulix promos look great as is, but a few small changes can make a big impact on your contacts. We can help.

Haulix promos are designed to be beautiful and engaging right out of the box. We built our platform knowing that many professionals do not have the time or skills necessary to create original landing pages for each release, which is why they look great as is, but there are customization options available.

One of our favorite customization options is the banner. Located at the top of promo pages and promo invitations, the banner allows you to add one more image to your latest promotion.

We’ve seen countless examples of custom banners over the thirteen years we’ve been in business, but there are a handful of ideas that stand out as both a clever and creative way to increase the impact of a promo page. Check it out:

Promote The Physical Release Of Your New Album

Music professionals buy music. Maybe that isn’t shocking information to you, but it may sound alarms for others. Some believe critics never buy music because they have an unlimited amount of free content to consume at all times. However, in our experience, critics love purchasing the music they preview through Haulix. Knowing an album is great before you place an order is a huge relief.

The example above, from Listenable Records, promotes the upcoming vinyl release from the same band featured in the promo. The promo is for a single, but the banner announces the full release. It’s an eye-catching and informative piece of content that also serves as a reminder for key album information (artist, album title, label, etc.).

Increase Brand Recognition/Familiarity

Many publicists work with a wide variety of talent that can, in certain cases, stretch around the globe. To make sure their contacts recognize their latest campaigns, many clients use custom banners to promote their business, brand, and aesthetic. That way, contacts flipping through their emails will see the banner and think twice before moving on. 

The example above, from Transcending Obscurity, handles this well with a gorgeous, heavy metal-inspired logo that aligns with the sound of the artists they promote. TO is known for its ability to market smaller European metal bands, especially those from niche corners of the genre. For TO and their clients, brand recognition can mean the difference between a click and a skip.

Promote Your Mailing List

Did you know that Facebook and Instagram only show your content to roughly 5.2% of your followers? Twitter, TikTok, and other social media platforms are not much better.

We believe you shouldn’t be charged to reach people who have asked to receive news updates. More than any other form of communication, mailing lists nearly guarantee that your latest updates actually reach your fans. That is why we recently made a post and YouTube video about how surprisingly powerful mailing lists are in 2022.

The example above, from our client You, Me, And Everyone We Know, is simple and straightforward. It tells anyone listening exactly where they need to go to learn more about the band, which is information that promo listeners can use both in coverage and for themselves. It also emphasizes the importance of confirming the subscription, which Is never a bad idea. 

Share Tour Dates + Ticket Information

Haulix is built to promote music, but we know that the work of musicians does not stop in the studio. Every release cycle includes a tour, and custom banners are a perfect spot to promote upcoming performances. You can easily share dates and ticket information or point people toward the official tour site.

The example above, from UK metal band Architects, promotes the band’s 2018 tour. That banner tells people where and when to see the band, and it gives journalists something extra to mention in their coverage that could boost sales.

How do you use Haulix promo banners? Send your ideas to James@haulix.com.

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