What is the most important thing musicians need when promoting their music?

If you ever have a chance to look at Quite Great google reviews you will see that overall we have very positive reviews with the exception of perhaps one, which in turn inspired me to write this feature, as that review from a singer in Bangor Northern Ireland called Eve Williams – who clearly loves to review garages through to restaurants on google review- related to how annoyed she was that we wouldn’t work with her as we felt the financial outlay for her would be too much. In turn she writes a bad review about us. The reason this is so frustrating is the team at Quite Great PR, a creative music marketing agency, spend so much time working within budgets outlined by their clients to help them release music and build media attention and we also spend a great deal of time making sure they do not spend too much money on each release pattern we work within as it is vital to understand that as a band or an artist at all levels, whether it be signed or unsigned music artist , that you are running a business.

Yes, the music is vital , but as an unsigned band for example you may be better off selling merchandise than downloads, and as a signed act to a major label or an indie label this is where the headaches can really start as although it is not your money, once the label has spent time on developing you , there will be a financial equation that comes home to roost , and it is sales against outgoings. If the label has spent more than they have brought in [recouped/unrecouped] during the timeframe of the agreement , then you are likely to not have a label for much longer. As that is truly the harsh reality of the Music Industry. Most labels, however passionate they may be about your music, are also a business and part of that business is the banking or accounting side. On many occasions once the media attention gathered translates into sales and is measured against the money the label have put into your music, then they may well feel there is no more risk that should be taken and they pull the plug in the same way as if you had borrowed from your local bank if you were running any type of business.

Build up your own revenue streams before signing to a label, do all you can to understand how to build monetary streams from online activity and make sure you are registered in order to gain your PRS , MCPS etc.. if you do not know how your band or music makes money then at some stage you will come un-stuck.