In this age of digital downloading and music streaming services, many artists feel that the death of the full-length album is upon us. And that is 100% false!
The full-length album is still the industry standard. All major artists from Kanye to U2 are releasing them and fans are buying them. The full-length album is your resume, especially if you’re a songwriter. You are showing your fans that HEY; I can do a lot more than just write and release one song. I can put together 10-12 songs in a cohesive format with the same sound. It says a lot about where the artist is in Anybody can sit down with the awesome technology we have today and bang out a song with software on their computer. It can be uploaded to YouTube or Facebook and in just a few hours the entire process, from writing to recording to uploading, has been completed. But the full-length album says I’m serious.
I’m here to play in the big leagues. I’m a lot more than an EP. If you plan on selling your music and doing shows, fans will balk at paying $10 for a six song EP. Give them a full-length album and don’t forget the physical product component to all of this. Sure a download is nice, but fans want to take something home with them after your show. They want the actual CD, the tangible product in their hands. A CD with extras will allow fans to pop that into their computer and access any type of special content you want to share. Maybe it’s an interview with you, a behind-the-scenes look at your writing process.
Whatever it is, you’re allowing your fans to step into your world, making a true connection. I don’t think enough artists are doing this. Don’t waste your time doing an EP, especially if you’re a band. EP’s are great for bands that have a few records out already and want to give something small to their fans while they work on something bigger.
I know what you’re thinking. I can’t get 10 songs together that I like. And that’s OK. One option is to create some clever remakes of already popular songs. Choose songs that work really well with your existing style, or think outside the box and do some songs totally out of your genre putting a cool new twist on them.
The remake is important in terms of marketing. People search songs online and yours could come up which can lead them to your website and ultimately your entire album.
The full-length album is the pinnacle. It’s a major milestone for any artist and the more of these that you put out, the better. Don’t get discouraged and feel you spent too much time and money and didn’t see a massive return. If you couldn’t sell it, if people weren’t downloading it, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t well done. There are other factors that go into the marketing of your album and we will discuss that in an Solidify your place in the business by consistently making music. The first album is the first step and it’s a major one. If you are just starting out, jump in with two feet. I believe in you!
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