How To

How to write a hit song with David Penn

Author Mary Woodcock  |  01 July 2014

Having a good song is crucial for making it within today’s music industry, but what makes a hit? Some people would say it’s the hook, others may say it’s the lyrics or the melody, however here we...

5 tips for Musicians Marketing Online

Author Mary Woodcock  |  06 June 2014

There was a time when the music industry had a fairly straightforward business model; an artist records a song and the record label would promote it. Since the rise in digital however, the market...

The secret to getting more gigs, fans and merch sales from every show you play…

Author Mary Woodcock  |  02 June 2014

So, how do you get fans to join your mailing list, people to buy your merch and venues to ask you back without the hard sell or giving that shameless plug?

Targeting and Breaking Out into the Canadian Marketplace

Author Mary Woodcock  |  14 May 2014

O, Canada – no longer just the friendly, unknown neighbour north of the US. Over the past decade, Canada has slowly become important piece of the music industry puzzle. A lot of ingenuity, tricky...

How much should you pay for a record producer?

Author Mary Woodcock  |  02 May 2014

Looking to record a new single or perhaps an album for your band? What studio should you go to? What kind of producer should you look for? This article will give you a number of tips on hiring a...

Music Jobs – The Festival Promoter

Author Mary Woodcock  |  01 May 2014

Do you enjoy attending music festivals watching all your favourite bands in one place? The festival promoter has booked all of these acts after a long time of research and planning as to why these...

How to Write a Song – The Arrangement

Author Mary Woodcock  |  16 April 2014

There are two main arrangements I’m going to cover in this blog, the first being the Radio Edit, and the second being a club friendly Dance Edit. Both are a great foundation to learning why...

How to Write A Song – Music & Melody

Author Mary Woodcock  |  02 April 2014

How do you write melody? This is a key concern for many musicians and songwriters, as it’s such an intangible topic. It’s always easier to write and hear the melody in your head when you’re...

Marketing Releases Through The Distribution Chain: Successful digital and trade marketing strategies

Author Mary Woodcock  |  31 March 2014

How to define a successful music release you ask? Is it one that builds a new and wider audience? Is it one that actually sells? The release of a new EP, album or even a track is the ultimate...

How to Write a Song: Lyrics

Author Mary Woodcock  |  28 March 2014

In the second instalment in our ‘How to write a song’ series, we’re covering all things lyrical. Words exist to convey meaning, the bread and butter of language and communication, they are the air...

Music Jobs: The Tour Manager

Author Mary Woodcock  |  24 March 2014

The Tour Manager (Road Manager) in a nutshell is responsible for making sure the tour runs smoothly from start to finish. A lot of work goes into the preparation of a tour and here are some tips...

How to Get into the Creative Industries

Author Mary Woodcock  |  20 March 2014

Stepladder Worldwide is the award winning youth development and recruitment agency that revolutionises the way young people progress across the creative industries. Supporting those who wish to...

How to Write a Song: The Basics

Author Mary Woodcock  |  19 March 2014

This is the first in our series of blogs on ‘How to Write a Song’. In this series, we’ll cover how to write lyrics, music & melody, musical arrangement, and writing techniques. As it’s such a...

Music Jobs: The Radio Plugger

Author Mary Woodcock  |  17 March 2014

Although some may think this role has a self-explanatory title, there is more to a Radio Plugger than one may think. This article will outline and explain a number of responsibilities for a Radio...

Tips for DIY Touring

Author Mary Woodcock  |  13 March 2014

Tips for DIY Touring – How to broaden your fan base and make the most out of being on the road! The key to touring successfully is to be well prepared. Let’s take a look at what you need to...

Music Jobs: The Publisher Who, Why, How, Where, When?

Author Mary Woodcock  |  12 March 2014

To best understand what publishers do you have to be familiar with the concept of Copyright and how it works. Music Publishers deal with the Publishing Copyright – the song and the lyric....

A Guide to Releasing Cover Versions

Author Mary Woodcock  |  03 March 2014

At EmuBands, many of our artists want to release cover versions – so we’ve put together a guide on some of the issues that you need to consider when doing this, as part of a wider guide that also...

Copyright: What is it and How does it work?

Author Music Gateway Team  |  26 February 2014

Copyright is a topic that usually scares or confuses most however it can be easy to understand if laid out properly. There are a lot of myths and untrue information out there which could make it...

Your DIY Album Release Checklist

Author Mary Woodcock  |  24 February 2014

Before your album release, ensure you do the following things prior to manufacturing: Your first album or single is a big deal. You’ve nurtured this creative baby through your blood, sweat and...

The Love/Hate Relationship between Artists and Promoters

Author Mary Woodcock  |  17 February 2014

Throughout gigging with my band I have met and spoken to quite a few promoters and bands. There are some topics that surprisingly come up often in conversations and one of them is about the...