promoting a cd

[showstopper]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 10:59am

Can anyone give me advice on how to do this? A singer/songwriter friend of mine just finished recording a cd and would like to persue a recording contract. Who should he ship it out to and how does one go about promoting it? Thanks.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:00am

what style songs?

[showstopper]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 11:03am

they are pop

[showstopper]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 7:49pm

anybody??

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:34pm

It's an impossible question to answer without knowing the artist, the songs, how established the person is, how good the person (and the material) is, his/her look (important in the business), what gigs the person's done, what city are we talking about and a host of other questions.

Because of the technology these days and how easy it is for absolutely anyone regardless of ability to cheaply record and press a CD, there are literally THOUSANDS of aspiring singers in the marketplace with self-produced CDs. If the person isn't established (and I assume he or she isn't, if you're asking a question like this here on BWW), they need to get themselves OUT THERE and perform everywhere they can -- open mic nights, gigs in small clubs etc... They need to network with other musicians and keep their eye on the trade papers (for commercials, backup singing gigs with more established artists, auditions for shows etc...).

There is a book you can find in any bookstore, "The Songwriters Market" which is updated annually and contains a list of music publishing companies and record labels that accept open submissions. This can possibly be helpful for your friend in selling his/her songs, but it's a crapshoot, considering thousands of CDs pour into these places every year. If he or she wishes to be a singer/songwriter, they might be better off going the club route, getting gigs at local music spaces and (if they're good), developing a following. It takes time, but again if the person is a good singer with good songs and manages to land a regular gig and a following, the A&R people and talent scouts from the labels will find them eventually (not that getting a major label deal should be considered to be, in any way, the be-all and end-all goal, but that's another conversation).

Good luck.

[showstopper]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 8:56pm

Thanks Margo, I appreciate your answer.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 8/31/04 at 9:01pm

Have a bake sale in Times Square.