Promote your albums
Some Namibian artists need to stop with the culture of releasing an album and not promoting it properly. You find artists who release a 12-track album and only promote three songs, shooting only one music video. What happens to all the other songs on the album? Are they only there for decoration or what?
The thing that has always bothered me as an ardent supporter of local music is when an artist decides to shelve the whole album. I have noticed over the years that many artists promote completely different “singles” just a few months after dropping an album and these singles are not even a part of the album. And you wonder why some of your fans and potential fans don't support you. Maybe there are a few behind-the-scenes things we do not know that you deal with, regarding your labels and managers. But you can't release an album and then just decide you want to promote a new single. Why even make an album then? Just make the hit songs and then promote them if that's the case. That's the reason why your album is at Antonio's collecting dust. Not enough is being done on the promotion end. We are still using the same promotion tactics from the early 2000s and we are not taking into consideration that times have changed.
Instead of the usual tactics throw yourself onto the internet. Instead of the usual album launch event try having an album tour or signing session. Have album listening sessions because they are more intimate and you have better engagement from your audience compared to album release parties we've been having over the years. We've seen over the years that album-launch parties or events are getting emptier and emptier and we need to counter that with digital album releases -something which a few Namibian artists have done. Many artists have also released visual albums which are also another great initiative to promote your album. These days, album releases are becoming more digital. You don't need to worry about getting your album in the big stores and then going to signings on the day of release. Instead, you just have to press the upload button, send out a few tweets, and call it a day. However, just because you can release entirely online doesn't mean you should. The person-to-person experience is still extremely important in the music industry.
Don't do the disappearing act!! The last thing you want to do is start working on your next album and disappear for a few months. After months of silence, when you finally come out with an announcement your fans may not be listening or looking out for your content anymore. Social media is one way you can engage your fans. We need more behind-the-scenes content and documentaries that shed light into your creative process as an artist. There are many ways artists can promote their albums and you need to tap into that.
The way you promote your album plays a vital role especially with regards to whether people will buy or download it. Look for ways you can sell your album and put your energy into that.
[email protected]
SHONA NGAVA
The thing that has always bothered me as an ardent supporter of local music is when an artist decides to shelve the whole album. I have noticed over the years that many artists promote completely different “singles” just a few months after dropping an album and these singles are not even a part of the album. And you wonder why some of your fans and potential fans don't support you. Maybe there are a few behind-the-scenes things we do not know that you deal with, regarding your labels and managers. But you can't release an album and then just decide you want to promote a new single. Why even make an album then? Just make the hit songs and then promote them if that's the case. That's the reason why your album is at Antonio's collecting dust. Not enough is being done on the promotion end. We are still using the same promotion tactics from the early 2000s and we are not taking into consideration that times have changed.
Instead of the usual tactics throw yourself onto the internet. Instead of the usual album launch event try having an album tour or signing session. Have album listening sessions because they are more intimate and you have better engagement from your audience compared to album release parties we've been having over the years. We've seen over the years that album-launch parties or events are getting emptier and emptier and we need to counter that with digital album releases -something which a few Namibian artists have done. Many artists have also released visual albums which are also another great initiative to promote your album. These days, album releases are becoming more digital. You don't need to worry about getting your album in the big stores and then going to signings on the day of release. Instead, you just have to press the upload button, send out a few tweets, and call it a day. However, just because you can release entirely online doesn't mean you should. The person-to-person experience is still extremely important in the music industry.
Don't do the disappearing act!! The last thing you want to do is start working on your next album and disappear for a few months. After months of silence, when you finally come out with an announcement your fans may not be listening or looking out for your content anymore. Social media is one way you can engage your fans. We need more behind-the-scenes content and documentaries that shed light into your creative process as an artist. There are many ways artists can promote their albums and you need to tap into that.
The way you promote your album plays a vital role especially with regards to whether people will buy or download it. Look for ways you can sell your album and put your energy into that.
[email protected]
SHONA NGAVA
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