This year I have met over 200 bands all looking to establish their place in the music industry.  Out of them all, over 75% were people who's music moved me in ways I haven't heard in years from FM radio.  They spent months, or years writing these songs and pouring every ounce of their soul into them. 

After writing these amazing songs, these bands hunted out venues, promoters, and record labels looking for someone to help jump start their path to success. 

So why did we not sign them?  The answer is in their action outside of emailing me.

These guys believed in themselves enough to email me, or spend there own money on sonicbids submissions in hopes I would like their music.  They probably spent hours sending emails and press packs to venues with nothing but their belief in their music guiding them. So, what about the fans?

Truthfully, most of these bands had no real fan base yet.  They come to me wondering why after all these performances and help from promoters they still don't have a fan base.

Imagine if instead, these bands spend next year searching out people at local shows, on myspace, twitter, and facebook, who listen to the bands that inspire their own music.  They spend hours sending emails back and forth to these people communicating the feelings they have about their music.  Imagine if they spent the amount of time speaking to potential venues and promoters, and instead spent it  on speaking to potential new fans.

I want you all to know something.  Something I wish I was told ten years ago when I sat out with my first band trying to get heard.  It doesn't matter where you play, it's who you playing for when your there.  Things like sponsorships, videos, Itunes distribution, and performances don't matter if there is no one to tell about them.  

As a record label we can put your music and faces in places that could of taken you months or years to achieve.  We can not however, make people listen to you.  The people listening want to know more about the writers of the song they just heard. And now a days, they only want to hear it from the writers themselves.  

We live in a new world where you can directly chat with your favorite celebrities pretty much anytime you want.    They, despite already having fame, do this because they to, like connecting with people who like their work.  They understand that the average movie goer, or music listener wants more of a connection with them than just their WORK.

Next year, lets all dedicate a little more time to our friends and the people out there that want to become part of that group.  Stop promoting and start connecting.