11 Resources That Every Musician Should Be Using (2020)

11/23/2020 – We’ve learned about a lot of cool new tools So we’ll be adding those shortly. Post in the comments so you’ll receive an update.

Everyone out there who makes music knows “the struggle”. The daunting and unforgiving task of making a name for yourself in the music world. On your road to fame, two things will make your journey that less arduous: one, being organized, and two, being resourceful. In our opinion, the later of the two, along with your raw talent, will ultimately determine your growth factor.

So, in an attempt to make your job a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of resources (that you could start using today) which we truly believe can be instrumental in helping you achieve success.

If you have a suggestion you think should be added to this list, please leave a comment down below and if we add it, we’ll send you a $10 iTunes gift card as a thank you for your contribution.

Enjoy!

1. Buffer

buffer

Website: buffer.com

Cost: FREE (for basic features)

Why you should use it:  With so many social media accounts available today, it’s hard to stay on top of them all. Using buffer will allow you to schedule automatic posts to your Facebook fan page, Twitter, Google plus, and now Pinterest account too. You can customize different post times for different accounts. It really comes in handy if you don’t have a dedicated social media manager.

2. Next Big Sound

nextbigsound

Website: www.nextbigsound.com

Cost: FREE (for basic features)

Why you should use it: Ummm, because Pandora just bought it or to put it simpler, Next big sound allows you to track your growth across multiple platforms, including, soundcloud, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia.

3. NoiseTrade

noisetrade

Website: noisetrade.com

Cost: FREE

Why you should use it: Noise trade allows you to release your music without requiring people to pay for it. What makes it different from other music hosting platforms (band camp) is that it gives people the option to leave you a tip in an aesthetically pleasing manner. And trust us, a lot of people do! One more thing, you’re still able to collect an email in exchange for a download regardless of whether your fans leave you a tip or not.

4. WIX

wix

Website: www.wix.com

Cost: FREE (for basic features)

Why you should use it: Wix.com allows anyone to create a free website. Businesses and artists miss out on potential fans when they don’t have a dedicated place for people to find out all they want to about them. Keep in mind that a Facebook page is NOT a website. With Wix you can send people to one single place to hear your music, watch your videos, subscribe to your newsletter, find your social media accounts and see when your next show is.

5. MailChimp

mailchimp

Website: mailchimp.com

Cost: FREE (up to 2,000 subscribers)

Why you should use it: Relying solely on social media to reach your fans is a pretty bleak marketing strategy. Every artist NEEDS a mailing list by which they can reach their fans directly. You provide the emails and Mail chimp provides the convenience of messaging them.

6. AUDIAM

audiam

Website: www.audiam.com

Cost: FREE (25% administrative fee if it gets you additional money from other people using your music on YouTube.)

Why you should use it: How many home videos or even “professional youtubber” videos have you seen that have a song playing in the background? Chances are they just put that song in their video without acquiring a sync license let alone permission. If that was your song being used, Audiam would automatically find it and place ads in that video which the revenue generated from it would go to you. It’s free to use and Audiam only takes a small cut when they collect money on your behalf. Side-note: The guy you created TuneCore is the same guy who created Audiam.

7. Dropbox

dropbox

Website: www.dropbox.com

Cost: FREE (up to 2gb)

Why you should use it: In the music business being organized can save you a lot of time and frustration. Enter Dropbox – It’s the one place you can store press photos, press kits, MP3s, show flyers, and any other essential material you could possibly need to send someone while you’re on the go. They have an app for every platform, so if you add a file via one, they’ll all update at once.

8. Eyedea Worx

eyedeaworx

Website: www.eyedeaworx.com

Cost: Prices Vary

Why you should use it: Image is everything in this business. Eyedea Worx is your one-stop-shop for quality CD printing & duplication, album cover printing as well as all your marketing paraphernalia like key chains, lanyards, thumb drives, t-shirts and more through their off shoot NotionWorx.com.

9. Sound Exchange

soundexchange

Website: www.soundexchange.com

Cost: FREE

Why you should use it: With rise of streaming music services like Pandora and Spotify, it’s essential you sign up for sound exchange as your music could be playing across one of these platforms and you not even know it, but what’s worse is that you could be getting paid for the streaming of your music and not even know it. While ASACAP and BMI collect payments from terrestrial radio, Sound Exchange is a performing rights organization with the sole purpose of collecting royalty payments from streaming music services. It’s a different realm, with a different payment structure.

10. Legal Zoom

legalzoom

Website: www.legalzoom.com

Cost: $10 – $30 per document

Why you should use it: By now you’ve either heard the rumors or experienced it for yourself – there are some shady people in music industry. Handshake deals and trusting some of these people to do the right thing might be the wrong mindset to have. Legal zoom gives you the means to protect your interests through the means of standard legal agreements and contracts. Most of which are less than $20. It’s important to put everything in writing so all parties will know what’s expected and what will be expected should someone not hold their end of the deal.

11. PledgeMusic

pledgemusic

Website: www.pledgemusic.com

Cost: 15% commission on each pledge

Why you should use it: Releasing a quality project can get pretty expensive, especially if you make no comprise when it comes to quality. Pledge Music can help you raise the funds to finance your next project by leveraging your loyal fan-base. It’s like kickstarter but for people who make music.

12. Suggestions???

If you found this article helpful, please share it with your music buddies so they can benefit too!

Denver Post Article Infuriates Denver’s Hip-Hop Community

On Wednesday May 13, 2015, the Denver Post published an article on their website claiming that the death of a Denver rapper by the name of KL Tha General is the reason for all the recent gang violence the city has experienced since the beginning of the new year.

Written by veteran blogger Kirk Mitchell, the article attempts to tie Kevie Durham’s battle-rap lyrics to real life scenarios in what many are calling The Denver Post’s last ditched effort to tarnish the defenseless rapper’s name in order to gain viewership.

The headline, “Rapper whose murder triggered Denver gang war should’ve been in prison” incited anger among Denver’s hip-hop community as those who knew him allege his juvenile past is irrelevant and that the article falls short in regards to proving a viable connection between Durham’s death and the numerous shootings that have been occurring around the city. Only capable of citing Police Chief Robert White’s acknowledgments

“Denver Police Chief Robert White recently acknowledged that a gang war in which up to a dozen members from four street gangs have been murdered has its origin in Durham’s death.”

…Mitchel continues on to make the case that if Durham were extradited to North Carolina instead of being released to a halfway-house back in 2012, he would have been found guilty and locked away in prison, thus would have not been attending the venue the night he was killed in 2014 and thus Denver would not be experiencing a gang-war at the moment.

Many well-known figures in Denver’s music community are denouncing the Denver Post article and calling it a bias unfounded judgement of Durham’s character and a dismal attempt at placing the weight of Denver’s gang problems on one person.

Kirk Mitchell did not return phone calls to answer questions regarding his article. However, sources close to KL Tha General confirm that Mitchell will be writing a follow-up piece to this article which will contain the specifics on the connection between Durham and a few of the more recent shooting victims.

 

 

You can read the entire Denver Post article here:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28104235/rapper-whose-murder-triggered-denver-gang-war-shouldve

Photo credit: David Shankbone

Featured EP: DeColo – “Breakfast For Dinner”

With this being our first time hearing a project from DeColo, we must say we are pretty impressed. “Breakfast For Dinner” is DeColo’s first solo EP and it serves as a testament to his versatility and creativity as an artist.

Not only does he showcase an exceptional repertoire of punchlines, he also takes prime opportunity to demonstrate his developing singing ability, which is pretty impressive in itself.

Overall, “Breakfast For Dinner” is a brilliant introduction to the Colorado music scene for the simple fact that DeColo manages to use his artistry to tell a story most of us can relate to in one way or another.

If you trust our opinion, scroll down and hit play. You won’t be disappointed! This is #mileHImusic

 

Favorite Tracks: Mila (Feat. A Meazy), The Fire (Feat. Damien The Architect)

 

More info: watchdecolo.com

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6 Colorado Hip-Hop Producers You Need To Know

Colorado is proving itself to be a diamond in the rough when it comes to discovering hot new artists and the same can be said for hip-hop producers as well. Here are just 6 of the likely hundreds out here that we know can bring the heat when it comes to producing a fire-ass beat.

In no particular order, these are 6 Colorado hip-hop producers you need to know.

 

 

Davey Boy

Connect: @DaveyRemix

Buy Beats: DaveyBoyRemix.com

Q: You’ve produced a lot of beats for artists out here in Colorado, which of those songs has been your favorite?

A: I’ve produced a lot of music for Adonis Fox. Any of those could be an instant classic, but my favorite is “Good Morning.” It’s reminiscent of 90s R&B combined with some millennium flavor. It has that Jodeci Bounce. There’s a track I produced with Trev Rich called “Don’t Stop.” There was a lot of controversy with that song; the rumor was that a famous rap artist had ripped off the concept and weeks later a very similar song had hit the airwaves. It could have been just a coincidence, haha.

There’s also a new single I produced called “Something Real” with a new female group ATLA (ay, tee, el, ay) ft Eric Bellinger. That’s dropping pretty soon. It’s fire… more like hot magma, keep a fire extinguisher next to your headphones-Hot!

 

 

Mikel Saint

Connect: @mikelsaint

Buy Beats: [vision_mailto]masterzgd@hotmail.com[/vision_mailto]

Q: Not only do you make some dope beats, but you can also design your ass off. If you had to choose between one hustle to pursue full-time, would it be producing or graphic design?

A: My passion definitely begins and ends with designing. Whether it be drawing, painting, sculpting. Music is something I developed a strong interest for in my late teens and decided to incorporate into my business, known today as Masterz Multimedia. Currently I pursue freelance graphic design full time and have worked with many great companies, entrepreneurs and Musicians extending from LA to the UK. My daily Life is very inconsistent and that is something I find most appealing as a creative type. One day I could be working on someone’s Album cover, the Next day I could be designing the UI for an innovative mobile app. I consider Music to be more of a vessel to channel my creativity elsewhere. Through the 8 years of producing music I have laid down nearly 60 Solid tracks and Sold a handful with 1 Major Placement being Chamillionaire’s “ Some Things Never Change “. Oddly enough I have never perused Music Full Time or Taken it seriously until that day, All credit to perfect timing.

I think today’s artist plays it safe, some of us are obsessed by mastering one thing and One thing only. I feel that waking up every day doing the same thing over and over again becomes too much of a Job which defeats the whole point of being an artist. If you’re a Painter learn to play piano, If you’re a Singer learn to shoot photography. Your creativity will broaden and explode.

Expressing yourself through various Mediums is in my opinion very important as an artist. If you’re not growing daily or pushing yourself you will become stagnant and your Creative juices will seize up. I’ve always had a Bit of a sporadic mind, Sometimes I will be Mid Cover art design and Hear a melody in my head and I immediately Open FL studio to lay down the chords, Vice versa. If I were given the ultimatum between Music or Designing I would have to stick with Designing 100%. I am Extremely passionate for what I do and wake up every day excited to tackle something Brand new. I encourage others to do the same, Expand your mind, Don’t wait for inspiration to come Knocking. Be veracious with your appetite.

 

 

 

Cheff Premier

Connect: @realcheffbeats

Buy Beats: n/a

Q: What mainstream or underground producers have inspired (or do inspire) you and to what effect?

A: Throughout my life I’ve been influenced by many musicians and genres of music.

As a producer now I have a few producers that stick out and look to for inspiration

From a musical standpoint I think Pharrell and Jazze Pha have made the most impact in me.. their musicality is just outstanding. From their voicing / their instrumentation and overall orchestration is by far superior and has stood the test of time… Records like Excuse me Miss (Jay Z. Prod. Pharrell) Area codes (Ludacris Prod.Jazze Pha) are recognized to this day…

From a hit making standpoint I think Max Martin is by far the best and most influential producer in the last 20 years… Any Backstreet boys, Britney spears, n’sync, all the way to Taio Cruz and Katy Perry to Taylor swift…. The man is a hit machine… He incorporates tons of genres together into one and makes hits… Pure hits…

I think currently with the internet and social outlets and the tremendous amount of new content constantly being pushed out it’s been hard to find a sound and producer that really is making a impact..In the last 6 years we’ve gone from Lex Luger to jahlil to T minus to Mustard to Mike will to now Metro Booming… Constantly changing…. Great producers… But not quite as influential to the genre just yet…

 

 

 

TreezyMadeIt!

Connect: @kushedouttreezy

Buy Beats: MyFlashStore.net

Q: What made you want to pursue producing to begin with, and how long did it take for you to get good enough for people to start noticing?

A: My family has always had a love for music I been around it all my Life.My older brother used to mess around wit DJ Programs & FL Studio.
I always was the most creative kid out of all my peers. I always seen things different even till this day. From writing to art I aways used creativity as a way to express myself. It wasn’t until I seen DJ Paul & Juicy J on MTV making beats that i tried to give it a shot. It took forever. My first beats were terrible. This was in 2006. it took months before I could even get the basics down. It was when I seen people’s reaction to the music I was creating what made me pursue it more. Even though I thought what I was making was trash. People loved it! Fast forward after a few years of practice my aunt pointed out that I spent so much time on FL Studio. This was when I realized I had a gift & that I can really make an living off this. That turned me into a monster I spent years on years trying to make my own sound and perfecting it. Examining and studying all the greats in all music genres and art in general. It’s all just expression. It’s much bigger than just bass and sounds to me. It’s about the energy and vibe your giving off. I began releasing music on the Internet and pushing my beats around 2009. It was hard I thought about quitting a thousand times but I’ve always believed in myself through the adversity. The word spread fast locally. It was crazy to just see how much people loved my music. It was the supporters & music lovers that convinced me I’m the best at what I do. I seen how they react to other producers stuff and then how they reacted when I would play my beats. It wasn’t until 2011-2012 that I started to gain nationwide/ worldwide attention & placements with notable artist. It’s just a blessing man. I always kept my faith and I always put 100 percent into everything I do. It’s crazy now. but at the same time I always knew that this is what it’s supposed to be. I’m still humble and learning more everyday and growing as an artist.

 

 

 

Kajmir Royale

Connect: @kajmirbeats

Buy Beats: SoundClick

Q: Do you feel like moving out of Colorado allowed your career to progress much more substantially than it would have had you stayed living here?

A: Yes, my career has substantially advanced by leaving Colorado. I have mad love for Colorado, however I hit a ceiling there. I toured and performed at nearly every major venue in the state, including halftime at the Lakers / Nuggets game. I released and sold numerous singles, albums, and mixtapes in Colorado. I also collaborated with many Colorado artists over the years. The issue became, there was no one in film, TV, or at record labels to meet with. I also couldn’t find any investors to fund my bigger vision, who would take entertainment seriously in Colorado. In Hollywood, I run into major artists all the time, some of the top music studios in the world are just a short walk away, and the resources are plentiful in terms of collaborations. I also get more placements in film and TV as a result of being in California. In addition, investors love our mission and what I’m doing in regards to education and putting out wholesome, inspirational music. Overall, I’ll always appreciate the time I spent in Colorado, as well as the people there. I’m glad I made the leap of faith and moved myself and my team to Hollywood. I’m not saying Colorado can’t or shouldn’t be the place for an hip hop artist to take off on an international level and hit big mainstream success. There are major artists that come through the Rocky Mountains. I also looked at moving to NYC and Miami. I felt Hollywood was the best overall for me personally. Shout out to the CO!

 

 

 

Mahxie

Connect: @Mahxiemusic

Buy Beats: TrakTrain.com

Q: You make some of the coldest beats not just in Colorado but PERIOD! How much effort do you put into getting them into the hands of mainstream artists?

A: Most of the time I just get lucky when they hit me back via email. I just shout-out and email my work and hope for the best. I’ve invested a lot of time and equipment into my music, always trying to figure out new ways to be creative and weird, but not too much because I have to balance out my weird noises with the sounds today that people are used to hearing.

I put my everything into my craft because its the only thing that I can escape too, there’s so many different ideas that you can mix together and form one. I try my hardest not to get distracted and waste my time, music is a way to waste time but expect time back you know?

 

 

Who are we missing? Post links to their beats in the comments below.

 

Resources for producers:

SoundClick.net

MyFlashStore.net

– pmpworldwide.com