I had written a long blog about how important it was for people to actually participate in, not ignore, our constant need for help regarding Take Me To The Pilot’s radio campaign for our single, ‘Tonight’. However, my computer shut down in the middle of recording this video and frankly I don’t have another essay in me tonight, so here it goes…
The only way we can succeed in this industry is by proving to music execs that we are ‘the real deal’, meaning ‘something they can sell’. The only way to do that is by being profitable and successful without them, which is a hell of a task.
Most bands are doing things almost exclusively online these days, and a lot of hopeful artists are trying to become viral sensations. However, the golden age of internet band promotion has passed, and thanks to the success of bands like Making April, Never Shout Never and Secondhand Serenade (to name a few), online music promotion has become more difficult than ever, with millions of new bands constantly barraging us with promotion attempts. It has gotten hard NOT to get lost in the mix.
So we are going a more old-school route. We play the online games, but we also tour. A lot. We have also started the aforementioned radio campaign, which is no doubt having its way with your Facebook and Twitter feeds.
As irritating as this might be, it’s necessary. Radio stations are the same as the rest of the music industry these days: they only want a sure thing. It’s all about selling ad time and without listeners any station can easily go belly-up. As a result, most stations opt to only play what’s ‘safe’, AKA only established artists. It is borderline impossible for a new act to break in.
But it is not COMPLETELY impossible.
All the TMTTP stuff junking up your feed is our way in. ‘Emerging Artists’ programs at various stations give us a chance to sneak into rotation, but we need your help to do it. Votes of any kind at radio are the only thing we have going for us, and that all rests on your shoulders. Yeah it’s a huge pain in the ass and you probably all hate me, but at the end of the day the reality is that as a new band we have to jump through hoops. We have to play the game, and right now that game is to show your support in any and all ways that you can, ESPECIALLY at radio.
The good news is that we have YOU in our corner. I’m grateful for that because you guys have been incredible to us thus far. I know you can help us, and as much as I hate to ask any more of you I really have no choice.
So please don’t ignore the posts. Help where you can. We need you.
Please re-post or share this in any way you can. Spread the word.
<3
