| Music Success in Nine Weeks by Ariel Hyatt has just | | | | shows you which social media sites a musician needs |
| been released in its second edition. Many of you indie | | | | to create an online presence. |
| musicians have wondered if the book is worth the | | | | Week 5: Blogging |
| purchase, and I'd like to break down the chapters in | | | | Back in the day, a static website containing your |
| order to help you make an informed decision. Ariel | | | | music, photo, and bio was enough. Having a blog on |
| Hyatt is the founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber | | | | your website enables you to show your personality, |
| PR, a New York-based digital firm that connects | | | | connect with other bloggers, and also be found by |
| artists, authors and filmmakers to blogs, podcasts, | | | | search engines. Week 5 explains the importance of |
| Internet radio stations and social media sites. Over | | | | having a website that updates frequently so that |
| the past 13 years, her firm has represented over | | | | your fans can return to your site, and connect with |
| 1,400 musicians in all musical genres. | | | | you. |
| In my own career as an indie musician, I have had to | | | | Week 6: Connecting with Fans Via Your Newsletter |
| be mindful of my business, not only my music. To be | | | | List and Conducting Surveys |
| an indie musician requires an entrepreneurial mindset, | | | | Your band newsletter can be used for more than |
| and I read a lot of books on the music business, and | | | | blasting out the dates for your next gig. Your |
| being an entrepreneur that have helped me reach my | | | | newsletter should be used to build and grow your |
| goals. | | | | relationship with your fans. Once your have their |
| As a client of Ariel's, and an owner of the first edition | | | | trust, you can also reach out to them to ask them |
| of the first edition of Music Success in Nine Weeks, I | | | | what they want from you. It's a lot better than |
| was eager to learn how the editions differed from | | | | guessing. |
| each other. While the concept of breaking tasks into | | | | Week 7: How to Build Your Mailing List |
| nine weeks is the same, it is obvious to me that the | | | | Once you have an email list, it's also important to add |
| second edition has even more meat than the first. | | | | more names each month. Week 7 shows you tips |
| Week 1: Getting Mentally Prepared | | | | and tricks to grow a healthy fan email list. |
| The first week of Ariel's Music Success in Nine | | | | Week 8: Real Live Networking Tips |
| Weeks program is all about setting goals, and getting | | | | In addition to having an online presence, it is still |
| into the right mindset. The music business is not for | | | | important for musicians to meet people offline, and |
| the lazy or weak-hearted, and you need to be | | | | make connections with them. Week 8 teaches you |
| prepared for the long haul. This means getting into | | | | how to make an authentic connection in person. |
| the correct mindset for success, and creating realistic | | | | Week 9: Creating a Continuum Program |
| goals that you can work towards. | | | | As enlightening as the rest of this book is, in my |
| Week 2: Your Perfect Pitch | | | | opinion, Week 9 of Music Success in Nine Weeks is |
| The second week teaches you how to create an | | | | the high point of the book. Once you build your |
| elevator pitch: a description of your music that you | | | | fanbase, and have permission to contact them |
| can easily repeat in the time it takes to travel one | | | | regularly, it's time to get your fans to purchase |
| floor of an elevator to another. The best music pitch | | | | merch from you on a regular basis. Whether it's CDs, |
| is memorable, and one that you are happy to use | | | | t-shirts, or any other kind of band swag, creating a |
| again and again. | | | | product line will make the difference in your band's |
| Week 3: Optimizing Your Website | | | | bottom line. |
| The purpose of your music website is not just to | | | | Another bonus of purchasing Ariel Hyatt's Music |
| hold music clips and display your next gig date. Your | | | | Success in Nine Weeks is that you get free lifetime |
| website needs to pull potential fans in, and enable | | | | membership to Ariel's closed online Mastermind Forum. |
| them to join your cause. Ariel offers practical | | | | In the forum you meet other musicians like yourself |
| suggestions for how your website can be used to | | | | who are working the program, and you have the |
| build your fanbase. | | | | added support of Ariel and her staff. In the spirit of |
| Week 4: Social Media For Musicians | | | | full disclosure, I am also one of her forum |
| With social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, | | | | moderators, but as a musician myself, I receive as |
| and Twitter, the potential to build a global audience | | | | much as I give, and I recommend Ariel Hyatt's book |
| via the internet has grown exponentially. Week 4 of | | | | and services to any musician who wants to take |
| Music Success in Nine Weeks defines "Web 2.0", and | | | | their career to the next level. |