Indie Music and Social Media: A Match Made in Heaven

I have no musical ability whatsoever. Yet I love music and live vicariously through some of my favorite bands and musicians. I particularly love the indie music scene and when I find an artist I like, I work hard to help them promote their music.

For the past few years I’ve been saying there is no better time to be an indie musician. Technology has made it possible for nearly anyone to record music and then distribute it without spending tons of money. Of course, it’s a catch-22. Now that EVERYONE can do it, there’s an awful lot of music out there (much of it pretty terrible), and the competition for our ears is great. So how do you cut through the clutter? Much of it can be through an effective use of social media.

Hiram Ring

Thanks to my friend Hiram Ring (whose music you should check out), I was introduced to the music, and person, of Joy Ike. Not only is Joy a talented musician and performer, but she is taking her knowledge of the industry and helping others. Joy says she was frustrated by the musicians she saw who weren’t taking their art seriously enough, and who had some sort of sense of entitlement, as if fame should be handed them on a platter. Ike believes, rightly so, that musicians need to work for what they want. She says “if someone believes their music is worth listening to, they will put the effort into getting it out.”

With that in mind, Ike created Grassrootsy, a wonderful blog/website designed with the indie musician in mind. Her goals for the site, among others, are to give artists:

• A realistic idea of what it takes to build a fan base
• A reality check on what it takes to be a successful indie musician
• the tools and knowledge they need to make a go of it

Joy wants her peers to know that their job isn’t done once they finish writing or recording a song. A huge part of the job is getting the word out so that someone will actually hear your music. And her words to musicians apply to all of us, no matter what field we are in: “Market yourself based on what you think you are worth.”

Joy Ike

Joy profiles avariety of musicians and a lot of what she talks about is an effective use of social media. So whether you are a musician, or just a music fan, check out Grassrootsy.

Here are some other key links:

Grassrootsy on Facebook

Joy Ike on Facebook

Joy Ike’s Website

And check out my friend Hiram Ring, whom I think does a great job of utilizing social media with a presence on Twitter, and a great series of vlogs:

Hiram Ring on Facebook

Hiram Ring’s Website

Tagged as: blogging, music, Social Media