ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2014, Volume 3 | Page 80

MUSIC IS IN THE EYES—
AND EARS…OF THE BEHOLDER
By The Fairy Rock Mother Kiki Plesha
Congratulations…you have selected one of the toughest businesses to pursue! Now, how to get NOTICED! Just how does one
submit their music and maximize the potential to make it count? Whether it be to a Magazine, Radio Station, Record Label,
Promoter--or any other entity that receives music for consideration--there are many thought processes that occur when reviewing
submissions. The first, believe it or not, is VISUAL APPEAL. The “look” of the artist or group is very important! The initial image
that impacts the eyes is paramount. There is an old saying that you only have one opportunity to make a FIRST IMPRESSION,
and it’s true! Invest in some PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS. It sends a message that you are serious about your career and also, puts
your best foot forward in the MARKETABILITY department. Find yourself a creative-thinking Photographer who produces high
resolution images. When selecting a Photographer, ask to view a portfolio of their work and see if your personalities and visions
“click”. I cannot stress enough the value of a great photo!
And while we are on the subject of eye appeal--invest in a well-designed, impactful vector-quality LOGO. So many times, band or
artist logos are amateurish or hard to read. Simple and crisp is best! A logo should be easily recognized and transfer well to media
and promotional merchandise. Again, INVEST in a professional Graphic Designer to provide you with a logo to represent your
project, personality, and brand.
BRANDING is very important--know who you are! I find some artists are all over the place and haven’t developed a sound or
uniqueness in their image. Being an artist is a BUSINESS--know your product! When the music lacks focus, the confusion of being
undefined can render it unmarketable. Find your niche! That is the mark of INDIVIDUALITY.
Regarding the music you submit. Be careful when choosing the song you present for consideration. The truth of the matter is, a
reviewer may only listen for about the first 30 seconds (sometimes less)—so make it count! Reviewers have short attention spans
and probably have a couple of hundred other songs to get to. Keep in mind that to get AIRPLAY, your song should be around 4
minutes. And, regarding profanity in music--I am not about censorship, however, be discerning in the song you choose to submit.
The reality is, it must be something that is acceptable for the public to hear and is APPROPRIATE for general consumption for
broadcast.
There is also a fine line between being MARKETABLE and too “cookie cutter”. One wants to have a fresh sound but also, mass
appeal. Confusing, but true. Don’t be a slave to what you are hearing on the radio, but DO know the TRENDS in music and what
appears to be selling. It’s a tough line to walk—being marketable, yet ORIGINAL.
Again, you have to spend some money to get noticed. Have your song PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED AND MIXED. “Basement
Tapes” aren’t going to fit the bill when submitting music—nor do they do you justice. And by all means…LISTEN to your Sound
Engineer! They have a wealth of knowledge to impart! Yes, YOUR VISION is important and of course, is what makes your sound
unique. But, sometimes, you are too close to the project and input from a seasoned professional can “tweak” the final product and
create more interest.
A word about the RECORDING PROCESS from my point of view. There are many “bells and whistles” and “shiny objects” to
choose from in the studio. It is a plethora of gadgets and gizmos. It is tempting to overuse some of these and sometimes, it can
“muddy” a song. I often wonder to myself, “Where is the PURITY OF SOUND and how do they recreate that LIVE?” How often it is
that we attend a concert and the reality is a disappointment? The LIVE experience is subpar to the recording. And don’t even get