5 Nightmare Mistakes that will come back to haunt your band!
Blog by Louise Dodgson under Artist Managers, Creative & Branding, Finance, Law & Music Business, Live, Media, Music Publishing, Music Training & Careers, Record Labels, Recording & Production, Selling & Distributing Your Music
It’s that spooky time of year again, but far more scary than Freddie Kruger or Michael Myers are the obvious mistakes that you, as a band or artist, could make that may later come back to bite you on the behind. Follow our top tips and make sure the only thing giving you the heebie-jeebies this Halloween are the trick or treaters!
MISTAKE 1. Not signing up to PRS!
You may be unsure at what stage of your music career you should be signing up to the likes of PRS For Music or other royalty collection services such as Sentric Music. But once you have songs in existence and are playing them live or sending demos off to the industry, then this should be a job at the top of your to-do list. 
Did you know you can earn money every time your music is played publicly, whether that be at a gig or on the unsigned show on your local radio station. Royalties are not just for well-known bands with managers and record deals, they are payable to anyone who has music out there doing the rounds, so the sooner you sign up to PRS For Music, the sooner you can bring in some cash. It may not be much at first but every little counts, and if things suddenly take off for you and radio airplay goes through the roof, you will definitely kick yourself if you have omitted to do this and aren’t yet receiving royalties that are rightfully yours.At this stage, let us point out that PRS For Music handle the royalties generated from the publishing side of your tracks, so you will need to have written and composed the songs yourself to receive money for their public performance. Relating to this, another nightmare waiting to happen can be the potential disagreements over royalty splits between band members, if you are not all equally involved in songwriting. In order to sidestep this issue, it is often a good idea to decide the songwriting splits between band members early on so this does not lead to tension and rifts further down the line.
Once all that is taken care of, it costs very little to sign up with PRS For Music (£30 admin fee) and Sentric Music (free, but they take a small percentage of your earnings) but it’s worth it to know that the collection of your royalties from various sources and payments back to you are in safe hands.
MISTAKE 2. Following trends
It can be easy to get disillusioned with making music if you’re getting little reaction from the wider public or the music industry, if that is what you’re seeking. It can also be easy to see other seemingly less-accomplished bands go on to enjoy some success and the thought ‘I could do that!’ may cross your mind. Don’t be tempted to follow trends, jump on bandwagons or generally act like sheep in order to replicate the latest sound, theme or look that people seem to be responding to.
Before you start down the path which is not entirely true to your artistic and creative instincts in the hope that you are more likely to have your music noticed, remember to keep the faith! You must believe 100% in what you are creating and if you compromise that at any point, it will no doubt leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Of course, it’s great to take inspiration from what others are doing, analyse what works for other artists and if it feels right then have a change of direction and experiment to your heart’s content. But only as long as you fully believe in what you’re doing and it’s not simply to chase the tailcoats of others.
MISTAKE 3. Not seeking professional advice
Sadly, here at The Unsigned Guide, we do from time to time hear of bands and artists who have wound up in a detrimental deal, whether it be with a manager, record label, or even an agreement signed to enter a competition involving your music. In this industry, agreements are everywhere and nobody expects you, as a band, to fully understand the finer details. In fact, some people rely on the fact that you won’t understand so they can get away with things they shouldn’t!
Whenever you are presented with a contract or agreement of any kind, please ensure you get professional, independent advice so you don’t wind up signing something that you will later regret. Most legal firms offer a free 30 minute consultation to all, and there are plenty of music and media specialists listed in The Unsigned Guide directory who you can consult. Also, don’t forget that members of the Musicians’ Union will also be entitled to free legal advice and assistance as part of their membership fee. The excitement of being offered a deal can be exhilarating but keep your head screwed on until you have a professional opinion so you don’t risk being caught out!
MISTAKE 4. Neglecting your fanbase
Without your fans you are nothing! This may seem like quite a dramatic statement but there is a lot of truth in it. If you want to earn money from making music then you need someone there to buy your releases and come to your gigs. And if you’re hoping to take things further and get the interest of the music industry, then you will definitely need a loyal and loving fanbase to demonstrate that you will ultimately be a good investment for a record label, manager, agent and so forth.
With that in mind, it stands to reason that you should treasure your fanbase, keep in touch with them regularly and make them feel wanted, special and part of your ‘gang’, so to speak. Word of mouth is a strong tool and with a dedicated force of fans by your side it can be like having your own little army to help spread the word and encourage friends & family to part with their cash for your gigs, EPs and so on. There are times when you may be immersed in writing new music, or going into the studio to record and it is tempting to take yourself off the radar during these productive times, but never forget to keep interacting with your fans. Keep them in the loop through Facebook, Twitter, email and the like, so they always feel involved in your antics and achievements and don’t get bored and drift to another ‘gang’.
MISTAKE 5. Living without a subscription to The Unsigned Guide!
OK, it’s time for a shameless plug! Whatever your aim for your music career, The Unsigned Guide has lots to offer you! Whether you dream of fat advance cheques and private jets or you just want to get your music out there under your own steam and make an honest and decent living doing what you love.
As a member of The Unsigned Guide you get access to our whopping music industry directory with over 8,800 contacts from all sectors of the business, plus advice, reports & info contributed from music organisations & experts to help you get to grips with the industry. We also have exclusive discounts & deals available on everything from recording, photo & video shoots to merchandise and pressing CDs so you can save on the essentials. Every month we highlight the best new music from our members in our Spotlight blog, which is also circulated to consenting music industry professionals. And for members with an annual subscription, our DIY Doctor is available to offer feedback and practical advice on your tracks. Membership to The Unsigned Guide is cheap and there are monthly, quarterly or annual subscriptions available so you can choose what suits you best. You’d be crazy not to give it a go!
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prs for music, musicians union, the unsigned guide, music industry, music business, music career, music advice
