Skip to main content

The Concept of Pushing Your Song: Distribution, Creativity, Research, and Branding




Written by Fred Farai Nyakudanga


In the music industry, there's a crucial pillar that determines the success of an artist: distribution. To effectively push your music to the masses, you need to consider three underlying conditions: creativity, research, and branding.


Distribution: The Backbone of Music Promotion

When releasing a song, it's not the listener's responsibility to search for it. Instead, it's the artist's duty to ensure the song reaches its target audience through accessible channels. With the rise of digital platforms, music distribution has migrated to online spaces.


Challenges in Local Distribution Channels

Unfortunately, Zimbabwe lacks robust local distribution channels that cater to a wider population. The official channels, such as radio stations, primarily serve as promotional tools rather than generating significant sales. Other distribution channels in Zimbabwe, like the club circuit, are also largely promotional.


Effective Distribution Channels

1. Radio Stations: While primarily promotional, radio stations can still provide valuable exposure.

2. Club Circuit: Playing your song in clubs and beer halls can spark interest and create a buzz.

3. WhatsApp Distribution: Although exploitative, WhatsApp can effectively reach your audience, albeit without monetary returns.

4. Live Shows: Traditional promotional platforms that help build a fanbase.

5. Online Music Stores: A crucial channel for monetizing your music, where listeners can pull your content.


Understanding Music Consumer Behavior

Music consumers demand music for various reasons, including:


1. Entertainment: Listeners seeking enjoyment and relaxation.

2. Association: Fans wanting to identify with trending music or artists.

3. Therapy: Music heals souls and especially if the melodies speak. 

4. Promotion: Business Entities promote their products through music in the form of jingles and soundtracks



Crafting a Compelling Brand

As a musician, it's essential to manipulate your research findings to create a brand that resonates with your audience. Develop a brand that people want to be part of, and you'll increase your chances of success.


Key Takeaways

1. Distribution is key: Ensure your music reaches its target audience through accessible channels.

2. Understand your audience: Research and cater to the diverse needs of music consumers.

3. Develop a strong brand: Create a compelling brand that resonates with your audience and sets you apart.


By mastering these concepts, you'll be well on your way to successfully pushing your music and building a loyal fanbase.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Love, Sex, and Marriage: Three Sides of the Same Coin

  Written by Fred Farai Nyakudanga In today’s society, the lines between love, sex, and marriage are often blurred. Sex has been commercialized and portrayed as a pleasurable act, while love is taught through upbringing and personal experiences. Marriage, on the other hand, has become a duty where two people often find themselves tied together due to sex and social prestige. Love vs. Sex Sex is a natural instinct, while love is a cultivated emotion that allows us to accommodate someone who is not ourselves. As I often say in my sessions with young adults, every creature that reproduces enjoys sex. However, it’s love that sets us apart. We can plan and work on love, tolerating and forgiving someone who is different from us. Love disciplines us on who to have sex with, and mutual desire is a design of our own making. While sex and love are interconnected, they serve different purposes. Sex is driven by inner feelings that aim to satisfy reproduction, whereas love is a choice that req...

Greener Pastures Do Not Secure A Fat Cow

  Written by Fred Farai Nyakudanga Just like cows seeking greener pastures, humans are drawn to opportunities that promise better living standards. However, I pose a critical question: do greener pastures truly guarantee prosperity if the underlying conditions are flawed? Perhaps the lack of progress is not due to the absence of opportunities, but rather the result of haphazard approaches, poor planning, and neglected resources. In the pursuit of a better life, many Africans seek opportunities in diaspora, enticed by promises of higher salaries and improved living standards. Yet, I firmly believe that true fulfillment and lasting impact can only be achieved by addressing the underlying conditions that hinder our progress in our own autonomous land – a land where we have territorial integrity. These underlying conditions include : 1. Absent value creation mechanisms : Failing to harness value from our resources and talents, instead relying on others for validation. 2. Disunity : Lac...

Richness is Not a Coincidence, While Poverty is a Choice

  Written by Fred Farai Nyakudanga  Even when circumstances seem to offer no alternatives, choices still exist. These choices might be limited, oppressive, or unappealing, but they are choices nonetheless. The decision to pursue richness, unlike the circumstances that lead to poverty, is often deliberate and hard-won. Richness is not a chance occurrence; it is created. Those who achieve it have typically made conscious decisions, defying odds and pushing beyond familiar territories. In contrast, poverty often results from coerced or timid choices, stemming from situations created by those who comprehend the nature of richness. Strategies to Evade Poverty 1. Seek Opportunities, Even When None Seem Apparent : Be proactive, network, think creatively, and take calculated risks. 2. Don't Wait for Validation from Others ; Take Initiative: Self-validate, set your own goals, take ownership, and be decisive. 3. Overcome Objections and Challenges : Anticipate obstacles, develop problem-...