3 MMF MENTORS GIVE YOU THEIR TOP 3 TIPS ON
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR AUDIENCE
YEE YANG ‘ SQUARE ’ LEE SquareSums & Co
Question Conventions - Kiwi musicians always release music on a Friday because # charts . If you ’ re a brand new or emerging artist , why not consider trading-off chart performance against PR opportunities : releasing on a different day of the week may well get you different results .
Music Collaborations - Collabs are a great way to reach new audiences . But keep in mind that as much as it is important to collab with another artist you love , or someone who can effectively be your co-sign , you should be focused on appealing to an expanded audience , perhaps even a completely different one .
Package Your Niche - Everyone ’ s got a story - but not everyone can communicate it well . In today ’ s age of content and media saturation , the idea of “ universality through specificity ” rings truer than ever , especially when we ’ re talking cultural-specificity and story sovereignty . Show them why they should care about you / your music , and they just might . Yee Yang ‘ Square ’ Lee manages Tofiga Fepulea ’ i , Modern Maori Quartet , Arjuna Oakes , Mazbou Q , Serebii , Reshma Martin , Ersha Island 二沙岛 .
NINAKAYE TAANE-TINORAU Tikidub Productions
Always Remember - That in terms of audience and also marketing , these days there are a few different realms you can “ play ” in - Real Life / Live , Old School Media ( ie Radio / Film & TV / Print ) and Internet / Social Media . Investing your presence into each of these realms can play a big part in how you can grow your audience .
When It Comes To Live Performance - Aim to provide the best quality holistic experience you can , from the door right through to lighting / sound and meet and greets afterwards , so that people go home raving and spreading the word via their networks .
Communication Is Everything - As is building relationships . Both these things are paramount in terms of building your audience and your career . There are times when things can get so busy , demanding and stressful , however you must strive to keep your feet on the ground always , and treat every person you meet along the way with respect . NinaKaye Taane-Tinorau manages Tiki Taane & Laughton Kora .
KATIE THOMPSON
Self-managed artist
Get Organised - Sounds boring right , however , it makes life so much easier in the long run if you ’ re storing your fans information correctly the moment you get it . From knowing their city , the merch they ’ ve purchased and their tee size you ’ re able to customise your offers and only get in touch when it applies to them . You don ’ t want to offer them a deal on the hoodie that they ’ ve only just purchased from you for full price . Likewise , when heading to their region , you want to be able to let them know or even get in touch personally via email to let them know you ’ re playing .
Build Genuine Relationships - Get to know who your fans are . What other music do they like to listen to ? Do they have other interests in common with you or each other ? You can find this out during live streams , polls on Instagram stories , and ask questions via your newsletters . Take note of these important little details - you can simply use the notes app on your phone or your customer relationship management ( CRM ) tool . I personally use Mailchimp to keep track of everything .
Be Yourself - If you ’ re wondering about what content to share and how to gain new listeners it can be extremely beneficial to think about what you already do in your everyday life and what hobbies you have . Some musicians I ’ ve talked to are heavily into a certain sport , others are expert gardeners or have a particular love of Llamas . The way you can find your people is by sharing who you are - no matter how random or far removed from your music it may be . People love getting to know the real you . Katie Thompson is the owner of music services agency Quirky Music .
To learn more about MMF One on One mentoring go to mmf . co . nz