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Just like marketing a new product, you need promotion and distribution to gain an audience for your music. Without the sponsorship of a major recording company, budding musicians, or those who comprise the so-called “indies” or independent musicians, often find little reception for their talent. Record companies just can’t spare the time to listen to demo tapes. Neither do radio jockeys have the air time to play them.
But cheer up. Podcasting is a novel distribution channel that independent musicians can exploit. It allows audio files to be accessed via RSS feeds on the net. And as a new phenomenon of the 21st century, podcasting has gained popular momentum with the young crowd. With it, independent musicians gain a unique opportunity to be heard. And possibly make their works heard by just as many people as there are tuned in to traditional FM radios.

First thing’s first.

You need to learn how to create podcasts for your works. And the good thing about podcasting is that it’s no rocket science. Just about anyone with the keen interest can be a podcaster. Browsing the net yields all the information you need to start one.

Budding musicians may already have a digital recording of their works burned on CDs and ready for that elusive demo with a label or disc jockey. It should not be much of a pain converting them to MP3 files ready for RSS encapsulation as podcasts.

A Novel Distribution Channel
The power of distribution is evident when looking at the iTunes Music Store. You have various podcasts generating millions of downloads. Independent musicians who produce podcasts include iTunes tags in their podcast feed that enable their works to be listed as podcasts… Needless to say, a podcast listing, whether in iTunes or some other music podcast directory on the net significantly raises a podcasting musician’s audience reach and exposure.

Podcast your Demos

Sending demos are what “indies” have been doing in their dreams to be discovered by major labels. This time, you can podcast these demos. But first, create your own website containing links to your podcasts. Send emails to record labels and radio honchos with a link to your demo files. They may not always have the time, but when they open their emails, there’s a good chance they just might click on that link.

Get Some Live Gigs and Promote Them
Night clubs and bars looking for live entertainment listen to podcasts to find bands or artists who can satisfy their customers. And if you’re good, you just might find yourself fully booked with various clubs. And in the music industry, record labels prefer musicians with some live performing experience than one who doesn’t have any. So once you get that gig, make sure to advertise them in your podcasts as well.

Join a Music Forum

Casual listeners in these forums or communities who listen to podcasts often share their podcasts discoveries with friends and colleagues with the same interest, and it is possible that one of those friends might happen to be a recording label executive. .

Also bear in mind that podcasting knows no geographic or nationality borders. Independent musicians often start with their local labels but with podcasting, who knows, some talented musician in India could just land a contract in Hollywood. So take that first step. Producing your musical podcast can open that big break for a young musician.