Tips & Tricks

On social media, search engine optimization is an extremely important component of any marketing strategy. And although Pinterest’s bread and butter is predominately visual, the service is no exception. You might not think that an optimized Pinterest profile is necessary, but consider the fact that the platform’s users are buying items more often and in […]

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CB Insights, a relatively new site that’s building a database of startup and VC investment information, recently took a look at music startups and noted, that though the kinds of deals they’re tracking have risen in the last couple of years, a smaller percentage of them have been for U.S.-based companies. Though they seem to […]

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Walking the metaphorical tightrope between the needs of your business and the needs of your customers can be a real challenge, but this is exactly what community managers have signed up to do. Balancing the diverse needs of internal and external clients while maintaining your brand’s image and — hopefully — keeping everyone happy is […]

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We’re in a weird transitional period in relationship to streaming music services. It’s hard to know which service will survive and whether or not focusing on streaming alternatives to Spotify and Pandora, such as YouTube, is a better bet for the future. But if you are embracing or are now ready to embrace streaming music […]

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New on the Hypebot Jobs Board are two at MTV – an application engineer (Java developer) and a project manager both within the MTV Artists program. LA-based music management firm Family Artists is also looking for a bookeeper/office manager. Details on these opportunities and more are on Hypebot’s Music Industry Jobs Board. HIRING? How To […]

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5 years in, Kickstarter has introduced a guide to launching effective crowdfunding campaigns. “It’s your one-stop guide to designing a solid Kickstarter project, presenting it effectively, finding backers, and delivering on your plans,” according to Kickstarter. May of the tips translate to non-Kickstarter campaigns, as well. “It has insights and articles from Kickstarter veterans on […]

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Our friend Patrick McNease recently interviewed UK artist King Kash for his blog Praverb.net. In the interview they talk about the hip-hop scene in the UK and how to build a loyal fanbase by organizing your own live events. King Kash has some good advice for up-and-coming artists looking to produce and promote their own […]

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With the rise of digital merchandising comes a lot of look alikes. Everyone wants “in” on the successful artists‘ career – sometimes this means the illegal download and/or streaming of music or, a taking things a step futhe by counterfeiting merchandise for profit. Counterfeit merchandise is one of the most active ways “fans” are mooching […]

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UPDATE – Today, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee chaired by Bob Goodlatte (R – VA) begins the first of two important hearings on music licensing. The arguments will shape copyright reform and the royalty paid for decades. The hearings will be streamed live on the House Judiciary Committee site starting at 10AM ET. While representing […]

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For all the talk about illegal streaming, takedown notices and royalty rates, the amount of counterfeit music related merchandise available on websites like Amazon is almost hard to comprehend. This situation is holding back new revenue opportunities and damaging the artist-fan relationship. So, where is the outrage from the industry? How come artists, suppliers and […]

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A few years ago, many people saw Pinterest as simply a visual bookmarking service used to collect recipe and fashion inspiration. Since then, it has attracted an audience that’s now in the millions. While it’s still used for inspirational purposes, brands now know how to integrate their content and convert Pinterest Pins into sales. There’s […]

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I have to say I was delighted to discover that Fania Records is not only back in business but is again going strong. Last time I checked their CDs were in short supply and the company was in probate court. Acquired in 2005 by Emusica and then sold to Codigo Music in 2008, a revived […]

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Brooklyn Bowl is one of the more interesting venue success stories of late with its combination of bowling, music and quality service. Having already expanded to London and Las Vegas, the early questions about Brooklyn Bowl’s chances for success have long been answered. Fast Company recently checked in with founder Peter Shapiro who shared “7 […]

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The first in a new ongoing series that looks back at a decade of Hypebot posts covering the news and opinions that shaped the music industry. From July 26, 2005 – “Widespread broadband adoption combined with the digitization of music and the emergence of portable digital music players is fundamentally changing the music industry,” acorrding […]

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Gigging is, without a doubt, a critical income stream for every artist. Securing gigs is extremely competitive, but going in with a plan can give you the jumpstart you need to close the deal. Collaboration, networking, and a proactivity can unlock the door to venues you never saw yourself playing in when used efficienty – […]

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On June 5th at its annual meeting of stockholders, Live Nation‘s shareholders elected CEO Michael Rapino, Mark Carleton, Jonathan Dolgen, William Morris Endeavor chief Ari Emanuel, Ted Enloe, Jeff Hinson, Peggy Johnson, Jim Kahan, Greg Maffei, Randall Mays and Mark Shapiro to serve on the board of directors of the live entertainment giant for the […]

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[This article was written by Maryann Harman, founder of Music with Mar., Inc.] In “So you think you can record children’s music?“, I wrote about how just because you are a musician doesn’t mean you can write children’s music. It seemed fitting to have that blog followed by “What Do I Need to Know About […]

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Make more money from your music — sell it as sheet music A couple year ago, Beck released an entire album’s worth of new material as sheet music. No official recordings. Just the paper and notation. Thousands of artists around the globe interpreted that sheet music to make their own own versions of the songs. […]

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