If you are trying to launch a new band, then you are aware that many can be a problem. You need to take care of your equipment, you need to handle promotions, and you need to drive to gigs. There are plenty of things to worry about, but taking care of album art is one of the most important. There are several potential problems you will need to contend with, but if you take a look at the following, you should be able to avoid the most common pitfalls.
Late Orders-Make plans, lots of plans. From the time you order your CD it will take up to two weeks to arrive. Once that happens, you need to have your art printed, and approve the final result. If you allow time for adjustments and various changes, you should be fine.
Excessive Quantity-On the first release, bands will usually order far too many discs. There was a time when ordering 1000 discs was a necessity, but you can now make discs at home whenever you choose. It is important that you do not spend all of your money on the creation of discs. Make a few discs, then go back for more when you have a greater demand.
Do-It-Yourself Printing-If you attempt to print your own labels, you need to know that home printing jobs do not look nearly as good as professional jobs. Album releases simply are not the time for a DIY project. In the long run, once you add in your time, you will probably come to the conclusion that printing your own printing efforts simply will not be profitable.
Incorrect Album Art-One of the biggest potential issues in CD production is the cover art. Oftentimes people fail to read the specifications set forth by the manufacturer, and they simply deploy their own templates. This can lead to a rejection, and lead to you taking even more time. The images need to fit the artwork template and use the proper format. When you have a better reputation, you might take a more freelance approach to the process, but not when you are first starting out!
Digital Availability-As your album is released, make sure everyone has access to it. This will entail releasing it in several different formats -- digital formats included. One great distributor would be iTunes, and you need to ensure that you offer several ways for your fans to obtain the content.
No Post-Release Strategy-An album release should be the beginning of your band's marketing strategy, rather than the end. Establish the percentage of discs you will use for promotional purposes and create a schedule for making videos. Create relationships with people who blog about music. It is essential that you maintain buzz about your music before your next album release.
Many problems with an album release can be avoided with some planning. Many problems are related to creating CDs. Most of these problems are easily avoided by following the advice present in this paper and following the manufacturer's specific advice. If you are unclear about something, call up the manufacture, they will help. A few simple marketing techniques can help you make the most of your album release.
Late Orders-Make plans, lots of plans. From the time you order your CD it will take up to two weeks to arrive. Once that happens, you need to have your art printed, and approve the final result. If you allow time for adjustments and various changes, you should be fine.
Excessive Quantity-On the first release, bands will usually order far too many discs. There was a time when ordering 1000 discs was a necessity, but you can now make discs at home whenever you choose. It is important that you do not spend all of your money on the creation of discs. Make a few discs, then go back for more when you have a greater demand.
Do-It-Yourself Printing-If you attempt to print your own labels, you need to know that home printing jobs do not look nearly as good as professional jobs. Album releases simply are not the time for a DIY project. In the long run, once you add in your time, you will probably come to the conclusion that printing your own printing efforts simply will not be profitable.
Incorrect Album Art-One of the biggest potential issues in CD production is the cover art. Oftentimes people fail to read the specifications set forth by the manufacturer, and they simply deploy their own templates. This can lead to a rejection, and lead to you taking even more time. The images need to fit the artwork template and use the proper format. When you have a better reputation, you might take a more freelance approach to the process, but not when you are first starting out!
Digital Availability-As your album is released, make sure everyone has access to it. This will entail releasing it in several different formats -- digital formats included. One great distributor would be iTunes, and you need to ensure that you offer several ways for your fans to obtain the content.
No Post-Release Strategy-An album release should be the beginning of your band's marketing strategy, rather than the end. Establish the percentage of discs you will use for promotional purposes and create a schedule for making videos. Create relationships with people who blog about music. It is essential that you maintain buzz about your music before your next album release.
Many problems with an album release can be avoided with some planning. Many problems are related to creating CDs. Most of these problems are easily avoided by following the advice present in this paper and following the manufacturer's specific advice. If you are unclear about something, call up the manufacture, they will help. A few simple marketing techniques can help you make the most of your album release.
About the Author:
The author writes for many media related blogs. Thank you to CD Aces for information on cdr media.
