START YOUR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ( your own network )

There's a lot you can do within your fan network to build

buzz about your upcoming album.

1. Work with your street team and fans

not technology, that makes things happen. Your fan net-work is no exception. Don't be afraid to involve them and

ask for their help. Keep your fan network up-to-date about

the upcoming album and give them exclusive cuts from the

album as a reward and to wet their appetite.

involve your fan network early so you can create missions

and steer their enthusiasm from random acts of buzz to a coordinated effort that's in line with your overall strategy.

2. UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE

Once you update your music resume documents, you're ready to update your website to announce and feature your new album. This should include blogging about the upcoming release, but also could include adding a song or two to your website's audio player (i.e. the "radio single") to generate interest.

3. UPDATE YOUR WEB PRESENCE

Update your web presences with news about your upcoming album (MySpace, Facebook,

Twitter, IG LinkedIn etc.). Remind fans about your mailing list and blog so they can stay informed

as to when the album drops. Add the "radio single" to your web presence audio players.

4. WRITE YOUR MAILING LIST

Nothing justifies a new newsletter like announcing your upcoming album or show.

Start your publicity campaign

( Involving the outside world)

The media lists you compiled will become the focus of this phase. These are the places that

should get your album in advance — before the public (i.e. the press and radio copies that

you factored into your "how-many-CDs-to-manufacture" decision). The goal is to generate

reviews and build buzz about your album before the official release date when the album

goes on sale to the public.

Note that how and when you approach the traditional media and how and when you approach the new media is different. This is a big topic. To get more information write on the comments section to get a link to read more

5. Set up a tracking system

To coordinate a publicity campaign, you'll need to keep track of who, where, and when you sent your CDs, MP3s, and press releases to.This can be as simple as a spreadsheet that you complete as you send albums or MP3s out, or something more elaborate, like an off-the-shelf

customer/relationship management software system.

6. Send out your CDs, MP3s, and press releases

Finally, it's time to reach out and write or send your CDs, MP3s, press releases, etc. to your targeted media.

7. Put up posters and flyers

If you purchased album-related posters and flyers, start using them to spread the message about your upcoming release. Enlist your street team for help in distributing these materials.

Be sure to allow them to keep a few for themselves as well.

8. Follow up

You'll want to verify that everyone received the CD (if shipped) or MP3 (if sent or linked

to through an email or uploaded to their website). Most musicians fail to follow up, but this gives you an excuse to make a second impression and get your name in front of the reviewer, blogger, radio manager, or podcaster.

Update your "Music Resume" documents

As reviews come in, be sure to update your music resume documents (bio, fact sheets,

press kits, etc.), future press releases, website and web presences with any review quotes

and clippings.

The Album Release and Post-release

Most of the hard work will be behind you by this point, but there are still a few things you need to do – namely, releasing the album for sale to the public. While your music is at the heart of what you do, your identity, image, brand, website, web presence, merchandise, and publicity is what you use to connect with your fans. It's what you need to focus on after the music is released.

Most of all, celebrate all your successes. You put in a lot of good work and you

definitely deserve it.

A. Submit CD for online sales

You'll want to give enough lead time so your CD can be available at stores and your music available for download at digital retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, etc. Unfortunately,

timing is everything and the exact digital release date is not one of the things you have direct control over.

For instance, while it takes CD Baby only a few days to get your CDs available for sale on their

store, it takes much longer to distribute your music to all the digital retailers taking anywhere from three weeks (at the minimum) to four months before it's completely distributed and available.

B. Add your CD to GraceNote and FreeDB

Ever wonder how the album, band, and song name get filled in automatically in your MP3 player when you load a CD into your computer? The Gracenote Media Recognition Service,

formerly CDDB and freeDB are the engines behind this. Both do the same thing — they get listeners to fill in the necessary track information themselves so they have it handy and help

others with the same CD.

Once you release your CD, add your information so it's entered correctly. Most fans, though they mean well, don't enter everything or are not always the best spellers. To do this, simply

load your CD into a player that supports each service (iTunes works with Gracenote and the

free tool, Audiograbber works with freeDB).

As an additional service, Disc Makers will do all this for you as part of any of their web bundles, so you don't have to worry about it.

C. Legal

Once your album is released, you'll have all the information you need to register:

• Your song and sound recording copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. Keep in mind

your songs and sound recordings are copyrighted at the time you

that you claim you own the song or sound recording and establishes a date. It also gives you a few additional rights. Waiting to register after the release ensures you have all the information they'll ask you to disclose in their forms (including the official publication date

to the public – the release date).

• Your original songs at a Performance Rights Organization. Registering your songs at

a PRO such as ASCAP or BMI will ensure that if your song generates performance royalties,

they'll know where to send the checks to.