It’s something of an epidemic in our scene.
In hurrying to get information out on what you’re doing as an artist… you’re forgetting the very people you ought to be serving info to first – media. Somehow (almost always without permission = bad form) I end up on “fan” email lists from artists. There are a few things wrong with this:
1. You should be getting your announcements and news sent to Media first. Why? They are your lifeline to millions and millions of people who aren’t likely to ever visit your web site/Myspace/Facebook etc. You’re foolish to not take advantage of such an opportunity. Sometimes it sours me on wanting to cover an artist. It’s now old information and for how much effort goes into supporting you already, the least you could do is get us info early.
2. Sloppy. I keep using the phrase “almost always” because it fits. Presentation is pretty important even when it comes to delivering your updates to fans much less media. Clean it up and for goodness sakes hit “spell check”. It’s not that hard.
3. Relationship. Artists/labels should know this one by now. We’ve all heard that “it’s about who you know”. I’ll let you in on a secret… those artists that take 2 minutes to check in with me and personally deliver information are far more likely to find support. Those that send impersonal communication, never respond to my questions/requests and aren’t very thoughtful of providing me with material… well, you can guess the result. In the mainstream scene this is hardly an issue at all. Unfortunately in the Christian scene it is the norm.
For those that wonder and cry about being slept on… maybe it’s your fault because you haven’t done any ground work to not be slept on. Be okay with that or do something to fix it.
4. Opt in. There is a spam problem in our scene. Adding people to your email list without their permission isn’t ok. It’s annoying and a quick way to turn more people off than win them over. Set up your email lists to make it easy for people to opt in. If they want to be removed, comply right away. I’ve been hassled so many times about wanting to be removed from some Christian artists email list that I never signed up to be on in the first place!
Hopefully a few light bulbs turn on after reading this.