Author: Rick Goetz

Give the Music Press What They Want

Rick Goetz

Girlie Action music publicist Music promotion in the Digital Age is all about speed. Websites are all in a big race to see who can get up the news story first, who can get up a new song or video from the hot artist, who can “break” an upcoming band first. (And fact-checking has in many cases gone out the window!) Most writers and editors have little time to talk to you about a band anymore. I can’t blame them, because of the amount that gets thrown at them every day, but the lack of feedback nowadays can be frustrating. Read more.

Building A Career in Music

Rick Goetz

Build a career in musicThe first thing that musicians should do is take an honest self-assessment. There are a lot of people that run out and say, “I need a manager. I need an agent. I need…” When you’re starting from zero with one album, there’s no business; there’s nothing to manage, and no reason for a nationwide tour. There is a lot involved between making an album and establishing a real career in music. Read more.

Using Google Plus To Build A Global Music Audience and Community

Rick Goetz

I really wanted to use Google+ to reach out to other musicians, because I just thought it would really be cool to start conversations with them and build a global network. So, I started an “open-mic” hangout and invited other musicians so we could share our music. It has built a real community, and I really would refer to that as the biggest mark I’ve made on the platform. I’ve played shows with musicians I’ve never met in person. And now I know that if I ever have the money to do a European or world tour, I have friends to gig swap with. Read more.

Independent Success – An Interview with Sean O’Connell of Music Allies

Rick Goetz

Be great and be honest with the connection that you’re making. You’ve got to hustle and make your own destiny. But my biggest piece of advice is, team up with someone passionate to work with you. And that doesn’t mean someone from the music business. When you look at a lot of people I’ve worked with and look at who their managers are, they started as enthusiastic young people who didn’t have training in the music business… Read more…

Five Reasons Your Emails Aren’t Being Returned

Rick Goetz

I am a big believer in doing as much legwork on your own as you possibly can before reaching out to music industry executives. That being said, there comes a time in every artist’s career where you’re going to have to approach someone in the industry to get to that proverbial "next level." Let me assure you that there is a right way of doing this and several wrong ways of doing this. Sadly, many artists repeatedly write emails that go right into the trash because of very basic mistakes that can be easily avoided. Read more…

More Music, Less Marketing

Rick Goetz

I am sitting at the edge of the Grand Canyon with a teaspoon trying to fill it in. That’s what marketing and self-promotion can feel like in the digital age or at least, that’s the way it feels to me.

I walked into a cavernous Barnes and Noble a few months ago. They opened another location by me on East 86th street in New York. I can’t begin to describe how big it is. I’ve lived in Manhattan my entire adult life so I do a double take when I see wasted space- but this? This place is ridiculous. It completely freaked me out. I felt a primal fear that I haven’t felt since Sylvia Rhone (former CEO of Elektra) used to scream at me- but that’s a whole other blog post. Read more…

Finding a Manager – Part 1

Rick Goetz

“How do I find a music manager? How do I find a booking agent? I just need to find someone to get my music to the next level.” I’ve heard these questions and statements before, and fifteen or so years ago I sounded exactly like this. As it turns out I wound up on the industry side of the fence and traded in the crowded smelly van for a record company desk job but I do have some answers for you. Read more.