Stephanie G. Mathis Some of the world’s biggest artists are using Facebook Live and Instagram Live to reach their audience as governments encourage social distancing during the current pandemic. You should, too.
Join us for a free webinar featuring Rick Barker. Rick has helped artists worldwide build lasting relationships with fans through social media.
Rick is the host of the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast and a former manager for Taylor Swift. As a social media mentor on American Idol, he conducted the first Facebook Live with a music artist.
Rick Barker says: “There is less competition to get their attention, so you have an opportunity for building and growing your relationship with them.” No concerts, no movies, no sports. You can provide them with a distraction by being .”
Rick will demonstrate how to use live streaming to reach out directly to your fans during this crisis. You’ll learn:
Live streaming: Do’s and Don’ts
How to create a virtual tip jar
Collaborations: How to Use Them
What are the best tools to do all this?
How to “ask” for money without appearing desperate
Online music lessons
Offering lessons online is a unique and fun way to gain fans’ support and is also very valuable.
You can offer group lessons via Skype, Google Hangouts, or any of the streaming platforms that we have mentioned. You can charge people directly via PayPal or your website store.
Bree Noble, a Female entrepreneur musician, is passionate about the potential of this revenue stream and wrote an excellent blog post on this topic.
Quickly get started with online teaching by creating a mini-course.
Bonus: Other Ways to Support
Numerous industries and livelihoods have been affected by this pandemic, and not all your fans are able to support you financially.
Please feel free to suggest simple gestures that can still be helpful. They could even boost morale or show solidarity with artists.
Share your music and play it with friends
Create a playlist and share it with your friends
Add your music to existing playlists
Share your videos and play them with friends
Like/follow/subscribe to all of your online profiles
You and your favorite artists will receive a note of encouragement
Many of the suggestions made above are credited to Kevin Breuner, CD Baby.
Musicians’ resources
Thank you to Folk Alliance for providing this list of resources that can help freelance artists deal with the COVID-19 epidemic and lost revenue.
CD Baby has published these resources for musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASCAP has created a resource center for music creators. Music Unites Us
Ari Herstand offers some great advice: What to do now that your gigs have been canceled due to Coronavirus
Bandsintown’s post on how toCoronaviruse with fans regarding canceled shows: Keep in Touch With Fans In These Difficult Time
Billboard: State-by-State Resources for Music Professionals Needing Help During Coronavirus Crisis
This list is updated regularly by Music Managers Forum Canada: COVID-19 updates
The Unison Benevolent Fund has compiled a list of Canadian musicians.
Sound Royalties has announced a new fund of $20m that will allow music creators affected by the coronavirus to receive royalty advances Coronavirusing any fees.
The Recording Academy, in conjunction with its charitable foundation MusiCares, has established the Covid-19 Relief Fund.
