Sunday, April 22, 2012

Mixtapes: New Era of Music Distribution


Mixtapes are now widely used as a tool for promoting an artist prior to a single or album release. This modern twist is quite different from the days when a ‘mixtape’ was a compilation of people’s favorite songs.

As useful as mixtapes have been for the artists who use them, it wasn’t until recently that their effectiveness as promotional vehicles surfaced in pop culture.

Mixtapes have a number of advantages over traditional distribution of CD’s.

1.     Mixtapes are free, which allows an artist to establish and reconnect with her or her fan base.
2.     They can easily be distributed.
3.     They require very little money to produce and distribute.
4.     Mixtapes are a great tool for artists to grow their mailing list by collecting email addresses for each mixtape download.
5.     They are vey inexpensive promotional material.
6.     Through endorsement and other sponsorship deals, mixtapes can create revenue for the artist and still be free to the public.

Mixtapes hold limitless potential for artists and entrepreneurs who recognize the opportunity and are willing to develop modern business models are the distribution of free music. Released in February 2009, So Far Gone proved to be a major catalyst in launching Drake’s rap career. Singles “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful” were released as singles from the mixtape and was successful on the Billboard Hot 100 even earning the rapper a Grammy nomination. That’s correct a Drake received a Grammy Nomination for a mixtape, just an example of how to generate revenues using a mixtape.


My favorite mixtape websites:

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