Here is could the most important music business tip you’ll ever receive:

Join up and subscribe to every indie music business and DIY band promotion email list, newsletter and source that you might get your hands on and read everything that you receive.

I mean it when I say that too much information is much better than not enough, if what you’ve joined up or subscribed to is not giving you the information that you need then you may just opt out and un-subscribe.

Most websites that offer these things have the integrity to do as you ask.

Read what you receive, make notes, ask yourself if it’s relavent for you and the place you’re living in, integrate the information into your knowledge base.

The only way to obtain this knowledge is by research, and the Internet is the best place to research anything.

Researching on the Web though will only give you general (but  still  wonderfully necessary ) independent music industry knowledge. The real power comes from knowing your Regional scene and developing into active in it.

Here are some ways that you could do this:

1. Establish reading the music magazines in your area. Regional street press is an invaluable tool in letting you know what is going on in the Regional industry. Generally these magazines have features/interviews with Regional bands, a concert  guide ( great for targeting where to play), industry news and so on.

2. Go and see some Local bands. Check out your competition (I mean that as a figure of speech the the majority vital thing about a Healthy indie music business is the community that builds from the music and the individuals who performance it), introduce yourself, get out there amongst it all and immerse yourself in the vibe. Get familiar with the places these artists performance at and know who to talk to when it’s your turn to performance there.

3. If the re are music associations where you live, join them. Anything that aids independent music on an association level seek it out and join up. If it costs resources to do that then do it (generally its not an expensive exercise). Joining these categories of associations instantly gives you a sense of community and solidarity. likewise the amount of information you’ll obtain about your Regional area will be huge.

4. If the se Local/Regional companies have web sites then bookmark them.

Need I say more on this topic. Most websites for offline companies provide more to Online users of their services. It pays to be an active Online user. One advantage that comes to mind is the fact that you’re able to participate in forums and messageboards which, in time will become authoritative DIY marketing tools for you.

You got to start somewhere and the best place to start is with your own Regional area. As you expand your knowledge base you’ll work out ways to further your career and hopefully a snowball effect will start.

Once it stars, HANG ON!