tate music group...who is your audience?

One of the first things you need to do as an artist - perhaps even before you begin to put pen to paper and write those hit songs - is to identify who you are writing the songs for. In other words, know your audience and direct your art in that direction so as to capture their attention and their money. That shouldn't come across as too harsh, I hope, because it is ultimately what every artist has to focus on...since every artist I talk to has it in their mind to play music for a living. Making money, then, is essential to that goal.

Knowing your audience (understanding what they are looking for in music) is one of the principle and foundational rules of marketing and branding. Very often we talk to artists who will say "my music is really for everyone." Wrong! It isn't...and it shouldn't be. It should be for the specific audience that will be drawn to its style, writing, music, and cadence. Music is diverse - like fruit; you are going to like some of it...but not all of it. Stop wasting energy and resources trying to sell apples to banana people! The key is finding the people who have the same tastes as you and targeting your time, money, and effort to making sure they have many chances to hear and experience your art (and buy it!).

Once you have identified your target audience, you will be able to focus your efforts on the things that will help connect them with you and your music (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, music downloads, events, etc.). There will always be bleed-over from those you are targeting...because good music will be shared and heard by people you never specifically focused on - which is a great thing! That just gives more opportunity for you as an artist to sell your music...and possibly branch into new targeted territory.