STEPs towards Independent Music Recording and Publishing in the Modern Era

1.Developing and Finalising the Individuals

Songs

This involves writing, arranging, recording,

mixing and eventually deciding that a

particular version of the song is the finished

product — or at least the version that you are

prepared to release.

2.Establishing the Appropriate Unique

Identifiers

This includes the title, songwriter/composer

information, performers, genre, contributors,

publisher information where applicable, release

information and the various identifiers associated

with the composition and recording.

3.Ensuring the Metadata and TAGS Are

Comprehensive

The next stage is ensuring that the

information attached to the song is

complete and accurate.

This includes the title, songwriter/composer

information, performers, genre,

contributors, publisher information where

applicable, release information and the

various identifiers associated with the

composition and recording.

4.Formalising the Copyright and Royalty

Processes

Now to turn attention to protecting and

properly identifying the work and ensuring

that the appropriate royalty collection

arrangements are in place.

5.Distribution — Getting the Music Into the

System- using a Distributor

One of the major advantages of using a

distributor is the ability to deliver your material to

a very large number of platforms without having

to establish a separate distribution relationship

with each one.

6.Your Own Website — Retaining

Control

It provides a central location where you can

bring together your music, videos, biography,

photographs, performance information, contact

details and, importantly, links to all of the

external platforms where your material can be

found.

7.Promotion

Promotion is therefore heavily

dependent upon the modern Social

Networks — Facebook, Instagram,

YouTube, TikTok and others — together

with whatever personal networks we

have developed ourselves.

8.Monitoring Performance

But how do we know whether any

of this is actually working?

• How many people are visiting?

• How many are clicking through?

• How many are actually listening?

• Which songs are attracting the

most attention?

• Which promotional campaigns are

working?

• Where are our listeners coming