Music Supervisors also require that your songs are tagged with meta data (descriptive data about the song).

MP3Tag is a free utility you can use to tag your mp3 files. Using mp3tag you can tag multiple files at one time – convenient for tagging data that applies to multiple songs, like, all songs in an album, your name as an artist, your website in the comments, etc.

Here is a short tutorial video of mp3 tag.

You can download mp3tag at:
http://www.mp3tag.de

When you record your songs, many pieces of recording software do not save natively as mp3 files. But even when they do, it is often not the most desirable format.

Typically, .WAV files are uncompressed and of higher quality than mp3 files. So when you want to burn a CD of your songs, save the file as a .WAV file. When you want to upload the file to the Internet, convert it to an mp3 file.

After converting it to mp3 file, you will want to “tag” that file as well. I will have another tutorial and utility for doing that.

For now, take a look at how to use FormatFactory to convert .WAV files to MP3.

Download FormatFactory by visiting:
http://www.pcfreetime.com/

The topics will include: social media, websites and services, applications, and virtually any topic that you (the viewer) finds valuable.

Visit the TheSongwriterOnline streaming video channel

Songwriter and Author, Matt Moran, combines his background as a business and technology consultant and as a performing songwriter to provide several music performances and workshops on strategies, tools, and technology for musicians.

Several sponsors have signed on to the tour and the workshops will be hosted by both Sam Ash Music and Guitar Center in selected cities.

To find out more, visit:
http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/shows/tour/

They took their extensive touring experience and contacts and have provided an extremely valuable resource for other musicians.

I’ve split the episode into 4 parts. You can listen to each part individually – between 4:30 and 7:00 minutes or download the entire episode.

Kyle shares great insight into the touring process and introduces you to the why and how IndieOnTheMove.com came about.

Episode 3 – Part 1 of 4 (mp3)

Episode 3 – Part 2 of 4 (mp3)

Episode 3 – Part 3 of 4 (mp3)

Episode 3 – Part 4 of 4 (mp3)

Episode 3 – full (mp3)

Please let me know how you like this tutorial and any questions you might have. Also, let others know as well.

I’m going to provide you with a reality check. It relates to something I’ve been teaching my clients and associates over the past couple years.

It is an anecdotal evidence for my position that “Social Media Marketing” is as typically more hype than delivery.

This is going to go counter to many an “expert” you might be following. Although, if you read between the lines and follow their lead, you might find that they tip their hand with what they are doing more than with what they are saying.

First, a couple anecdotes:

You may or may not know this but over the past 7 or 8 weeks I’ve provided several webinars on topics ranging from Blogging & WordPress, Social Media, and Google Apps. Most of these have been completely FREE. I’ve had Webinars with 3 people in attendance and webinars with 15+ in attendance.

The other day I contacted one of my “friends” on Facebook. I did so to have them review an idea and some materials on sponsorships. I connected with them by chatting with them on Facebook and asking if we could have a short phone call. We did.

This person then said, “It is good we are talking, I have something to ask you.” He preceded to tell me he had heard about a blog based web content system – where you could update pages and your blog – plus connect with social networks.

I said, “WordPress does that.”

And he replied, “Yeah.. that’s it. WordPress. Do you know anything about it?”

This question surprised me but only a little. My webinars have been “promoted” on Facebook and Twitter many times.

“Have you not seen any of my Webinar information?”

“I might have,” he replied, “but I don’t really pay attention unless I am paying attention.”

BINGO!!!

We setup a meeting and he is now considering a proposal to have me help with with setting up his website using WordPress.

A couple days later, a second conversation with another “friend” and Twitter follower goes like this… This person knows I do public speaking and presentations on various technology and business strategies.

Me: “I give a presentation titled, ‘Google-ize Your Business – Beyond the Search Engine”

Them: “That’s a great topic. Have you ever thought about using Webinar technology to provide some workshops.”

Me: “Really?”

Them (not quite picking up the sarcasm): “Yeah. I think it would be a good idea.”

Me: “Have you not seen my post promoting my Webinars over the past 7 weeks?”

Them: “You do Webinars.”

BINGO!!!

BINGO!!!

==============

This is important here – catch this. Both of these people are on Facebook frequently. Both are trying to figure out how to harness these social tools for their business. I am as well.

Here are a few truths about this topic – each could be discussed in detail. But for now, just ponder them and think on your situation.

• You want people to pay attention to you or you would not have said it. (whatever “IT” is)
• You don’t really pay attention to most of what others are saying (whether lack of interest or time)
• You respond mostly to the most fresh – current updates – on your “social timeline”.
• The most ardent promoters/supporters of Twitter, Facebook, etc. are those selling consulting on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Where does this leave us?

Is Social Media Marketing a waste?

For the few promoted big successes you might have heard of, was there more to the story?

We are going to revisit this topic in more detail. I’ll provide this tidbit of perspective.

Social Media Marketing is one tool – but not the tool – for connecting and creating engagement and conversation. In the end, you want a more one-on-one conversation. You want intimacy and you don’t want your intimacy to be interrupted by “external” noise. They tried the whole “free love” thing in the 60′s and I’ve read enough horror stories from the people living in communes about jealousy, diverted attention, and loneliness to know I don’t want that.

So… how can we attract someone enough to leave the commune and get intimate with us?

Coming soon: Putting Social Media in it’s place so you don’t feel out of place.

Merchandise is critical for both generating income and more importantly, providing fans – passionate listeners – with something to take home with them. They want a piece of you and you need to give it.

In the video I show a way I am using 1 hour photo at Costco or Walmart to quickly have a nice giveaway. The idea was provided to me by Ryan Michael Galloway of We Don’t Need No Record Company. I modified it with the digital download codes and using a two-up layout.

Here is the photo – rather than a 4X6 photo, it is two 4X3 images.

This photograph was taken by Chadwick Fowler
chadwickfowler | photographics

In a coming tutorial, I’ll go into debth on how I created both the photo in.. Microsoft Publisher (you do not need Photoshop) and and the digital downloads.

It is one of the reasons I use WordPress and that will become apparent in a future tutorial.

I’m doing this from an “in the trenches” perspective. Soft of like, “hair club” – I’m not just the owner, I am a customer too.

Please watch the introduction video and I hope you can take part – both learning something and helping educate me.