Dubstepforum.com

I'm writing a research report for uni and I need some like proper market research.

If anyone who's on an online label, owns an online label, owns a physical label, or just anyone with an opinion on it, could spare a second to vote for which option they think would really help increase fan base and spike sales the most, that would be great...

If you believe there's something else more important which I haven't thought of, please include.

Cheers!

The answer is yes.

Not really educated on the matter, but i would think building a fanbase on forums and other similar outlets related to the target market would be a good bet.

free tunes to spread the word to the masses, if they like they'll come back

If some amazing artist just appeared on here today, posted a link to a free EP maybe.. and built up a fanbase on this forum, it would help.

Just look at Wagawaga, i didnt even know he existed till he had that album released for free on acroplane, i know rate him as on of the best producers around, totally unique sound, if i bought i vinyl i'd buy his shit, and if he played near by i'd make the effort to see him n that.

Thanks for all the responses so far.

Please note the first option should obviously read 'Giving away loads of tunes free, hoping that fans will PAY for stuff in the future'.

Even if you dont want to leave a comment, please do vote if you click on this thread. The more responses the more accurate the poll!!

Cheers

I don't run a label but I have been around for some time and have some insight on what marketing is. My response is everything can help but music must come first. If not, you can't simply provide the quality. Then, it depends in which way you do the things you listed on, but then again, since we're talkin about music, it must be good.

i think you've got a massive job trying to build the profile of a digi-only label in a still-predominantly vinyl-based scene, at least in terms of sales.

But, exactly the same as a vinyl label, it's all about the tunes. The best tunes will ALWAYS sell, regardless of your marketing campaign - quality is your best selling point. You can bomb myspace, facebook, give away tunes for free, whatever you want, but if the tunes suck then noone's gonna want them.

Abs wrote:If some amazing artist just appeared on here today, posted a link to a free EP maybe.. and built up a fanbase on this forum, it would help.

Just look at Wagawaga, i didnt even know he existed till he had that album released for free on acroplane, i know rate him as on of the best producers around, totally unique sound, if i bought i vinyl i'd buy his shit, and if he played near by i'd make the effort to see him n that.

http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/se ... rack=IMM03

Quality stuff there Thinking!!

Good points. I agree that in a niche scene like dubstep, quality matters a lot, because listeners are more in tune to production techniques etc.

However, its a different thing altogether, but i bet you never bought a Westlife CD in your life did you? Well, millions of other people did. Maybe the music doesn;t have to be shit hot, and marketing + exposure really can make a difference.

Lets put it this way, was 'Nite' the best dubstep tune ever?

Any more votes will be greatly appreciated. Report gotta be in tomorrow!

Marl E. wrote:However, its a different thing altogether, but i bet you never bought a Westlife CD in your life did you? Well, millions of other people did. Maybe the music doesn;t have to be shit hot, and marketing + exposure really can make a difference.

that's not really the point, you're talking about niche, underground scenes where only people with a modicum of discerning musical taste (!) find about the music at all, let alone enjoy it.

and no, Night isn't/wasn't the best dubstep tune ever, but it is catchy as fuck and thanks to that has relatively broad appeal outside the boundaries of the 'scene'.

A mixture of all of them id say.

ThinKing - OK points taken. Let's say hypothetically the music is 'good'. I just want to get peoples opinions on the most effective way of promoting/marketing music in dubstep

Fused Forces - Yeah, all of them are essential, but this poll is about your opinion of the most important/effective single one. Go on have a vote!!

Cheers

I don't see how anybody could actually put their finger on one of those aspects in order to promote, In respect it takes work in ALL of those areas these days to get even the slightest bit of exposure.

You should have an extra field for 'all of the above', these days its about 80% hard work and 20% luck.

In hindsight, i should have worded it 'What is the most important way...'

all of the above

ThinKing wrote:quality is your best selling point. You can bomb myspace, facebook, give away tunes for free, whatever you want, but if the tunes suck then noone's gonna want them.

Music sells itself or a good tune is a good tune is a good tune

all of 'em. also, underground scenes are inherently permission-marketing based because they're so small; filling up people's inbox w/ a free tune from someone that they've never heard of and didn't ask for is a no-no, but social network ads and forum advertising works.

as far as vinyl goes, you're only trying to sell 500-1000 records. a good tune with good distro from an unknown artist will sell 300 records w/ no effort. seriously.

podcasts, radio (both FM, pirate, and internet), BLOGS, etc all make a huge difference.

more important though is the people behind all those--build relationships! without a doubt that's the biggest thing for success.