I registered with this website called “Indie on the Move” a couple years ago when I started helping out with a band’s booking. I don’t work with them anymore (totally friendly terms, keep doing what you do guys), but I am close to multiple people in the industry who could find this a useful resource, so I still allow myself to get emails from them on occasion. A couple weeks ago I got one with a link to an article on how Pandora had changed their submission process and no longer required artists to send a physical CD for consideration. This is great news for those “little engine that could” local bands who are trying to get their music out to a wider audience. The submission process sounds easy enough.
- Go to their submission page and give them basic info (name, phone number, etc)
- Provide a link to your bio, a link to where you can purchase the CD, and a link to 2 songs they will use to review your submission
The only other requirements are that you already be signed up for Pandora, which is free to do if you haven’t already. The article also suggests you sign up with another free service, Sound Exchange, which helps you collect digital royalties when providers like Pandora stream your music. I don’t have any experience with the site myself, but it seems straightforward enough. Based on their website, it seems that they collect royalties on your behalf and then release them to you. They can only do this if you register with them, however, because otherwise they don’t know where to send your money to. Simple! That’s the name of the game though… In this day and age, the Internet has become a great tool for giving everyone a fair shot to get their name out there. You just need to know where to find these tools to help you succeed.