SoundCloud

Photo: Ole Spata/picture alliance/Getty Images

News

How New Artists Can Build A Following In 2019, According To SoundCloud

Facebook Twitter Email
The key to standing out is showing up as yourself and growing a network of fans
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 28, 2018 - 11:49 am

The artist and label services team at SoundCloud has some advice for artists hoping to grow their audiences in 2019: Be “YOUnique.”

Ledisi Has Three I's For Social Media

As summed up in a handy list on Hypebot, there are a few ways aspiring artists can build a following: Keep to a consistent schedule of uploads (Fridays are reportedly the best days to release new music), and stay inspired by listening to your fellow artists. You never know when you’ll discover a new friend and/or collaborator.

But above all, when marketing yourself, remember to be "YOUnique": after all, being real is part of what makes music compelling.

SoundCloud also advises artists to pay close attention to their fan network (yes, that means reading the comments section) and study the streaming analytics available with the service’s SoundCloud Pro package. It always helps to know what your listeners are gravitating toward the most, right?

Check out SoundCloud’s advice for aspiring artists over at HypeBot, and the best of luck to all of you creators in 2019.

SoundCloud And Instagram Launch Cross-App Link-Up

SoundCloud

SoundCloud

Photo: Alexander Pohl/NurPhoto/Getty Images

News

SoundCloud And Instagram Launch Cross-App Link-Up

Facebook Twitter Email
Easy sharing from the popular music service to Instagram Stories is a bid to increase its reach, especially with younger users
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Oct 24, 2018 - 3:36 pm

Music service SoundCloud has been a go-to for artists and producers getting started but has had its own struggles to stay in business, claiming a "creator-focused" path last year. SoundCloud announced on Oct. 23 they are rolling out easy link-sharing through Instagram Stories, and this should make it easier for artists to blast out to fan-followers when they have uploaded new tracks.

On SoundCloud's blog, the company says "easily shared … means easily heard" and boasts that "what's next in music is first on SoundCloud."

Both statements have truth in them, but it's also true that SoundCloud is a bit of a corporate underdog. Observers noted a comparable announcement from Spotify and Instagram dated from May. SoundCloud needs to appeal strongly to the people who already use it, and it is catering to emerging artists, so this is the little guy playing catch-up to a degree, but that won't matter to fans already using both services.

The power of connecting SoundCloud and Instagram Stories more directly likely lies with youth and user-behavior analytics. For artists monitoring the activity on their SoundCloud accounts, spikes will tell them when Instagram Stories succeed in becoming viral. The nature of Instagram sharing also takes dialog through comments into another new dimension.

More than half of internet users under 30 use Instagram, so this bid to blast tracks to kids is smart positioning and users of all ages will likely be pulled in as well.

Spotify Is Making International Music A Bigger Priority

ASCAP Logo

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

News

ASCAP Makes Disaster Relief Donation To MusiCares

Facebook Twitter Email
Donation will help music community members most affected by the fires
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 27, 2018 - 11:59 am

Performing rights organization ASCAP announced on Dec. 18 that it is donating to MusiCares to support music's creators including those "affected by the recent wildfires in northern and southern California" needing help with food, shelter and replacement of instruments or equipment.

"We are truly grateful for the support and ongoing partnership of ASCAP," said Recording Academy and MusiCares President/CEO Neil Portnow. "Their work on behalf of music people is vital, and their generosity to the music community is equally strong. This donation demonstrates how the music industry works together to take care of their own."

"We have all been stunned by the devastation caused by the California fires and the heartache and loss suffered by our members who reside there," said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, winner of three GRAMMY awards as a songwriter. "ASCAP has always been an advocate for music creators, and faced with these terrible circumstances, we have their backs. We are pleased to work with MusiCares to get help to those who need it most."

Members may make disaster relief requests by contacting MusiCares toll-free at 1.800.687.4227.

For those wishing to donate, the "Gift Designation" choice at MusiCares' donation page offers "Disaster Relief" as a selection.

"The music community knows that it can turn to MusiCares in times of distress," said ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews. "They have the organization and the infrastructure necessary to respond to these horrible events and help members of the music community in times of need. We're glad to work with MusiCares once again to ensure that our funds reach the people most affected by the fires."

Learn Why "She Is The Music" & ASCAP's Female Songwriting Camp Felt "Essential"

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse Best New Artist winner for 2007 | Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

News

How Does An Artist Qualify For The Best New Artist GRAMMY Category?

Facebook Twitter Email
Take a closer look at the Recording Academy's qualification rules to determine which artists can be considered in the Best New Artist category
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 8, 2018 - 8:59 am

Each year the selection of GRAMMY nominees is the result of careful consideration and voting by Recording Academy members, who must both follow hard-and-fast rules as well as exercise their expert musical judgement. The Best New Artist category highlights newcomers — whether a solo artist, duo or group — but since "new" is a relative term, let's take a closer look at how making the cut is determined.

First of all, eligible artists must have achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape during the year's eligibility period. This speaks to the essence of why Best New Artist is one of the most-anticipated categories each year, honoring exciting new talent in the music world. But sometimes rising stars take a while to reach this point, so numerical limits also help define the criteria for being "new" in this category.

The first numerical rule boils eligibility down to the number of an artist's releases. The minimum required is five singles or tracks or a complete album. The maximum is either three albums or a total of 30 singles or tracks previously released. Having more than this number of releases results in being ineligible even when an artist breaks through into public consciousness and impacts the musical landscape in a given eligibility period.

However, even if this numerical release criterion is met, an artist may still be deemed ineligible if the artist achieved previous prominence, meaning the artist came into prominence prior to the current eligibility year.

Another numerical limit is that an artist cannot have been considered more than three times previously for Best New Artist. This also applies to solo artists who emerge from having performed as a member in previous groups. That's right, being previously considered three times either as a solo artist, in a previous band, or some mixture of the two means an artist is not eligible for Best New Artist consideration.

For more valuable and illuminating information on all things GRAMMY Awards process, head over to GRAMMY101.com, or reach out to the Awards Help Desk at 877.637.6816, and don't forget to tune in Feb. 10.

See The Full List Of Nominees For The 61st GRAMMY Awards

GRAMMY award

Photo: Mike Pont/Getty Images

News

CBS, Apple Music, Artists Team Up To Reveal 61st GRAMMY Nominations

Facebook Twitter Email
Alessia Cara, Zane Lowe, Shawn Mendes, and Janelle Monáe will join to reveal nominees for the 61st GRAMMY Awards
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 6, 2018 - 11:36 am

UPDATE: See the full list of 61st GRAMMY Nominations

On Friday morning, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, Alessia Cara, Apple Music host Zane Lowe, Shawn Mendes, and Janelle Monáe will join the hosts of "CBS This Morning" to begin announcing the nominations for the 61st GRAMMY Awards. Simultaneously, on Apple Music, nominations will also be revealed in selected categories.

At 8:45 a.m. Eastern time, the complete list of nominations for the 61st GRAMMY Awards, held on Feb. 10, 2019, will be available right here on GRAMMY.com.

No stranger to the Awards, Cara went into the 60th GRAMMY Awards nominated in four categories, winning the coveted honor of Best New Artist. She also performed the anti-suicide anthem "1-800-273-8255" with Khalid and Logic on the broadcast.

Apple Music Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe was nominated at the 57th GRAMMY Awards for his work with Sam Smith on In The Lonely Hour. His spoken and musical insights became internationally admired thanks to his broadcasts on BBC Radio 1.

Speaking at the GRAMMY Museum, singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes said, "I think the most incredible part about … having this career is that all of the fans have been going through it with me." Last summer the Canadian performer had his third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.

Janelle Monáe released her third album, Dirty Computer, in April 2018, continuing to demonstrate her ability to expand beyond expectations. Musically, visually, and in the movies, her ability to extend her range somewhere new is inspiring. She has had six GRAMMY nominations to date.

So get ready, take a look at what to expect and tune in tomorrow, Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time to find out who will be in contention on Music's Biggest Night, Feb. 10.

61st GRAMMY Awards Nominations Rescheduled To Dec. 7