About BandPox

This website and blog will attempt to explore the current viral marketing industry as it pertains to the promotion of music. From social networking sites to online distribution networks and everything in-between, my hope is that this site will cover much ground and expose the benefits and drawbacks of "virtual" music promotion when compared to more traditional methods. After spending over a decade trying to promote music via "old school" methods, I am starting to wonder if the ease of use and free global marketing that the internet affords will ultimately replace the physical and costly promotional efforts of the past.

Imagine it...
There will be no demo tapes or CD's to mail out; no guerrilla marketing techniques required to get college radio play; no "consignment" at local record stores. Instead, we will have to rely on internet-based methods that are cheap (even free) and (hopefully) uncomplicated. It may also behoove us to explore other forms of promotion that are typically more "business" oriented and not traditionally geared towards the music industry, such as search engine optimization (SEO) tactics, corporate sponsorship, and Pay-Per-Click advertising.

About the Author

My name is Jeff and I have been playing in various "bands" and musical projects since I was sixteen. I ran a small independent record label for several years, have been signed to another independent record label, and have been actively involved in numerous music "pocket" scenes for as long as I can remember. My claim to fame was when one of my albums peaked at the #4 position of the CMJ college music RPM charts, and I have been trying to replicate that feat ever since. I have produced, remixed, mastered and edited countless tracks for other bands across the globe. I've written music reviews for e-zines and organized musician collectives. I have designed websites and CD cover art for musicians and record labels, and my musical projects have existed online since 1995. I've also made my share of mistakes over the years - many of them.

I have wasted more money on physical promotion than the IRS (and my wife) would like me to claim on my taxes every year. I have been screwed over by distributors, labels, promoters, deejays, equipment dealers, live venues and other musicians. I've played shows where hardly anyone showed up, and I've unexpectedly played lots of shows for free (sometimes you don't find out until the end of the night). In a nutshell, I know that I'm no Steve Albini, but I feel that I've paid some of my dues with the traditional music industry, and I've gotten a little frustrated with it over the years. I'm ready to take it to a new level, but if I plan on continuing my musical career without running my sanity (and my bank account) into the ground, I'm going to have to get my mind wrapped around new promotional methods like social media marketing and SEO for music. So that is what I am here to do.

I will be sharing tales of joy and frustration from my experiences, in the hopes that this site can become something of a guide for other musicians who are embarking on a viral music marketing campaign of their own.