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Revealing the secrets…”

By Gilson Rodrigues de Arruda, Imperative Music

Since the 90s I've been working in the Metal scene both in Brazil and abroad, and I'd like to share what famous bands today generally did in the past; perhaps new bands can learn something from it and benefit from it in their careers.

In addition to my experience in international relations with bands, record labels, stores, and the press in Europe, the United States, and Japan, I also have a degree in International Trade and have observed various tools, situations, and policies in business on a global level.

Working at a national level is one thing; it's still important to always be professional. But working at a global level is a step taken gradually, requiring a great deal of professionalism, patience, and humility.

10 Basic Systems in the Heavy Music Business

1 – This is a business; there will be managers wanting to make money, but your band can gain exposure and some money in the right places. If you want to do shows abroad, look for an agency, ask bands that have worked with them, and if you want to invest in Europe, select 'key' countries like Germany, France, and England because these countries have a large audience and many major record labels and magazines to try to close a deal, get interviews, sell merchandise, etc.

2 – Do business with everyone. It's not capitalism, but what I mean is the issue of partnerships. For example, don't forget to send your CD for review to a fanzine in Bolivia or Lithuania, because they are just as important as one from Germany or the United States. I know a story about a band from Sweden that was signed by a European record label after answering an interview for a small fanzine in Bolivia – incredible, right? I've heard of and know bands that don't do interviews with everyone, or don't send promotional material to get reviews in other parts of the world. What advantage is there in that?

3 – Respond to emails within 24 hours, or at most within a week if you are experiencing personal problems. Remember, good customer service is key to retaining clients, and people will see you as a responsible person for future business. On your Facebook page and other social media, include your contact information (emails, postal address, website, phone number).

4 – Learning English is expensive, and our schools teach almost nothing. At least the band's lead singer needs to master the language; it will be useful, it's something to think about and study.

Many bands secured international record deals after releasing their second or third independently produced album

5 – Having a band is a long-term investment; sometimes, success isn't achieved with the first album. Look at bands from the past; many of them secured international record deals after releasing their second or third album independently or through a small label in their country. This was the case with Behemoth. In these situations, persistence is key.

6 – Promotion has never been and never will be a wasted investment. All media is a channel to achieve something different; some readers only read one magazine, while the country may have two, so it would be good to send your promo CD to both, understand? Start promoting locally, then statewide, and then nationally, and when the band is mature and has well-recorded material, invest in the international market.

7 – Connect and cooperate with other bands in your region and from other locations. Give everyone the confidence and space to learn; you'll also need to actively seek out people, not just wait for the phone to ring to get things done. Humility and enthusiasm will be good for building your career in the music world.

8 – If it's not your first album, make an effort and plan to release the most professional album possible, recorded and mastered in renowned studios. The CD cover and design need to have a good presentation. The same goes for music videos; try for a professional production.

9 – Sharing! A tool of our times thanks to social media, but before, photocopying flyers and passing them around by mail worked. Today, on Facebook for example, sharing keeps people informed about shows, reviews of your demo or album, and announces CD or t-shirt releases. Any and all material about your band should be shared to keep the band relevant and gain new fans. Why do you think Metallica or Megadeth are constantly "bothering" us (in a good way, haha) with new videos, comments, or information about their personal lives? This is a type of marketing to attract attention and draw attention to them. I don't believe that big bands only play what they want or like; 80% of the repertoire selection is to please, to take advantage of the current music scene. As we know, there was the Hard Rock wave, the Grunge wave, and currently we are in the heavier or more extreme wave. Look at the great success and interest of major record labels in bands like Behemoth and Amon Amarth; their music even appears in movies. Even Dream Theater and Metallica have made their recent albums heavier, so the trend is heavy metal. It's necessary to pay attention and follow this movement if your band intends to be successful.

10 – Be yourselves. Copying is something I would say is halfway to failure. I know we're all fans of many bands, but imitating the voice and riffs of a big band can limit the interest of the vast majority. Being better than the original is something I've honestly never seen. In the demo era, it might even be fun to see a band imitating and playing like a certain big band, but when the band is going to release an album, it's better to try to be as original as possible. I know many bands have influences, but it can't be a blatant cheat sheet where someone says "this is just like such and such band ." Ideally, someone would say . "

I wish all the bands good luck and hope that this report, which I have written over the years working in Brazil and the rest of the world, can be of some use and improvement to your band's career. Best regards to all!

*This text was written by a Wikimate and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the site's authors.