Here are 20 common reasons why some artists never make it to the next level written by experienced A&R/Producer Loren Israel. Even if you do not enjoy everything he says, he has been involved in the business enough to speak the truth. However, some of the stuff seems dated by a few years and a […]
Author: Chris Bauer
Photoshop Tutorial: Create CD or DVD labels easily!
Requirements: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Prerequisite knowledge: An understanding of and experience using Photoshop. You probably know that consistency is key to effective brand building and maintenance. This tutorial shows you how to create labels easily to ensure consistent production across the divisions of your company. You can also apply this technique to business cards, name […]
CD Packaging: MUM- Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy
Stare at these images for one whole minute without blinking and you will get goose bumps all over. The ‘paper-cut’ pictures of kids pasted on eerie photographs of the woods, lake, and mountains have a haunting effect. It’s as if these kids were murdered in these places and that they are now lonely wandering spirits […]
Indie Musicians: “Grunt Work” is What Building Your Music Career is All About
Replace Your Misconceptions As a consultant and educator, it’s my job to replace your misconceptions about the music business with a dose of business savvy. It’s not surprising that so many artists don’t have a clue about how much grunt work is required to build the foundation of their career. We consumers see only the […]
CD Packaging: P-Money Everything
This CD artwork took more than 350 hours to complete. It is constructed from styrofoam, balsa wood, coloured paper and cotton wool which were shot as part of a diorama. (Check ‘the making’ below) Inspired by the many sample tracks on the album from days gone by – everything from 70s funk to 80s electro […]
The 3 Musts of Promotional Products
Don’t simply print your band name on a piece of shirt just for the sake of having promotional items. You have to give good attention to your promotional products in order for it to be effective. Be strategic and smart when it comes to your promotional approach, design, distribution, and the overall marketing plan. Promotional […]
IRSC Code- What is it, Why you need it, How you can get it
What is an IRSC Code? The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC), is a standard that every musician, record producer or any sound recording copyright owner must follow in order to have their works tracked and get paid with royalties. ISRC code is embedded on every song MP3 or audio CD discs. This is done […]
CD Packaging: 12 Brilliant Typographic Album Art
Here are 12 albums that use type (letters) as the album art. No glossy portraits, no bling-bling, just letters made into artwork. Brilliant! Zipper Catches Skin by Alice Cooper What you get here is just the lyrics from the album presented in block paragraph form on the cover. There is also the very subtle ALICE […]
Creative Concepts: Corporate Giveaways for The Kitchen Films, Spain
Here is a range of corporate identity and packaging materials for The Kitchen Films designed by ruiz+company, Spain. I just adore how clean it looks-black and white, one-dimensional, uncluttered. It reminds me of kindergarten coloring books. The best thing about the design is that it doesn’t use too much ink. I do not know “The […]
Common Mistakes Bands Make During CD Manufacturing
Some of the bands that get our service, especially the new ones, commit these mistakes during CD manufacturing. They are not really fatal mistakes but they can cause delays and can affect your music career in one way or the other. It Coming in with very tight timelines Some bands come to our office with […]