I get so many free mixtapes I could open a stand and sell the jewel cases. LOL But really, let’s get serious about our methods of promoting new artist because this mixtape thing is getting out of hand. The worst part is, pretty much every new artist that has a mixtape makes the same mistake. They never tell you what the hit single is on the cover. I see more cars, expensive bags, and jewelery on the cover, when all they should really be trying to do is break a song. ONE SONG!!!!! NOT 7 SONGS, 5 FREESTYLES, AND 4 INTERLUDES.
To sum it up…if your name isn’t Wanye, Jeezy, or Gucci…right now customers are not that interested in “free mixtapes.”
As a music retailer in ATL, you know what would help me out, giving me one song to pass to customers. It’s so much easier for me to say check out a new single than to say here’s a free mixtape. Most customers are leery about “new artist mixtapes” anyway. People have been passed so many bad ones that the thrill is pretty much gone.
Don’t get me wrong I love a good mixtape. Jeezy’s Streetz is Watching still gets airplay in my car, Dedication 2 was dope as hell. Locke High is THE most slept on mixtape of last year. But if you are an artist, ask someone other than your crew is your mixtape that hot? If it is…cool. But to be safe let me check one out with my customers, tell you what WE think, and get back to you. Until then, just give me the hottest song you’ve got and let’s work with that.
Now what you do after that one song becomes a hit…well, that’s up to you and the team that you have working with you. And boy do I hope they know what they’re doing. How many artist do you know with one hot song (great ringtone), bad album sales, but haven’t been seen in a while around the music industry???? (I can email you a list if you need some help with that answer) When that one song takes off you have to be ready to keep serving your fans with good music. Otherwise, they will move on to whatever comes next.
