How did you choose which "single" to "push"

[jrm27]

Hello everyone:

 

First, let me start by saying this is not a shill post. I'm not asking anyone to drop by our sites and listen to music, I'm jsut asking a question with no strings attached. Please don't read too much into this!

 

How did you decide which song on your album to promote... "push" as a single? In the past (and currently) we've promoted our album as a whole, but find that people can be a bit overwhelmed if you don't give them direction, ie."Here's our new album, however, song "xxxxxxx" is the one that we think you'll really like". I personally think our whole new album is very strong, but acknowledge that I am too close to the project to objectively say "this is the strongest/most accesible/enjoyable/etc... song on the project".

 

For starters we set up a poll on our myspace with four choices for people to chime in on. However, I know there are most likely better and more productive ways. How did you do it? Did you ask your fans? Send a disc to people whose opinion you trusted and get their input? Pick it yourself? None of the above? All of the above? Throw a dart at a list? Flip a coin?

 

Then again, maybe it is all moot! I've seen bands gear up to promote one song when another one takes over by natural momentum, becoming an unlikley sleeper "hit" that they hadn't even been considering. I think it is all a crapshoot sometimes!

 

Any suggestions would be most welcome and appreciated.

[voodoochild89]

Well I think your idea of having a poll is kind of cool in that it's a promotion in itself and is getting people to listen to your music.

 

Generally I'd ask friends or family members which songs sound most like a hit. I mean, my family is not very musical so their opinion will probably be shared by the general public. But then if there is a certain song you really like, go for it... I find a lot of times the delivery of a particular song is what will make it something special and above other tracks. The choice is really yours in the end, good luck.

[germs]

Singles typically represent the "strongest" song in the band's current set.

 

For us, it was the one that showcased the singer/lead/drum talent the most and had the most "polish" on it as a song. It can be difficult to be objective as a band or "creator" or whatever, but your band should know what your favorite and best songs are. However, good writing is good writing, no matter how you slice it. If you genuinely have 8-10 songs of "A Game" material, then I'm jealous!

 

Referencing sleeper hits: Most often than not, the unlikely hit comes from a band that needed just one more song for the album at the end of the writing process and just didn't have anything else. Commonly, that song is the most accessable by the most people outside of a band's chosen genre. It is also glaringly out of place on the album. It could happen, but it's unlikely.

 

Here's two recent ones from bands I listen to:

Finger11 - ...I forget...but you know the one...ironic, huh?

Maroon 5 - Harder to Breathe

[sabriel9v]

 

Singles typically represent the "strongest" song in the band's current set. For us, it was the one that showcased the singer/lead/drum talent the most and had the most "polish" on it as a song.

 

 

I disagree. Singles are usually not the strongest song within a band's repertoire. But germs, you're also correct. Singles are usually the most polished. To the OP, I checked your band's link. I'd say Not Ashamed sounds like "single" material. Catchy hook, simple verses, easy to digest. Those are all dead ringer characteristics of a single.

[masterbuilt]

popularity and expectation

[eca]

 

Hello everyone: How did you decide which song on your album to promote... "push" as a single? In the past (and currently) we've promoted our album as a whole, but find that people can be a bit overwhelmed if you don't give them direction, ie."Here's our new album, however, song "xxxxxxx" is the one that we think you'll really like". I personally think our whole new album is very strong, but acknowledge that I am too close to the project to objectively say "this is the strongest/most accesible/enjoyable/etc... song on the project".

 

I think you had some good ideas there. I'd say go for a combination. I also liked the poll idea. I think you should go on something catchy, that gets you from the beginning of the song.

I know you didn't want us to listen to your songs and give a specific opinion, but a) think of it as a poll like model. b) your question hits my curiosity nerve, couldn't help myself... so, I really liked Hold Up Your Head. It got to me from the beginning, and it even kinda stuck... which is a good thing!

btw, I couldn't listen to Nobody Knows, you should check it out to see if there's a problem there...

Loved all of your other songs too btw. really.

[jrm27]

Fellas, thanks for your insight this is all really helpful!

 

Germs: You make an interesting point. I hadn't thought about it in that manner before. Good point with Finger 11 and Maroon 5. That Finger 11 song does feel glaringly out of place!

 

Sabriel: Thanks for listening and giving me your thoughts. I'm glad you like that tune. It has been very well received and your input is very helpful!

 

Masterbuilt: So, how would one measure expectaion for a band that is still new to the scene and trying to make a mark?

 

Eca: I'm glad you went over and listened to our songs! It's not that I don't want people to listen, I just don't want my post to be misconstrued as a "check out my songs" post. All advice is appreciated, but I'm not underhandedly trying to get people to listen! Thanks for your specific insight into the songs. We are getting a lot of positive feedback on Hold Up Your Head from a diverse range of people. I'm glad it stuck a bit with you. We'll keep that in mind, thanks!

 

I don't know why Nobody Knows isn't working though... bummer. Myspace just gets glitchy sometimes. Hopefully it gets back into operation soon.

 

Thanks everyone! Please keep the advice (and insight) coming. Figuring this out is a new process for us!

[masterbuilt]

 

Masterbuilt: So, how would one measure expectaion for a band that is still new to the scene and trying to make a mark?

 

 

When you play live, you get audience feedback. What songs seem to go over well? Do you get requests for certain songs?

 

When I played the folk music hang-outs in the Catskills and Poconos, I had people tell me after the show that they loved certain songs in particular. When recording and releasing singles back then, I had no problem at all choosing what I wanted to feature based on that feedback.

 

If you have not played "out" at all, it is a little harder, but, what songs did friends that have heard you practice really like?

[jrm27]

We play out a lot actually, and we get a lot of feedback too. There are definitely songs that keep getting requests and positive responses. Our set list varies everytime we play and we've probably got ~100 songs or so. Therefore the feedback on certain songs isn't consistent in intensity depending on what we play and when. We're definitely taking that into heavy consideration though!

 

Thanks for the clarification, that is what i thought you were getting at! I just wanted to make sure that I was on the same wavelength.

[JnBroadbent]

Hold up your head is a good song. Sounds really good.

 

Just sayin.

[Deeprig9]

Also, put some up on youtube, a clear leader will emerge. Good idea on the myspace poll, I would just say whichever gets the most clicks is the single.

[freetime]

 

Also, put some up on youtube, a clear leader will emerge. Good idea on the myspace poll, I would just say whichever gets the most clicks is the single.

 

This seems like a good idea

[kurdy]

I couldn't listen to the last two on your Myspace page, but out of the four I heard, they all sound radio ready to me. But typically, the first single is the simplest and most accessible, and in this case, that's probably "Hold Up Your Head". It seems like you agree, since it's the first song on your page. Solid work all around, though.

[jrm27]

Fellas. Thank you for your insight! I really appreciate all of you who have offered advice and those who have listened to the music and chimed in. this is all incredibly helpful! I'll try and figure out a good way to get them up on youtube...

 

keep the ideas coming! i wish myspace wouldn't always be so buggy and our songs would actually be able to be played!

[eca]

I got it. Good luck with all of that! it's really exciting that you've reached that point, wish I was there too, but I still have a lot of work to do. Anyway, I really believe (some may call me naive, but I do believe) your songs can make it. you can count me as a fan.

[jrm27]

Thank you eca. We count it a priviledge. Thanks for the kind words!

[Philter]

I would think a little bit about the image you want to present of yourselves. The majority of listeners are as interested in the image you present as they are in the music. As a musician that can be depressing but as a business person it's an opportunity to define and market yourself to a specific audience.

 

The music market is completely saturated to the point of being statistically hopeless if you want to look at the situation with clear vision. That means that your only hope is finding exactly where an opportunity is and then moving to it. The scattershot thing, throw it out wide and hope, is just not going to happen unless you're content with lottery-like odds.

 

Also I would suggest that you need tambourine or something like it in the choruses, something to bring up the excitement level a little bit more and put a sheen on it.

[Mercer]

That poll idea is pretty cool, I think. Really, the best singles are songs that represent the band's overall style, but with a slight twist. Example: Losing my Religion by REM. Within the normal range of REM-type music, catchy, yet slightly different from the majority of their tracks.

[jrm27]

Excellent feedback.

 

Yes, the poll has been a really interesting tool. We've had pretty good feedback and the results are making us think... an excellent byproduct of the process! It's odd though in that we are getting different feedback from different groups of people. Myspace fans say one thing, radio folks say one thing, "insiders" say another.... gotta love it.

 

Philter: Agreed, finding and filling that niche opportunity is the way to go. We've just got to determine what it is. As far as tambourine is concerned, yeah, we employed its usage (along with other different types of percussion) all over the album. Perhaps we should re-evaluate where we should use it more effectively. Thanks for the thoughts.

 

Mercer: You're right. Losing My Religion is a fantastic single for that reason. Great insight that can be useful for us too. Thanks!