Allow Yourself to Process, Then do a Steam Clean

The barrage of messages continues – use lockdown time effectively! Write, practice, take a Masterclass with Usher or become a Harvard graduate. Great advice, but your higher self might actually be calling for Quarantine Whoppers and a Netflix marathon of the smash series, Tiger King, of which ironically, the bizarre star is serving his own 22-year social distancing stint in federal prison.

Indulge, but ease in some life balance when you can. A routine of exercise, meditation, regular doses of sunshine and even ridding the fridge of that food-turned-experiment can be a useful therapy. Most importantly, give yourself a pat on the back, as you are staying home for the health of others.

Sweep Through Your Social Channels

Got a few cobwebs on your Instagram account? Consider taking advantage of this uninvited hiatus by combing through the content on your channels and sites. Check your bio, social channel links on each page, profile images, featured songs or alas, those canceled tour dates. Think of these destinations as your digital business cards, which you wouldn’t dream of handing out if they no longer represent your business.

You might also be interested to know that Songtradr’s music and sales teams are still regularly searching through our platform’s songs to fulfill music licensing briefs – and we’re not the only ones. The business of placing music into film, TV, advertising and more, is adjusting and faces unpredictability, but still goes on.

Give Your Artist Brand a Facelift

Just like ripping through your wardrobe to finally part with those items you haven’t worn for years, perhaps it’s time to discard anything which doesn’t accurately embody you as the artist today.

Your brand speaks volumes about you, and in the high octane world of content, visitors to your site will make a decision about you and your art within the first 3 seconds. Frighteningly like lightning, isn’t it.

So try out some new looks. Experiment with makeup. Go a little Bowie. You never know what magic may manifest from the depths of your unbridled creativity.

Dust-Off those Industry Relationships

Reach out to those business relationships through which you have had the opportunity to connect but do it from a perspective of support. Keep in mind that a major portion of the industry is overwhelmed and trying to figure out how to navigate through this, just like you. With an unprecedented number of layoffs and people filing for unemployment, those who are left to hold down the fort could be trying to determine how to maintain their priorities with emaciated teams. Accordingly, now might not be the best time to demand a response to your past submissions.

A little closer to home, why not spend a few minutes writing? Many do, but not every song needs to be labored over for days. Pull out that unfinished composition or write something over a colleague’s bass line. Without the usual interruptions, who knows what songwriting gems might find their way onto the page.

You Can’t Go Everywhere, But Your Music Can

For those blessed with the will and ability, at-home streaming is a natural move to replace touring. Streaming not your thing? Your well-produced tracks, unfettered by lockdown constraints, could find a new life and monetization through digital distribution platforms. Release them. Get them out. Right now, every penny counts and Spotify or TikTok earnings may only begin as a trickle but could gather enough momentum to eventually provide a solid income stream.

A Community That Cleans Together, Stays Together

Make no mistake, we are all mourning the loss of a lifestyle. Regardless of the imperfections, what was familiar helped maintain a sense of individual security and control. We can’t directly dictate the current global events, but we can indirectly influence them through individual will and actions. Non-judgmental positive action creates positivity, for you and those around you. We are connected as a community through this. And it is the collective will that can determine how we come through this to the other side. And we will get there.

Stay well, peaceful and positive - and you might just come up with that brilliant masterpiece.

Check out how Songtradr is supporting artists during COVID-19