Published: Friday - September 26, 2008
Words by Donny Goines
Donny Goines (Photo: Don Michaels)
I've been doing a lot of thinking as of late and one of the conclusions I've come to is that I've hit a plateau in my career. I feel that I've done everything I possibly can on this level and it's time for me to kick things up a notch. One of the key factors that will determine this, in my opinion, is expanding my fan base.
Many artists I know are dealing with the same dilemma. They have a fan base or following, yet they can't break out on a larger scale. There could be several reasons for this. They could be focused on one specific thing, which narrows their reach. For example, they might only be dropping mixtapes and never putting out albums. Maybe they only make certain types of records, so their audience is very specific (records for the hood, for the club, etc.). It could also be that they're neglecting a certain demographic for whatever reason. No matter the situation though, when you hit a certain mark, you tend to level off. It happens in all walks of life and this game is no different. Unless you somehow luck up and your career skyrockets unexpectedly, then chances are you will be stuck on the same level if you don't expand your fan base.
For many this will be hard to figure out. Even I am having a difficult time strategizing and planning, but it's not impossible. First off, you have to figure out WHO you core fan base is. Once you assess that, the trick is to figure out how to bring more listeners in. Take myself for example: I know that there is a specific audience out there that loves what I do. For the most part, people who listen to my music are really into hip-hop and lyricism, so how do I expand my fan base? One way would be to put out a really good album (Minute After Midnight). Another would be to work with bigger artists who make similar music (expect some dope features in the near future). One more thing I could do is use different formats to send music out (TV, radio, etc.), instead of focusing solely on the internet anymore. These are just some of the things that I am going to do to expand my fan base, but every situation is different. You have to figure out what moves are necessary and then make them. At the end of the day you ALWAYS want to expand your fan base, but when you are in a situation like mines it can mean the difference between my growth or becoming stagnant.
Although I feel this way now, I know I won't for long. I'm doing things behind the scenes that will ensure greater exposure and I am always thinking ahead. Today I may only have a certain amount of people listening, but tomorrow is another day. Much love.
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