With the Music Discovery Blog, LocalMusicJourney.com asks musicians several questions and they answer them in their own voice. Enjoy the post, support the music!

Brief Song Description:
My new Single "Here We Go" produced by Beatz Phantom and 7th Sign. Combining an old school flow with a smooth old school beat, GZ Barz makes a statement with this track to all other hip-hop artists to step their game up.

Song production credits:
Produced by Beatz Phantom and 7th Sign, record with @LanlordCollectin

What has been your best experience with one of your fans or group of fans?
Don't really have any yet. Definitely have some creative ideas for fan interactions when I start catching some more buzz.

For other musicians like you, what is your best piece of advice?
Don't put out garbage. Every song you put out could be the only song somebody ever hears from you, make it count. And don't pay for bad promo.

How can those interested support you?
Just keep listening and keeping up with the music! Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud @GZBarz , and if you want to send me beats or features, hit my email.

MusicThinkTank offers some practical music marketing advice...check it out.

Dave Grohl keeps the music career advice simple, which it really is, but in practical application it can be a bit more complicated than it sounds.  But never fear just persevere.

Brief Song Description:
This is a song featuring Nick Venturella on guitar :) It is about taking personal responsibility, and seeing the positive in seemingly difficult situations.

Song production credits:
Keith Hampton: voice, rhythm guitar, music, lyrics | Michael Mood: drums, bass, engineering | Nick Venturella: electric guitar | Anna Huckabee Tull: harmony vocals | Chris Kasper: mastering

What has been your best experience with one of your fans or group of fans?
At an open mike years ago at the legendary Club Passim in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA, a fellow open mike musician asked if she could cover one of my songs in the future. And would I teach it to her! Best compliment ever.

For other musicians like you, what is your best piece of advice?
Do what YOU do, and do not compare to others. Accept feedback as data, not personal critique. Keep writing/performing/recording.

How can those interested support you?
Visit keith-hampton.com to be added to my mailing list, sample or download music, or learn more.

Guest post from Lisa Pattrick

Fame and scandals always come together. The perfect examples of this line are Justin Bieber and One direction. Both these names are quite famous and everyone recognizes them. 

Justin Bieber has been through plenty of scandals. He has been through love affairs and breakups, he was found using marijuana, he got stuck in tattoo scandal, he threw up on the stage and above all no one can forget the baby scandal of Justin and Mariah Yeater. 

Same goes with the One Direction, which is a music band. One Direction’s team is a group of youngsters and this group is always found dealing with different scandals. One Direction went through Zayn and Perrie breakup, Harry dating an old lady, Harry and Taylor swift hanging together and creating mess, fake news of Niall posting nude pics of Louis and Zayn leaving One Direction because of the stripper scandal. 

In short it’s very hard to handle fame, without spoiling your name.

Came across this article by James Moore on Music Think Tank, 11 reasons why your music self-promotion isn't working.

It's a good read with some practical advice.  If nothing else it will provoke you to take inventory of your own music self-promotion.

posted by Nick Venturella

Super interesting stats about today’s music fans. 

Click the link below to read the entire article on Digital Music News

The 7 Attributes of Younger Music Fans...

Interesting post from Digital Music News:  It's simple labels have connections, DIY artists don't.

The post argues -- slanted by the interviewee in favor of record labels -- why labels are more beneficial to mass appeal for an artist's career than doing it yourself.

I can understand, and even agree with many of the points made, but I definitely think, as an artist, you have to have a clear vision of what you want from your music career before worrying about whether or not pursing a label deal is the best route to realize your vision.  In some cases, a label will definitely be the way to go.  In others, a label would not even be worth considering. 

Posted by:  Nick Venturella

Are you familiar with The Lefsetz Letter -- a music analysis blog by Bob Lefsetz?

Anyway, if you're trying to make a go of a career in music and you haven't read Lefsetz's post titled, Making it in music, please do so now -- I'll wait.

Here's what I like about Lefsetz's post...

He usually writes with a realist's view on the music industry, some might even say he's a bit cynical.  This post in particular, while at first read may seem cynical, is actually just a straight-forward approach of what it means to make it in the music industry today.

I do think marketing can help anyone better promote their musical craft, but as Lefsetz points out, it's about the music.

If you're serious about being a professional musician learn your craft, always be a student of your craft and write, write, write great music.

posted by: Nick Venturella