Here are four ways to help local musicians gain more recognition and contribute to their careers.
Most musicians dream of seeing their name across a huge sign with dazzling lights, catching the attention of any passing set of eyes. If they’re lucky, that person will go home and search the musicians name, maybe even buy tickets to their show.
But first, these musicians have to build their brands. This process can take years, if it happens at all. It’s not easy. Many local social justice musicians face the struggles of gaining recognition and coming up with money to support themselves as they do.
The Orange Goodness, a local Minneapolis band, focuses some of their songs on social justice concepts and current events. Lakeyta Monique Bonnette-Bailey, an associate professor at Georgia State University, is an expert on the intersectionality of social justice and music. Together, the two break down some ways you can help your favorite local social justice musicians.
Attend Their Shows
Mike Michel, lead singer for The Orange Goodness, talked about the importance of having an audience at their performances. The band leans more towards house shows and summer festivals, according to Michel.
“At home brew shows, people have a more intimate experience outside of the traditional club,” Michel said. “That’s where we’re really trying to focus.”
He said The Orange Goodness puts a major focus on having meaningful messages within their lyrics. Having smaller venues helps the band feel like people are “really listening” to these lyrics.
Attending shows local musicians perform at is a great way to help them gain recognition. Bringing friends and family members helps promote the musicians, with the money used to purchase tickets helping to fund the musicians.
Bonnette-Bailey wrote Pulse of the People: Political Rap Music and Black Politics, a book on how rap music can be an outlet for musicians to talk about social justice issues. While writing her book, she attended several local shows.
“While I was doing research for my book, I would bring friends to the shows with me, and many of them fell in love with the music,” Bonnette-Bailey said. “I loved the feeling of feeling like I was contributing to the musicians.”
After attending the initial shows with her friends, several of them began following the musicians and did what they could to help promote more of their shows, she said.
Follow Their Social Media
Michel said social media is key to being successful in the music industry today. The band looks at the social media of global musicians and takes inspiration from them, learning more about how to promote themselves through these platforms.
“We’re trying to create more content to build our music family, then we go out and do live performances,” Michel said.
He added the band uses social media to stand out from other musicians, creating their own personal visuals to draw their “music family” in, as Michel likes to call their band’s fan base.
“Social media is now a part of my job,” Michel said. “I like the visual element of presenting our music and I love the creative freedom; it’s just as exciting as a performance.”
You can follow The Orange Goodness on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok and find their music on Spotify and Apple Music.
Promote Their Merch
The Orange Goodness sells t-shirts on their website. If someone purchases a t-shirt, they will also be able to download one of the band’s most popular songs. People are also able to download the band’s EP which includes stickers and pictures of the band with the download.
The funds go towards the band’s equipment and travel expenses, according to Michel.
19 to Infinity is a popular local musician in Atlanta and one of Bonnette-Bailey’s favorites. She has a sweatshirt with the musician’s face on it and loves when people stop to ask her who that person is.
“I get to tell people about him and promote him,” Bonnette-Bailey said. “It’s a really great way to introduce people to his music and get them listening.”
She said purchasing t-shirts and sweatshirts from the musicians are a great way to not only promote the artist but also helps to financially support them.
Donate!
In 2021, The Orange Goodness released their first EP, Flying Under The Radar Of Chaos. Part of the release was made possible by donation to their Go Fund Me page.
Michel connects with their audience on three levels: serving the song, making sure the performance is excellent and exciting, and musicality. If the band can give these to their “music family,” they feel as if they are giving back to their fans.
“If people are going to get out of their house and pay money, we better give them a kickass performance,” Michel said.
Bonnette-Bailey said financial struggles is one of the top reasons local artists give up on their music. Donations are the best way to help artists “not give up on their dreams,” according to Bonnette-Bailey.
“I’ve worked with local artists before, and you’d be surprised at how many of them give up music completely because they do not have sufficient funds in order to keep going,” Bonnette-Bailey said. “Donate what you can, every penny counts towards these artists realizing their dreams can come true.”
