Pitching a new single, EP, or album to press outlets, blogs, and music tastemakers is an almost mandatory part of trying to make your mark in music today. Yes, you can fork over a bunch of money have an expert PR firm do it for you, but most artists don’t have the kind of expendable cash to make that happen every time they put out new music. A great pitch can help give your music real traction and momentum, but it’s not easy. Bands waste an incredible amount of time and energy spinning their wheels by sending bad pitches that are never likely to get read in the first place. Here’s what you shouldn’t be doing if you’re an artist trying to pitch your music to press outlets.

It’s an unavoidable fact that making a living purely off of music is harder and harder to do these days. There are plenty of exceptions, but in a world turning to streaming, playlists, and music subscription services more and more, money is a constant concern for serious musicians. But if you’re fully intent on earning a living purely off of listening and performing music, there are options you may not have considered. Here are five examples of side jobs for musicians:

“There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.” -Simon Sinek, “Start with Why”

You’ve heard it over and over again—one of the most powerful tools you have in this industry is yourself. Your music might be great, but that’s not what keeps people coming back for more. It’s your personality. It’s your beliefs. It’s the way you share pieces of yourself and by doing so invite your fans to feel less alone in their own actions, decisions, and understanding of the world. Here are some tips on how to build your tribe and get more fans.

With playlist culture continuing to shape music consumption in massive and surprising ways, it might be tempting for artists to not put much thought into the art they release alongside their singles, EP’s, and albums. But associating your music with the wrong kind of visual accompaniment could be hurting your chances of reaching new listeners. Here’s why you should still care about visuals in music: