If this is your first release and you’re not using your real name, you’ll need to decide on an artist name for your music. Don’t take this decision lightly. You’ll want a name that represents you artistically and is yours to control in terms of rights and access. Here’s what to consider and research for potential artist names:
Can a potential fan hear it once, remember it, and know how to spell it?
Is the name exclusively available to you on Spotify, Apple Music, social media, etc.?
Is the website domain available?
Will you be the first result in search engines using that name?
Releasing under a name that other artists are already using can create unnecessary competition for attention, and a digital distributor may even deny distributing your release over it. Even if you plan to use your real name, researching it is crucial; you may discover that your real name is already in use, necessitating creation of a unique stage name.
This article is an excerpt from my eBook “Our Own Way: A guide for independent musicians to distribute our recordings and maximize our royalties”. Click here to get your copy 👉📘. If you’re a beginner to intermediate independent recording artist, this ebook guide offers you the essential foundations for successfully releasing your recordings. You’ll learn how to distribute and promote your releases then bring home the maximum royalty-per-stream. I’ve also included my Sync Licensing Blueprint, a highly requested topic that I’ve taught at workshops and through social media content.
