Artistopia Help Center

Here you will find the most frequently asked questions and in depth answers concerning the variety of features included in your Console. New features and updates are added frequently, so check back often.

Q. How do I write a good profile?

A. Your profile is, in all actuality, your resume. If you are writing it yourself, do some research by checking out other good examples. Your profile is ALL about you OR you and your group in a few paragraphs. This description should be clear and concise, free of misspellings, with full, not fragmented sentences and never in all CAPS. Every industry professional asks for clarity while reading your profile- they do not want to be sitting there reading your profile and scratching their heads trying to figure out what you are trying to say. Understand that these are busy people, plowing through tons of emails, letters, press kits...you name it. You need to take the time to write this profile very, very well.

It's far more impressive to accurately describe your act in the first 500 characters!

Do not put information where it does not belong. Your Artistopia profile site allows the reader to look at your Experiences, Education, Press Releases, and Web Links all from the proper tabs, in detail.

Biography Outline First of all, create an itemized list of your background, your accomplishments, what your goals are, and your ultimate purpose as a musician. The format of the bio should be in paragraphs, with no indents. The opening paragraph is the most important part of your presentation. Write your info in Word, Word Pad or Note Pad, and be sure to save it! Artistopia has now opened up this field to a 5,000 character description.

For the Description:
Paragraph 1
Introduction of the artist/group/band. Clearly define who you are, what you do (genre), where you are from (state, country), include an upbeat quote or remark.

Paragraph 2
Current activity/purpose of the artist(s)

Paragraph 3
Include here any band member introductions with background info and plans for the future. (Space allowing.)

Bio Ending
Close with a recap

For the Influences:
List the names of the people who inspired and influenced you to do what you do. Formatting properly is important here, just list the name, followed by a comma.

For the Mission Statement:
This paragraph is aimed at industry professionals, so clearly state what your short term/long term goal(s) and objective(s) are.

Q. What other tips should I be aware of when writing my profile?

A. Some invaluable information to include in your profile:

Your Name/Group Name with no unusual characters in the title. The first initial MUST be capitalized in the title, all caps or unusual use of caps in the title are unacceptable. If you go by the band name of tHe wReTcHeD sKuNkS, it's perfectly fine to type it that way in your band description, but not in your band title. The only exception to all caps as a title is if the name is an acronym, and the name is explained in the band description.
Each band member's name and what they do/instrument they play.
Where you are from, state and country.
A clear description of your act.
Be energized! Show you believe in yourself! Who can promote you, better than YOU!
If you have won an award, say so! The enhanced details can go under Experience, but something like “XYZ Contest winner, Jane Doe…” is fine in the profile.
Fill in your Mission Statement - this is used as a "blurb" statement about you on such pages as Last Active Artists and other browsing artists pages.
Fill in your Influences with just the names of who influenced you, followed by a comma. Example: Elvis, Green Day, Nirvana, Darude

Here are a some details to note:

Do not put information where it does not belong. Your Profile Overview description is not for promoting other aspects of your art. Your profile is not an "ad", nor is it a business card. Consider it more as a "bio", or resume. URL links within titles and not in their correct places will be deleted. URLs, or links ONLY belong in your "Web Links" area.
Your name/band name has to be exactly correct within the first 30 days of signing up and should not include a job description or other unnecessary verbiage. After 30 days, your name cannot be changed or edited. Example: Jane Doe, Soprano; John Smith, Producer; CEO Bob Jones. The only exceptions would be if DJ or MC is an actual part of the name you are establishing.
Do not waste words. State the facts, show your personality, but keep it clear and on target.
It is for your benefit to fill in an accurate and complete bio. A one-liner is not enough information for anyone to garner an indication of who you are. Make sure that the opening paragraph of your description capitalizes on who and what you and your band are about. (Just like the first paragraph of a news article should quickly give the reader the essence of what the story is about.) Realize that the very beginning of your description will be read by the viewer first, and based on Artistopia community and criteria, your opening blurb may be used on Radio Artistopia. This is the beginning of your professional approach to the music industry.
Give your readers a break. Paragraphs let the reader take a break from huge blocks of text!
Check your punctuation and spelling!! All caps is not advisable. Artistopia does not penalize you for any of this, but it's an eye sore for your viewers and dilutes the message you are sending. Huge blocks of text without creating logical paragraphs are boring, literally. Also of note here: you may want to cut the slang out or at least to a minimum here. As stated earlier, clarity of who you are and what you do, is important in this section.
Get your music uploaded as quickly as possible, because that's the main element.
Write your description in Word, Word Pad, or Note Pad and Save it! Use spell check, check, recheck it, have a friend check it.
Do not use a URL or any part of a URL in a title, and do not use a URL on your main image.
If you are copying and pasting your bio from another source, make sure it is free from any HTML and is properly formatted. Example: the use of the code tags < br > for line breaks is not necessary.
After Editing your profile, it is always a good idea to use the “View Public Profile” button to check what you have written.
A worthwhile investment is to find a professional copywriter to write your bio for you. Preferably, find one near you, has experience in artist and band bio writing, and make sure you check out their work before hiring them.
Artistopia will be continuously updating, improving and creating new, innovative and helpful resources and features for our members. We will inform you of new important versions and changes, but check back often and always keep your information as up to date as possible.

Q. What your image says about you - your main artist photo.

A. Just as important as a good, catchy band name and an opening statement in your bio is the photo you upload as your main image.

Consider this: A potential music industry pro or a fan, browsing the artist profiles might quickly be scanning for a face or a name. You must present an image that peaks their curiosity so that they will click on you and listen in. This is much different than if your music is on Radio Artistopia, where someone is listening in and hearing what you do and if it strikes their fancy, they will then check to see WHO that is. If you were out playing a gig, people get the whole package, but on the Internet you sometimes only have a few seconds to present yourself to a busy surfer.

What is your main artistic emotion, vibe, the essence of yourself as a music artist? Does your photo strike the pose, capture the colors, the expression, the theme, the style, the quirkiness, perhaps the humor, your genre, the actual WHO you are to make someone want to find out more about you?

To upload an image, in your Profile Overview go to Upload Image. The image of yourself or your band should be saved to your computer in JPG or GIF format and should be no larger than 250 x 250. Click Browse and locate the image at wherever you saved it on your PC. Click Open and it will be inserted in the Select File. Click Upload Image.

Q. How do I update my account information?

A. Send an email to the Artistopia support team with your Telephone Number (USA Residents only), Date of Registration, and Current Login. Member Services. Upon receiving the update request email, an Artistopia member support representative will contact you within 24-48 hours to update your Account Holder information. Non- USA members will need to email Artistopia.

Q. I joined Artistopia, where is my listing?

A. The most important factor about your profile, besides your name, is your music. You must have song information uploaded in order to appear and be browsable. This is why we urge you to get your profile up and get your music in as quickly as possible. We have music pros and fans hourly passing through Artistopia, and you may be missed because you have not included the most important part of who you are - your talent.

Q. Will I have unlimited access to my Profile for updating my pages?

A. You may update your Account and Profile at any time day or night, 24/7, there is no limit to your access.

Q. How many songs can I upload?

A. In the Artistopia Professional Indie Plan, Artistopia offers unlimited song uploads, so include as many as you wish to. You have the option also, to include as much of the song as you prefer as well. In the Artistopia Free Indie Plan, an artist can upload up to two songs, but if you were submitting a press kit or demo to a label, you would only be including up to three songs, so you need to always make sure that you have included only your BEST material.

Q. About entering your lyrics.

A. Including your lyrics is highly recommended. When an artist presents a press kit to a label, you would include a printed version of your song lyrics along with a cassette, tape or CD demo of about 3 songs. Lyrics read much better when inserted in a line-by-line manner, similar to that of poetry, while trying to follow lyrics if inserted as a paragraph are much harder to follow.

As far as editing lyrics, Artistopia, we do not wish to censor or restrict "art". We never seek to suppress thoughts, ideas, or getting your point across. We believe in keeping an open mind when it comes to "art". Be that as it may, Artistopia does not represent or necessarily agree with or condone any image, view point, and/or lyrics presented or represented, by any artist.

Q. What if I am not sure which type of music my style is, can Artistopia help me?

A. Though there are many rebels out there that hate to be stuffed in a slot, you do need to be generalized under at least a major genre heading. Your subsequent song genres have many, many subcategories for a style heading, so find the best fit. That being said, at this time we do offer an “Undetermined” genre, until your niche can be determined.

For general classification descriptions, check out Music Genres and a listing of all the labels available.

Q. How do I enter my Albums and Songs in my Member Console?

A. Some fields are required, it is better to include as much info as you can. Only albums that have songs associated with it will appear in your member profile. First, from your Member Console, access your Music Discography. Go to New Album. Enter your album number, album name, Inspiration, Credits, Date Published, and if you wish the album/song viewable. Click Save Album.
To add the music to the album, click on "Add a Song". Pick the appropriate genre, the Track Number, Track Length, *Album Lead Song, Song Title, Song Credits, Song Lyrics. Click Save Song.
*Album Lead Song is checked if this is what you consider the best song on this album. You can choose up to 3 per album.

Q. How do I use my Events and Gigs in Marketing Tools?

A. The purpose in your Event and Gig calendar is to let the world know where you will be and what you will be doing and when. Land a gig at a club in which town? Get some promo time at a local radio station? You have to build your fan base, which will help boost your name, merchandise sales and tickets. Also, your Events and Gig calendar lets the music talent scouts know where you are and when and to see your popularity and activity.

Fill out your Event screen with as much detail and thoroughness as possible. Some fields are required, but fill in as much as you can...you have the option to edit as needed.

Q. What is my Address Book?

A. For the Artistopia Member, your Address Book is your own personal "note pad" for listing those people, places, and "to-dos" that are important to you. This is a private area which includes the following features: Company Name, Hours of Operation, Contact Name, Address, City, State/Providence, Contact Email, Contact Phone, and your Activity Log.

Q. What are Industry Credits and Recognitive Awards?

A. Your Industry Credits tab is a combination of the former Education and Experience sections. Simply add in the appropriate info where needed.

Recognitive Awards means have you ever won an award for your musical skills? Ever win placement in a musical contest? Whether you won first place or fifth place out of a hundred entries while singing your heart out at a local club, voted best raper at a competition, or best song writer...whatever the award, competition, race, or contest, name it in this feature of your Member Console.

Q. Can I add to my education that I am self-taught musician? Or what if I worked at a record store?

A. Include whatever truly impacted and benefited your music career.

Q. Can I correct/ change/ edit my Press Kit before printing/ emailing?

A. Certainly. Any changes/ additions/ selections made from your Member Console will ultimately affect that output in your Artistopia Press Kit Builder. If you wish for certain selections to be viewable or nonviewable, many of the tools featured give you that choice. So if an update was made on say, one of your band member's Professional Training experiences, it would immediately follow through to the Press Kit. Another cool feature in the Artistopia Press Kit Builder is the Demo Press Kit button for taking a quick peek at our sample press kit as a reference if needed.

Also, keep in mind that when someone requests a Press Kit, if they are a member of Artistopia, make sure "Include my artist press kit link in my response" is selected if you wish to send the copy when you answer the request. If someone outside of Artistopia requests your Press Kit, when you reply to the request from "Open Email", the link will be incuded in the email.

Your response is at your discretion. Read the "Important Notice" statement in your Reply to Press Kit Request.

Q. What is the Press Release section for?

A. The Artistopia Press Release section is for our members to post newswothy, typically (but not necessarily) short articles, written in the third person, about yourself and/or your group. The article might include the coverage of an event or gig, a new release of a CD, or a member or group event or change.

The press release should be posted to Artistopia and sent out to your fan list as well as posted and distributed wherever else it can be. For instance, include it in your press kit that you mail out.

To use your Press Release feature, first of all, you must write or have written a Draft of the featured article, which could be cut and pasted in the fields, or typed in, and then must be Saved. In your rough draft, you will include the Author Name, Headline, and Article Text, followed by Credits and References. The Date will be auto-added as far as when it was published to Artistopia. Read the important notes and the Press Release Terms and Conditions.

Remember these all-important notes:

Press releases will not appear on your profile until they are officially "published". To publish a release, re-open the draft release in edit mode (after you have successfully saved it as draft) and select the Publish option.
All HTML has been disabled, makings such things as images or links unavailable.
Your Press Release MUST BE, brutally perfect! Once an article is printed in a newspaper or magazine, it is there for all the world to see, so it is with your press release as well.
ALL editing must be completed before publishing!
Remember, a normal press release would be, at the most 1-2 pages, though a well-written, short, to the point article is acceptable as well. You would not want to bore the reader.

Q. What is the Artistopia Interview feature?

A. The Interview feature is a template for building an article as a press release. The template is in a question and answer format. Follow the instructions and interview rules and copy and paste the interview section to your Article Text field and answer the questions in as complete, and as thorough a way as possible. See the suggestions in your Press Releases section, as well, for the best results.

Q. What is the Online Link feature?

A. The Online Links are validating links- to the Industry Experience and Education / Training data entries of your Artist Profile Tools, as well as links to other sources where you may be connected to. Perhaps you already have your own Web site? Add your link here.

Q. Do I have a weblink?

A. Yes you do. After you have created your profile and added music to it, your profile is viewable. Obviously, when you are on your Artist Overview page, the link is displayed on the browser Address. If you want to "Email Artist Profile Link" to your business associates, fans, friends and family, simply click that option on your profile. If you wish to "Promote This Artist" and need the complete code, click on that feature to add this code to forum signatures or whatever you need to.

Spreading your link is part of the promotion that you need to do yourself. Artistopia brings traffic to Artistopia so they can see EVERYONE. It is up to YOU, to present the best possible profile to represent what you do. We present many helpful tips and advice on ways to do this. Happy linking!

Q. What is my Inbox Central?

A. Your Inbox Central is your communication key to other members at Artistopia, where you can receive responses to your Classified Ad, and from where you can keep track of threads in forums that you wish to stay up on. And really so much more. You will see some great changes evolving over time in improvements in your member console, all geared to make things easier, more informational, and more useful.

Q. What happened to my Classified Ad I posted?

A. Ads cycle in the Artistopia Classified Ads section, on a monthly basis. It could be that it reached its expiration date. Some ads could possibly be deleted for not following the Disclaimer or the Submission Rules. We ask that you keep your Ads current, up-to-date, and delete those that are not.

Q. Can I sell my music merchandise from my band on your Classified Ads?

A. You can post an Ad of what you sell, but first read our Disclaimer before making ANY post.

Q. Does Artistopia get a percentage off of something I sell in Classified Ads?

A. No, Artistopia offers the posting of Ads as a FREE service listing with your Artistopia membership. All transactions, help wanted, offers, trade, buying & selling is between the Buyer and Seller (Ad poster and Ad respondent). Read our Disclaimer before posting or replying to any message.

Q. Do I need to include my email in my classified ad post?

A. You do not need to if you want to retain your privacy to the open Web. The community (members of Artistopia) can send you a reply to your Artistopia Inbox and you can set up a discussion from there if and how you wish.

Q. How do the Classified Ads work?

A. Our Classified Ads are quite easy to use and maintain. Simply add the section your ad should appear in then the title of what you are seeking or wish to sell. Add a brief item description. Read the Artistopia Disclaimer before posting or replying.

Q. Fan Email List, how does that work?

A. As viewers add themselves to your fan list, you have the opportunity to keep them posted on your career moves, happenings, new releases and more. Your potential fans can add their email after viewing your profile. Make sure you tell friends and family to get on your list. Spread the word!

Features in console:

Generate Fan List
List Delimiter- Line Return, Coma, Semi-colon- choose how you wish email list to be formulated
Generate Email List
Copy To Clipboard

Bulk Emailing Notes

Your personal prvacy is protected...we do not give the subscribed fan any personal direct contact information. You have their email address, so it is your responsibility as to what/how often you send them updates.

Artistopia does not do the bulk emailing. You can email each individual name or if your list starts to expand, you may think about investing in one of the proposed software programs. We have no association with these companies, nor offer support as to their use, they are only recommendations: Lencom Software - Fast E-Delivery Engine, ETOY Software - Email Sender Express, KBB Software - AMS 4.3.