How to become a music sensation

Maximo Park are one of the North East acts to make it big

Breaking into the music business is something lots of people dream of - but the industry is notoriously fickle.

So, how can you maximise your chances of getting ahead?

Generator, the north-of-England popular music development agency, has re-launched its website with lots of advice and information for musicians living in the region.

Below, Generator give us their top 10 tips for breaking into the business.

1. Get great live

...and make great recordings.

Tyneside's Little Comets have had airplay on BBC Radio 1

It seems like an obvious thing to say, but before you can expect the industry to come calling, bands and solo artists must make sure they are great - both live and in the studio.

Start by building a good live reputation and developing good relationships with promoters in your region and beyond.

It's cheaper and easier than ever to produce good recordings so master the art of producing demos and industry standard releases.

2. Structured rehearsals

Whether a band or a solo artist, it's important to make sure your rehearsals are well structured so that you make fast progress.

Quiet rehearsals can really help to identify problems and make sure all parts are working together.

3. Recording

Always remember that the song is king and to get a good sound at source.

It is easy to get carried away with effects and software tools - but they are just tools. You need to start with a good song and get a good sound at source before you press record.

4. Don't send unsolicited demos

Generator offer advice and support to aspiring musicians

Although some labels and other industry targets still accept unsolicited material, chances are they will not have enough staff or time to listen to something that has been sent in cold.

Even a relatively large independent label such as XL Records only releases around 10 albums per year - yet they receive nearly 100,000 demos!

Build a good reputation through gigs and media coverage and use less conventional channels such as industry lawyers to get your name out there.

5. Use social networks well

Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter are a great tool for artists to reach out to new fans and the industry.

Learn how to use these tools well.

Do: Keep your pages updated and worth coming back to.

Don't: Go overboard with pestering everyone - they are unlikely to appreciate being bombarded with hourly updates!

6. Do it yourself

Labels and publishers spend less time and money developing new artists or songwriters than they used to.

Make sure you get the basics right before contacting agents

It is important to build your own reputation live and on record and use new models to get noticed first. It's cheaper and easier than ever to do it yourself, and there is plenty of help available.

Whether you want to go it alone long-term or go through more traditional routes, the industry will pay more attention if you are able to develop yourself first.

BBC Introducing - Recording advice

7. Know your rights

The music industry is a very complicated business and, if you don't know what you're signing, you can easily get stung.

Always seek independent legal advice and know your rights. This has become increasingly important as industry focus shifts from traditional physical sales of music to intellectual property.

BBC Introducing - The right deal for you

8. Get a good lawyer

Not only will a good lawyer help to ensure that any deals you sign are fair to you - lawyers are often in touch with others in the industry and can also help to increase your profile.

9. Embrace the digital age

Be strategic when using the web for marketing

Whatever your stance on how digital music has affected the music industry, things have changed and musicians have to keep up with demand.

The industry and music listeners all have favourite ways of listening to music so you should make your music as available as possible - use websites like YouTube and social-networking sites, alongside sites where you can stream or download your music.

Use online media to boost your profile - getting your music on the right blogs can attract a lot of industry interest.

10. BBC Introducing

Get involved with BBC Introducing.

Use their advice pages and plug into their network of sites and local and national shows.

BBC Introducing website

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Find out more about Generator - and how they can help - on the new-look Generator website.