#L.A. music news

[trapangeles]

The West Coast Blueprint: 20 Essential Steps for Indie Artists to Build Their Own Brand

The West Coast has always been a breeding ground for independent hustlers. From Nipsey Hussle to Dom Kennedy, these legends didn’t wait for the industry to hand them opportunities. They created their own paths, built their own brands, and stayed true to their vision. For today’s indie artists, the message remains the same: independence is key to success.

In this guide, we’ll break down 20 actionable steps that indie artists can take to elevate their careers, take control of their brand, and thrive in the ever-changing music industry.

1. Perfect Your Craft

Before anything else, focus on making your music the best it can be. Invest time into mastering your sound, improving your songwriting, and staying ahead of trends. Great music is the foundation of everything.

2. Develop a Strong Brand Identity

Your brand is more than just your music—it's your image, style, and story. Make sure your social media, visuals, and overall vibe represent who you are as an artist. Consistency is key.

3. Be Active on Social Media

Social media is your direct link to your audience. Post regularly, engage with fans, and share behind-the-scenes content to build a stronger connection with your supporters.

4. Own Your Masters

Ownership is everything. Retain the rights to your music and make sure you’re profiting from your work. Don’t let labels or middlemen control your catalog.

5. Create High-Quality Visuals

In today’s music landscape, visuals are as important as the sound. Invest in professional music videos, creative cover art, and standout promotional graphics.

6. Build a Team

Surround yourself with a team that believes in your vision and can help you grow. Whether it's a manager, PR rep, or social media specialist, having the right people in your corner is crucial.

7. Stay Consistent with Releases

Fans want new content. Keep releasing music, videos, and other creative projects regularly to stay relevant and grow your following.

8. Collaborate with Other Artists

Networking with other artists, especially those in your local scene, can expand your reach and bring in new fans. Collaborations can help elevate both you and your peers.

9. Invest in Yourself

Whether it’s upgrading your studio equipment, hiring a professional photographer, or running targeted ads, investing in your career will pay off in the long run.

10. Engage with Your Audience

Take the time to respond to comments, DMs, and messages. Building a loyal fanbase is all about making genuine connections.

11. Own Your Merchandise

Don’t just stop at music—create and sell your own merch. Shirts, hats, stickers, and other products can bring in additional revenue and help promote your brand.

12. Perform Live Shows

Live performances are a great way to connect with fans and build your reputation. Look for local shows, open mics, and festivals to get your name out there.

13. Focus on Quality Over Quantity

While consistency is important, don’t sacrifice quality for the sake of speed. Take the time to craft your music and visuals with care.

14. Build a Website

A website is your online hub for everything related to your career. It’s a place where fans can find your music, merch, tour dates, and more. Make sure it’s SEO-optimized so people can easily find you.

15. Network with Industry Professionals

Attend events, reach out to DJs, and connect with media outlets. The more people you know in the industry, the more doors you can open for your career.

16. Learn the Business Side of Music

Understanding the business side of music is essential. Learn about royalties, publishing, and contracts to protect yourself and your music.

17. Utilize Streaming Platforms

Make sure your music is on all major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. Use platforms like DistroKid or TuneCore to get your music distributed worldwide.

18. Engage in Paid Advertising

Leverage the power of paid advertising on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to promote your music and reach a broader audience.

19. Build an Email List

Social media is important, but you also need a direct way to reach your fans. Building an email list allows you to stay in touch with your audience and share exclusive content, news, and updates.

20. Stay Independent

At the end of the day, independence means control. Stay true to your vision, retain your ownership, and make moves on your terms. It’s a longer road, but the rewards are worth it.

Conclusion

Building a successful music career as an indie artist requires more than just talent—it demands hustle, strategy, and a relentless pursuit of your vision. By following these 20 steps, you can take control of your career and create opportunities on your own terms.

Ready to take your career to the next level? Subscribe to our email list for exclusive tips, industry insights, and updates from trapLA. Stay ahead of the game, and let’s keep building!

Have you been spending all your money and time on making music and shooting videos, but still not getting any exposure? Tired of just spinning your wheels? You know to get exposure you need to get featured on blogs, radio stations, playlist, and get your music e-mail blasted out to the masses. Need help getting all that done? Then check out the Package we’ve made available for you below!

Like & Listen To Our Spotify Playlist

trapLAXradio On The Air Now!

The Latest Music, Videos, News, Entertainment……

[cowgirl-ish]

redoing my tumblr cause i wanna shift the focus of this blog!!

my name is riley, im (technically) 15, my birthday is in 2 days :) i was pretty popular on tumblr when i was around 12 for a completely different reason but i have completely different interests now so i felt like restarting my blog.

my main interest is las vegas history, so i’ll post a ton of facts about that and also wild west history!! they’re my two favourite topics so i’ll mainly post about them bjt i also enjoy

red dead redemption

the mafia games

mormon history

1910s-1950s music

i hate bethesda but fallout new vegas is fun, not a massive interest of mine but i’m assuming it will come up in conversation due to the contents of my blog.

martin and lewis

l.a noire

poker (i collect vintage/unique poker equipment!! i own a massive flag of nevada and plan on setting up a little shrine)

fashion

south park

birdwatching

vinyl collection

1950s in general

counts as 50s music but two of my favourite artists from that era are marty robbins and elton britt, they’re the ones i’ll post the most about.

my favourite movies are rope, oppenheimer cannibal! the musical and 1917

i’m a lesbian, demigirl and probably asexual! my pronouns are they/she 💗

i have ocd and c-ptsd, not diagnosed but extensively researched.

feel free to ask any questions about las vegas or the west and i’ll gladly answer in detail :) also open to making friends!!

[unproduciblesmackdown]

maybe bsol is that time jen tepper mentions when she was so upset about a review of a show of joe's that she broke a glass (&/or threw it out a window)

[closetofcuriosities]

Jim Morrison x Mosquitohead

[soupy-sez]

The Treacherous Three in Harlem, NYC, 1981, © Laura Levine

[zosociologist]

IF YOU'RE BORED AND NEED SOMETHING TO LISTEN TO, ME AND MY HOMEGIRL JUST UPLOADED A NEW EPISODE OF OUR ROCK PODCAST. IN THIS EPISODE WE'RE OBJECTIFYING OLD & MIDDLE-AGED MEN!!!! (while simultaneously confessing our love for them)

Tune in if you too have an unhealthy attraction to middle-aged and old rockstars......or if you're just nosy💅🏾🍸

[gastricotv]

Travis | Bus

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

The Sound of Hollywood Girls 1983 Hard Rock / Punk Rock / New Wave / Heavy Metal

Oh my god, FUCK YES, dude! 😤 This is such an incredible album here! A crop of all-female and female-fronted underground rock acts of different stripes just delivering some pure rawness in early 80s Los Angeles, right before all the cock-rocking, dopey hair bands *really* came to take hold of the Sunset Strip and went on to define for most what 80s LA rock music was. Lots of odd, goofy, and quirkily satisfying fare to be found within this thing, and a lot of it done by *very* ephemeral acts that you've probably never heard of in your life.

Like, take De De Troit, for example: a woman who fronted a band called U.X.A. that put out a sole studio album in the 80s and who herself only put out one solo 7-inch in her career as well. She contributes a plainly wild exclusive cover here of the controversial, Phil Spector-produced and Carole King-and-Gerry Goffin-penned 1962 tune, "He Hit Me," by The Crystals, by laying down a strange combination of heavy, fuzz-muddy guitar chords and whimsical, saccharine pop strings, and then shifting the tempo upwards to churn out some brief bouts of killer punk rock on the choruses. Just totally irresistible nuttery in that one 😜🤘.

Then the B-side kicks off with a pair of less weird, but still fantastic tracks that would later go on to comprise both sides of a split 7-inch that same year, provided by, who are, by far, this album's two most popular bands: Hellion and Bitch. Hellion, fronted by the scratchiness of Ann Boleyn, deliver "Nightmares," a terrific hard rockin' metal groove that comes with one wicked guitar solo, and then Bitch light up and dazzle with some head-spinning, galloping thrashiness on "I'm in Love" 😍.

Truth be told, the A-side, which has more of the enjoyable quirk on it, is the more consistent half of this release, but those two Hellion and Bitch tunes that lead off the B-side are the most technically impressive ones of this whole bunch.

Tremendous record from the Hollywood-based Mystic Records here that presents an eclectic blend of rock tunes, from hard rock, to heavy metal, to punk and new wave, all while shining a spotlight on some great and mostly fleeting early 80s LA female talent. Lots of fun and chock-full of exclusives too.

Highlights:

LA Girls - "Sure" Soloman Kane - "Twilight Zone" The Skirts - "S&M Blvd. Boy" Butch - "Tractor Trailor Tragedy" De De Troit - "He Hit Me" Hellion - "Nightmares" Bitch - "I'm in Love"

[greensparty]

Discogs Donating to Those Impacted by L.A. Fires on Friday Jan. 17

If you're a record collector like me, you enjoy going on Discogs and ordering albums in this online music marketplace. This Friday January 17, Discogs is going to donate their revenue to those impacted by the L.A. wildfires. If I'm going to buy records anyways, it may as well be for a good cause!

The link above is the official statement from Discogs.

[trapangeles]

Quiz Drops New Visual "The Conversation" Off His Album Grateful

Los Angeles rapper Quiz is making waves again with the release of his latest visual for the track “The Conversation” off his acclaimed album Grateful. In collaboration with The Beat District, Quiz continues to showcase his lyrical prowess and maintain his momentum in the game, proving that consistency is key in the rap industry.

With a reputation for delivering sharp wordplay, Quiz once again pairs his bars with top-tier production. The Beat District provides an immaculate soundscape that complements Quiz’s style, resulting in a track that blends insightful storytelling with smooth beats, capturing the essence of L.A.'s rap scene.

"The Conversation" brings together relatable themes and a visual that enhances the track’s message. The video, like the track, is a testament to Quiz’s dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with his audience through authentic narratives.

Shoutout to Nina Duece for giving us the scoop in her email blast, keeping the streets informed on Quiz’s latest moves. As the West Coast rap scene continues to thrive, Quiz’s Grateful and its standout visuals like "The Conversation" are a reminder of the talent that’s rising from Los Angeles.

Be sure to check out the visual for "The Conversation" and keep an eye on Quiz as he continues to build his legacy. For more updates and the latest in L.A. rap, visit trapLA. Stay tuned for more exclusive drops and news from your favorite artists!

Have you been spending all your money and time on making music and shooting videos, but still not getting any exposure? Tired of just spinning your wheels? You know to get exposure you need to get featured on blogs, radio stations, playlist, and get your music e-mail blasted out to the masses. Need help getting all that done? Then check out the Package we’ve made available for you below!

Like & Listen To Our Spotify Playlist

trapLAXradio On The Air Now!

The Latest Music, Videos, News, Entertainment……

[my-chaos-radio]

Release: January 1, 1981

Lyrics:

Captain's telling me that I am welcome

He's saying that soon this bird will fly

He says the forecast's looking fine.

'Cross the runway I can see you

Looking lost and trying not to cry.

I see you getting smaller

I wish that I could stail her

Leave this pane but

L.A. Goodbye

Oh

Oh

Oh

L.A. Goodbye -

L.A. Goodbye

Oh

Oh

Oh

Two hearts in love that will die.

In just a minute says the captain

We'll take off from here and ride the sky.

He says it's still "No Smoking".

All along we knew that this would happen

We just tried to hide it from ourselves

We tried to stay together

As if it was forever

Oh

Forever.

L.A. Goodbye

Oh

Oh

Oh

. . .

L.A. Goodbye

Oh

Oh

Oh

From way up high -

L.A. Goodbye

Songwriter:

Two hearts in love that wiil die.

L.A. Goodbye

Oh

Oh

Oh

Bjorn Hakanson / Tim Arnold Norell

BandFacts:

👉📖

Homepage:

Secret Service

[closetofcuriosities]

[pleasureable]

Star Shopping !

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ in which you’re asked to star in Thanos’ new music video

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ you were a well known Instagram model, with your career being launched after you had posted a random selfie of you taken on your digital camera

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the virality of your picture practically launched you into virtual stardom with you gaining a pretty big following after that

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ your followers loved you for your beauty and style, as your instagram page was littered with pictures of you posing in clothing items such as big fur coats, mini skirts, leather tops and bottoms and bikinis

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ you were pretty popular amongst rappers for some reason, with some even asking for permission to use your pictures in promo for their music

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ you had been familiar with Thanos for a little while now as you had seen his performances a couple times—more specifically his performance at Rolling Loud fest. you liked his music and you thought he was pretty cute but you had never really interacted with him before

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Thanos was practically obsessed with you, though. he would always like your posts, even commenting “😍😍” on some of them—of course, fueling some rumors of hidden romance between you two

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ he had finally messaged you one day, his name popping up in your dms

@thanos

u down to be in my music video, pretty ?

@y/n

sure why not lol

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ after a few days of exchanging messages you finally booked a flight (that he, of course, offered to pay for) to L.A—where the video would be filmed

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ once you had landed and settled into your hotel room a bit, you and Thanos had met up for coffee—he explained the vision he had for the video, as well as telling you what he wanted from you in terms of your appearance in it

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ “I’m thinkin’ of like, just having you as the main focus of the video” he said. you were incredibly flattered, how couldn’t you be? a big, hotshot rapper like him wanted to plaster your face all over a piece of his work. “main focus?” you asked, a touch of uncertainty in your voice. you had been in some music videos before, but just as a background character, never the lead girl. “Of course, I wanna showcase your beauty as much as I can.” he responded.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ your nerves were at an all time high as you drove to the filming location the day of the video shoot. once you got there the makeup artists began to work on you, minimal makeup, just as Thanos had earlier requested (he did want to showcase your beauty, after all)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the on-set costume designer had chosen to dress you in a tight, mini white dress—a ushanka style hat being placed on your head to finish the look

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the music video idea followed two lovers who spend the night recording each other on a camcorder, engaging in stupid shenanigans around a mansion, showcasing and capturing carefree moments of each other

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ walking onto set, you could feel thanos’s eyes all over you, admiring the way your body fit your dress and how the ring lights placed on set perfectly highlighted your facial features

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ once actual shooting had begun, the romantic chemistry between the two of you was undeniable

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ the romantic poses you were placed in by the director and Thanos himself obviously weren’t doing anything to dampen the atmosphere

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ nearing the end of shooting, you were scripted to be holding the camcorder while staring into Thanos’s eyes, an implied kiss taking place before the screen would go black, thus marking the end of video

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ though, once you got close enough to his face to the point where the tips of your noses were touching, the sexual and romantic tension had gotten unbearable. you had been very much aware of Thanos’s attraction to you prior to him asking you to be in his video, and you never quite expected you and him to be in the predicament you were in now.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ without even thinking, Thanos smashed his lips against yours—to your delight. pent up frustration causing the kiss to be slightly lewd, though you both quickly pulled away before you got carried away

“that definitely wasn’t scripted mr. Thanos.”

“Of course it wasn’t, pretty.”

[august-sysex]

bobby brown - don’t be cruel (instrumental by L.A. reid & babyface) (1988)