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Choosing stage names—what musicians should pay attention to
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Have you ever thought about the name under which you want to publish your music in the future? Your own stage name plays a key role in highlighting your art, identifying you and, above all, distinguishing you from the rest. But how exactly can you find the right stage name and what significance does it still have today? In this article, we will give you tips on how to choose a unique stage name, how to distinguish yourself from other artists and explain what else is important.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- The meaning of an appropriate stage name nowadays
- Why a stage name is worthwhile for musicians and bands
- How to find a meaningful pseudonym
- Our tips for catchy stage names
- Private or business?
- Simplicity in use
- Selection without genre
- Pay attention to search queries!
- The most famous artist names - stories of success
- Machine Gun Kelly
- Katy Perry
- Lady Gaga
- Eminem
- Uniqueness—the most important element of the artist's name
- A lasting image
- Perfection doesn't exist - let your creativity run wild!
The meaning of an appropriate stage name nowadays
Whether you need a stage name or prefer to perform under your real name, you can of course decide freely and individually. However, many musicians deliberately choose a special stage name in order to understand and present their own music as a work of art. Often stage names that fit to one's unique music are very catchy and also contribute to the understanding of the music.
So before you carelessly decide on any stage name, you should really think about it and find a unique moniker. In doing so, you will certainly notice the many combinations and possibilities that can be completely reshaped through language. In most cases, a personal stage name also has something to do with your inner conviction and reflects your own experiences or special moments.
Why a stage name is worthwhile for musicians and bands
In addition to your own image, your stage name also plays a key role in marketing in the long term. What name should your fans use to find you on the web? What sounds good and appeals to your target group? When choosing a name, you should always keep marketing in mind. This increases your chances of success right from the start.
It also makes sense to have your own artist name ready for use on popular streaming platforms. This simplifies the search for your music and helps to avoid confusion. An individual and unique name remains permanently in the minds of even the most loyal listeners and secures you recurring clicks. A well thought-out artist name strengthens your own branding. At the same time, you separate the private from the public and remain true to your ideals.
How to find a meaningful pseudonym
How exactly you create your artist name is up to you, of course. For example, many musicians use only part of their name and/or add smaller elements that contribute to a better new sound. One of the most famous examples is Beyoncé, whose real name is Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter. By significantly shortening her actual name, Beyoncé has made it big on the world stage and is known to us all as a musician in the modern era.
Of course, you can also find a good artist name without components from your own name. For this purpose, you can get inspiration from existing artists. Uniqueness is always the most important thing when searching for your stage name. Try to find a simple and well thought-out combination that your listeners can easily remember. If your artist name is too complicated, it often makes it difficult to find and use.
Our tips for catchy stage names
Basically, we can not take over the search for the right stage name or give you specific guidelines. Nevertheless, there are of course some tips and hints that can help you with the composition of your stage name. For example, leave out individual letters of your name, exchange them or merge several terms to a new meaning:
Private or business?
Have you made a deliberate decision to present your music without your real name? Then pseudonyms are only of limited help, as they often allow people to draw conclusions about your actual name. Therefore, it's best to think about which terms fit best to your music and create your own artist name.
Simplicity in use
Overly complicated stage names bring with them an enormous risk of being misspelled or even not being found at all. The simpler your artist name is, the easier it is for you to bring it to the people. For example, think about a keyword that describes your music optimally and add or swap a few letters. This way you always stay individual.
Selection without genre
Many artists make the mistake of committing to their artist name too early and choosing their artist names in a genre-specific way. For this reason, we recommend not to make too precise a restriction that limits you in your creativity. Should you want to develop your music in other genres later on, a narrow, limited representation is not advantageous. Keep this in mind when making your choice.
Pay attention to search queries!
Have you come up with a great idea, only to find various hits on Google under this exact term? In some cases it is difficult to compete with other search results. Especially for new musicians, it's a good idea to switch to a different artist name. This way you don't have to worry about confusion, but you ensure the necessary uniqueness.
The most famous artist names - stories of success
Many musicians have already made a name for themselves over time, which is not only based on their own clear name. Even if you should of course think about your new stage name yourself, we have a few successful examples for you:
Machine Gun Kelly
As a reference to George Barnes—a well-known alcohol smuggler—the rapper Colson Baker chose the stage name "Machine Gun Kelly," under which he raps quickly and also successfully.
Katy Perry
To avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson, Katheryn Hudson took her mother's last name (Perry) and sweetened her first name a little bit.
Lady Gaga
As a tribute to her idol Freddy Mercury, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (real name) decided to use the stage name "Lady Gaga", which made her famous in many songs.
Eminem
In the case of Eminem, the stage name actually results from the two initial M's, which can be traced back to his civil name Marshall Bruce Mathers III. Now that's a creative solution.
Uniqueness—the most important element of the artist's name
Only unique and individual stage names can work well and last long in the industry. Therefore, make sure that your chosen stage name does not already appear elsewhere. Many musicians protect their stage names legally, which is why a violation of this protection can often be expensive for you. Therefore, it is better not to use others as a guide, but to instead develop your own ideas. Maybe you can find an approach through your songwriting, for which we have already created a comprehensive guide here. The better your new artist name fits the music, the more likely you are to be associated with it.
A lasting image
Always keep in mind that choosing your artist name should be a long-term decision. So what do you want to say with your music? In what direction will your songs evolve over time and how will your stage name reflect that? Stylistic devices can also influence your choice of name at this point to convey a deeper message. This will ensure you have a positive image in the long run and help your music to be compelling.
Therefore, we cannot recommend a later change of your artist name, as your branding will be permanently based on the corresponding name. Good examples of a successful change of the previous artist name are extremely rare. Only in the case of a complete image change, where you want to distance yourself from your previous style is the name change perhaps necessary. However, think about this decision very carefully.
Perfection doesn't exist - let your creativity run wild!
After so many examples, are you now looking for a suitable stage name yourself? If you don't have a name on your lips from day one, creativity is the best approach. If you just haven't found the perfect stage name yet, don't rush it. It's better to stick with your real name than to choose an unsuitable stage name too early. Feel free to browse through our personals here at mukken, maybe you can talk to others about the journey to a stage name.
Originally published on February 1, 2023, updated on February 3, 2023
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