Asking for advice: changing artist name

[Thought Experiment]

I've been using the 'mikusan' moniker for quite a few years now, I have a few followers on soundcloud, a few people know me on KVR (although I've not been very active lately on either). The thing is, I'm almost ready to release my first album (a couple of tracks to mix down, then a final spit'n'polish overall, and I'm currently working on the 'cover' artwork). I've decided to go with the Bandcamp 'pay-what-you-think-it's-worth' route for this first release. Now, when I first came up with the mikusan tag, it was a bit of fun (a Japanese student who was staying with a neighbour...well, let's just say she developed a bit of a crush on yours truly and her name for me kind of stuck).

...Which is all very sweet, but, several years on, if you google 'mikusan' today you'll have to wade through about a dozen pages linking to a manga/anime character of the same name :rotf: before you even see a link to my soundcloud page. Since discovering this, I've been wondering about changing my artist name to something a bit more 'serious' - don't misunderstand, I have a healthy sense of humour and I can see the funny side of my own predicament, but I don't want to handicap my work with a lame name - I'd like to see how the album does on a level playing field, so to speak.

...So, there's my question - how do I release the album under the new name (I have one in mind, and it googles ok atm) and make sure my 'mikusan' followers are aware of it? Hope you guys can help...

[MetaDronos]

I've been using the 'mikusan' moniker for quite a few years now, I have a few followers on soundcloud, a few people know me on KVR (although I've not been very active lately on either). The thing is, I'm almost ready to release my first album (a couple of tracks to mix down, then a final spit'n'polish overall, and I'm currently working on the 'cover' artwork). I've decided to go with the Bandcamp 'pay-what-you-think-it's-worth' route for this first release. Now, when I first came up with the mikusan tag, it was a bit of fun (a Japanese student who was staying with a neighbour...well, let's just say she developed a bit of a crush on yours truly and her name for me kind of stuck).

...Which is all very sweet, but, several years on, if you google 'mikusan' today you'll have to wade through about a dozen pages linking to a manga/anime character of the same name :rotf: before you even see a link to my soundcloud page. Since discovering this, I've been wondering about changing my artist name to something a bit more 'serious' - don't misunderstand, I have a healthy sense of humour and I can see the funny side of my own predicament, but I don't want to handicap my work with a lame name - I'd like to see how the album does on a level playing field, so to speak.

...So, there's my question - how do I release the album under the new name (I have one in mind, and it googles ok atm) and make sure my 'mikusan' followers are aware of it? Hope you guys can help...

Being in your situation I would simply release first album under new name, but using all social places where you are registered as "mikusan" to inform about release. Simple as "Hi, I'm mikusan and this is my first album under my from-now-on moniker XYZ".

[robojam]

Doesn't sound like you have a massive fan base to convert to a new name, so maybe you should change now and start working towards keeping the followers who like your music when you switch.

...or you could change your name to "The Artist Formally Known as Mikusan"

[seismic1]

If you google "mikusan" you appear third in the search results! You've just gotta know how to express yourself

I am a Unix wastoid geek

[Thought Experiment]

...or you could change your name to "The Artist Formally Known as Mikusan"

:biggrin: I did consider that but I didn't fancy scribbling on my face with an eyebrow pencil (again :eek

[Thought Experiment]

If you google "mikusan" you appear third in the search results!

:dunno:I must be doing it wrong...just tried again and I'm still on page 11?

[seismic1]

:dunno:I must be doing it wrong...just tried again and I'm still on page 11?

The "" are important

[Thought Experiment]

The "" are important

:thumbsup: ah-hah!! So they are...thanks Tim

[phoenstorm]

"mikusan" could be your new name ;-) - pardon my snarkiness, also to add sth worthwhile...that evil "filter bubble" will mess with any search results as long as any cookies or tracking data, history, whatever is left in your browser. basically search results nowadays are so deeply personalized that very few information (on the salience of a searched item) can be gleaned from a single search.

[GaryG]

I guess this isn't your gallery either: http://mikusan.deviantart.com/gallery/



I'd go with the new name, too much mis-googling to be had with mikusan.

[Thought Experiment]

"mikusan" could be your new name ;-) - pardon my snarkiness, also to add sth worthwhile...that evil "filter bubble" will mess with any search results as long as any cookies or tracking data, history, whatever is left in your browser. basically search results nowadays are so deeply personalized that very few information (on the salience of a searched item) can be gleaned from a single search.

yes indeed, as I'm only just starting to realize...

[Thought Experiment]

I guess this isn't your gallery either: http://mikusan.deviantart.com/gallery/



I'd go with the new name, too much mis-googling to be had with mikusan.

Ay caramba :rotf: Nope, that gallery's nothing to do with me either. Yes, the advantages of a new name do seem to to be outweighing the disadvantages at the moment. That is, until somebody writes a blockbusting teen-vampire-werewolf-zombie bestseller called -- nah, that would be just too unlucky. Wouldn't it? :cantlook:

[Toaster]

Try naming yourself after a common household appliance. It's a disaster.

[seismic1]

It didn't hurt The Vibrators :biggrin:

[Frozen Lonesome]

I have decided to rebrand with a new artist name. While I like Slatemass - I an enamoured with the band name I used on Bedroom Cassette Master Three.
Consider me Frozen Lonesome from now on.