dudes should finance their own shit and drive across the country - hit small towns and leave a bunch of their music behind, connect with the people face to face, and establish a name from that. it's not enough to have a video on MTV Base or whatever where it will probably be played once, shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the shittiest music ever produced on this continent. if people feel like they know you they'll root for you when they see you on TV and they'll cop your shit just to feel a part of your success (like Idols), even without the following brilliant ideas:
a party image - you f*** shit up wherever you go.
liner notes detailing your debauchery, the little places you've been, the little people you've met.
a few live performances as bonus tracks ("i was there!").
and cover art that includes a collage of every tour spot you've hit ("that's me right there, pa**ed out on the left!").