Music is not a 9-5 job, rather it requires a lot of commitment and dedication. Promotion can be difficult as music industry insiders create misinformation to lose out on new talent.
Everything you should Know About The Music Industry
So, it turns out that musicians experience some of the same challenges as business owners. Some truths will inspire you, and some will help you to maintain a reality-based outlook.
The Basics of The Music Industry for Rising Musicians
It is necessary to have extensive knowledge of music to organize or run the show or label. One does not automatically know how to take on these roles just from going to a lot of concerts and knowing what labels are.
Even if you know the basic music industry models, it’s hard to get it until you’ve tried managing the intricacies of a CD run yourself.
You can succeed in the music industry if you are well-versed in music. There are some people running music businesses who do not know about music and eventually will fall through. You have to be careful with the idea that a lifetime of knowledge has made you an expert in the music industry. It will irritate others and you will be wrong when you think your expertise is good enough.
Reviews won’t help you sell your music. Read on.
It is important, however, to not let the focus be solely on reviews. Getting reviews in many places may put your name in the spotlight, but only a small percentage of people will buy your album based on reviews. Radio play is more effective at making music popular than reviews in newspapers or print media.
Reviews are only one aspect of the wide importance of reviews. Reviews can generate interest from labels and can help you book shows. But if you don’t work to leverage those reviews, they’ll just be a minor blip on the screen.
How you can still make money by selling your music
There is a debate about whether all music should be free. I disagree with this idea and believe that people do not think about the full range of options for earning money because there are other valuable ways to make money besides music sales.
To keep the music going, fans want to be able to purchase it at a fair price while also getting free goodies. The trick is balancing these two things properly so that customers can have quality music and still be fans.
There’s no right or wrong answer for what format of release you should use, it will depend on the customer base. For example, people still buy CDs and if that is your customer base then you should release CDs. It all depends on what the demand is for each model of music.
You’ll have to experiment with your different types of merchandise. It might take some time, but then again you have to advertise.
You need to be aware of what happened in the past
There are so many musicians and labels that can pull off a great stunt. You can find them on social networking sites and market through kitschy campaigns. Whether they were lucky or well planned, these things inspire people to either think up a new idea or try their hardest.
You can’t expect to be discovered on Facebook and find success in the same way as they did, even after watching them on TV.
There isn’t a way to predict which direction an artist’s career will take. They should start with what has been successful in the past, but not rely too heavily on strategies from artists who once achieved success.
Learn what a record label can do for you
In the current state of flux, many people believe that record labels don’t provide for their talent. It’s true that musicians now have more tools than ever to release and manage their music, but choosing the correct route is not always the best choice.
Labels are run by people who want to promote your music and will help you with the non-creative aspects.
Some musicians have a strong knack for the business side of their careers, and it is what they enjoy most. Others prefer to focus on their artistic side. That’s where a record label can come in.
It’s also important not to think that a DIY approach will be the best for everyone. Filtering out noise is necessary because many routes suit different demands.
Not only do the basics matter, but historical context is key
These days, music companies are banking on creating an app or a social networking tool with the hope that they will make it through the basics. The problem with these tools is that they are simply secondary to what forms the foundation of a music career: writing good songs and playing shows. Without those things, you can’t make it in music.
With the music industry, you can better understand this issue by educating yourself on relevant topics and being involved in shaping the direction it takes.
It is to say that a good song has more power than a blog, blog comment, headline, new software program, or new social networking website. If you’re a musician, your priorities should be your music every time.
How to navigate the music industry for a fast-rising artiste
Social networking is a powerful tool for connecting with your fans and engaging the ones that matter. But don’t let it distract you from your original goals, or it might cost you in the long run. You can see by example how many musicians get something going on social networking sites, and how small of a percentage they are.
Don’t neglect the other parts of your music career and focus too much on being active on social networking sites. There is no magic formula and you should always be yourself when it comes to these sites.
As a result, there are many resources available to teach you how to write a quality blog post.
How to make a living as an artist
Not everyone will experience a lifestyle of swimming pools and private jets, but many musicians are sustainable. There are plenty of jobs related to music such as labels, distribution, promotion, booking, and manufacturing. Patience and hard work are necessary but achievable with time.
