We are making progress. The indie movement has taken root and is firmly established. Music marketers advise artists on how to make it while the artists themselves are carving out their paths. Following generic advice is not a good idea. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. It is as diverse as it could be. I have many hugely successful friends, but no one knows them. Others are so well-known that they feel like a prisoner in their work. Be careful what you wish for. This article will cover six essentials for the music business, both new and old. They are timeless.
This helps you to put the pieces together of your puzzle and make your music career rock.
Here are the results:
My 6 Music Business Essentials: How to navigate Music Mountain with the new (and old) rules of the road
1. Keep your uniqueness in mind and stick to it.
I’m grateful to my friends from Sonicbids for posting this video by Ed Sheeran. This video speaks for itself, so I chose to post it here.
For years, I have been teaching and preaching to artists that they should follow their uniqueness. Be yourself, no matter the cost. Ed talks about his success strategy. This will definitely surprise and enlighten you.
2. Understand your message and get it in your brand.
Please share your message instead of promoting it. Don’t expect your message to appear at the click of a button. As you delve deeper into your artist’s psyche, a process unfolds. It is not always obvious. This is one of the hardest things to do and the main reason we like or dislike an artist. Ask your closest friends and mentors for advice, or keep a journal. Discover who you are and what you can bring to the table. Please do not stop until you are able to see it clearly and that of others. Then, build it into your branding so your fans can experience it.
3. Don’t Isolate. Build a community of like-minded artists and industry mentors who will tell you the truth but give real solutions.
We all remember what someone said at the ASCAP Conference. Someone said, “Stop trying so hard to attract the attention of music’s biggest names.” Please find the most intelligent, capable and talented people around you and work with them. You will waste time and resources and never reach the goal you are aiming for.
4. Learn about the music business and how it works!
Listen up. Music is a complicated business. It usually takes a lot of research or an attorney to figure out how to register copyrights and song titles in order to be paid. Even before streaming, artists never got a fair share of the money.
Mick Jagger stated that “… is a major change. It does affect the fact people make less money from records. I do have an opinion on this – records were only profitable for a very short time. We didn’t earn any money from records when The Rolling Stones were starting because the record companies refused to pay us! No one was paid! There was a short period between 1970 and 1997 when people were paid handsomely, and everyone had money. Now that time is over. If you look back at the history of recorded music between 1900 and now, you’ll see that there were 25 years when artists were very successful, but they weren’t the rest of the way.
Mary J. Blige said: “The music business is not for those who don’t have a clue!”
5. You, Inc. CEO
This is one of the biggest secrets of the music industry, and it is the one the industry does not want you to know. They will give you big expense accounts and lots of money while taking it all out of your paycheck.
The most successful artists are entrepreneurs.
Miley Cyrus, Green Day, Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones are all examples of this. All of them are CEOs of their respective empires. You don’t need to be the head of a mega-empire, but you do have to run YOUR EMPIRE. You will be a victim of the secret industry wants to tell you until you become the CEO.
6. Make Your Luck – Don’t wait for your big break.
Ben Folds: “Don’t Wait for Your Big Break.” I know that the biggest question for many aspiring musicians is how to break through. There’s no such thing as a break. There are many different breaks. Some good, some bad. You may or may not recognize some significant opportunities as lucky. The landscape is always changing, and it’s not a precise science. It’s a bad idea to advise on how to “make it”. “I do believe that the best chance in the world, if you are not musically ready, isn’t an opportunity.”
You can get more free advice, tips and solutions by joining my 6-week online artist development program: Step Up to the Spotlight. Join my FREE 6-Week Online Artist Development Programme: Step Up to Spotlight. This program has helped more than 13,400 artists increase their impact and skyrocket their careers. I want you to follow.
