The track to success for todays musicians and artists is quite different than it was even five years ago.
Today, any artist, songwriter, musician,or performer. Even if you have no desire whatsoever to start your own Indie label, Or even if you don't want to learn how to start your own record label, if you are even mildly serious about obtaining any level of success in music, you have to obtain as much knowledge as possible so that you understand the basics of the business.
You must find the drive to research, study, and try your best to understand topics such as standard music contracts, Indie labels, the majors, the publishers, who does what, when, and where. Don't think your going to throw together a handful of demo songs, throw them in the mail to a some people on a list, or get spotted playing in some club one night, and become a huge star, it just doesn't happen that way anymore.
Nowadays, artists, and musicians must be proactive in developing their careers. Todays artists approach has to be that you will publish, promote, and manage yourself until a better publisher, promoter, and or manager shows up that perhaps has more resources than you do, at which time you decide wether to team up with to expand on what you are currently accomplishing yourself.
This approach is what separates the men from the boys, or the successful V.S. the Non-Successful.
As an artist, musician, or performer, you have got to begin today learning as much as possible about every aspect of the industry, and this is best accomplished by a logical approach, and having a resource with which you can turn to for advice as you continue your journey and develop yourself into a professional artist.
You will gain much more ground when you are approaching Major Music Labels, Music Publishers, and or Independent Music Labels if you approach them with an attitude of wanting to join their team, as more of a partnership. If your approach is I think my music is good, I want you to give me a contract to sign, and a bunch of money and fame, then again GOOD LUCK!
Lets look at some examples, say you have a demo of a few songs, and you have say ten or twelve written songs, but have not recorded them.
Let's consider what approach would be more constructive when you meet with a Independent Label. Lets look at the first, introduction which i wouldn't suggest.
Which do you think would look better when you approach a small but fairly successful Indie Label. Lets look at the first, not so favorable approach.
You mail them a demo CD with your phone number, or you go to their office and drop off a CD with your cell phone number written on the front of it. This approach more or less screams I AM LAZY, AND I WANT YOU TO HANDLE EVERYTHING AND MAKE ME FAME AND FORTUNE.
You set up a planned meeting with the A&R of a indie label, you sit down with him, let him listen to your well recorded CD with four songs, and show him the copy of written lyrics of twelve other songs that you have written, but not recorded.
You then proceed to tell them that you are promoting the three songs that are recorded on various web sites, and that the three completed songs are available for purchase as singles on Amazon.con, Rhapsody, Emusic, and Napster, and that last month there were a total gross sales of $67.00 You then continue to explain your current promotional strategy, and that you are scouting around for an independent label, or team that believes in your music, and can help take your current successes, add some additional resources, and boost the product up substantially.
You then proceed to explain to them that you plan to continue self promotion, and working to get sales up on a daily basis, and that you truly believe that with your work ethics, passion, and drive, and their additional resources that as a team all of you can turn this into a profitable venture.
Now you tell me, which approach do you think would open, and keep the doors open for you?
Again, if you are serious about succeeding in the music business, you absolutely MUST take a proactive approach towards developing yourself as a true professional artist, performer, and or musician. - 15275
Today, any artist, songwriter, musician,or performer. Even if you have no desire whatsoever to start your own Indie label, Or even if you don't want to learn how to start your own record label, if you are even mildly serious about obtaining any level of success in music, you have to obtain as much knowledge as possible so that you understand the basics of the business.
You must find the drive to research, study, and try your best to understand topics such as standard music contracts, Indie labels, the majors, the publishers, who does what, when, and where. Don't think your going to throw together a handful of demo songs, throw them in the mail to a some people on a list, or get spotted playing in some club one night, and become a huge star, it just doesn't happen that way anymore.
Nowadays, artists, and musicians must be proactive in developing their careers. Todays artists approach has to be that you will publish, promote, and manage yourself until a better publisher, promoter, and or manager shows up that perhaps has more resources than you do, at which time you decide wether to team up with to expand on what you are currently accomplishing yourself.
This approach is what separates the men from the boys, or the successful V.S. the Non-Successful.
As an artist, musician, or performer, you have got to begin today learning as much as possible about every aspect of the industry, and this is best accomplished by a logical approach, and having a resource with which you can turn to for advice as you continue your journey and develop yourself into a professional artist.
You will gain much more ground when you are approaching Major Music Labels, Music Publishers, and or Independent Music Labels if you approach them with an attitude of wanting to join their team, as more of a partnership. If your approach is I think my music is good, I want you to give me a contract to sign, and a bunch of money and fame, then again GOOD LUCK!
Lets look at some examples, say you have a demo of a few songs, and you have say ten or twelve written songs, but have not recorded them.
Let's consider what approach would be more constructive when you meet with a Independent Label. Lets look at the first, introduction which i wouldn't suggest.
Which do you think would look better when you approach a small but fairly successful Indie Label. Lets look at the first, not so favorable approach.
You mail them a demo CD with your phone number, or you go to their office and drop off a CD with your cell phone number written on the front of it. This approach more or less screams I AM LAZY, AND I WANT YOU TO HANDLE EVERYTHING AND MAKE ME FAME AND FORTUNE.
You set up a planned meeting with the A&R of a indie label, you sit down with him, let him listen to your well recorded CD with four songs, and show him the copy of written lyrics of twelve other songs that you have written, but not recorded.
You then proceed to tell them that you are promoting the three songs that are recorded on various web sites, and that the three completed songs are available for purchase as singles on Amazon.con, Rhapsody, Emusic, and Napster, and that last month there were a total gross sales of $67.00 You then continue to explain your current promotional strategy, and that you are scouting around for an independent label, or team that believes in your music, and can help take your current successes, add some additional resources, and boost the product up substantially.
You then proceed to explain to them that you plan to continue self promotion, and working to get sales up on a daily basis, and that you truly believe that with your work ethics, passion, and drive, and their additional resources that as a team all of you can turn this into a profitable venture.
Now you tell me, which approach do you think would open, and keep the doors open for you?
Again, if you are serious about succeeding in the music business, you absolutely MUST take a proactive approach towards developing yourself as a true professional artist, performer, and or musician. - 15275
About the Author:
Brent Thomason is the owner of a small indie music label, and music publishing firm. Proactive Musicians Music Tool Reviews. Click here for Article Submissions.
