Five Truths About Today’s Music Industry by BOBBY BORG via Discmakers.com

Five Truths About Today’s Music Industryby BOBBY BORG 
Music Marketing for the DIY Musician

The contents of this post are © 2014 by Bobby Borg BobbyBorg.com.  All rights reserved. Not to be posted, printed, or used in any other way without proper attribution to Bobby Borg and Disc Makers.

To achieve your music career goals, you had better focus on the realities of the business of music. Here are five truths that all musicians should understand if you want to get ahead.

Even in this age of information overload in which we live, falsehoods, myths, and misunderstandings about today’s music business are prevalent. Let’s make one thing clear: if you want to achieve your music career goals, you had better focus on the realities of the business of music. What follows are five truths that all musicians should understand if you want to get ahead.

1. If you don’t DIY, you die

   Music Industry professionals (managers, agents, labels, publishers, and more) are attracted to musicians who take the initiative and accomplish a great deal on their own first. Given the numerous tools available today for artists to promote their music, there is simply no excuse for bands, solo artists, and songwriters not to build a story about their careers and generate a small buzz. Remember that no one is going to come save you and whisk you from garage to super stardom, no matter how special you are. If you want to get to that next level of your music career, you have to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Attract the attention of those who can help you by first helping yourself.

2. There’s a quicker path to wealth than a career in music

   Don’t be blinded by the media hype or glamour you see and hear in music videos, magazines, and news shows. The expensive houses and yachts and the carefree attitudes and overnight success stories are often spun to make it look like the music business is an easy path to the good times. The truth is that these “riches” that artists flaunt are often leased, loaned, advanced, or purchased via other businesses and investments just to “look the part.” Make no mistake, if you’re in it for only the money, you may have a quicker path to success by being a money manager or stock broker. As a musician, it could a very long time before you start making a comfortable living in the music business. Thus, be sure that you’re focused on the right things: making quality music that you’re proud of, and that can potentially help you cover your bills. The rest, as they say, is gravy!

3. What you learn is as important as what you earn

   It blows me away how so many musicians are interested in what they are going to get paid before they even have any experience. They grumble about pre-selling tickets to their own shows, recording a song without getting paid, or playing another student’s recital for free. But as I see it, experience is a form of payment. Remember that the more “stripes you have on your belt,” the more respect you’ll get from more seasoned musicians and industry pros, and the greater chance you’ll have to get paid fairly. So, in the beginning of your career, it is not about what you earn, it’s about what you learn.

4. Music is never free

   You spend several years writing your songs, thousands of dollars recording your music, and several hundred dollars packaging your album for the marketplace. When all is said and done, you’ve spent thousands of dollars and hours of your precious time. So stop devaluing your music by giving it away for free! Rather, from now on, give your music away “at no cost to the customer” and build value in it! Tell people about the high quality producers and musicians with whom you worked, the high tech studio you recorded in, and the time and love that you put into making your record. This way, that CD or USB flash drive you hand out in front of your local club might actually get heard. Pursuing a career in music requires blood, sweat, and money. Nothing is free and you should make sure that people know it!

5. Contracts are meant to be negotiated

   After years of hard work, the day may come when contractual offers are presented to you. Congratulations! But don’t be so quick at jumping at every deal like it’s a “take it or leave it” situation. First, you should never sign anything that you don’t understand or that you feel rushed or pressured to sign. Second, remember that most contracts are form agreements that are always drafted to favor the other party and are used as starting points for negotiations. That’s right! Most companies (labels, production companies, etc.) expect that you’re going to read, analyze, and ask for contract revisions. In fact, based on their desire to do business with you, and based on your strengths and accomplishments, many companies are prepared to make reasonable concessions. So slow down and remember that in business, you never get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate for.

A renowned drummer, teacher, consultant, and Disc Makers contributor, Bobby Borg is the author of Music Marketing For The DIY Musician: Creating and Executing a Plan of Attack On A Limited Budget (September 2014, Hal Leonard). The book is available on the Hal Leonard website, Amazon.com, or at BobbyBorg.com.

The contents of this post are © 2014 by Bobby Borg BobbyBorg.com. All rights reserved. Not to be posted, printed, or used in any other way without proper attribution to Bobby Borg and Disc Makers.