Was 10%, now 90%
A few decades ago, as a musician, only 10% of your career was up to you.
A few gate-keepers controlled all the outlets. You had to impress one of these powerful people to be allowed to present your music to the world. So getting discovered was about all you could do.
But now 90% of your career is up to you. You have all the tools to make it happen.
You have to come up with a plan and make it happen. You have to make a great recording, a great show, a great video. You have to make thousands of people want your music so much they are willing to pay for it.
Record labels aren’t guessing anymore. They’re only signing artists that have built a success on their own. And even if a record label signs you, it’s still up to you to make people want it!
The only thing stopping you from great success is yourself. This is both scary and exciting. But at least you’re in control.
Agreed.
I consider myself one of the luckiest artists in the world because I've been making a living writing songs and singin' them for people for about the past 17 years. I've always known nearly NOTHING about the record business (which is literally dead) ...but, in a very organic way, over the years I've embraced the new "music" business and created my own path.
I like to say, "Every independent artist and engineer is now sitting in the first covered wagons heading out into a brand new frontier where the possibilities are endless and still mostly unknown." Most of the business models that have been introduced are gonna fall down. But, a few will remain and evolve into something new, exciting and prosperous for those who are not afraid to really live out loud and remain positive.... doing the work for all the right reasons. This new frontier is fraught with challenges to be overcome, but the freedom it offers is staggering.
Now, granted... I'm in a very unique situation in the middle of the greatest city on earth. BUT... the internet has made the world of art sooooo much smaller and accessible to every corner of the globe.
I love being "the guy". But, I also get such a Creative kick out of "being the guy who gets to do it... for the other guys." If a door opens for me, even slightly, I like to stick my foot in it and hold it open to scoot as many fellow artists trough as I can... if I dig what they're doing and are genuine about their art.
I'm really looking forward to the possibility of working with Derek and other artists in any way.
Maybe just like Derek Sivers, I'm an unapologetic "possibility-junkie".
- David Ippolito
yeh! that all rings true. there are a lot of branches on this tree, and a an equal amount of routes to reach the goal a musician has.
I've enjoyed reading the responses that have been submitted, and frankly it brought a smile to my face as I thought back over my years of performing and who I had to rely on and what they got paid to do it. The industry has certainly changed, and a part of that has been directly caused by our world of technology. We're in the new age of connecting with others through the use of our computers. So much that the recording industry has felt the crunch financially and I've met at least two individuals who at one time held key positions with top name recording labels are now unemployed after giving themselves to these labels for many years. A very important factor which hasn't yet been discussed is how to record at home using one or more of the many new computer programs available. All claiming to be the best, all claiming to be user friendly. Which one to choose, and then having to take the time to actually use it and produce the CD? I can tell you, I myself have found it almost impossible to utilize these programs without first having a degree in sound engineering. During my youthful days, I didn't have to concern myself with this end of the business, just concentrate on my music because the studio had personal who had the knowledge necessary to produce a quality recording. So who do we listen to? How do we produce our first CD? CDBaby certainly would be the distribution center and that goes without saying. But, and that word means the difference between success and failure. Production of CD's is not for amateurs and those that think that will be spinning and burning up valuable time. It can be most discouraging to the point of giving up. My suggestion with this regards is to share what computer programs are best suited for what you're attempting to accomplish, set up forums so that discussion and assistance to get past a stumbling block can be easily assessable.
How funny (or maybe not!). A friend of mine - journalist and writer - said something to me once, that I have not forgotten until this date: "In order to become successful, an artist has to put 90% of his time into management and organization and 10% into creativity."
I did not want to believe it at first, but in the meantime I totally agree! When I quit a regluar office job to become a singer, I thought I´d have more time for myself and more time to practise singing and "get discovered". Boy, was I wrong. Since I quit the office job 10 years ago, I have spend more time in the office than I did before - and I still do not have more time to rehearse. The only difference: Now it is my OWN office and I rehearse on my OWN time. And I don´t regret it. But it is not an easy road!
After reading all the comments about this topic, I've learned a few things, Marketing and promotion is key. having great people skills is very important!
and a great business plan and setting goals, Also, being able to accept rejection, like a great sales person is vitally important to success. Thank you for sharing this information, I'll put it all to use
STan The Man
St louis,Mo
Hello Derek and positive people,
I guess managing my ego helps me to "see, accept and do" regarding that formidable 90 per cent.
I get a kick out of how Jim Schleyer writes about "collaboration" and helping each other, and then leads by example by helping all the rest of us by writing here at #3, #7, #8, and #10.
Jim is like Derek, that way, in having the strength to be helpful.
I was touched by "...I think John and Paul were better songwriters when they sat across from each other..."
To me this means "when their ego was better managed." Of course I try to have ambition and ego and stuff, but truly my life gets better as I better manage my ego. This is a lifelong "work in progress."