No rules in this game

It is those that go out on a limb that find the best fruit.
Love the idea of not following the crowd and making up your own rules. Can be lonely to start off with, but well worth the journey in the end.

I love this! Amanda Palmer's TED talk is another great resource that echoes this philosophy: "I don't force people to pay for my music. I ask them to."

If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun. - Katharine Hepburn

Man these are exciting times. Anything seems possible.

Hello Derek, Thank you for sharing your wonderful insightful ideas. You always make me look anew at ways of doing stuff and give my thinking a good shake up. I am always happy to receive your posts.
Good on you Derek. Long may you shine.

Hey Derek,

Great post! And very true. One additional sentence that should also be in BOLD:

"Gurus will say what you can’t do or must do. They mean well, but they’re wrong".

Best,

Julius

Too right - it's all just a mish mash of opinions..... I recently got an email back from a label I sent out my new EP too, and they said they took exception to my autosignature which said I "sound like" - to them this said I wasn't original ;) And yet, other folk say it's necessary to give a reference point and that saying you are "unique" is a no-no ;)

PS That photo is pretty hectic Derek ;) Woke me up on a Monday morning....

Been a while since I ventured into your blog Derek. I basically got bored and fed up of music and new media academics. And I love the point you are making about not taking it all as gospel and to just go for it and become more yourself rather than try and adapt into a mould.

Ok, loved the article. So I'm obviously doing everything wrong. Our music is obscure and our fanbase is 1% and ... we're still obscure and unknown. Oh well. BTW very scary clown.

thanks Derek. inspiration as always. hope you are well. Amanda

I once worked for an Associate Dean who wrote the rule book for a college. One day I discovered that he had readmitted a student after a short suspension, and this seemed to go against policy in the book of rules. When I questioned him, he said, "The first rule of any book of rules is that there is always an exception to the rule."

Absolutely true. That's what I do.

Many "truths" in life are counterintuitive, giving in order to receive, finding love by giving it, returning good for evil, giving up one's life in order to find it. This article illustrates this principle as it relates to entrepreneurship. I once heard a motivational speaker say that if you never want to make a major mistake in life, observe what the vast majority of people to in given situations and then do exactly the opposite.

hey Derek... that is good news that being unique is getting people the successes that they deserve... I have never liked or been like anyone else, I am me and I love it that you shared that others that are their authentic self are successful, so fantastic.

thanks Derek for new article.

best regards,
Jan

This is timely. I just had this discussion with my wife last week. We live out in the sticks of AZ. I asked if the plan was to stay here the rest of our lives, she said it was. I told her, "I work remote. We can live anywhere in the world and we choose the sticks of AZ?" She said yes because the quality of life was good for the kids.

I told her if that was the case, I'd have to figure out how to build the type of business I want to build in the sticks of AZ. The more I started to think about it, the more plausible it started to seem. I assumed since I wanted to create a tech intensive company that I'd have to be in a tech intensive town (we moved here from Silicon Valley). You don't though. You just have to admit that it will be different to build it here than in a tech city. Neither is worse/better than the other, just different. The key is more, like you said, to stand out. And a tech company here will stand out far more than a tech company in Silicon Vally. :)

This is a great article Derek. I absolutely agree with it and I think this is the kind of thinking we need to adopt if we want to achieve our visions. What reminds me in this context is a great quote by Guy Kawasaki from one of his commencement speeches:

'One of the biggest mistakes you can make in life is to accept the known and resist the unknown'

All the best

Max

Swell! I couldn't agree more. And I love the clown image. I will be looking for that book this summer. There may be no rules, and sure you can change them as you go, but I strongly advocate for consciously putting one's mind on the positive side of even difficult and ugly situations, taking the high road and following an ethical path, which I believe your example musicians do. In great times or in tough times I would not alter these principles.

As always insightful and inspiring! Thank you.

Spot on, Derek. I completely ignore the US music business world and its tenets. I make very non-traditional CDs. I'm about leave on my 7th 2-month concert tour in Japan in 7 years, while releasing my 5th and 6th CDs. I'm 64 years old. I'm no pop star, just a highly authentic hippie chick/author/artist/singer/songwriter with a legendary book from 1970 that's still in print in English and Japanese. I have a few fans in the USA, some of whom who named their daughters after me, but I'm wildly popular with three generations of natural/alternative/creative people in Japan. And I've been hearing I have pockets of fans in parts of northern Europe as well. Planning to check this out this fall.

Great advice, Derek! Music is more a way of living than a way of "making a living" ... most rules are made for some one else's benefit!
All the very best
Ben

The web has made music industry owns obsolete...but the cliques there haven't quite realized it yet. Keep'em coming, Derek, I look forward to your insights!

Thank you for sharing another wonderfully insightful article with us, Derek. I look forward to reading more of your posts. :)

Caroline Phillips said: "(2013-05-20) #
Ok, loved the article. So I'm obviously doing everything wrong. Our music is obscure and our fanbase is 1% and ... we're still obscure and unknown. Oh well. ..."

I don't think Caroline is doing a dang thing wrong. If Caroline loves what she is doing, then she's doing everything right.

It's easy to quote exceptions to the rules. There are scads of them in every business.

Make music if you love making music and can't keep yourself from making music.

Whether you 'make it' or not is up to more than just 'doing the opposite of what everyone else does'. There's much much more to it than that.

I wish I agreed with this post Derek, but I can definitely say it's an inspirational read though.

:)

Loved the last two sentences. You are absolutely correct. Eventually, I have realised that we have all the possible capabilities. It is good to have an inspiration but one needs to find ways to progress towards their own specific goal. Goals, thoughts and knowledge are something that can never ever be taken away from you.

Keep writing, Derek. I love reading the posts :-)

Gurus? In order to be a guru you have to have followers, so you're dependent on them.
Followers? They're people who don't yet have the confidence to think their own thoughts and follow them through.
Sounds like a co-dependent relationship to me!

Haha. Funny picture...
Thanks Derek

So cool to read this just now, Derek; each of the examples above showing, also, that there's no reason to be lonely if you do what's suggested; just be quirky, unique and offer something of value, to that niche group. Thx for having me on your quirky list. All the best - Cam

Derek:

Another great post here. Lots to learn, even for those of us not in the music business. I've found that a really good way to drive yourself crazy is to concern yourself with all the "everyone thinks" and "everyone says" out there.

We can spend so much time trying to figure out the secret sauce of others that we never figure out our own.

One musician who brilliantly made up his own game (over a half century) is Neil Young. http://bit.ly/14e3hNB

As I read your post, these words jumped right off the screen at me: "minds are irrational." Yes indeed they are. It's key to key to factor that in in just about all we do.

Thanks again for a great post! What a great way to start the day.

Susan

Great Derek !, you are great and right !
That's what happened with my song "Les Baleines Bleues" on CDBaby, Pandora etc ..
One day Putumayo World Music called me for " Vintage France "and would like this song , with Madeleine Peyroux, Juliette Greco ...
Many thanks for the good job of CDBaby and let's go the Adventure.
Daniel

'The Voice' is playing in the background on T.V. as I read your article and I understand why it is attractive viewing.

Not for me although I respect anyone who 'gets up and has a go.' It all takes such an ongoing courage.

I've written a few songs a year for decades. Recorded them and put them 'out there.'

Only written as the spirit moves me and been quite comfortable with obscurity. Not a very professional approach but it doesn't matter.

Ultimately - if the songs don't connect then I'm not interested in promoting them any further than making them available.

I have a part time job which pays the bills and feel no desperation to 'make it.' - you mentioned in a previous article the value of not giving up the day job precisely because of the freedom from desperation to 'make it' thus enjoyed.
( I think I got that right.)

What my musical life has done is provide a foundation upon which I can now be happily learning to play notes rather than just chords. This is a joy and a wonder, requires no money and - better still - requires no lyrics other than the melody itself.

I play locally but only at 'plug and play' or songwriter nights and that interaction with other musicians suits me and keeps the neurons firing.

I'm perhaps old enough to realise that success comes in many forms - some of which look like failure.

Love your generosity of spirit and the wealth of comments which flow back and forth.

It's meaningful.

Perfect timing, Derek. I've taken a month and a half and have traveled from the northeast tip of Oregon down to San Diego and all over the SF north bay and up into the wine country listening for that inner voice to give me direction. Still no home, job, internet (except for Starbucks) oh and my car died first week I was here. Just had to laugh, So my attitude has been - I'm ready to be and do where I'm most productive and happy. It's taken me this long to commit to my little 1% of who might need to hear the eclectic stuff I've been writing. Not gonna take that big corporate job, so I can stay flexible - that means living close to the ground. Thanks again for your timely message. Free falling is terrifying and exciting. You are a fine example.

Derek,
Alway great to see a post from you. This is going straight into the hands of some friends in the music and will share in other areas as well.
Thanks so much for your thoughts! Counterintuitive wins the day, in some ways. ;p

I love people who can swim against the currant within logical reason and not worrying about popularity .

Ahh this is so true!, i run a site selling irish country music which believe me is a very frowned upon genre but i can guarantee that a lot more people are making a living in this little niche than you would imagine!

Niches are the way forward!

"Mihkel Raud in Estonia sold thousands of albums, 100% independent, without leaving Estonia. Go to sabbatum.com "

Sabbatum.com

Derek...I was glad to see the caption under the clown pic since as I read your piece, Calvinball came quickly to mind. Also, TEGWAR (The Exciting Game Without Any Rules) seen in Bang the Drum Slowly, and then, more personally, "Who's Winnin'" a name we gave to the game one of my boyhood chums would play solo, narrating a fictional baseball game, between the Giants and Yankees say, as he pitched a spaldeen hard against the steps of a stoop and respond to the unpredictable return flight of the ball. Many a Brooklyn summer morning I would awake to the tell tale whack of the pink ball against a brownstone's steps below my window and I would stick my head out and call, "Who's winnin', Vic?" thanks, Derek fr evoking this memory for me...

Hi Derek, great article...I think this really applies to us but we have still not figured out where/how to reach out to the niche that might be most likely to purchase our music. We are a non-profit group who, I believe, is still waiting to hit our stride...in 10+ years we have recorded 4 CD's and the songs are trickling out across the world, but I know there is a way for us to reach thousands more...haven't quite found it yet. If you know anything or anyone that might guide us to the hidden link, I would appreciate the link up. Thanks for this great article that will help me explain our potential to my board! Our uniqueness is our strength!
Kathy Meyer

Derek,
the Sabbatum.com link seems a Black Sabbath related blog.
Any other links?

Always enjoy your mix of irreverence and wildly illogical right-brain fun with marketing terms (references to Seth Godin, or in "this piece," words about winning fans and driving marketing by targeting a "sharp niche.") Oh. And the clown mask and hair were a hoot. (Is that you beneath all that color and paint?) Thanks, Derek, for spinning our thinking back to the best start point. Doing what you love. Doing it for fun.

Simply put a brilliant post. Now following the links from it...

It is strange, but we need to hear those things again and again: no one seems to definitely believe (or simply see) that the rules are absolutely shattered some time ago. Thanks for remembering.

Gives me hope. I don't think I can go the conventional way--I just don't have the energy for it. But I can share what I've got. Thanks for reminding us we have permission to do that.

I was advised many years ago, if your good you will be discovered. More important take the time and you will discover the strength and depth of your own creativity. Don't waist your creative energy trying to sell one note at a time, spend time creating one note at a time and make them count!

Someone told me that I go a little overboard at times, If I didn't do that I would be bored!

I just finished Ken Scott's autobiography and loved one comment, "If you follow todays trend, your already six months out of date".

I'm old enough to have been playing guitar at the birth of Rock n Roll and there were no books, no teachers, you had to figure it out on your own. I've always believed that's why there were so many unique musicians with their own twist and style.

Todays musicians can play every lick and style, but not many can play their soul. That's the trick, ignore all you've learned and just play what you feel. Hopefully it sucks and you get yourself engrossed in the process of making it sound good. The you'll have developed your own style.

Listen to the first records of the now guitar gods and then compare that to how they played at the height of their popularity.

Love it- So True! The way it was done doesn't mean it will always be.

"For every rule they tell you, there’s an exception."

Thanks Derek.... keep "ziggin' when they're zaggin"!

Some great advice. I'm definitely trying to find my own way and I'm having fun with it. It'll all pay off if we put the work in

In other words- stay authentic. The second you market instead of create - is the moment you cross the aisle from being powerful to asking for approval. Note to self. Thanks d.

Superb. I agree with it all. The sharp niche is critical. I see so much "advice" from music experts that says you should add tons of people to your social media to get the word out. But that is the old "mass media" mentality and most people ignore you.

I only allow actual "friends" on my social media and it is incredible how much greater response I get on music and other creative endeavors. Because these people actually care about what I am doing and pay attention. And I care about them and they know it.

Joe

Informative indeed. To orchestrate or chart your own path is absolutely empowering. This outside of the box thinking is refreshing. I thank you.

You are so right and so wrong.....I love it!!! Find what makes you happy and continue to do it! Grow it!!! Songwriting is a love/hate experience. It's something in the blood.

Lovely, Derek.

I especially agree about being your quirky self. Given that we come to Earth to share our unique gifts, trying to be like others can only defeat our purpose. Thanks for being a reminder and an inspiration.

Blessings,
Orona

Absolutely agree. Artists have always been one of the most criticized sets of all time. People will try to change you, change your art. Attune yourself to what's inside and let it flow from there. You're unique for a reason. That's why you're creating and they are managing.

Wow Wow Wow and double Wow! Just what my spirit soul needed to hear..Everyone telling me...'Don't do this, dont do that' and only reason I've done friggin' anything is I had a guide that told me to do everything..'wanna swim in ocean at night?' 'Do it do it do it' he would shout..'you will never be a 10...you are too old..starting your career way too late'..harsh words indeed BUT those worlds propelled me into action..getting my art in world and I have never stopped since..great article Derek..Tks and that image of clown..OMG!

Thanks Derek I was concerned about only serving my niche market but you'd turned that around 180 degrees.
Thanks -

Ps. Don't visit my site unless you're Jewish - believe it or not we'll less than 1% of the world's population.

So true! I've given away 10 songs to every person who joins my mailing list for years (just for fun) and it's got ALOT of people hearing it, liking it, booking us, the snowball is rolling :)
Thanks Derek!

I always appreciate your insight, idea's. They don't make them like you Derek... Gives me more motivation.

So inspiring! As always. Great article and just what I needed to hear right now. Fantastic!

Derek, your advise to "Proudly exclude some people"
and to target a sharp niche, I.E. the 1%, is actually a pretty powerful lesson! If musicians, (or any entrepreneurs for that matter) would only implement just this one little strategy into their business plan, they would be much better off in every way. This is because they would be producing and marketing products stemming from passion, as opposed to trying to fit into the mold and please the masses.

Art.

Derek, I adore your quick sharp straight to the point thoughts. They tend to be lingering thoughts in my mind that you have like by magic picked up and gathered in an organized simple efficient way. Bravo Derek, and thanks! Nicole

ugly photo but great article ::))

Thank You
Balance & Peace of Mind

Quite inspiring.

Hi Derek,
Great post. I like the very different, out of the box examples you gave from other artists. It fits in well with what Amanda Palmer talked about at TED.
Best Regards from San Francisco,
Steven

Thanks, Derek! That is not only helpful but a relieve as well. I don't have to be like others, I can be myself and yet that is probably the best chance of getting to where I wanna get. Thank you!

I agree that there are'nt any set rules in the music business so whatever works.

I've been taught we were created by God in a unique way.
There's a plan & purpose behind the music He's given us. It's difficult to find that place where I belong. I'm getting older. CD Baby is that place & has been a perfect Incubator. I Love Your article Derek, It's encouraging & Liberating. The Music World's such a huge competitive monster it seems. We are living in times where there are crazy fast changes going on in the Music industry.
Thank You

This blog was immensely helpful to me, and I'm not even in the music industry. I feel like this advice would apply to anyone in their own business. It's universal.

As always, great observations, Derek. I think that in this new world, we could go crazy trying to figure out the rules... be more mainstream, be more this or that... in my case, I managed to exclude 99.999 (estimate :-) % of humanity by making only Jewish music, and 95 % of Jews by making new Jewish music while most yearn for nostalgia. It's been very difficult: too new for older people, and too European? too not-hip-hop? or something, for the young. Too activist? (mixing Jewish and Arabic; European and Middle Eastern...) But i am going on as if there was no tomorrow... doing my thing as if everybody loved it. Because I believe in it so strongly, and i simply love the new sounds i am arriving at. Lord behold, in the last 2 years, things have been changing... bunch of awards and nominations... not from the Jewish milieu but the world out there... I still get very little work as presenters can't figure out how to label what i do, but the music now sells from my store and lots of people give me great feedback. Based on my experience, and this, I think, only confirms what you say, is: do your thing, but do it for the right reasons - because you think that's how it must be. The minute you try to appease the music industry gods- you are probably in trouble. I do attend music conferences and try to learn the works, but... Those gods are fickle; and- there are no rules... :-)

Thank you, Derek. I have purchased copies for myself and for a singer/songwriter and friend in Australia, http://seamusanthony.com/, and another in Cebu, Philippines, http://www.hiplyrics.com/p/pit-senyor-by-manny-lapingcao.html. Pay it forward and watch the blessings flow! Write it! Sing it! Celebrate it!

Thank You Derek.
Encouraging words In the music monster world. Everyone is unique Individual. CD Baby is a perfect incubator for Success. Sooner or later the eggs will hatch. We are living in exciting times.
:)

Cool Johathan, are you the same dude that contacted on twitter a few years back, when I had a twitter account?

Anyway I got your link for one of Derek's emails, you can listen to all my music here for free as a stream. http://www.reverbnation.com/tommycarl

What are your thoughts about streaming vs a free download?

dudes "streaming vs a free download" might be a good blog topic, I have not found much for streaming vs a free download myself on the internet..

original music is easy to to exchange on the internet, but making a living lacks support

Derek,

We live in a Big Music Monster World. The Music Industry & Times are Rapidly Changing. Both Your Article & CD Baby are perfect Incubators. Sooner or later The Eggs are going to Hatch. These are Exciting Times.

Thank You
Carey

Thanks Derek!

Great advice. You are right on.
An artist makes something out of nothing. Make something good, let people know of it. If people like it the riches will find you!

Derek

These are Exciting Times. We Live in a Big Music Monster World. Your Words & CD Baby are Perfect Incubators . Sooner or Later The Eggs are going to Hatch.

Thank You
Carey

This is spot on.

So true, so true...

"Gurus will say what you can’t do or must do. They mean well, but they’re wrong.For every rule they tell you, there’s an exception. They are just telling you their specific past, not your specific future.There are no rules in this game. You change them as you go."

Derek, These Are Things I wish I knew when I was 15!

Nice article Derek!

So anyone wanna buy a song from a Swedish/Polynesian Canadian electronic artist living in a muslim village in Thailand?

http://derkcyborg.bandcamp.com/releases

(yes bandcamp I know I know.. break rules right...peace!)

Amen brother! I am now writing with the intent to offend as many people as possible...and I do it with class.

absolutely correct...

Enjoyed your post Derek!

In the bible God is always doing "a new thing" but the people are always stuck in the old.

Mindsets can be so hard to break. Most of us are going to be no worse off by trying something new, but we'll sit in our old rut anyway rather than ever step out of it.

Thanks for the challenge, I needed it!

The entrepreneurs you describe have proven once again have proven once again you can make a lot of money giving your quality product away. Making money by giving away things away is not a new concept. It's been aorund for at least 100 years.

Superb! That's all I can say, Derek. Thanks.

BRAVO!
I am LOVING every minute of doing my own thing and own thinKING.

www.womenofarmageddon.com and www.drrtygrrls are my babies

ROCK ON!

Great point Derek. This applies in all fields, too. For example, Mark Manson, a dating coach and lifestyle blogger, talks about polarization.

By being the real you, you'll turn off most people quicker. But they wouldn't have been interested in you anyway, presenting a front just delays that realization.

Meanwhile, the people who are interested in you are really interested and find out right away.

I likewise saw this in a startup I worked with, 7Sage. They make LSAT videos.

I actually hate videos. So do a lot of people. And these videos are long, and explain EVERYTHING.

You know what? Some people love they. They absolutely want someone who will patiently explain exactly how they see an LSAT question.

So this startup gets a bunch of people who say 'they suck' and a large devoted following who will spontaneously praise their videos in near-religious terms.

That's true about the funding. I collaborated with some musicians and film makers to create a soundtrack and original movie. I took a job as a part-time Carer to pay for studio time. A couple days after I started the job, the CEO of a tech company in Switzerland got in touch about my music and film project. His company is going to pay for our studio time and marketing. It's because they invented a way for creative people to automatically track, collect and share revenue on stuff they've collaborated with other people to create. I never would have thought to ask for something like that. Just do it and don't worry about anything but doing all you can to create your own stuff. Your efforts will attract the right people who WANT to be involved and support you.
xRhonda
RhondasSongs.com

Ha, Derek. Each time I'm down, pissed or whatever negative, you come and cheer me up. Thank you buddy.
Guess that you know that I've been badly injured, to the point of being unable to use my left hand. Bad for a drummer and guitarist (that's why I sing most of the time, haha). Well, ten years and some after the tragedy, I've got a technique and a way of playing which is absolutely weird (not gonna reveal my secrets. I don't even understand how I do what I do. Not virtuosic AT ALL —great, everyone is playing fast nowadays, but absolutely me. I love that. This article totally resonates. BTW, I paid a "guru" to "get started". Talk about wasted money...
Thanks again, gotta go capturing my stuff. I'll send you some if you don't hear about me. I don't care about bucks at all. Making people happy makes me happy, and being happy is worth a meal in my case!

Love this. What a helpful and relieving article - I appreciate your emphasis on individuality and the importance of not losing it.

Thanks!

Lol! the calvinball image would have been so on point!!!

Beautiful advice, thanks!

Lol! The calvinball photo would have been on point!!!

I found this latest post to be interesting. There is a whole industry of indie musician sites that all contain the advice from professionals on how to achieve success, examples, Reverbnation, Indie Music channel, Cdbaby, Music X-Ray, all telling you for a fee how you can catch the ear of the music business establishment. The Ceo of Music X Ray even sends out blogs in which he states that this is the only way to get past the gatekeepers, to connect with the record exe, publishers, and any other important people in the business and that you should be willing to pay the money in the hope that they will, after many submissions, finally see that yes, this person does know how to write a hit. When I was 15, I sent away for one of those ads in a magazine that would turn your poem into a hit song. They sent me a contract asking for $50.00 to make the demo for the song. Being a minor, I had to get parent permission and being more experienced they said no and told me it was a scam. How is the practice of what is being promoted to the indie musician any different than what payola was in the 50's & 60's? I think there are better ways and I would like to hear more from others who have gone outside the current mainstream to manage their careers.

I think becoming a tool of the mainstream is anti-artistic and we should encourage fellow musicians to think outside the box in terms of how they make a living and how they share their music. Awesome post.

Love this post! The same is true for success outside of music, too.

People often worry too much about fitting in, but the truly remarkable ones carve their own path while staying true to their center.

Thank you so much, Derek! This is the seriously my favorite blog post I've read from anyone. I'm so inspired.

It's Trippy... and as always thought provoking & enlightening Derek... I love the no rules, think outside the box concept, and try to follow that to the best of my ability in all of my entrepreneurial endeavors! I guess it's why I wouldn't have been a good candidate for the Harvard Business or any other formal school, although I did receive an A.A.S degree in Bus. Admin. with a Mgmt./Mktg. major through Everest College in Phoenix, Arizona, back in 1997, and have utilized it numerous times in business!

Poor clown! Looks like he really took a beating and then got set afire!. I hope he can afford to take some time off and heal!

This is great information for anyone seeking success in the music industry. I just released my album "Platinum Shackles" on iTunes this past Friday and was thinking of innovative ways to increase sales without breaking the bank. This information came right on time. Thank you for another thought provoking piece of information!!!

I agree that in today's economy you have to think outside of the box, carve your own path, work harder, play your own tune & be your own boss!

I really like this. It's a perspective that makes a lot of sense and kind of takes the pressure off us. Too often we try to appeal to everyone when in actuality, the 'weird' people are the ones who seem to succeed. Definitely gives me something to consider and I plan on applying this information to what I'm currently doing.

Derek, thanks for the post. Is the link to Mihkel Raud's page correct? It looks like a Black Sabbath fan page.

Thanks!
Ah. Thanks for telling me. The URL is right, but used to have more information about the album. It's by a medieval band called Rondellus, doing Black Sabbath cover songs. See here, instead. — Derek

You could probably take that same picture right now in the Tenderloin of SF! Zombie Apocalypse 24/7/365...

I'm not a professional musician, but I get it. Music is creation, so you can do whatever you please to make a living. I love it.

Thank You! I loved this article. It resonates with me and I found it encouraging with sage advice. All the best.

like the salmon..going upstream, against the flow, that's the way to swim

If ever there was a 'sharp niche'... cowboy poetry and music can dig the rut and furnish it Derek. Thanks for this~

Derek,
Love it! Well-written and thought-provoking. I think anything that gets us back to being more of our authentic selves is always a good thing. Thanks for sharing!
Bob

Hey Derek, great piece of thought here, dig it.

That link you provided to sabbatum.com may not be what you intended. It links to a bunch of Black Sabbath videos, which while entertaining in their own right, don't tell the story you mentioned.

I'd be curious to hear the story you hoped that link would tell.

Cheers!

Rich
Sorry about that. In short, in was a very unique album by a traditional medieval music group called Rondellus, doing medieval arrangements of Black Sabbath songs. The album was so unique that it sold thousands, and was the top seller at CD Baby for a long time. The band was from Estonia, and the word-of-mouth, alone, was the only real promotion for the album. — Derek

Hi Derek,
I like the article. Perfect timing also considering I just read about Justin Beiber getting booed at the Billboard awards, and asking for the people to respect him. I really do feel that the music industry has forgotten what talent is all about as long as the money flows in. I started with you and CD Baby, have released several CD's over the years and have had fairly good sales. I consider myself a professional musician as I get paid for my music. Will I ever be able to drive a $300,000 car like the Biebs? No, but at least I know my music is from my heart and soul, not dictated by some stuffed shirt who knows nothing about talent.

Iv been reading your articles for a few years now. This is by far the best one. When i first got Into the music, i took on the same mentality. Now my art is in movies and i am working on animation projects...

This is SO true. I've read every article I could get my hands on on how to succeed in the music biz and much like you say, all these gurus tells you you gotta do this and that and have this and that. Yet most who actually make a splash do something completely different. Well written (as always) Derek.

the river just runs to the sea

Love it Derek. Now where's your social media share buttons? I wanted to share this, but can't seem to find any buttons.
Thanks! This article has a good reason why no buttons. But mainly I'm just a minimalist and refuse to clutter the site. The URL is quite easy to copy. — Derek

I needed to hear this as I have come to this conclusion many times but found no support for all the really personal songs I come up with... ..

Derek! I want to say you are one of my greatest inspirations! you are a true genius! I feel as if this is speaking solely to me now, after some experiences I had this past week! thank you Brother!!!!

Thank you yet again Derek for an incredibly inspiring article! I was just pondering this approach in the last week as prepare to record number two.

It was very rewarding to read this. Perhaps Kafkaesque music has a chance after all.

CREATORS make the rules, we create our own reality.

So, specific futures await each one of us; cool thought; yes, quirky observations, Derek; counter quirky, the new way perhaps; offered up with a side salad of open ended possibility. :-)

Yes I have been doing this for some time now. And my music is blowing up around the world and especially in South America! Like my facebook page ? Let's party. http://facebook.com/1misskristin

This is revolutionary idea that needs to the true industry standard.

Hey Derek,
You been talking with Lao Tsu :D ? I love it, and I'll say that I not only love what you said here, but I would love to see more artists do what they do, as opposed to what they're told to do - both by "gurus", and by society.

One thing, though, while the music can be obscure, it still must be good - meaning things must be in tune and in some kind of time.

Derek, you may not have a regular blog post schedule, as suggested by so many blogging folks, but when you do post, it is has great substance! thank you very much for being you :D Glad to be part of the non-99% crowd. haha

What many people call rules are really conventions ( the common way of doing things, or the usual way that major entities prefer to do things ) genius is often the way a very talented person does things which leads many others to mediocrity

Since I working on not only having a nutrition plan for my clients, but also doing workouts and starting a gym, I is great to think outside the box. After all, it is what makes us unique that makes a difference more than being just a copy of everyone else.

Nice!

Right on, Derek! Thank you!

THUPS!........(thumbs up)

Good one Derek. That throws another spanner in the works.

unfortunately my computer won't play any of the video's because my adobe player is old. Very frustrating

Go with inspiration!

Great advice. Exactly the advice we used to start our Twitter Revolution book back in 2008..

NO RULES

There are many great ideas, and there are things that will usually be helpful to follow, but the more you can chart your own path, the happier you will be.

Thanks, Derek, for another great article. I love your blog posts so much I wish you wrote them more often. Your title "No Rules in this Game" seems very coincidental because I just made a post on Facebook about not liking rules, for the exact reason you mention in your article -- there's always an exception. Thanks for inspiring me to get creative and find a niche and market to the 1%. Thanks for inspiring me even more to give more of my music way (something I've already started doing). And thanks for providing the examples of success to further inspire me. I'm going to go check out their links now.

Gratefully,
Lana Love
EPK: http://Sonicbids.com/LanaTheSinger

I have decided to just go for a certain niche, my spiritual/celtic songs do not appeal to everyone, so I just target those who do. That works. I really enjoyed reading this. It is always great to know what other indies are doing. Thanks for always being there for us Derek. :)

Great post Derek. You're preaching the gospel!

Great article and points Derek. I must also add that I am one of the biggest proponent of going your own direction on not following the crowd, as you might know from past discussions, etc. But what seems like being different is no longer ‘different’. for example; If most people start saying you don’t need to find new grounds to progress because of the internet, etc. Therefore if one starts to follow what sounds different and cool, it is no longer different and cool. History repeating itself. It is the people who decide to follow the so called new and free way, in actuality are not stepping out of box and being free with the wind. It seems complicated but in summary we should go where our heart tells us and not follow the latest trends and so called thought leaders. At least not all of the time, if not at all. Peace, Love and Light.
Craig

Too true Derek! CD Baby used to be good though!
My old mate John Crouch told me,
"Beware of the Dutch".
John won the 1st Australian Grand Prix in a hot little Bugatti in 1938 (year I was born).
Best regards from OZ Derek, hope you are going well.
MTMM of OZ.

Great article Derek. Definately something for me to think about as my music has stalled due to lack of funds.

I needed a new computer as my old one died, but spent all my music earnings on paying bills and buying food as the cost of living had skyrocketed. "No problem" I thought. I'll just buy it with my tax return. Then the Australian Government changed their tax policies to target low income earners with dependent spouses, to force the spouses out into the workplace. No consideration that my wife can not work due to mental illness and will never be able to work. So, now I can not compose or record my music, and my happiness and wellbieng has plumited.

I'm going to have a really big think about what you have written, as I need to explore ways to get me out of my musical funk. I need to find ways to both stimulate myself, my audience and my income. I've let my art, my passion and self esteem suffer because of one silly piece of technology. Time to be proactive and think outside the box.

Thank you Derek for providing the spark to get my mind ticking over. Now I need to find the solution.

Take care my friend,

Jamie

Things change when realize that YOU can write the own rules to life.

Your thoughts about questioning norms reminded of some lines from Thoreau's Walden. You may already know them well already :) but if not, here they are:

"What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion, which some had trusted for a cloud that would sprinkle fertilizing rain on their fields. What old people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can...Old people did not know enough once, perchance, to fetch fresh fuel to keep the fire a-going: new people put a little dry wood under a pot, and are whirled round the globe with the speed of birds..."

Cheers, jj

Derek,
Some spot-on and precise observations! When reaching "for the masses" you are competing against the masses... tens of thousands of talented artists all in competition for AOR or Main-stream fame. Artists are a lot more likely to become successful pointing at a very specific niche like Blues or something else specific...

Giving away your music is a wonderful way to build a fan base... The Grateful Dead would play anywhere for free as long as they had access to electricity... That led to a 40 year career of selling out stadiums, arenas and concert halls...

Toss the formula out... write your own formula... don't wait for "funding", make things happen with pennies and build upon them.

This was a GREAT and constructive piece for emerging AND established artists!

Most true. It's something that I've been coming to realize over the past five years or so after leaving an indie label and deciding not to chase the tail anymore. I want to make music that fulfills me so that's what I do. There are so so many people in this world and everyone listens to everything. Meaning, we're all in our own niche, and a niche in the music game is alot of listeners, and word of mouth travels at the speed of light. How so? Just wait until I hit send

Very nice and true. You covered a lot of ground. The first link's website was all about Sabbath and took a while to load and kept hanging up.

Great Derek! The internet was supposed to help us, and with your idea/thoughts it just might. Who really needs everybody!? Niche marketng!

Hi Derek, fantastic advice, I wish I was in the music industry!.

This is my favourite quote, I live this way."There are no rules in this game of life. You change them as you go".

With love and peace from Kay..

I aggree: the music industry has shifted and moved. We cannot think in terms of solid physical sales and planned financial revenues. It's all about establishing a relationship with the fans and how they will want to share your music and eventually pay for it.
But one needs to give virality a chance....

Ilove this Post Sharing is Caring indeed

I am so glad that the artists are able to control their destinies once again... I have thought for some time that the music industry lost it way some time ago... losing touch with the customer.

Here is a favorite of mine, an up and coming artist that I discovered through her Facebook page, and she, like many other independents, allows her customers to pay what they want for her music... and I buy it anytime that I can. Check her out at http://kawehi.com/

Power to the people... cliche but fits the bill perfectly!

By the way, I am not an artist... I am a customer.

Hi Derek,
Thanks so much for sharing...of course a Record company called us back yesterday...and the I read your email today. You have given me some perspective and a good reason to feel confident. We have reached 52K plays and over 5K fans (myspace) with only myself...posting, blogging, commenting, praising and connecting on the web in the past 11 months since we dropped our CD...
RED STRINGS.
So if this (deal) does'nt pan out...I can just be pleasant and keep doing..Just what I have been doing...Touching each person on a very personal level..."Keep a light on"...Cause I hope to visit you there in paradise very soon.
This article is fantastic...
Your friend,
B.Bass
ps...email me anytime...love to hear from you..:)

the hard part is to make people around you understand this way of living and not make them keep worrying about your life and future.

Derek, I am so proud to call you my friend! You have put into words a synopsis of the things that are WRONG about music.

If I have listened to everyone coming up in my career, I may still have stayed a Civil Engineer and not a record producer and talent for years doing what I loved.

You will all learn or must if you have not that NO is not an answer it is something everyone in this business says to you at one time or more. I looked it as someone clearing their throat before they talked so I ignored NO's, Can'ts and Must Not's as meaning nothing to me.

Just wake up and dream your way out of or into anything that you want to. This business is not a right but a compelling passion we all have. If you look at what you are owed you can't win or succeed. Look at each day as an invisible building block that you are laying down toward the imaginary goal that only you and your dreams are privy to.

Love what you do and it will love you back!

Great piece Derek!

John L.

I like this attitude

Thank you Derek. Great photo by the way..Looks like me...:-)
Appreciate this blog. We just started putting my paintings on line to sell as well as working on the music. We are also gigging locally which really feels awesome to play live. We have simplified our stage plot which makes playing just FUN . We have been able to play our new stuff and it goes over really well. Plus we love playing it....We have some that so believe in our music and it sure helps:-)
Have a great day Derek:-)
Rachel

Brilliant -- someone else's past or your future -- your decide.

I'm sending this straight to my lil Sister because she's relaunching her Music in her mid 40's! All I can say is thank You for giving your amazing insights on Music, Business and Life!
Alphonse

Hi Derek,

I think the reason that people listen to the mainstream advice is that they think that must be the easiest way to "make it". After all, the examples you give are perceived--at least in the community of musicians that I hang out with--as exceptions. Those exceptions you cite must have just gotten lucky. Luck can happen to anyone.

The thing is, your perspective is pretty much the same as all of the successful people I have ever heard of. I don't know why most of us won't just believe you and step off the diving board. Maybe we're afraid that different = foolish, and we'll just get ourselves labeled as hair brained dreamers. Maybe the process of learning to develop our uniqueness is just too much work. Maybe we need someone to guide each of us, individually, to a place where we can discard the training wheels and ride.

Or...like I said...maybe we just aren't that lucky =)

Lori and I really enjoy reading your posts. Please keep writing.

Sam

thanks for that one. more of this, please.

Hi Derek,

Fantastic message! Inspiring! I always look forward to your messages and hope they keep coming. Best of luck in the future.

John

Where I live in Phoenix, AZ we have a very diverse music scene. We have pretty much every kind of music that there is, and its been that way for quite a few years. However until just recently, if you were new to Phoenix and you turned on the radio, you wouldn't hear any of it- just the same old homogenized radio format you'd hear in most cities in America ( thanks, Lee Abrams & thank you again, Clear Channel). We've never really had much in the way of college radio except for the occasional low wattage station that can only be heard on campus from ASU, but now we have one station in town that broadcasts truly independent music, KWSS. And they have a truly eclectic format ( weird as all get all, thank God). Also, in downtown Phoenix as well as the East valley, we have a lot of different venues, art houses and such where weird and different music can be performed every night. However, on my side of town, in the West Valley there pretty much ain't no such animal- yet. The few places over here that have live music have either Country cover bands or else Classic Rock cover bands. A lot of young people on my side of town are making Hip Hop or EDM- which they can play over on the Eastside . The one saving grace on the Westside that might end up being a game changer is the Musicians Collective in downtown Glendale, where I'm writing this from- just about 4 miles north of where I live. If it weren't for the two Jazz fans, fresh out of college who invented this place (Jivemind Cooperative Music Labs) I'd probably be back in the nut ward by now. Nice article, btw : )

very nice article, I will share it!

YES! Once again Derek, you bring some actual Good Advice. True teachers merely bring us to what is already within. Think. Engage. Know, Own, and Be Yourself.
He'll Yes!

I guess my music isn't weird enough, lol. I give away, I sell, have some radio plays, and I still only made $29.00 last year...
It's a good thing I don't wait for a good royalty paycheck to buy recording equipment, let alone food, but it's a good winter pass time.
But I love all your little posts Derek.

Guy

Derek! Thanks for sending this on. Once again you brought us something thoughtful, encouraging, inspiring and useful! I keep forgetting that advice has two sides....the side that is true and the side that has exceptions...and they coexist beautifully!
luv ya
Princess D von B

LOL:) Of course, the more out there and the more unique you become--the fewer folks there are that can actually copy or steal your work :)

Very freeing advice, Derek. Thanks for sharing.

AWESOME ARTICLE THX

I was with you all the way through this, saying "Yeah, Derek" until i got to the scary clown at the end. Lose the clown, Derek! Yuck!
☺ Sorry. I was in a circus for 10 years. I love the ugly clown. — Derek

True, wise words as always Derek. Thank you, Karen.

This was great advice Derek! Thanks for sharing! I'll definitely check out the book.

Well, I have always believed there are exceptions to everything. I just won recently a World Class Award, Indie Music Channel Award for the Best Easy Listening Recording with my 18th CD, "Pnaci". I went back to writing, playing, and recording what I know best with the American Indian Flute and it won me the award. But, I can not find a way to work with nothing and come out good on the other end. I give a lot away and it is from the heart and do not expect anything in return (OR it is not a gift). But you do reach a time that the bank/savings is all gone and your back is in the corner and dark all around you. I have worn all the hats of the music & art business in getting my works out and I can't seem to find the fresh and new ideas to go forward instead of standing here is the muggy waters. I have no answers at this time at all. Have not given up - just don't have any moves at this time as I stand with all pockets empty and all accounts at their max. Love what you shared with us and it does keep us working toward the forward motion. Blessings always, Wa-do' TerryLee

Wow! That is it! You are really onto something!
I really miss your touch and force of presence at CDBaby who handle my music. It was wonderful while you we're there but now? It has degenerated in something resembling
' white pasty faced music execs exploiting young musicians' . The vibe there is so wrong now and so different from the attitudes you have expressed in this essay!
Keep on doing what you 're doing. I love this message!

Derek, I love this blog and thank you for reminding us there are no rules in the game of music!

-Trey :)
itunes.com/WhiskeyChild
itunes.com/HillsRolling

I've noticed you refer to gurus quite a bit in your writings - almost like you have issue with the term. Is this just a part of your spiritual perspective? Or did you have too many lousy teachers? ;) Just curious...
Interesting! I hadn't noticed. Thanks for pointing it out. I think I'm just extra-surrounded by people who give advice, since I'm often at conferences, on panels, and such. So I use the term “guru” for that whole range of people who seem to make a living out of giving advice. — Derek

Derek,

Wow
This flips me out
This is mind blowing !

Thx
Carey

Wonderful article Derek! It's like saying be true to yourself and don't let anyone get you off your path. Then, if your vision is worthy, it can be appreciated as pure and beautiful and maybe even become the norm in extreme cases.

Jonathan Coulter? JoCo??? Goddamn his eyes and blast his temerity.....this Puppywit makes a mockery of 'serious' singer songwriters......like me.....struggling to put infinite pearls of wisdom into stirring and/or meaningful melodious, nay, mellifluous context........I mean, whats with all the monkeys?........half-ponies , Zombies and Kraken wakes??? .....Blast his eyes! His only saving grace is that I play guitar soooo much more beautifully than him.....thank God, otherwise........I would have to take out a contract on him.........any takers?

As George Bernard Shaw put it: "The rational man adapts himself to the world. The irrational man tries to adapt the world to suit himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the irrational man."

But why do I sell so many more covers than original songs on iTunes ?

Great post, as ever, Derek.

Michel Griffin

Thanks Derek for the article! Always mind opening.
I think this all applies to not just the music marketing but to the music making itself. Its hard to know what you are doing out when everybody tells you, you have to belong or in other words be "in". Lets see for example jazz musicians. They are mostly so worried about making music that sounds like, and playing in the style following the tendencies, that there are very few interesting things going on out there, and I believe this is a result of why jazz is becoming less and less interesting, because people is afraid of really breaking up. Of course education, competition and schools are not helping much in this matter.
Comming up with new ways can be overwhelming, but it should definetly be the way to act. Just like many artists who made it through history.
Hugs and best to you!

Right on the nail with this one! You really shine light on this strange reality we are in...Thank-you for this perspective on how to create a career out of doing what we love so much.

Thanks again and again Derek, for caring.
Your sincere care for others is on an equal footing with how good your ideas actually ARE.

That's a remarkable situation.

Brian

Thank you for the inspiration Derek. I think your words of wisdom can be extended to other types of careers as well-focus on a niche, don't overextend yourself financially and most of all believe in your ability. Best regards, Lynn Fishman

Derek - amazingly said, as always.
There is definitely no "one way" of succeeding. We all have our own path.
That's the beauty of life:)

You gotta be you. If you try to become something that you are not, you're only setting yourself up for failure later on. I'd rather make music that I can be proud of than sell out in order to attract attention, and, let's face it, intentionally amplifying your quirkiness is another form of misleading people if it isn't who you really are. If it's genuine, people will be able to feel what you do when you're playing. Just my opinion...

Thx for your encouragement.

Hello Derek,

Probably there's a grain of truth or more to what you are saying. I would have to see the income of the man who claims he's made 500 thousand a year. There are always exceptions to every rule, and I say more power to them to play the game exactly as they see fit, Derek. I think you could probably give away your music, and perhaps in time some folks would pay you for it, and may increase over time, but frankly I'm skeptical of these claims. In my experience these days people lie without flinching an eye. There's a lot of talent on Sony's Acid Planet which I think is the best music site in the world, and yet most of them are not making a dime. Perhaps they are not seeking fame and fortune. I'm curious, Derek what do you think about what I've written here? Please let me know your thoughts, man. If these claims are all true I say congratulations to each and every one of them, because the music industry is corrupt at best in my humble opinion. For my own promotion, anyone reading this comment please google Clay Wilson, and Acid Planet, and SoundCloud for some amazing music that can be downloaded. Thank you, Derek! Kindly, Clay Wilson
I know Jonathan, have had him over for dinner, and he's the real deal. ☺ I know Rondellus Sabbatum, and Regina Spektor, because I was the one selling all those CDs for them. So all of these stories here are true. — Derek

Thank you

Good point well made. Thanks for the post.
ps that clown gives me the fear

This is a fantastic write up. If you aren't part of the game then you don't have to play by the record companies rules. Avoiding the game allows you to enjoy the music you are making rather than being transformed to fit into the machine.

I don't have a website. Stumbled upon an article on Linkedin which led me to this one that you wrote on music. As I'm sitting in Dubai reading this article, I am streeming WFUV radio from NYC!!
My comment - I think you would appreciate WFUV. Especially, new music Mondays!

Happy listening!
Catherine

That is one genuinely scary assed clown! Love this article - particularly the "A great way to win fans is to target a sharp niche - to proudly exclude 99% of the public. So the way to win fans is to exclude almost everyone."

Niche marketing is what I preach! It's the only way to market online effectively (or through social media for that matter). You have to identify your tribe and then design your marketing so that when they find you, they recognize themselves as part of your tribe!

Notice I didn't say design your music - part of how you know they're your tribe is that the love your music. If your music sounds like everybody else's, how will they recognize that you're one of theirs?

Inspirational!! Thanks for the encouragement!! :) Others have said it better, but wanted to take the time to chime in - it's important!

This is great Derek. I have been thinking I might just start putting more songs online. With enough songs to fill 5-10 albums over the years, it's nuts I've only one 4 song EP (on cdbaby etc), a live single just released and a vinyl single collector's item from way back. All the other songs waiting to be distributed, many waiting for a better recording, might as well be available to people who like the music. It seems like everyone who sees a concert or discovers the songs reacts positively, I just never got over the lost label deal so long ago, no promotion and survival day to day with visual artwork...
This just inspires me to go ahead and share it all with the world. I may start with one group of songs and see how that goes.
It really has become a sensory overload with everyone and their dog blogging about the new trends and way to succeed in the changing future now... Thanks for your thoughts.

Derek,

You always have "Pearls of Wisdom” to share and it’s always right on the mark. Thanks!

I'd like to ask a favor, the reason being, they have always said that “If you want something done give it to a busy person.” So, would you please take a look at my site - be it ever so brief - and tell me (in your opinion, I value it) what I should do make it more appealing and friendly to draw more searchers/fans and guests in.

I feel that I need to make some changes.

Thank again!

I've believed this for a while, it doesn't just apply to music, but all aspects of our lives. Try to appeal
to everyone and no one will connect. Be true to yourself and your values and a lot more people will connect
with you than you might think.

One thing I'm mindful of though is that I want to try to avoid becoming some kind novelty act. I know
there are artists that write songs about video games, programming, Dr Who etc. and all power to them. But for me
that is niching down to much. In my mind it will be hard to sustain something like that in the long term.
What do you think?

I'm not a professional musician, but I love this post. "There are no rules to this game" - it seems like the same observation is true, or almost true, in entrepreneurship and many other creative disciplines where it's important to be different.

I AGREE ALL THE WAY ----
(FOLLOW ME @JCLIMAXX)
"Do the opposite of other musicians. Make up your own game.

[People] will say what you must do or can’t do. They mean well, but they’re wrong.

For every rule they tell you, there’s an exception. They are just telling you their specific past, not your specific future.

There are no rules in this game. You change them as you go."

Derek, thank you for forcing me to realize the extent of opportunity that exists, particularly concerning the Internet. You're a force of nature. I just ordered your new book and can't wait to read it.