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April 13, 2012
I mean for crying out loud, if you're going to be in the business of music, then you need to know the business! That's like saying you want to open a store, stock the store, and make money off the sale of your products without actually knowing how to run your business. That's like saying you want a girlfriend without actually attempting to get a girlfriend, then when you do get her, you do nothing to understand her or keep her happy. You just completely ignore what makes the relationship work, yet you want all the benefits of a good relationship.
It doesn't make sense and it's an recipe for disaster. Do you know how many incredibly talented artists that made it into the majors yet never went anywhere because they didn't know how to handle their business? Even more, how about the artists that actually got signed but who's projects or careers never saw the light of day? What about the artists that start on their way, create incredible music, then they get handed some bogus deal from a nobody who claims they're going to make them a star? I could run on and on about these situations in question form but I suggest that you use the power of the search engine and find out the statistics on how many artists start down the road of a glorious music career only to never truly make it because THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE BUSINESS.
So stop reading, go ahead and search...this article will still be here when you get back...
....Did you find out anything? Of course not, I didn't honestly expect you to stop reading. I hope you don't honestly expect me to run down the statistics, because I'm not. What I will give you is a run-down on why learning the business of music is actually worth the time and effort you invest into it. I will explain what will happen once you get a firm grasp on at least the basic principles of how this business works.
Are you aware that not even 2 seconds after you finish writing a song, or composing a medley, that your work is protected by the federal government? Anything that anyone creates that is a form of expression in either music, art, audio, video, writing or video games all their own, is legally protected by the law. It is your property, your intellectual property, and like any property that a person owns, you have the right to sell or distribute that property as you see fit.
Now was that too hard to understand?? I didn't think so. Yet these simple facts are barely known by many people who claim they are artists. There are lots more simple facts just like the one above that add up to the complex structure of business. However, if you know the simple, basic foundations of your rights as an artists, you are 10 times more likely to have a better shot at a successful career than those who don't. The law regarding intellectual property is clear. If you're used to file sharing, then you should know that the government is cracking down on these sites because hardworking artists, actors, performers, etc., are out there busting their hump to put food on the table, yet are getting smaller portions because folks are stealing their material and giving it away to the masses for free.
What would you do if you went to work everyday, for 8-12hrs a day (putting in OT), 6 days a week, only to get a paycheck that's less than half of what your check should be at the end of the week? You go to your boss and you're like "WTF boss? I busted my ass for you and you give me this wrinky dink check!" Then the boss says, "well, I can't pay you what you're worth because someone keeps finding their way into our business, stealing our product, then they give it out to everyone. Since only a handful of people are paying me, I can only pay you a handful of money."
I wouldn't say that's a fair example but its fairly close. What I want to get at here is this is what's happening in the entertainment industry today. You cannot always safeguard against thievery, but you can give yourself better protection against a boss who COULD pay you everything you're worth even if your product gets stolen. The only way you'll know how much you're supposed to get and how you're supposed to get it is if you learn about the business. That starts with learning your rights as an artist, writer, or composer.
The music industry has seen so many vast changes over the past 10-15 years, its astonishing! There have been so many ups and downs, rises and falls it could make your head spin. On top of all that, there is a new music industry emerging from the digital era. Let me rephrase that, there is a new music industry that HAS emerged from the digital era. It used to be that only signed artists could get their music into stores, on the radio, or on TV. Now with the advancements in the internet, social media, and digital streams of entertainment, just about any one with some talent can find a way to make it in today's market.
But you wouldn't know that. Why? Because you don't want to learn about either the new music industry or the old music industry. You just want to make music and hope people will support it or buy it or that you can get a record deal with it. You don't want to know that companies like TuneCore gives artists like you a chance to live out their dreams by distributing their material to online digital marketplaces like iTunes and Amazon. You don't want to know that you could literally make a song tonight and have it up on iTunes by tomorrow. You don't want to make it in the new music industry.
What you want is a chance for fame and fortune. You want stardom without having to do much but create the music and let someone else put it out for you. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with having those desires but that's built on the old models of the music business. One with shady labels, complex deals, loss of creative control, and absolutely no guarantee that you'll have a long, lucrative, and luxurious career in music. Even if you didn't get the sharp end of the stick up your ass, you still should know about your rights in any one of the two music industries. You should want to know what to look for in a contract or how to properly promote your own material in the blogosphere. You should want to know as much as you can about the business of music and not just how to make better quality material or write better songs.
In this post, I wont go into detail about the new music business or the old music business. I will tell you that the best way to learn about music business is online. Take time away from personal uses of facebook, twitter, youtube, and google+ (because there is info in those sites) to learn about your rights and how you can truly make money living your dream of being an artist. I suggest you start in the Reading Depot where there is vital information about your career in music and the business of music itself.
If you don't educate yourself, then you're telling yourself that you really don't want to make a career out of what you love to do.
Catch you folks in the New Music Industry...
Grimm560
Grimm560 is a professional blogger and musician
who co-founded S.H. Entertainment and the group
Style&Heat. Grimm has a single on iTunes
"Always Grinding" and is an accomplished Internet
Marketer. Check out Grimm560 on the net at this
site http://about.me/grimm560 or just google him
It doesn't make sense and it's an recipe for disaster. Do you know how many incredibly talented artists that made it into the majors yet never went anywhere because they didn't know how to handle their business? Even more, how about the artists that actually got signed but who's projects or careers never saw the light of day? What about the artists that start on their way, create incredible music, then they get handed some bogus deal from a nobody who claims they're going to make them a star? I could run on and on about these situations in question form but I suggest that you use the power of the search engine and find out the statistics on how many artists start down the road of a glorious music career only to never truly make it because THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE BUSINESS.
So stop reading, go ahead and search...this article will still be here when you get back...
....Did you find out anything? Of course not, I didn't honestly expect you to stop reading. I hope you don't honestly expect me to run down the statistics, because I'm not. What I will give you is a run-down on why learning the business of music is actually worth the time and effort you invest into it. I will explain what will happen once you get a firm grasp on at least the basic principles of how this business works.
WHY LEARNING THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC IS ACTUALLY WORTH IT
 | ||||||
| Are you reading books like these? |
What would you do if you went to work everyday, for 8-12hrs a day (putting in OT), 6 days a week, only to get a paycheck that's less than half of what your check should be at the end of the week? You go to your boss and you're like "WTF boss? I busted my ass for you and you give me this wrinky dink check!" Then the boss says, "well, I can't pay you what you're worth because someone keeps finding their way into our business, stealing our product, then they give it out to everyone. Since only a handful of people are paying me, I can only pay you a handful of money."
I wouldn't say that's a fair example but its fairly close. What I want to get at here is this is what's happening in the entertainment industry today. You cannot always safeguard against thievery, but you can give yourself better protection against a boss who COULD pay you everything you're worth even if your product gets stolen. The only way you'll know how much you're supposed to get and how you're supposed to get it is if you learn about the business. That starts with learning your rights as an artist, writer, or composer.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE IT IN MUSIC
The music industry has seen so many vast changes over the past 10-15 years, its astonishing! There have been so many ups and downs, rises and falls it could make your head spin. On top of all that, there is a new music industry emerging from the digital era. Let me rephrase that, there is a new music industry that HAS emerged from the digital era. It used to be that only signed artists could get their music into stores, on the radio, or on TV. Now with the advancements in the internet, social media, and digital streams of entertainment, just about any one with some talent can find a way to make it in today's market.
 |
| Jeff Price Started TuneCore to give indie artist a shot at earning a living selling their music online. |
What you want is a chance for fame and fortune. You want stardom without having to do much but create the music and let someone else put it out for you. Honestly, there's nothing wrong with having those desires but that's built on the old models of the music business. One with shady labels, complex deals, loss of creative control, and absolutely no guarantee that you'll have a long, lucrative, and luxurious career in music. Even if you didn't get the sharp end of the stick up your ass, you still should know about your rights in any one of the two music industries. You should want to know what to look for in a contract or how to properly promote your own material in the blogosphere. You should want to know as much as you can about the business of music and not just how to make better quality material or write better songs.
In this post, I wont go into detail about the new music business or the old music business. I will tell you that the best way to learn about music business is online. Take time away from personal uses of facebook, twitter, youtube, and google+ (because there is info in those sites) to learn about your rights and how you can truly make money living your dream of being an artist. I suggest you start in the Reading Depot where there is vital information about your career in music and the business of music itself.
If you don't educate yourself, then you're telling yourself that you really don't want to make a career out of what you love to do.
Catch you folks in the New Music Industry...
Grimm560
who co-founded S.H. Entertainment and the group
Style&Heat. Grimm has a single on iTunes
"Always Grinding" and is an accomplished Internet
Marketer. Check out Grimm560 on the net at this
site http://about.me/grimm560 or just google him
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