How To Make It In The Music Industry – 6 Key Factors
When laying the groundwork for your music career as an independent musician, there are several important aspects and first steps that you will need to consider.
Following these procedures, even if your ultimate objective is to obtain a recording contract with a major music label. You should be aware that in the current environment of the music industry, thanks to the internet, you are no longer dependent on music companies to create a career in music. This is especially true for the major labels. You are at liberty to carry out the task on your own.
One of the drawbacks of pursuing a career in music as an independent artist is that it is not an easy path to take and requires a lot of hard effort. You are in charge of your artistic development. You are also accountable for the creative aspects of the project as well as the business aspects of the project. It can be daunting, but this blog will be a good beginning place for you and serve as a road map for establishing the basis of your route towards a music career.
6 Key Factors to Make it in The Music Industry
Have a strategy and some objectives
Do you have a clear vision of the path that you wish to take in your professional life?
You must have a solid understanding of what you want to do and a decent notion of how to get there. You should research and talk to some people if you don’t already know. Establish some objectives and devise a strategy to avoid squandering time.
Possibly, some people only desire to compose music to secure sync licensing deals for television commercials or films. Others have aspirations of having a career as a self-sufficient performing artist who travels the world. All you want to do maybe produce music for other artists. Perhaps you are interested in getting signed to a major label or interested in forming a band or starting your collective.
Not everyone will have the same objectives or objectives in life to strive for. Realizing your long-term aim will take some time and may shift as you gain more experience and knowledge. However, if you know what you want to achieve in the end, you must figure out how to get there.
Consider your profession in music to be a business
Being a music artist is much like establishing a new company, regardless of whether you like the comparison. Learning how to run your own business and perhaps turning your passion into a sustainable income from it is a necessary part of the process of developing as an artist.
Your music is considered your product in the traditional sense, much like physical copies of your music. However, even that is subject to change. Your name and image have evolved into a marketable commodity, which you may capitalize on by selling concert tickets and other branded merchandise. You are required to run your operations like a corporate entity, notwithstanding the shape that your product may take. You can run your music business using various models; therefore, it is essential to be knowledgeable about these models and determine which one is most suitable for your needs.
This indicates that at some point in time, you will be required to:
- Develop a marketing strategy
- Identify your target audience or niche
- Learn about branding and put it into practice
- Prepare a spending plan to cover the cost of marketing (social media ads)
- Employ an accountant to manage your finances and prepare your tax returns
- Safeguard your valuables (music)
- Construct a group that will support you
- Develop a strategy for your business
- If you need assistance with contracts, you should go to a lawyer
Continue to create music and get better at your craft.
It may appear to be common sense, but in the current context of music, it can be rather difficult.
Regarding music production, speed has emerged as a critical component in overcoming the overabundance of content and the climate of intense competition for attention. When I say “speed,” I’m referring to the rate at which you can put out new music regularly to keep your name in the public eye and maintain your audience’s interest. Although it may be difficult to balance the artistic and business aspects of making outstanding music, this has become the standard requirement for getting into the industry.
Your musical skill level is the most important factor in determining how far you will go in the music business. A strong song can serve as a springboard for your career, but you need to keep releasing music to capitalize on the momentum you’ve already gained.
Establish connections and maintain a communal focus
Your network directly affects how much money you have. The music business is not an exception to the rule that it is all about who you know in life, as this is typically the case.
Establishing meaningful connections within the local music and arts communities is one of your primary priorities. You can build a network in your community, city, and school by being familiar with the many music venues and cultivating ties with other local musicians and people working in the music industry.
Create a Group of Friends with Better Experience
When you network, you hope to develop relationships, meet other artists with whom you might be able to work on a project, and discover suitable members of the community who might be a good fit for your teams, such as a manager, a photographer, or even a booking agent. You will need a team, but there is a good chance you won’t be able to pay people immediately. Because of this, you will want to collaborate with people who are on the same level as you and believe in what it is that you have to offer.
Be familiar with the processes involved in online music distribution
You may get your music heard by publishing it on Soundcloud and YouTube to build momentum for your music career. Still, you’ll need better distribution in the long run, especially if you want to be taken seriously as a musician. You will need a music aggregator to distribute your music on major platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Music, and many others (music distributors).
If you want to make it in the music industry, there are six key factors you need to keep in mind: passion, hard work, networking, focus, and being true to yourself. With these ingredients, you can achieve anything you want in this industry – and have a lot of fun along the way.