Live Music Blog

Many Music Artist are decidedly similar in character to Painters or Sculptors or Craftsmen. What I mean is that you’re what your description implies and that’s you’re an Artist and while that’s what  sets you apart from some guys being in an Air band it additionally is what the Labels have always counted on. Historically Labels have always known that you the Music Artist have been focused on your music. You did not have time to contemplate the details of getting gigs or producing a CD  or even creating your words and music (some of you). Forget about doing Marketing or PR. Not only did you not have time for that but it got to the point that any of those areas you disdained so you hired Managers to handle all of that for you. All you wanted to do has been your music.
The Labels came on as being able to handle all of that for you and in some cases they did it well, but as time moved on the Managers, Agents, Labels and others have created an industry that literally feeds off of the Music Artist. Now the CD  sales have declined 17 % in just the this last QUARTER. If the re is a Label that will sign you they are now no longer giving the massive advances as before and in fact now because they are loosing money prefer water thru a sieve , they actually have the audacity to demand a piece your touring re Club s. So what can you do?
The answer is quite simple, the same paradigm shift that has caused the music business to turn upside down (technology) and for performer to make less money, is the same thing that will increase your income. Here it is:
Do not contemplate BRANDING yourself as denigrating your music; it is the opposite, when you establish yourself as a BRAND you do two things. The first is that everywhere your music is played it is identified with you and the second is. ..guess what…you establish a means of protecting yourself and your music with trademark protection (which fee you all of $250). Look at the Beatles the Grateful Dead and yes even Prince….
So think BRAND…BRAND…BRAND…because brother if you don’t then I guarantee someone ( prefer a Label) will and then you’re screwed when you become huge…so do it now.
Start a mindset that the Band/Yourself is a Entrepreneurial Company. What does this mean? Think prefer this, Ken Abdo chair of the Entertainment Law Initiative at the Grammy Foundation, has been quoted at a recent conference telling about “A band called The String Cheese Incident had formed a vertically integrated company to handle management, recording, intellectual property, legal counsel, and all other facets of the business that’s the band”. The guys took it into their own hands to control their future. No longer can you contemplate being a Music Artist or a band as just a way to express yourself. You MUST contemplate it as does any entrepreneur starting something new and cool. Otherwise you’ll be screwed down the line.
Use Technology; do not let Technology use you: Right now CD  sales are not only in the toilet but they are going threw the sewer system and that won’t stop, for every digital download there are at least 10 copies ripped. But the thing is that the music is being listened to by someone who is downloading it somewhere, so that means opportunity. How? Well for starters establish your own damn web site. I can’t believe how many artists use MySpace.com to  promote  them selves and do not have a web site to direct the audiences to. So guess what? MySpace.com makes all the freaking money off the ad space AND they gain YOUR audiences.
When you do make your web site …add in ecommerce …add in your own cool stuff to sell…add in ADVERTISING abilities…add in blogs…chat…forums…backstage videos…videos of you practicing….videos of you choose ing your nose, ANYTHING to make them want to go to your web site from the MySpace.com page you  set up. Make it so they feel special. When a song is downloaded make a 10 second message to your audiences at the end of the song that say “hey putz…come to my web site www.blahblahblah.com and see what other feenominal sh*t I’ve for you”. Now you think this is cheesy or takes away from your song? GUESS WHAT? STEALING YOUR SONG TAKES AWAY FROM YOU!
So try to change your mindset as the itnertnet has change d the music business and see what happens, you’ll live prefer Kings when you make music as opposed to starve prefer Artist.