This week, we have been contemplating our music business future. We have always had plans about what we want to do, and how we want to do it. But, sometimes it takes a while to get there, and we have to figure out various ways to make our music goals a reality. We would like to be full-time touring artists within the next 3 years, and we weekly assess where we are now and how we are going to get to where we want to go.
The following are some things that we have in the pipeline right now. John has been taking on studio work and web design work. I may begin doing some voice-over work. We said that we would NEVER do it, but we have been developing a two hour cover tune set so that we can find more opportunities to play. We love doing charity events (especially if it benefits the arts), and are currently doing some of those. We are looking into attending a college programming conference to see what the interest is there for our music. We really love the idea of house concerts and are planning on getting some of those set up once the CD is in hand. We are getting ready to join our festival network here in North Carolina and hope to be able to showcase next year. We also are putting together a packet to send to our arts market for our state. They gather booking agents from the area to one central location to hear up and coming talent (and hopefully book them). We also love busking. As soon as our CD is finished, you will find us playing in unexpected places all around town. Surely, between all these things, plus a weekly venue show, and our CD sales and digital downloads, we should be on our way to full-time music within the next couple of years.
Someone asked me recently why we make it so hard on ourselves by doing all this work ourselves. "Why don't you just start shopping your CD to a label as soon as you finish it?". I didn't have the time to start a discussion on the state of the music industry at this point and time in history. So, I just said, "because I am an independent artist who wants to be able to control the work that I release and want to be able to have the say so in how I am represented as an artist". Of course, I got the same puzzled reaction I get from friends, family, as well as inquisitive strangers - that blank stare, head nod, and the "lets move on" uncomfortableness.
However, I must say that nothing gets me more jacked up than talking to someone who is in the business and understands EXACTLY what is going on right now. We are living in an amazing time for independent art. Daily, I am excited by some new artist or project that I hear about that without the internet or blogs, or digital distribution, I would never have heard of. Most people only know about the old music formula... the "act" gets shopped around, attorneys talk, the artist is signed, radio airplay takes place, and millions of dollars are made. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with this scenario, but it does have its price and it's not happening this way very often anymore. I don't want to have to get into the "dirty" side of the business with friends and family and explain just what is taking place behind the scenes. Sexual exchanges for career advancement, payola, no publishing money for the writer/artists, 360 record deals where ALL money that the artist makes is distributed around multiple directions, no control over which song are recorded or released, signed artists who record a CD, then the label decides not to release it at all (and the artist can't do anything with those songs either), rude booking agents who represent YOU to the public, sleazy managers, crooked accounting practices, shady publishers, and the list goes on and on. Now, I'm not saying that they are all this way. A few good examples of artist friendly labels are Compass Records, ATO Records, and Righteous Babe Records. They support their artists 100% and give them the freedom to do the music/art that they feel that they need to express. I know a few good managers. I know some really nice booking agents. And I even know a few honest, music loving, art appreciating attorneys. I'm not saying that we are opposed to some help somewhere down the line in the distant future, but as far as we can see, WE are the best people to represent ourselves. So, with close friends and family, we now hand them a couple of movies to watch that explain what in the world it is that we are trying to do with our music and why we aren't marching around to record labels begging them to give us a listen.
Now, I want to introduce you to these documentaries that have had a major influence on what we see our music future to be. The first one is called, "What is Indie" by Dave Cool. Dave is a complete amatuer movie maker, but you would never know it by watching this DVD. He is an amazing film maker, and addresses exactly what it means to be an Indie Artist. I highly recommend purchasing this DVD or downloading a copy.
The other movie I want to mention is called, "Before the Music Dies". This DVD discusses the current state of the music industry. Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Elvis Costello, My Morning Jacket, North Mississippi Allstars, Les Paul, Widespread Panic, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt, Questlove, and many other artist share their experiences in the music business and comment on how things are changing at this time. This is another one you will want to buy and share.
One last word of warning. Both of these DVD have "colorful" language. But, the content is so important that I think it is of value to look past that and hear what the artists, industry executives, journalists, and fans are trying to say.





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