{"id":4192,"date":"2011-05-22T15:57:59","date_gmt":"2011-05-22T23:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/?p=4192"},"modified":"2011-05-22T15:59:00","modified_gmt":"2011-05-22T23:59:00","slug":"succeeding-in-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/2011\/05\/22\/succeeding-in-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Succeeding In Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. Why<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do you want to be a successful musician?<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

A. Money<\/p>\n

There are a lot easier ways to get rich than playing music.\u00c2\u00a0 You’re better off writing an app, or finishing college and entering the banking sector.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’re playing music to get rich, you’re a chump.\u00c2\u00a0 Or else you have no other advantages, no other skills. And the odds of success if this is true are incredibly long.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s like being poor and uneducated and desiring to be a professional athlete.<\/p>\n

B. Fame<\/p>\n

Used to be, music was a good route to fame.\u00c2\u00a0 But now it’s not incredibly difficult to get on a reality TV series and many people featured on TMZ or Radar have no talent at all.\u00c2\u00a0 Paris Hilton perfected this paradigm and the Kardashian sisters have refined it.\u00c2\u00a0 If your only desire is to be known by everybody else, it’s a full time job leaving little time for practicing and there are easier outlets to media than playing music.<\/p>\n

C. Talent<\/p>\n

Society is rife with talented people who have not been successful in their chosen fields.\u00c2\u00a0 Because success is about more than talent.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s about hard work and perseverance.<\/p>\n

D. Creative outlet<\/p>\n

You’ve got so many ideas inside that you need to express.\u00c2\u00a0 You’ve got a belief that other members of the public will resonate. That they’ll feel the same way or look to you for instruction.\u00c2\u00a0 This is a good reason to become a musician.\u00c2\u00a0 But this outlook is worthless without musical skill and hard work and perseverance.<\/p>\n

E. A desire to prove something<\/p>\n

Maybe to your parents or schoolmates, that you’re not a loser.\u00c2\u00a0 This has got little to do with music, but tons to do with motivation.\u00c2\u00a0 And motivation is key to making it.<\/div>\n

2. Outlets<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Television<\/p>\n

This is where those with vocal talent and good looks go to seek fame.\u00c2\u00a0 Possibly a little money, but fame primarily.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s anathema to artists, a gold mine to those who don’t know what artistry is.\u00c2\u00a0 If you go on television many will know your name, it’s the easiest way to reach a lot of people quickly.\u00c2\u00a0 If you win, or come close to it, businessmen will put money behind your career and try to profit off of it, which will hopefully make you more famous, but may not make you a hell of a lot more rich. Television breeds instant ubiquity.\u00c2\u00a0 And almost nothing which is instantly ubiquitous lasts.\u00c2\u00a0 Which is why that guy Screech from "Saved By The Bell" is broke and we had a rush of TV stars holding up 7-11’s.<\/p>\n

TV makes music look small.\u00c2\u00a0 To truly succeed long term, music must look big.\u00c2\u00a0 Dave Matthews Band and U2 lose their charisma on television, but they appear giant in person.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s one thing to utilize television as the cherry on top, to take an already established career to bigger heights.\u00c2\u00a0 But if you start on television, your career will probably be brief.\u00c2\u00a0 Just like all those acts who made it via MTV videos.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re used to an endless smorgasbord on television.\u00c2\u00a0 We remember the names, but we don’t want to see them.<\/p>\n

B. Major record label deal<\/p>\n

This is first and foremost about money.\u00c2\u00a0 For the label.\u00c2\u00a0 But they spend to make it and what’s thrown off, if they’re successful, is fame and money.\u00c2\u00a0 So if you’re interested in those two, a major label is not a bad way to go.\u00c2\u00a0 But despite the spending of money, you might still go unrecognized.\u00c2\u00a0 And like every boss, the major label demands control.\u00c2\u00a0 True artists are uncontrollable.\u00c2\u00a0 So a major label is a bad fit.<\/p>\n

C. Independent<\/p>\n

If you’re a true artist, it’s the only way to go.\u00c2\u00a0 But success, if it comes, will be slow.\u00c2\u00a0 Fame will be limited.\u00c2\u00a0 Money will be short. It’s about building, persevering.<\/div>\n

3. Choices<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Kickstarter<\/p>\n

There’s nothing wrong with raising money from your fans.\u00c2\u00a0 But don’t expect once you’re through with your project anybody but fans will care.\u00c2\u00a0 Don’t see patronage as a way to build to the next level, but to survive on the one you’re at.<\/p>\n

B. iTunes<\/p>\n

You can’t survive on selling music, you can’t make any real money, unless people already know who you are.\u00c2\u00a0 And this means you’ve got to give it away for free.\u00c2\u00a0 Whether that be appearing on a TV show or streaming your music on your Website or offering free MP3 downloads.\u00c2\u00a0 The issue is obscurity.\u00c2\u00a0 Before you attack monetary issues, worry about getting noticed.\u00c2\u00a0 Today your calling card is your music.\u00c2\u00a0 An innovative video is done seemingly every day.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re implored to check something out ad infinitum.\u00c2\u00a0 Unless you’ve got virality, unless people can check you out for free, you’re doomed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

4.\u00c2\u00a0 Who makes it<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Those who desire it most.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s just that simple.\u00c2\u00a0 Major labels want someone who works.\u00c2\u00a0 Anybody who’s going to invest in you wants to believe you’re going to work around the clock.\u00c2\u00a0 And if there are no investors, if you’re doing it yourself, you must work around the clock.<\/p>\n

B. Those pushed by the system.\u00c2\u00a0 TV can make stars overnight.\u00c2\u00a0 Major labels can get beat-infused acts on Top Forty radio, which a large number of people listen to.\u00c2\u00a0 Neither of these paradigms has much to do with music.<\/p>\n

C. Those with great music.\u00c2\u00a0 Great music is different from what’s out there already.\u00c2\u00a0 It can percolate for years before it hits the tipping point.\u00c2\u00a0 It might never hit the tipping point.\u00c2\u00a0 It hits the tipping point primarily because its fans spread the word.\u00c2\u00a0 TV contests are only about voices.\u00c2\u00a0 Major labels are only about Top Forty music.\u00c2\u00a0 They’re not about true artistic greatness, certainly if it doesn’t sound just like everything else.<\/div>\n

5. Problems<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Too many people who are not about music are clogging up the system, making it more difficult for artists to be noticed.<\/p>\n

B. Major media, although dying, reaches more people than anything else, and is interested in artistry last.\u00c2\u00a0 Major media is interested in train-wreck value, hopefully sold by a trusted source, i.e. the major label, the TV network, those with mainstream track records.<\/p>\n

C.\u00c2\u00a0 There is no filter for artistry.<\/div>\n

6. Avenues for artistic success<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Television, major labels and major media come last.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s all about building a fan base, which initially no one may recognize the size of but you.\u00c2\u00a0 But if you’ve truly got a fan base, promoters will want to work with you, because they’re all about selling tickets and booze, and if you can get bodies in the building, they’re interested.\u00c2\u00a0 AEG and Live Nation are interested last. Because they’re about the money.\u00c2\u00a0 Since you’re about artistry, those who will help you will probably be living for the music too, the club booker making bupkes, the person in a lousy job who lives to spread your music.\u00c2\u00a0 Enable these people.<\/p>\n

B. Since you’re an artist, you’re probably a lousy salesman.\u00c2\u00a0 Focus on the music more than dunning potential fans.\u00c2\u00a0 If you Tweet, make it about your personality, your viewpoint, not about selling.\u00c2\u00a0 Hook people on who you are, not the fact that you’re frustrated you’re broke and want to make it.<\/div>\n

7. The way it was<\/span><\/p>\n

A. Used to be major labels were interested in signing artists, believing people would resonate with the music if they were exposed to it.\u00c2\u00a0 Radio was open to this artistry, as was print media.\u00c2\u00a0 And the public trusted both.\u00c2\u00a0 Now the major label is interested in money and money only.\u00c2\u00a0 And if you don’t believe this is true, you haven’t checked out Lyor Cohen or Irving Azoff’s salaries, running companies that lose money making millions for themselves.\u00c2\u00a0 They could invest this money in breaking artists, but why sacrifice?\u00c2\u00a0 The moguls of yore might have been crooks, but they were passionate music people.\u00c2\u00a0 And they promoted what they were passionate about.\u00c2\u00a0 But today’s music executives want to be rich and famous too.\u00c2\u00a0 Otherwise, explain to me why Jimmy Iovine gets so much airtime on "American Idol".\u00c2\u00a0 Yes, the executives are as bad as the wannabe acts, artistry comes last.\u00c2\u00a0 And the public tunes out.\u00c2\u00a0 TV shows are not about music, but competition, no different from sports, with winners and losers.\u00c2\u00a0 Whereas artistry is never about competition, other than losers trying to illustrate to the rest of the world that they are winners. <\/div>\n

8. The future<\/span><\/p>\n

In order for artistry to triumph, our whole nation must change.\u00c2\u00a0 Inner values as opposed to bank accounts must be seen as number one.\u00c2\u00a0 But they’re not.\u00c2\u00a0 Money not only changes everything, it trumps everything.\u00c2\u00a0 You can’t criticize someone who is rich, you can only be pissed off that you’re not rich too.\u00c2\u00a0 If you criticize someone’s art, the agent, manager and label will respond by saying LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY THEY’RE MAKING!\u00c2\u00a0 Bon Jovi hasn’t written a decent song in decades, he’s the biggest touring act, don’t you think that’s a problem?\u00c2\u00a0 Lady GaGa is a big star, but her music doesn’t sound much different from everybody else’s music.\u00c2\u00a0 She’s selling the trappings, and shock value.<\/div>\n

This history of modern music was written by outsiders with something to prove.\u00c2\u00a0 And once they were successful and realized fame and money still didn’t solve their problems, once they were anointed by the masses, they just couldn’t do that thing that got us all heated up in the first place.\u00c2\u00a0 Which is why Bruce Springsteen hasn’t done anything of note in decades.\u00c2\u00a0 Experience and talent count, but not as much as drive, with a desire to prove.<\/p>\n

So if you’re entering the music game, honestly appraise where you’re coming from, who you are.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’re truly all about the music, if you’re truly an artist, chances are you’re gonna starve for a really long time, if not forever.\u00c2\u00a0 You may not give up, but the fact that you’ve worked forever still does not mean you’re great.\u00c2\u00a0 Greatness comes from the damaged testing limits because they just don’t give a crap.\u00c2\u00a0 So I’m gonna be homeless and have no teeth and die at a young age?\u00c2\u00a0 If you want creature comforts, if you want a safety net, you’re probably not going to make it, even though you practice all day long. Because we’re interested in something elusive, from the outside, a perspective that might be in our hearts but that we are unwilling to live.\u00c2\u00a0 Can you risk playing original music instead of covers?\u00c2\u00a0 Can you risk sounding like nothing else?\u00c2\u00a0 And can you be so interesting, so good that people start following you anyway?<\/p>\n

Used to be there was a whole system, a whole apparatus there to help you.<\/p>\n

Now, you’re on your own.<\/p>\n

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1. Why Why do you want to be a successful musician? A. Money There are a lot easier ways to get rich than playing music.\u00c2\u00a0 You’re better off writing an app, or finishing college and entering the banking sector.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’re playing music to get rich, you’re a chump.\u00c2\u00a0 Or else you have no other […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-business"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p96vPs-15C","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4192"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4194,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4192\/revisions\/4194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lefsetz.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}