Music Business Workshop

I attended a workshop locally at our local conservatory.  It was an interesting insight into the modern music business.  I came away from it with my head spinning because I was realizing that this isn't your fathers or grandfather's music business anymore.  Labels no longer have A&R departments.  No one is interesting in developing an artist and that development is left up to the artist.

The death of the single has hurt musicians when it comes to being paid for their music.  The major streaming services pay very little and you would have to see streams in the millions before seeing any notable money.  One thousand streams would get you $4.  One hundred thousand streams will only get you $400.  You can extrapolate the numbers from there to see what I mean.

Labels and management companies will start to look at an artist for the purposes of signing and developoing them when they see streams getting into the two million mark.  According to our presenter, that's best achieved by getting your music on playlists.  How that's done wasn't really covered.  You have to build your audience to a level that they'll take notice with before you'll even come under their radar.

The other distinct impression I got is that it's a young person's game which made me feel completely out of place.  They aren't interested in senior citizens like me as a performing act.  Maybe as a song writer, but no one is going to put their company behind a geezer and try to sell that!

Bottom line:  Do it yourselves!  I still find the best way to get my music heard and noticed is by playing live.  Be out front, in person and interacting with your audience.  You'll be much more effective if you're telling your story to them in person.  Not on Tik Tok, not on Facebook or Instagram - live!  Using social media to connect is a necessity, but you have no control over it.  The audience that attends those platforms is known for their short attention span.  The most important thing that was never discussed at this seminar is the importance of the music.  Which, after all, is why we're all doing this.