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The Music Industry Route The music industry route used to be the only route for you to take if you wanted to become a pop artist of any meaningful success. A few artists and bands have sporadically managed to thrive on an “alternative� marketing and distribution system, but that’s been the exception rather than the rule.
The music industry route involves a number of people who all want you to be very successful – because they all take a slice of the money pie that your success generates. That’s great, isn’t it: now it’s not just you but other people as well who want you to be famous, rich and beautiful: Your manager FOKPZ UIF DIBNQBHOF u will make sure that you’re represented professionally – he might even be the one who closes all "SOP $BSTUFOT the other deals for you that I’ll be mentioning later. Your publisher will make sure that your music is being aired as often as possible, including on radio, on TV, as cover songs by other bands and on the internet, and will keep an eye on the protection of your copyright. Your record company will make sure that your music is in the shops, on a meticulously recorded disc, with the help of a professional producer and possibly with your best body parts exposed in an attractive cover design. Your booking agent will take care of live performances: she or he will try to get you listed at major music events and in popular clubs. This is the good part. You have only to look at your favourite local or international artist to know that it is a good part. So, with a few signatures, you can set the machine rolling, the machine that has one objective: to make you the best-selling artist in the world. You have professionals doing professional stuff for you – applying all their expertise, networks and money to your success – so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. While most music industry professionals are trustworthy (even though they’re under more and more pressure due to a changing music landscape), stories about the unscrupulous exploitation of young talent are legendary. Whatever the case, there are some downsides to signing a long-term record contract, particularly when your talent is still raw and naÄĹťve:
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To DIY or Not To DIY 05