Every musician entering the music industry believes they have what it takes to make it big. However, the truth is that only a handful of artists make it to the top. One of the many reasons is that many artists wrap their heads around myths and false beliefs about the industry that they fail to look at the bigger picture, which eventually stands in their way of success. In today’s post, we’ll bust the most common music industry misconceptions, so you understand how the industry works.
Myth#1- More Gigs Mean You’ll Get Discovered
Indeed, artists like Taylor Swift were lucky enough to get discovered and succeed. However, many artists, even if they are supremely talented, never make it big because they fail to showcase their talent at the right place to the right audience.
With the advent of social media, the dynamics of the music industry have changed. More gigs are more like a myth because even a 15-second clip of your raw talent can go viral worldwide. But how you go about it truly matters. You need to work strategically for it.
Find platforms that can help you connect with your target audience better and get discovered. Musicswipe may be your best bet in this scenario.
Myth#2- I Can Only Succeed If I Have a Record Label
This myth is prevalent in today’s digital world, where you have multiple platforms for serving your music to your fans. Having a record label helps as they handle the PR. However, you can still succeed even if you don’t have one because you can do everything a record label does. For instance, digital distribution is cheap and easier.
Another reason to rely on your skills and hard work instead of getting into a contractual bond with a label is that you will not have complete control over your music once you are signed. You can’t exercise control over your writing, collaborations, and frequency of song releases or your public image.
However, you’ll have complete control and enjoy creative freedom if you handle promotions and marketing yourself. Besides this, you can also sell music NFTs, allowing musicians to keep a large chunk of their revenue margins compared to when they are in contract with record labels.
Myth# 3-Too Young or Too Old
In the music industry, the age of the artist doesn’t matter. You can succeed if you are talented, regardless of your age. For example, when Justin Beiber started, he was very young, but his music got everyone’s attention. Likewise, though JLO started her musical journey at age 5, she was 30 when she released her single ‘If You Had My Love,’ which became her claim to fame.
So, it’s not the age but your music, content, and whom you sell it to truly matter. Your audience is crucial to your music career success. Therefore, instead of focusing on your action, research your genre and its audience to create appealing content that gets you discovered, gigs, and more.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships.Along with his work at MuzicSwipe, he also conducts in-depth interviews with prominent entrepreneurs on his weekly podcast “FULLSPEED.” Eric also dedicates himself to educational initiatives through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” which provides four scholarships to US-based students. Keep track of Eric’s endeavors on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.