Is there really any point making music to sell anymore ?

[SecretSam]

Trying to think of current artists that impress me and weren't around 20 years ago ...

Parov Stellar
Tool
Stefan Bodzin
Some of the stuff on Speedy Wunderground

Err .... can't remember any others.

Any suggestions?

Mind you, as the regrettably immortal sounds of Grease float through my window (next door neighbor on the chardonnay again), I am reminded that pop music has always been to music as McDonald's is to food.

[RichardT]

I think the other thing to be wary of in the comparison of the 'cookie cutter music of today vs the classics of the past' is that there was a whole load of totally-forgettable cookie cutter music in the past as well. Most of the 80s for example.
But we only remember the good stuff so we're not comparing like for like.

People have studied this (of course...). I’ve bolded the key bit.

‘ Here we unveil a number of patterns and metrics characterizing the generic usage of primary musical facets such as pitch, timbre and loudness in contemporary western popular music. Many of these patterns and metrics have been consistently stable for a period of more than fifty years. However, we prove important changes or trends related to the restriction of pitch transitions, the homogenization of the timbral palette and the growing loudness levels. This suggests that our perception of the new would be rooted on these changing characteristics. Hence, an old tune could perfectly sound novel and fashionable, provided that it consisted of common harmonic progressions, changed the instrumentation and increased the average loudness’

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep00521

[Drew Stephenson]

Haven't read the article yet but it appears to be referring to 'sound' rather than 'composition' there, is that correct?

[RichardT]

Haven't read the article yet but it appears to be referring to 'sound' rather than 'composition' there, is that correct?

No, I don’t think so - pitch transitions relates to composition.

[Drew Stephenson]

Ah, ok, i was misreading that.

[wearashirt]

Great question, and a very important one.

I wonder if others here have read "Rockonomics" by Alan Kreuger (1960-2019). Kreuger was an outsider to music and took an interest in analyzing it with his economics lens, himself chiseled in the national economics of the US.

In the book, he used several sources of data to illustrate the un-straightforward way that the music economy phenomenally operates. He has posited them into models described as Big Winners, Luck, political influence, black markets and piracy, among other ideas.

Ultimately, Kreuger discovered that music exists in many price points from super expensive to practically free, and the fact that musicians derive equal pleasure from their work inasmuch as they want to make money off of it - all of which affect its economics and being a commodity. The book has anecdotes on the legal and financial woes of global superstars such as Sting and Paul Mccartney.

The thesis of the book is just as dumbfounded as we all are about the music landscape, and Kreuger concludes by citing that music itself is a marker of social life and is deeply intertwined in feelings of peace, unity, and attainment of a utopian vision we all have as we trudge through life's miseries and injustice. With that, music is forever.

[wearashirt]

One thing about the music landscape that stands out for me is that while record labels are consolidating and being run more like a ledger rather than a creative center, the latter creativity has transitioned to music tech and instrument companies.

The number of products and companies involved in audio interfaces, plug-in development, electric and acoustic instruments, microphone companies have all expanded.

One product is at least $100. The other product is The Dream.

The dream of making it successful in music. This market has become so mature, that it has tapered off into an expensive hobby just like 4x4 off-roaders, gun and archery enthusiasts, or SCUBA diving. I'm surprised that the backing-track market has expanded the way it has, and I feel so counter-entrepreneurial for not taking an interest in it.

And so, demand for music - in whatever shape it may be - has shifted so dramatically. Maybe the industry deserves it? Sex, drugs and alcohol isn't really much in the culinary arts - and running a food business is just as rewarding in 1970 as it is today. I guess the music industry had it coming for all its "sins".

[wearashirt]

Came around this forum topic looking for anything to read, as I have 6 major tracks for release independently.

My business plan for it goes like this:

Release versions for digital streaming. Withhold a Bandcamp version that will contain 1 extra layer of instrumentation as well as the backing vocals.

I plan to sell both. Digital streaming for notoriety , and Bandcamp version for higher musical fidelity and extra harmonious parts.

I find that committing to selling music affects the way I arrange, record, and envision each track. I hope this can become a upward trend for popular music, 2021 going forward.

[Arpangel]

If you’re a successful, popular musician, you need to make money, it’s not an option, you’re paid to sit at home all day and write the stuff, you don’t work in Tesco’s and treat it like a hobby.
That’s the problem nowadays, we need the big advances, the record company machine, thats where the internet is a massive failure, some of us aren’t web designers, PR people, accountants, or promotors, we don’t want to be, also, we don’t have the connections, or move within the music business network, we need the guys with the big cigars, whether we like it or not. They make the all important circuit, they "know" they can make money out of us, and in return, we get paid to sit at home being inspired.

[RichardT]

If you’re a successful, popular musician, you need to make money, it’s not an option, you’re paid to sit at home all day and write the stuff, you don’t work in Tesco’s and treat it like a hobby.
That’s the problem nowadays, we need the big advances, the record company machine, thats where the internet is a massive failure, some of us aren’t web designers, PR people, accountants, or promotors, we don’t want to be, also, we don’t have the connections, or move within the music business network, we need the guys with the big cigars, whether we like it or not. They make the all important circuit, they "know" they can make money out of us, and in return, we get paid to sit at home being inspired.

Ah - but they tend to interfere with the process of sitting at home being inspired!

[DarthPaul]

Came around this forum topic looking for anything to read, as I have 6 major tracks for release independently.

My business plan for it goes like this:

Release versions for digital streaming. Withhold a Bandcamp version that will contain 1 extra layer of instrumentation as well as the backing vocals.

I plan to sell both. Digital streaming for notoriety , and Bandcamp version for higher musical fidelity and extra harmonious parts.

I find that committing to selling music affects the way I arrange, record, and envision each track. I hope this can become a upward trend for popular music, 2021 going forward.

Good luck with your releases, wearashirt, please let us know how well it works for you.

[N i g e l]

Trying to think of current artists that impress me and weren't around 20 years ago ...
........................................
............................
Any suggestions?
.

David Guetta ?

just sold back catalogue for £72m

[Drew Stephenson]

If you’re a successful, popular musician, you need to make money, it’s not an option, you’re paid to sit at home all day and write the stuff, you don’t work in Tesco’s and treat it like a hobby.
That’s the problem nowadays, we need the big advances, the record company machine, thats where the internet is a massive failure, some of us aren’t web designers, PR people, accountants, or promotors, we don’t want to be, also, we don’t have the connections, or move within the music business network, we need the guys with the big cigars, whether we like it or not. They make the all important circuit, they "know" they can make money out of us, and in return, we get paid to sit at home being inspired.

Ah - but they tend to interfere with the process of sitting at home being inspired!

They do still exist of course, but they have become increasingly risk-averse during all the transformation to a digital economy. As a result they only tend to write those big advances to acts that have already established a following and reputation.

[Marbury]

You get some fortunate artists like Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno who have one foot in the "Arty" camp and manage to sell in the popular music field, without compromising too much.

[Terrible.dee]

If you need to ask that question?

DEFINITLY not.

[The Red Bladder]

No! No! No! No! No!

You guys just ain't getting it!

It's show business. That is two words and not one. You have to master both disciplines - the show and the business. No show, no business. No business, no show.

I see bands spending silly money on guitars and keyboards and stupidly expensive drum kits and then ask if they have got £1,000 for a tiny lighting rig. And even those that have some lighting, have absolutely no concept behind that lighting.

So rule one - a great stage show. A show people will remember!

Songs have to have at least five melody lines, fantastic hooks and meaning. Somewhere in that song, there has to be a message and a hook people remember.

Rule two - meaning and hooks have to be memorable.

You must be young and beautiful - or just quirky and different. But you must be photogenic in some way because like it or not, YouTube is where people are going to be looking for you.

Rule three - great videos.

Lastly, look after business. Get a good agent. try to get as many gigs as possible - you will not conquer the world from your bedroom! Get out there and watch them pennies, cos they ain't gonna look after themselves!

Rule four - treat it like a business because that's what it is.

[Drew Stephenson]

It's not often I agree with everything you say in a post TRB but I think I do this time!

[shufflebeat]

No! No! No! No! No!

You guys just ain't getting it!

It's show business. That is two words and not one. You have to master both disciplines - the show and the business. No show, no business. No business, no show.

Duly printed and laminated for distribution at next rehearsal.

This discussion is happening all over the place at the minute. My take is; old rules, new medium.

Might struggle with "young and beautiful".

[Drew Stephenson]

Of course, interesting discussion though it may be, none of this actually helps Marbury; who's trying to sell library music...

[James Perrett]

Following Drew's lead in going back to the original subject...

Check to see if your music is available for use on Tik Tok and other similar platforms. This has been a good income stream for someone I know (though good means good relative to other platforms - he's not making loads of money out of it).