Inside The Music Industry

The mindset for unsigned, up and coming singers, rappers, songwriters, managers, producers, beat makers, engineers, etc. It has to change. The internet has done some marvelous things to change the Stone Age music industry as we used to know it. Major labels are struggling, firing personnel every time you look up, and things are shaky for the big boys. They are really reeling now because of the internet explosion over the last 5 years. That’s their bad, right says the indie artist. True dat!

But I say to that same indie artist, there are always two sides to a coin. Let’s flip it over now and see what that uncovers. Since the internet has taken over the music industry, any and everybody who has a computer now think they can be a professional singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer and so on. They don’t care that they can’t recite what a triad or what a bass clef is, everyone wants to be in the music industry now. Making things worse is the music creation manufacturers with the software programs that practically make the music for you. You do not have to do anything but turn your computer on. No longer is anyone required to take Music Theory or go ask a true professional to assist in creating a hit with them. No, your $29 software you purchased at the local flea market audio store can now make you an instant star!

But this isn’t the biggest problem, not quite. Today, it’s a known fact that NO ONE VALUES MUSIC anymore! Music is no longer held in the same realms as it used to be. Music is no longer a special gift from GOD nurtured and developed by those having the most desire and passion to be the best they can be and having fans totally appreciate their art by supporting them with their hard earned money by purchasing CDs, merchandise, going to concerts and so on. No, now you can steal the music online and that’s OK, because that’s the norm today. Who cares that you invested thousands of dollars to create your project, I am going to steal it anyway. That’s the mindset of many online. But this isn’t the biggest problem.

No, the biggest problem that I see each and everyday is the mindset of the up and coming artists. The lazy, let the computer do the music for me, get music for FREE online fans are now the up and coming artists now! Yes, I said that! Why? NO ONE VALUES MUSIC anymore! Check this out….I once did sales for a national alarm company (Protection One). The company was really about selling value and it could back that up like none of its competitors (Brinks and ADT). But, one of the competitors saw sales decreasing and decided to lower the value of the alarm industry by hiring local subcontractors to sell customers to them (sort of like your mortgage getting sold to another company). The subcontractors sold cheap equipment, provided poor installations and low class service but the alarm didn’t cost the consumer a single penny. So, what do you think happened to the mentality of people when you are at home and someone knocks at your door offering you a FREE alarm over and over again? The effect of this, even to this day, is that everybody expects to get an alarm for FREE. No matter if it’s going to work when you need it or if the person who sold me this is a convict or if I get horrible service, it’s FREE and I want it. Back to the subject at hand…….

The up and coming artists and beat makers need to understand one thing about the music business. This is the music business with the strong ninety percent emphases on business. Businesses operate on making a profit to provide its consumer with a quality product and service and to feed their family as well. Businesses are not NONE PROFITS or charities. The same epidemic that has destroyed the alarm industry is taking place with the online music industry because too many artists expect to get services from qualified production companies, such as ours, for FREE! They don’t realize that independent companies such as ours have invested over $100,000 in equipment, training, conferences, etc. But, the artists are partially the blame. The brunt of the blame resides with the online beat makers, why? Music creators control the industry. Artists will always need new music so why are beat makers failing? Out of ignorance. Beat makers control how much value is placed on the music. Since many beat makers (most beat makers are not producers) do not possess the business know how, they operate on the same premise as the alarm subcontractors. They do not know how to provide value in their product so they give it away for FREE. Since most beat makers do not invest much in their music education or equipment, they possess a ‘I don’t care attitude’. They just use the cheapest (or free) software programs out and give their stuff away for like value not knowing how much power they are losing. In effect, they are bringing the industry down to crummy standards instead of raising it up.

What’s the remedy? It all starts in the mind. You have to believe you have created something of value. Something that will benefit the consumer (artists or fans) much more than the FREE stuff ever will. People will pay for it if you believe in it. But if you don’t put much stock in your work by offering everything for FREE or dirt cheap, the artists and fans won’t either. So, remove the fear factor of selling value. One thing that I learned when I sold alarms and when the subcontractors were offering the FREE stuff was to adjust my mindset. I knew that we had the better system, service and product and I had to make the people in whom I came in contact with know the same. I had to have confidence in myself and what I was selling because I knew in the long run that what I had to offer would benefit the customer more than what the subcontractor was offering.

So my last words to the up and coming singers, songwriters, rappers, managers, beat makers, etc…. If you don’t invest in yourself, no one will ever invest in you.

So, get a job! Stop living by excuses that you don’t have the money! Stop living with a poverty mindset and in lack. Get a job, save your money and invest in others who can help you! The Bible says in book of Galatians that “you reap what you sow”, so if you don’t sow much, don’t expect to reap much in return.

More tips, books, videos, songwriting, music production and studio services can be found at HotBeatsandHooks.com and Kontagiouz Soundz Producktionz.

Get the E-Book, ”How to Make the Bedroom Artist Sound Pro” when you join Hot Beats and Hooks today!

Christopher “Trill Notez” Harold

Black Music Award Winning Producer

P.S. Any real producer interested in partnering to create a coalition to raise the value of our work, get at me! There is power in numbers.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?