If you’re like most people who want a career as a professional musician, the first question you ask yourself is probably: “What does it take?” You may be asking this question because you’re not sure what should be done first, second, and third. And obviously, you have to take certain actions to start your own music career buy plays on sound cloud photos.
Have you recently decided that you want to pursue a career in music and have no idea where to start?
In this blog, we will cover all the main pieces and basic steps you will need to follow to build a solid foundation for a career in music as an independent artist.
Even if your ultimate goal is to sign with a major label, we still suggest you apply these steps. In the current climate of the music industry, you are no longer dependent on record labels to be successful, thanks to the Internet.
The approach I recommend is a direct relationship with your followers. This way, you can have complete control of your music career.
Being signed by a record label definitely has its benefits, as they can provide resources and experience that allow you to focus on the creative aspects. However, it all comes with a cost that not many artists want to pay, like giving up ownership of your music.
Persuading a career in music is not easy and requires a lot of work. Not only are you responsible for the creative, but you are also responsible for running the business side. It can be overwhelming, but we hope this blog is a good starting point for you and gives you guidance on how to build the foundation of your music career.
Make sure you have a steady income (a day job).
In the 21st century, we romanticize the idea of leaving everything behind and heading to the big city to pursue our passions and dreams. Unfortunately, more often than not, this is more fantasy than reality.
It’s probably not the smartest decision to drop everything and try to make a living with a career in music right away. If you are financially stable or have built a strong fan base through another industry, then this may not apply. But for the rest of society, the priority should be doing something that pays the bills and keeps you afloat while making music as a side hustle. Having a day job shouldn’t be a negative thing, we’re all adults and we all have bills to pay.
While you still have a day job, you can learn about different cash flows and opportunities involved in music. The main ones are touring, branding and publishing.
Have goals and a plan.
Do you have a good idea of where you want to go with your career? You really need to understand what you want to do and have a good guide on how to get there. If you don’t have it, you should do your research and ask around. Set goals and have a plan so you don’t waste time.
Not everyone will have the same goals and aspirations. It may take time to figure out what your long-term goal is, and it might even change as you gain more experience.
Treat your music career like a business.
Whether you like it or not, being an artist in music is like starting a new business. Your music is your product.
But even that is changing. Your brand now includes the merchandise and tickets you sell. Regardless of the form of your product, you need to operate like a business. There are different business models you can use, so it is important to find the one that is best for you.
The business concepts you should learn.
Even if you have business skills, it may not be the best thing to spend your time doing as it will distract you from creating music. Therefore, you will need to surround yourself with a solid support team.
For bands or music groups: You will need a band agreement to decide things like revenue sharing, percentages for royalties and performances, among others. This must be put in writing. They should use contracts and written documentation regarding copyright ownership, band operating agreements, payment expectations, rules and decisions.
Keep making music and improving your art.
It sounds obvious, but it can be quite challenging in today’s music scene. To combat content overload and the competitive climate, speed has become an important factor when producing music. You need to release new music constantly to keep your followers engaged. It can be difficult to balance the business and creative aspects to continue producing quality music.
Your success in the music industry ultimately begins with the quality of your music. A hit song can boost your career, but you need to keep releasing and promoting new music to continue building your career.
Don’t fall into the belief that talent alone can sustain you, as there are other more important factors, such as work ethic and promotion. Talent matters to a certain extent, but if it doesn’t translate into successes that give you exposure, it won’t get you very far.
Network and community.
Your network of contacts is your capital. It’s often all about who you meet in life, and the music industry is no exception. One of your first goals should be to develop relationships in your local community and music scene. You can network in your neighborhood, city, and school by checking out different music venues and building relationships with other local artists and people involved in music.
The goal of networking is to build relationships, meet other artists to potentially collaborate with, and find people who can be a good fit for your team, like a manager or lawyer. You’ll need a team, but you probably won’t be able to pay your team at first, so you need to work with others who are at the same level as you and believe in what you have to offer.