Your Mother's Music Business

Over the years, I've worked with and for a lot of musicians, from guys selling millions of records, to upcoming indie acts who haven't really done anything yet. Something that I've found interesting that differentiates the two is how they feel about the music business.

For the most part, the people who have been around for a while (and been sucessful) have a completely different view of the music business than most small acts. Again, for the most part, the successful people look at the business as fun and approach it with a level of ease. A lot of the smaller level acts seem intimidated by things, even if they haven't really jumped in and been part of them yet.

Sure, you could argue that things are great when you're on top and have "other people" to handle your business and day-to-day work for you. And you could argue that things come easier to people once they've had a certain level of success. But do you really know these things to be true or are they just assumptions you're making?

If you dig in and listen to a few episodes of Music Business Radio, where I've talked in depth with dozens of people about their careers, you'll find that a music business career isn't always smooth. Everybody has highs and lows, but I'm pretty sure the "lows" of a music business career aren't nearly as bad as what I hear most indie artists talking about.

I'm not saying that a career in the music business is easy, but there is definitely some ease to it and if you jump in with the passion that you say you have, you'll be fine. The music business always makes room for good people and both music fans as well as people in the business want you to succeed, because it's good for everybody involved.

If you feel the business is tough, ask yourself, "Why do I feel this way?" Is it from actually experiencing something or something else, like your mother telling you that you should have "something to fall back on"? 

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Comments

[Lee Fox]

Well said, David.

[James]

Well, when you feel intimidated/scared of the unknown, you will never grow. That is the best explanation as to why these people who are not that successful don't reach that highest point in their career, sad to say. :-(