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Music Business Predictions for 2009

Matt Rosoff has some interesting music industry predictions for 2009.

Thoughts?

What Will it Sound Like Live?

When I'm working, I usually have music playing in the background.  Today a band called Jellyfish came on, which got me thinking about the songwriting and recording process.

We're at a time in the music business where it is very easy to go crazy when recording something.  Unlimited tracks, samples, effects, etc.  And there are plenty of people who take advantage of all this stuff, by adding, and adding, and adding things to the mix.  More samples, more instruments, more harmonies, etc.

Here's the problem...  Does it work live?

Live performance isn't the only way to make money in the music business, but it's where most independent musicians and bands make the majority of their money.  And to be successful at it, you have to have material which works well via live performance.

It's great to have a slickly produced record.  It's great to take advantage of new recording technology.  But don't forget that the purest form of connection with fans is made via live performance.  They can hear you, see you, smell you, touch you, and receive a complete experience, not just the aural one they get with a recording.

If you're song doesn't work in a stripped down, able-to-be-played-live way, how are you going to connect like this?

You're not.

If you're musician who plays live, when you're writing and recording songs, ask yourself, "What will it sound like live?"  And if it doesn't work live, don't do it.

Put this into the mix when you're working on a new album and I promise you it will change your career.

American Idol Auditions - Do They Work?

Taped an episode of Music Business Radio with drummer Gregg Bissonette a couple of days ago.  Gregg has played with a wide range of artists, both onstage and in the studio, including David Lee Roth, Don Henley, Duran Duran, Ray Charles, and Carlos Santana.

As I was doing pre-show stuff, a lot of funny stuff about David Lee Roth popped up.  Including this...

Got me thinking about the American Idol audition process...

It works on one level, but I think this video, even though it's a joke, does a pretty good job of showing what would happen had somebody like David Lee Roth came through the door.  American Idol, and other "systems" like it, just aren't made for somebody like David Lee Roth.

And they may not be made for you either.

I get a lot of email from acts who are frustrated that they don't fit into the mold and feel that what they're doing doesn't appear to be working in the current manifestation of the music business.  I hope the above video makes you feel better, because not fitting in may actually be your best asset as far as a longterm career.

In 20 years, it's doubtful that we'll remember Miley Cyrus as more than a teenager who had a few good months topping the pop music charts.  And it's more doubtful that we'll remember anybody who is on the current season of American Idol.  But David Lee Roth will be remembered as the front man for one of the biggest rock acts of all time.

Making Money as a Street Performer

From 1991 to 1996, I lived in Memphis.  During that time, almost every time I was on Beale St, there were  kids down there doing flips and other stunts for money.

It looked really unorganized.  Maybe 5-6 kids, each 8-10 years old, hanging out, putting on a show every 15-20 minutes.

But it ended up being highly organized.  I made friends with one of them.  He was one of two, who never did a stunt, but would take a bucket around after the show to collect money. 

He told me the group split the money evenly.  In other words, he got just as much as the guys putting on the show.  And even at 7-8 years old, he had a system for getting the maximum amount of money from each audience.

Also explained to me that they helped to train other kids in their neighborhood to do stunts and collect money.  The more people who got involved, the more money they made.

Video below explains more about what these kids do.  Notice how they get the crowd involved and how they build suspense.  This is something any street performer, including musicians, can do to make more money.

More information on this group...

Article from Memphis Business Journal
Booking Information

Any tips for making more money with street performing? Please post them in the comments section.

Chuck Wicks - "All I Ever Wanted" (Live on Music Business Radio)

One of the coolest things about being part of Music Business Radio is when we have a musician come up and perform live.  No fancy effects, no big production, or anything like that...just the raw power of the song and the person performing.

Here's an example with Chuck Wicks and Monty Powell...

The 10-Year Overnight Sensation

Here's an interview I recently did with Shawn Mullins.  You probably know him from his hit song Lullaby.  What you probably don't know is how he got his deal, how he lost it, how he got another deal, and how he still performs over 200 dates per year.

Shawn shared his thoughts on writing, touring, licensing, life after a major label, and more.  He also played a couple of songs, live in the studio.

Subscribe to the podcast or listen below...

15,000 CDs in 18 Months -- No Joke!

Yeah, it's April Fools Day, but this is no joke!

This guy has sold 15,000 of his CDs in the last month playing on Santa Monica PIer.

How? In my opinion, a lot of it has to do with his thought process and the way he approaches things...