The track to success for todays musicians and artists is quite different than it was even five years ago.



Today, any artist, songwriter, musician,or performer. Even if you have no desire whatsoever to start your own Indie label, Or even if you don't want to learn how to start your own record label, if you are even mildly serious about obtaining any level of success in music, you have to obtain as much knowledge as possible so that you understand the basics of the business.

You must research, study, and try your best to understand basic music contracts, indie labels, major labels, publishers, who does what, where, and when. If you think your just going to put together a few songs, mail them out to a few people on a list, and or get noticed playing in some club one night, then GOOD LUCK!

Nowadays, artists, and musicians must be proactive in developing their careers. Todays artists approach has to be that you will publish, promote, and manage yourself until a better publisher, promoter, and or manager shows up that perhaps has more resources than you do, at which time you decide wether to team up with to expand on what you are currently accomplishing yourself.

This approach is what separates the winners in the game from the losers, or the successful V.S. the Non-Successful.

As an artist, musician, or performer, you have got to begin today learning as much as possible about every aspect of the industry, and this is best accomplished by a logical approach, and having a resource with which you can turn to for advice as you continue your journey and develop yourself into a professional artist.

You will gain much more ground when you are approaching Major Music Labels, Music Publishers, and or Independent Music Labels if you approach them with an attitude of wanting to join their team, as more of a partnership. If your approach is I think my music is good, I want you to give me a contract to sign, and a bunch of money and fame, then again GOOD LUCK!

You will get the attention of music industry players much faster, and with much more respect if your approach is backed up with proof that you have been working hard to establish, develop, and promote yourself, and that you are not looking for someone to dump a ton of cash into you, but rather you are looking for someone that has some resources that you dont have, and that you believe in your music and talent enough to believe that if they can join in and add additional resources to take your product to the next level, that you believe that you and them will both benefit greatly from the partnership.

Let's consider what approach would be more constructive when you meet with a Independent Label. Lets look at the first, introduction which i wouldn't suggest.

Which do you think would look better when you approach a small but fairly successful Indie Label. Lets look at the first, not so favorable approach.

Now lets take a look at a more favorable approach, an approach that will most likely bring about success, or at least open a door for more discussions.

Now lets take a look at a more favorable approach, one which will most likely yield success, or at least open the door for more discussion and or dialog. Lets say you set up a meeting with the head of a small indie label, and sit down with them and tell them that you have a demo CD with three songs, and seven other songs that have been written, but not yet recorded. Then you inform them that you have already gotten a copyright on the recorded material, as well as a copyright on just the lyrics of the other songs.

You then proceed to tell them that you are currently promoting the three songs that are recorded on various promotional web sites, and that the three completed songs are available for purchase as singles on Amazon.con, Rhapsody, Emusic, and Napster, and that last month there were a total gross sales of $32.00 You then continue to explain your current promotional strategy, and that you are looking for a independent label, or team that believes in your music, and can take where your currently at, add some additional resources, and boost the product up a few more levels.

You then proceed to explain to them that you plan to continue self promotion, and working to get sales up on a daily basis, and that you truly believe that with your work ethics, passion, and drive, and their additional resources that as a team all of you can turn this into a profitable venture.

Now you tell me, which approach do you think would open, and keep the doors open for you?

Even if that Indie label was not able sign you in at that time, most likely they would be so taken with your level of professionalism, it's highly likely they would be more than willing to refer you to other people they know in the industry which could really help you. Again, you MUST take a truly pro active approach towards developing yourself as a pro level musician and or artist.