| The Internet has had an enormous change on | | | | |
| the music industry and those that create the | | | | Checklist on what artist and product |
| music. This has created fascinating | | | | development necessitate: |
| possibilities and tremendous opportunities of | | | | |
| exposure for bands and music artists across | | | | *Exceptional vocals, musicianship and/or |
| the world. This also raises many questions | | | | songwriting skills |
| for undiscovered talent to be heard above the | | | | |
| clamoring din. | | | | *Continued education and enhancement of |
| | | | musical skills |
| Music, artist development, indies, unsigned | | | | |
| bands, singers, songwriters, musicians, music | | | | *Quality equipment |
| business, record deal, music promotion, music | | | | |
| career, A&R, music online, education | | | | *Performance ability |
| | | | |
| Artist development in the music industry has | | | | *Image creation and maintenance |
| evolved over time, leaving most of the early | | | | |
| progress to the artist themselves. For the | | | | *Plan of action, goal setting |
| most part, the days are gone when a record | | | | |
| label developed up and coming talent. The | | | | *Exceptional promotion materials, including |
| question continuously arises for those young | | | | photographs, press releases and artwork |
| artists, "where do I start"? With the advent | | | | |
| of the Internet, the possibilities are mind | | | | *Business management skills |
| boggling. | | | | |
| | | | *Marketing, publicity, and promotion |
| Many artists put in their mission statement, | | | | knowledge, online and offline |
| simply that they want a record deal, thinking | | | | |
| that is all they need to succeed for career | | | | *Professional management |
| in music. Most don't have a clue what it | | | | |
| takes to get that deal, let alone maintain | | | | *Basic knowledge of recording, producing, |
| that career. | | | | engineering, and mastering |
| | | | |
| Artist development is a huge area overlooked | | | | *Basic knowledge of manufacturing, |
| by far too many artists and bands. Let's | | | | distribution, and sales online, brick and |
| explore the question, "What is artist | | | | mortar and air-play |
| development"? | | | | |
| | | | *Good choices in members, staff and advisors |
| A record label A&R rep once "discovered" | | | | |
| fresh new faces in clubs, bars or word of | | | | *Physical and mental preparedness |
| mouth and would then support them, cultivate | | | | |
| their creativeness, build up their fan base, | | | | *Basic knowledge of finances, accounting |
| and guide their direction with the intent of | | | | |
| turning them into superstars. All of this of | | | | *Law and legal issues: publishing, |
| course, was with the intent of selling those | | | | copyrighting, trademarks, and an attorney |
| 45's, LPs, cassette's and CDs. Gradually, | | | | |
| many labels moved more into product | | | | *Alternative career options - even athletes |
| development, which meant they are focused | | | | need to have other options! |
| more on the immediacy of sales of the latest | | | | |
| CD (product) released, and not bringing the | | | | Tending to all areas of your music career may |
| artist up to that point. And more often than | | | | make the difference between a one hit wonder |
| not, naive artists were at the labels mercy. | | | | and longevity in this business. It's been |
| | | | said, "If you think this is a piece of cake, |
| In this Internet age, it is more the artist | | | | you better go bake one." The music business, |
| or band themselves that must build the | | | | again, is a business. Businesses need to make |
| quality sound that is ready as a commercially | | | | money. That's worth repeating - the music |
| viable product. On top of that, they need to | | | | business is a BUSINESS. Take the time to find |
| have an already established fan base, basic | | | | out all you can about each of these steps in |
| music business skills, perhaps even the early | | | | your journey. |
| music sales of a well produced CD. Labels are | | | | |
| looking for pre-packaged, very talented | | | | That being said, an up and coming artist must |
| musicians that are already showing their | | | | begin somewhere...and if a career in the |
| value. | | | | music business is the goal, then any |
| | | | naiveté must be addressed immediately! |
| A music career is a charted path to follow. | | | | Knowledge is power. Power gives you leverage. |
| Artist development involves all the issues | | | | And who knows...that entrepreneurial artist |
| surrounding and arising from that charted | | | | may just find they don't need that particular |
| path, and crosses into knowledge of product | | | | record deal after all. |
| development - the ultimate sale of the music. | | | | |