Since the early 2000's the music industry has gone through some drastic changes, leaving some behind while others had new opportunities to flourish.
In the digital revolution a lot of bands and artists lost their record deals, large established recording facilities closed their doors and record labels were dropping like flies. A flood of affordable computer based recording equipment hit the market allowing anyone with some spare cash - the opportunity of owning a home recording studio. Piracy was at an all-time high, file sharing became the norm amongst a large number of young music lovers and all of a sudden the music industry was at its knees with a choice to either evolve or implode.
These circumstances caused an incredible balance shift. For those still signed to record labels, budgets for new records had dropped. Which in turn made studios, producers and engineers lower their rates so they can attract business.
Also, home studios had become viable options, but to keep competitive, they started undercutting each other forcing the standard rates for recording to drop to an all time low. Everyone was fighting for their little place in this mesh of chaos and opportunity.
It didn’t take long for the slightly more established music makers to realize the truth behind “You get what you pay for”. And for that reason, a professional ear will always have a demand. Experience and insight into making sonically good-sounding records will always be a selling point above someone who is more affordable yet lacks real-world experience.
The record labels that survived had turned to the internet and created new ways of selling and marketing music directly to the end user. These crazy times forced everyone who had been making a living out of music to re-examine the way they did business. Now the music industry is slowly but surely finding its feet again.
The internet has endless possibilities for marketing, broadcasting and sustaining a career in music. Music makers now have the ability to showcase their music like never before; causing a sea of great and mediocre music to flood the digital world all at once leaving the end user often confused and frustrated when it comes to finding good music (that isn’t mainstream). Before the digital revolution only the good were signed, or could afford to record. That exclusivity helped create some kind of quality control that has now taken a large knock.
So what is my advice to music makers trying to make it in this brave new digital world? It has never been more important for you to take your music seriously.
Work hard to create better and innovative music and craft meaningful high quality products. Even if it takes some time and costs a little more than you would like. Know your music business like you know the back of your hand, and network intelligently. Use all the opportunities on the internet wisely, research other success stories and learn from the pioneers of this new digital age. It has never been easier for you to access information!
And remember that the only way to stick out from the rest is to make something truly special. Hard work always pays off in the end no matter who you are.
Dylan Ellis
Music Producer
Photo by kteague
