Here’s an email I sent to a few of my friends that are currently musicians. I also included pieces of a Bob Lefsetz email list that I subscribe to. You can find it at
http://www.lefsetz.com/
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Yo dudes-
I’m forwarding this to you guys because all of you have serious talent and I love you. Pay special attention to the last 3 lines, but check out this email article.
I grew up thinking that the way you made it big was by being “found” somehow. Luckily, that isn’t the case anymore. It’s how long can you stay in the game while continuing to innovate new music.
Just remember that YOU make yourself in this industry today.
Do people like you? Can you quantify it?
The business doesn’t really care about the music you make – they care about bodies and revenue, and whether you sound ENOUGH like MGMT or Vampire Weekend or As I Lay Dieing or Mayday Parade to be able to play with the big boys.
But the fans care. You can reach them, because of the net, and the fact you’re talented and creative and make awesome music.
Just thought I’d share.
Bob’s email:
What if conventional wisdom isn’t conventional?
………..
They tell us people like the beat-infused Top Forty. They tell us the best way to make a star is on TV, preferably “American Idol”. They tell us the major labels’ model has to be protected. But IS THIS TRUE?
Everything’s up for grabs. It no longer matters what Rush Limbaugh says, nor the RIAA. Everyone’s questioning what’s fed to them, they’re dong independent research and coming to their own conclusions.
Like:
1. Physical formats are dead.
2. Music is overpriced.
3. The concert ticket game is rigged.
4. Today’s acts suck.
But, but, BUT you say, CDs still sell and…
You’re making the same mistake the mainstream press did. You’re paying attention to the fading minority. Or as Henry Ford once said, “If I’d listened to customers, I’d have given them a faster horse.”
Market research doesn’t tell you where the future lies. Steve Jobs didn’t ask people whether they wanted an iPad, HE MADE IT!
Market research said no one would rent videos, and then everybody did. Market research says people don’t want to rent music, but if you don’t think the Spotify/streaming model will triumph, your head is truly up your ass.
It’s just a matter of when.
Now is the time to take the ball and run it up the middle.
Now is the time to create truly great music, not worrying about what gatekeepers say, taking it straight to the public.
There’s no center.
Doug Morris just isn’t that powerful.
Nor is Lucian Grainge.
And whatever power Irving Azoff has is limited. He doesn’t control music distribution. He may have a bit of a corner on live exhibition, but that’s just a piece of the puzzle.
It’s a whole new world! Doesn’t matter what the fat cats, the usual suspects, those who once had power, have to say. Not a whit.
It matters what the Web constituency has to say.
Yes, people still listen to radio, but there are people who still buy CDs, DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO THE FADING MINORITY! That’s like trumpeting Sarah Palin for President. She can’t win. Numbers will tell you this. But the mainstream media likes the story. But she’s just about irrelevant.
And I’m not saying the Democrats are princes, but when Obama and Pelosi finally grabbed the ball, stopped pussyfooting, challenged their critics and ignored naysayers, they got something done!
Stop listening to those who say you can’t. Their opinion is worthless. Doesn’t matter if the A&R guy doesn’t like your music. Doesn’t matter if radio ignores you either.
It comes down to this, DO THE PEOPLE LIKE YOU?
Do they?
Numbers don’t lie. How many fans have truly downloaded your music? How big is your mailing list? How many Twitter followers do you have? If none of these numbers are large, either you’re the worst marketer in creation or you suck. Or both.
But if you’re good, now more than ever, it’s your time. People don’t care about the chart. They don’t care about what the mainstream says. They care about what their friends and trusted filters say. They’re making their own decisions. Play to them, they’re the only ones who count.
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