Alternatives to the Mainstream Record Industry for bands to still be successful

So the record industry bleeds artists dry, but if they don't "get signed" then they play for pittance out of the generosity of their souls

Is there a solution to this dilemma that allows musicians to make money without selling their souls to a record label?

 

Music should not be about money.

 

Yea but if that is your talent, why shouldn't you get paid for it. People always say to find a job you like. Well, there ya go. I think musicians have every right to get paid. And should be able to make a living from it.

 

Here, in my town, there are a plethora of amazing musicians.

1 of the bands that debuted just a few months ago strikes me as distinctly marketable

Their writing, musicianship, and performance are right on key to be a hit with the world

I was talking to their front man, joking that I was afraid they'd get signed and leave town

He touched a bit on this idea of an alternative, but he said one of the hardest parts is to get people to hear you for the first time if you are not already famous

The thought occurred to me that wouldn't it be nice if local music went viral and every local venue was booking great bands from all around all the time and people were hearing amazing new stuff in their hometowns all the time

But local musicians don't make enough off local shows to quit their dayjobs, much less to go on a small-venue tour

So this got me thinking, is there a way for a band like this that has the "it factor" that it takes to blow up and become a big deal to market themselves and be successful without surrendering all to a label (if one ever even bothers to have a listen to them)

 

Self promotion is an important strategy now. Without the help of record Labels.

 

Do it themselves... A lot of bands are creating their own label these days.

 

Yes, plus the internet has opened up so many possibilities.

 

A lot of new bands dont have the resources to start a record label, and the internet still doesnt help very much with getting people to listen. You have to have promotion. That is something early bands had. And thats why they rose to super star fame.

 

Most of the bands I'm into are local and with them it's NOT about the money

They all play here, in town, 1-3ormore times per week

Signing a record contract generally makes it All About The Money for the label, while the artists struggle to meet the labels demands

I agree with mizzy that good musicians should make money from it. At the very least enough that they can focus on their music

But money aside, how would an "unknown" band even expose themselves to people outside of their area when (even small) venues only want to book known bands with a guaranteed crowd and even if they got booked out of town, the gig would cost tons more than they made from it


Pretty much all the bands I'm into out here are going to Austin to play SXSW where they will get exposure to new people (in an absolutely music-saturated environment)

Still every band is holding fundraiser after fundraiser just to help Cut the cost of the trip

 

This is EXACTLY the kind of thing I wanted to brainstorm about

How can bands promote themselves?

People don't really listen to bands they've never heard of on the internet

There's a local radio station here that plays local artists, but they are playing to the band's fan base...

Maybe that would help, if other radio stations played local stuff but also started swapping local music so I'd hear bands from other towns and other towns would hear bands from here

What about the money-making aspect?

 

Well, the demo is still a good strategy. Sometimes the best thing to do is what has worked in the past. Hand out demo cd's at record shops. Mail it to indie labels. Eventually the demo will end up in the right persons hands. But it takes hard work, and persistence.

 

Im glad you are interested in you local music scene! I also think about this subject quite a bit. I have wanted to bring together a way for bands to get needed attention. I had an idea of starting something like youtube, but only for musicians. Rocktube.

 

Actually starting your own label is like starting any other small business as far as legalities goes. That's signing a few documents and filing them with the state for a small fee. Once it's a business all the contracts and what not you might need are readily available in pre-written format.

You will need to record, mix and master your own CD (some suggest leaving the mastering to a pro) Besides selling the CD at shows, there are online distribution sites where people can buy a song or two or the whole CD. If there isn't a band member that's good at promotion, a "promoter" may have to be acquired but watch the legalities there... some of those guys are your worst enemy.

 

But "the industry" itself isn't interested in probably 90% of music being produced. That's the way its always been.

Basically, they know their audience, and realise that people in general just aren't very experimental... they basically want more of the same, which probably acounts for the distressing popularity of tribute acts - looking down the gig list for my area, it seems like almost every other gig is by a tribute act. That's obviously the way to go if you want regular income, around here at least.

If you want to push towards new horizons, then basically you're going to have to do it yourself, because if it cant be pigeon-holed neither the industry or the public will be interested.

William Shakespeare summed it up pretty well in Julius Caesar-

Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights;
Yond' Cassius has a mean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous​

You can bet Cassius didn't get the recording contract...



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