When was the last time you paid $12 or more for a CD? For many, it has been years. It’s really no wonder why so many people have stopped spending their hard earned money on overpriced CD’s. People used to go out and buy a CD because they heard one song on the radio that they really liked, and a lot of times that CD would only have one or two hit songs on it.
The Internet has changed how music is delivered to the consumer, as well as how music is marketed. With unit sales from traditional record labels down over the past few years, it seems evident that most music delivery is coming from online sources. Given the trend in artists self-producing their own records and fans downloading free music online, it makes sense for companies to get into the business of offering top quality services to both the listener and the artist. One internet company that is well positioned to be on the cutting edge of the new trend in music downloads is SoundXposure.com (www.soundxposure.com)
For the music fan, the online radio at SoundXposure plays top rated music from a wide variety of genres. They will be able to browse through a variety of new collections, featured artists or just listen to the radio stations playing hits from the Underground Music Charts. If you’re left a little broke at the end of the month because you got a little overzealous on one of the traditional download sites, don’t worry, SoundXposure is a free music download site. You can download music legally and listen to top new rock songs, while you’re checking out the underground music charts. With all of the legal issues that have happened in the past with downloading music on the internet, it can be a little confusing. You won’t have to worry about any of that on SoundXposure. The artist has full control over whether to allow free downloads or not. Because most underground artists are looking for more exposure, it is usually in their best interest to spread their music far and wide by allowing free music downloads.
And what about the artist? If your old enough you have probably heard stories about bands that flooded every radio station and record label they could think of with demo recordings hoping to get “discovered”. With good timing and some plain old dumb luck the demo might actually get listened to, but most likely would end up in the trash (electronic or otherwise). The fact is that it costs money to develop and market a new artist. The prudent thing for a major record label to do is to wait until the independent artist is on the verge of breaking through on their own, saving a lot of preparation work and money. It has been said that many newly signed artists are living on borrowed money, taking an advance on record sales that may or may not come about. Marketing expenses and other fees are taken out of the artists share leaving most newly signed artists in the hole financially, contractually bound to make more records with the same results.
One of the main things that online music sites such as SoundXposure can offer to the artist is the opportunity to develop a strong fan base by giving fans what they want to hear. When listeners take the time to download free music or just listen to the online radio, they have the ability to leave feedback by rating the song they listened to. Highly rated artists are listed on the Underground Music Charts, and therefore get more exposure to new listeners. Once the independent artist has a strong fan base, they open up many opportunities to be in control of their own music careers. They will have a stronger bargaining position with labels or if they choose, can simply market and distribute their music under their own independent label. Artists will also have the capacity to use the tools provided at SoundXposure to book their own tours and promote themselves online, including giving the artist the ability to create their own webpage for their band with Search Engine Optimization or SEO. SEO is simply a method of improving the rank of your webpage in the search engines. What this means for you is that when an individual does a search, for example, on rock musicians Texas, your webpage will be higher up on the list they see. Another example would be a search for “rock musicians Texas listen to free music” or whatever you feel your fans will be searching for. Your goal is to reach as many people as possible through your website and this will assist you in finding listeners all over the world. For a small fee, an artist can have SoundXposure assist them with promotional matters, as well.
The fact is the music industry has changed immensely since the development of the Internet and it provides another avenue in which an artist can promote music online and retain more control over their work. Independent artists are now able to spend a nominal amount of money and self-produce a high quality recording which they can then start marketing online. In the past, many artists succumbed to their marketing manager, tour manager and the record label. They simply followed directions from the band management. With this development, however, artists can book their own tours, get their music out to a larger audience, and maintain more control of how their music is marketed. With the tools provided at SoundXposure, the artist will not have to be an expert in these areas of management to do well. The Internet makes it that easy and SoundXposure is there to assist the artist on their way to the top.
Whether you’re a listener interested in a free music download or an artist hoping for feedback, promotion, and a wider listener base, SoundXposure can provide you with what you need. Having kept up with the changing face of the music industry, SoundXposure is well worth checking out.
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Help answer the question aboutUS Music Industry
My band needs exposure in the music industry on a national scale.?
I'm in a young band out of Cincinnati, Ohio called Sheffield. We are signed to an indie label, Blue Monkey Records, and have swelled quickly to the top of our local music scene. We need help getting ourselves national exposure, as our goal is to get ourselves attention from a major label. If you are honestly familiar with todays music industry, could you give us a suggestion, or if were really lucky, perhaps a contact. Give a listen to our music and tell us if you can help. Were at:
www.myspace.com/sheffieldusa
or
www.purevolume.com/sheffield
Thank you so much for your time.
As a musician myself, here's my opinion:
Dedication. This doesn't necessarily mean playing guitar for 5 hours each day. You have to be well versed in the trade, after all, it is a profession; so like other professions, you need experience and training.
Training doesn't have to be at a school of any kind, surround yourself with other musicians. But the key here is to surround yourself with musicians from ALL genres, it might sound goofy, but you could learn a lot. Many metal solos known for there speed and the scales they play are derived from classical and Spanish guitar, go figure.
Also try to be around older more seasoned musicians. Maybe uncles or family friends.
Network, network, network!
You could be a very talented musician, but if know one knows of you, you'll never get anywhere. It takes experience to be good at being in a band; there is much more than just playing or singing. You have to be able to get along with EVERYONE. The sound tech, the audience members (even if you don't like them) and other band members. Getting together with other band members may seem like the easiest but it's actually one of the most difficult if you are making a career out of it.
Here's a document that might help, it's on my bands site:
http://www.bluesteele.ca/Performance%5FTips%5Ffor%5FBands.pdf
And always have a back-up plan. Go to school for something else maybe that you could make a career out of. You'll know when you reach a point where you have to decide *go to work today or *leave on tour with the band. That when you know your headed in the right direction. If you dedicate yourself to early you may find yourself without anything. Sounds crazy but it happens all the time.
Good luck!
Wrong
If you have an excellent voice they will SIGNED you.
Nose job? Well if you must if not leave it look at Barbara Streisand
Excellent Vocals conquer everything
Hey many people looks better after surgery, with reputable Dr you would be fine and if its MAKES YOU HAPPY go for it!
Dont listen to people
Be a Barbara Streisand or a Nice nose
your choice either way you already talented
it's getting scary how so many songs have identical numbers of FRAMES, not just minutes and seconds but FRAMES, it shows just how formulaic mainstream music is becoming these days. you can jam to nearly every song on the radio by playing a CGAF or 12 bar blues based progression.
i hope all these mainstream bands are after the fame and money. because if thats the best music they can make then it's truly sad.
The artists of yore had goals that their music was a medium for. While not all old songs had a particular life-changing message, they were created for a purpose: whether to tell a story or purely to entertain, they still had that.
It seems that the today's music is based simply upon money. Rather than creating for a purpose again, they create off what "is selling" and try to alter it enough while still hoping to create another that'll bring in the dollars.
I think a lot of the blame should go on the labels. They base music (audio) off of artists' sex appeal — looks, dancing ability, etc. These aspects really have no bearing on their musical talent, and yet they matter equally (if not more).
It seems that this influence is spreading. It's been noticed in pop, then rap and now even country (?!) Keep in mind, this is mainstream that I'm talking about. Underground has its share of these same cookie-cutter types, but it seems they get weeded out anyway (or, heaven forbid, signed to a label).
I am listening to the service right now. Your thoughts are indeed a tribute.
Thank you for your thoughts.
"Smile though your heart is breaking."
RIP MJ
Ok. Here goes. I read your tome and I hear MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC…I appreciate your sensitivity to the small likelihood that you will ever make a gainful living at music making, and yet I still hear MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC.
So, is it possible for you to do both? What might that look like? Could you study something that makes your heart sing? Could you make music that makes you think? Can the two blend in some way in your life? Can it be a Both "I work" AND "I play music?" This is the challenge I toss out to you.
Follow the Chinese proverb, by the way, it's an excellent one.
Finally, consider the story of my uncle. After 10 years in a corporate job, his post traumatic stress disorder from WWII finally caught up with him. In a moment of what his parents called insanity and I called courage, he quit his job, moved to where he always wanted to live, worked in the evenings in a jazz quartet and docked boats by day, while doing a small version of his former corporate job part-time to pay the rent. He just died after 40 years of a life well-lived.
There is something more to life, it's called Loving Life. My wish for you is that you discover this fully. Live your passion. Follow your dream.
Good luck.
Here are my songs:
Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett – I used to have alot of stress in my life, then one day i was listening to Jimmy Buffet and it hit my like a ton of bricks, like, "Life sucks sometimes, so what? Just relax and have a drink!" His music has really taught me to quit worrying so much about things I have no control over, and make the most out of what I have, and try to have a positive attitude despite crappy circmustances.
Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival – This is my #1 most favorite song of all time. I never get tired of hearing it. I cant really explain why. There arent words to describe how this song makes me feel.
The Weight – The Band – A classic song about life and the games people play with eachother, well written and great melody.
Amarillo By Morning – George Strait – Another song about life, following your dreams, and trying to stay positive even if your dreams kick you in the butt sometimes.
The Thrill is Gone – BB King – For some reason, whenever I'm blue this song always makes me feel good. Its not so much the words, its more like the melody he plays with the guitar after he quits singing. It's like a musical way to describe how I feel when I'm down, and for some reason it makes me feel better
Badlands – Bruce Springsteen – This song sounds like adventure to me, it makes me want to go on a road trip with friends, driving motorcycles through the desert.
A Thousand Miles From Nowhere – Dwight Yoakum – To me this song sounds like learning to accept solitude in your life, and maybe even enjoying it sometimes.
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum – The best God rock song ever recorded, plain and simple
Land of Confusion – Genesis – A great philosophical statement about the way the world is and how we can make it a better place, one person at a time.
Let it Be – The Beatles – Many years ago I was addicted to methamphetamine and often didn't handle it well. I would frequently find my thoughts going into a very dark, scary, paranoid place where nothing seemed right and everything felt hopeless. Then one day when I was bored I just sat down on the bed and started picking out and playing old records at random. When I heard this song, it suddenly make me realize I could turn off the bad, dark thoughts if I was to just let go of it and quit worrying. This song always made me feel better. (I dont do meth anymore, btw.) And this song still makes me relax when I find myself worrying too much.
Great Question, by the way