It’s inarguable that choosing a career in the music business is taking a path that is filled with pitfalls and frustrations, with failure always looming like a hair-strung anvil above you. This is particularly true if you want your career to be, y’know, a career and not simply a hobby.
So what is it that sees so many artists fail to make a living off of that which they are most passionate about and love to enjoy? Why do some artists go on to financial stability because of their music and even earn big bucks, selling out stadiums, and topping charts, while others struggle to make a dollar.
According to a recent op-ed from “producer turned manager/A&R rep, turned magazine publisher/speaker” Shaine Freeman, via Hypebot, the primary issue that plagues most (not all) failed artists is a failure to view their music careers from a business perspective.
“When we first started to seriously consider music as a career option, we all – if we’re honest – imagined this 30+ year career that included an enormous accumulation of financial wealth and notoriety. We imagined ourselves in the best studios with the top creative minds in music, touring the world,” writes Freeman.
“We didn’t consider that all of these amazing things were the result of business transactions that involved invoices, attorneys, managers, agents, record labels, publishing companies, marketing execs, performing rights organizations, publicists, accountants, and even the IRS.”
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Freeman’s basic argument is that while it’s an artist’s natural instinct to focus on the creative aspects of their career — songwriting, recording, and playing live — neglecting the business side in favour of creativity is not only shortsighted, but also counterintuitive.
“Sadly, many artists are willing to (and do) spend more money and time on the creative aspects of their careers than on the areas that will actually pay their bills. This baffles me. I was once told by a major label A&R rep: ‘For every $1 you spend on recording, you must spend $2 on marketing and promotions.'”
According to Freeman, “In many cases, it isn’t until artists have emptied out their bank accounts and have nothing to show for it but a few boxes of CDs and T-shirts in their closets that they realise they didn’t think things through… So, now it becomes even more pressing to figure out a way to recoup at least some of what’s been spent, because the rent is due and their stomachs are growling.”
Those who tend to be successful in the music industry, with a healthy fan base and a solid income made from music, Freeman says, are those who educate themselves about “the business side of their dream job” and subsequently approach it with a proper plan in place that accounts for the business side of things.
“Ultimately, it’s up to the artist to decide whether or not earning a living in music is important. If it isn’t that serious for you, then you’re likely just a hobbyist. But if you view music as the only career path you want for yourself, then start educating yourself about how the business side works.”
