Are Musicians Perpetuating The Industry Myth?
By Robin Davey
Record companies used to be a musicians religion - one day we will be rewarded for all our hardships in contractual heaven. Trouble is, the reality of those contracts, and being locked into a system that refused to change with its environment, has proved to be a long way from paradise.
Bands who were with those labels and able to jump ship and do their own thing, did. They realized direct to fan marketing made them a lot more money than the labels ever could.
In response, the labels, rather than being able to offer 'musical heaven' started preaching about the hell we were all slipping into, and the file sharing devils leading us that way. Some musicians are all too willing to buy this hook line and sinker. They love to believe that this is the reason people don't buy their records, that no one comes to the shows, it because we are all in this hell, caused by music haters.
Really?
What the labels failed to see was that these were music lovers, wanting to consume and to share their passion, these are the people who fueled the industry, who paid for the private jets and limos. More often than not, for the record execs instead of the artists who actually made the music.
I remember sitting around a table a year or so back and alongside me were some good friends; between us we had around 60 years of experience in the music business. Each had at one time or another been signed to a major label, some like myself, multiple times, and we were all feeling the full effect of the recession, both musically and domestically.
We were joined that evening by a 20ish year old guitar player who proceeded to tell us everything that was wrong with the industry. Its barren state and the obstacles towering in front of him. He was so caught up in the drama of the situation, wallowing in the metaphorical pity of this musical cancer eating away at him, he failed to see that maybe the people accompanying him that evening might be able to offer some illuminating perspective.
Looking back at this conversation has made me wonder, are musicians just as guilty as the major labels, in perpetuating the myth of the quagmire we are all supposedly in.
The failure rate for musicians has always been inordinately high. If your idea of success is selling out concert halls and being followed by TMZ cameras it is even more so. Just like any clique, the musically minded have their fair share of drama queens. We as a group also have terrible entitlement issues, we do what we do because we believe we are special and that we are the one who's uniqueness trumps all others. If only we were given the opportunity to show the world what we have to offer then everyone would know. Right?
The truth is it has never been easier to show the world what you have to offer. The average person on facebook has 70 or so friends, that is 70 people who are willing to hear your latest creation. Pasting a link to your music is all it takes. When I started playing in a band we would travel 50 miles to play for three people and a dog (yes it actually happened). But we went back and played to 30 then 60. It took 3 months to reach the same amount of people you can do know in one click.
We are starting to see reports emerging that are painting a rosier picture of the Industry, bands who have slowly been making foot holes, quietly clocking up gigs, doing the groundwork, perfecting their craft, they are reaping the rewards. It's not all about the new music industry - its about the old one too. If you can couple creating a great live experience with the accessibility now on offer from the web, it is totally conceivable to build a career that never needs the insertion of record company big bucks or radio play.
Which brings me back to my friends dining with me that evening. They were there because I had asked them to help me out, I was making a music video the budget wasn't huge I couldn't pay them what they clearly deserved. One - a guitarist who has played with everyone you know, and chances are you will probably hear a song today with him playing on it. He did playback for me. Another was doing second camera even though he himself was a director in his own right and an accomplished musician. They were both thoroughly more deserved than than any position I could give them. But they came for the pittance I was paying them and gave it their all, without complaint and said they would do it again if asked.
There has indeed been a slump in the business, but this happened to everyone because of the recession, not just musicians.
My friends who helped me out that day because they were too feeling the effects and needed a little extra cash, worked hard and pushed through. One is now playing in front of 10,000 people every night with his current gig, the other just signed a deal in Europe for his latest project.
I have never heard anything more about the 20ish year old guitar players band.
Sometimes, those who quietly fit in to the surroundings and get shit done, are the ones that are actually heard the loudest.
