I think the first lesson or advice that springs
to mind, is patience in the music industry,
oh how you need so much of that, when
things aren’t going as quickly as you would
like you must have patience rather than
harass. All too many artists dive in chasing
and chasing which only puts people off,
then they tend to become stroppy, email
you rude and annoying messages, and
before they know it, they have lost the
attention and respect of that person. Why?
because for some reason some artists seem
to think we will drop everything and
everyone just to promote them, when fact
is that will never happen. If you want help
from someone and that someone is a big
label, a big promoter, or a busy pr company
then you have to gear yourself up knowing
that those people receive hundreds if not
thousands of requests a day. Diving in and
speaking in a rude fashion will not only ruin
your reputation as an artist, but it will also
deter others from working with you many
years down the line. So yes learn to have
patience because in this industry your
going to need it to
survive.*******************************
PLANNING & STRATEGY:
If you don’t have a sense of direction, you
will not make it in the music business.
Define your career trajectory and outline
the steps to get there.
Create a plan & set goals as to what you
need to accomplish weekly, monthly and
yearly. Be progressive, reach bench marks
and keep at it.
Bigger Battles are won as a result of smaller
victories..An effective game plan includes a
combination of short term & long term
strategies.
Your business Plan is your road map to
success. Every aspiring indie label or
production company should have one.
The features of a Music Business Plan
include: Mission, Goals, Target Market,
Marketing Strategy, Revenue Streams,
competition assessment, Break Even
Analysis, Expected Sales & Management
Team
Every artist or producer should have a
“Mission Statement.” A well defined
“Mission Statement” focuses your energy &
clarifies your purpose.
Being an artist or producer is a “business”
just like any other, and it should never be
treated as anything less..
Would you open a store without any
investment capital? So, what makes being
an indie label or production company any
different?
Every hustler knows that it “takes money to
make money.” So stop asking for hand outs.
If you believe in yourself, then invest in
yourself.
As an independent artist, If you can get
10,000 downloads on your own, then you
really don’t need to be signed to a major
label..
Nowadays an artist has to be like a
politician. You have to have a platform and
an agenda. And you must get out there on
the campaign trail..
Equally important, it’s imperative that you
get professional high resolution photos
completed for media positioning, press and
publicity.
Additionally, try to build relationships with
people outside of the music industry like in
the fields of film, fashion,and errr Bloggers
SONGWRITING::
Music is an “art” & when you treat it strictly
as a business you get “Fast Food” or shall
we say “Fast Music” with little substance.
The Music Industry is not dead, people just
want to hear good music instead of the one
dimensional form of music that they’re
being force fed.
There is no time limit on the creative
process. Don’t try to “Rush A Hit”. Take your
time & make sure the song meets certain
musical standards
Often times a “great” song can lose its
quality and explosiveness due to a poor mix
and mastering.. So choose your engineer
wisely.
And pay Producers what they are worth…
They have a business just like you.
HIPHOP::
The underground is what keeps Hip Hop
Alive…The underground is what gives Hip
Hop it’s vitality.
Hip Hop artists are in the unique position to
influence others with their mere words
alone. Now that’s power!
There’s a big difference in being an
“Emcee” and being a “Rapper”.
An Emcee embodies the heart of a rapper,
but a rapper can never embody the soul of
an Emcee.
For a lot of youth who don’t have proper
parenting, Hip Hop serves as a step parent,
so to speak, molding & shaping the minds
of tomorrow.
Behavioral scientists have concluded that
music affects one’s actions & thought
patterns. It can affect the way one talks,
dresses or reacts.
Sadly, many elements within Gangsta rap
today draw parallels to the dehumanizing
images portrayed in DW Griffith’s “Birth of A
Nation.”
Many rappers have sacrificed their moral
integrity in order to chase the illusion
known as the American Dream – Stay true
to yourself!
Find a cause or venture that requires you to
give back: Self sacrifice & duty to your
community is essential – it’s Bigger than Hip
Hop!
Ask not what Hip Hop can do for you…Ask
what you can do for Hip Hop… Keep the
culture Alive..
PROMOTING::
I see all too many artists over promoting
tracks and links to soundcloud on Facebook
& twitter, to the point that they continually
spam people’s comments with “Check out
this track” which is never relevant to the
conversation happening. Guys this is bad
promotion, not only will people become
pissed off with you as an artist but they
won’t click and listen either. This is an
ongoing thing on Facebook & twitter and
although artists think people will pay
attention, truth is they don’t and won’t so
stop it. Just because you have access to
share things easily Online doesn’t mean to
say that you can go ahead and promote
yourself in an annoying way. Be selective
about whom you share your tracks with,
add a personal note in pm to a particular
person and tell them if they have time
would they mind sharing feedback on your
current track. It works better and will do
you the world of good in the end.
Lots of Blogs out there be sure to have your
songs posted on a one that will give
maximum downloads..
TO BE CONTINUED::::

While this is advice for young visual artist


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOaJV5STMKY
One day you would be matured and very busy in a field unrelated to art, the old sketches are the only way to escape the rat race of the 9 till 5.