When it comes to indie music, the next big thing may be right around the corner and you wouldn’t even know it. Due to the marketing of big-label artists, many struggling bands have been forced into obscurity in the past. But, not long ago, the world entered a new phase in music making with the rise of the internet and music hasn’t been the same since.
There was an article in the NY TIMES recently about musicians and the advent of the internet that further explored this dynamic by taking to some of these self-made Do-It-Yourself ‘rockstars’. Specifically, the article focused on New York-based singer Jonathan Coulton. Coulton was a computer programmer a few years ago who liked making music in his spare time but figured he’d never get anywhere if he didn’t just make the leap to full time music-making. He quit his job and started posting a song a week on his personal website. Cut to a few years later, and he is making between $3,000 and $5,000 a week doing what he loves, all from his home and never having to deal with a label.
Much of the record industry will blame the internet for destroying music as we know it, from mp3s and Napster to albums ‘leaking’ to the public before they are supposed to be released. And, truth be told, there has been a decline in record sales overall. But people like Coulton and other indie bands, are relying on this same medium to turn them into overnight success stories.
These bands use grass-roots marketing approach, and get a hand from their fans to get their music out there…and the fans love being a part of it. The level of barriers between a musician and a fan used to be vast. Now, with only a mouse click and an email, you can be in contact with some of your favorites. Your fans are your audience, your consumer and your biggest critic….it’s nice to see artists out there who want to jump right to that market and skip the middle-man mentality of a label.
Maybe the labels should take a look at themselves before blaming MP3s for their lack of sales.
There was an article in the NY TIMES recently about musicians and the advent of the internet that further explored this dynamic by taking to some of these self-made Do-It-Yourself ‘rockstars’. Specifically, the article focused on New York-based singer Jonathan Coulton. Coulton was a computer programmer a few years ago who liked making music in his spare time but figured he’d never get anywhere if he didn’t just make the leap to full time music-making. He quit his job and started posting a song a week on his personal website. Cut to a few years later, and he is making between $3,000 and $5,000 a week doing what he loves, all from his home and never having to deal with a label.
Much of the record industry will blame the internet for destroying music as we know it, from mp3s and Napster to albums ‘leaking’ to the public before they are supposed to be released. And, truth be told, there has been a decline in record sales overall. But people like Coulton and other indie bands, are relying on this same medium to turn them into overnight success stories.
These bands use grass-roots marketing approach, and get a hand from their fans to get their music out there…and the fans love being a part of it. The level of barriers between a musician and a fan used to be vast. Now, with only a mouse click and an email, you can be in contact with some of your favorites. Your fans are your audience, your consumer and your biggest critic….it’s nice to see artists out there who want to jump right to that market and skip the middle-man mentality of a label.
Maybe the labels should take a look at themselves before blaming MP3s for their lack of sales.
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1 comment:
I like how you said it, "middle man mentality". That's so true. Why not make your own music and 'label' if you can! Why do the big labels have to stay in the middle of it. With the technology of today, people who are savvy and the knowledge should have the right to make their own music and label if they are able to. It just shows how multi-talented one person can be. As long as they are being honest and ethical with their work and putting the music out there and the fans are buying it, then the artist should be able to make it happen. I do not think this is much different from the travel agents being cut out when everyone started purchasing tickets and making their own reservations by the internet.
My only problem with skipping the big label is the sensorship. At least the government has some hold on them. There is so much garbage on the internet anyway and since I don't buy music, so I'm not familiar with how it is sold, or downloaded. But I sure wouldn't want my children to get a hold of some of it with out me being able to check it out first.
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