what have YOU learned about/from the music industry in recent years?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PBoyProducer
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lol, gettin ur hopes up is the LAST thing u should do, never ever!!
thats fine with more stable careers and whatnot but music, fam, thats music 101...some of yall need to read a book....theeee book, its like the bible for music business
 
ACakaOMALS said:
it just doesn't fit in with the overall sound.
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what "overall sound"?

ACakaOMALS said:
make sure you are in control of what is taking place
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what perspective are you speaking from? the artist's? the producah'z? give an example.

ACakaOMALS said:
Too many people are not here to help you get to your goals. Everybody has there own agenda and things that they want to get accomplished.
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& why should they be? they have their own goals...what's in it for them? what's SUPPOSED to be in it for them?

ACakaOMALS said:
Only have people on your team that could benefit EACH OTHER
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what's the best way to ensure that each party involved equally benefits the other?
 
[F_or_DEAF] said:
what "overall sound"?



what perspective are you speaking from? the artist's? the producah'z? give an example.



& why should they be? they have their own goals...what's in it for them? what's SUPPOSED to be in it for them?



what's the best way to ensure that each party involved equally benefits the other?
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I am speaking from a producer's stand point.

Any project you are working on. If you are contributing to an album, the album will generally have a sound. It's not to say you suck, but your stuff might not fit the sound. If you are just submitting beats and not actually in the studio you might not have a feel for the exact mood they are trying to create. I was giving an example of why you wouldn't get your hopes up on every project that comes along. I had a pretty big opportunity that didn't go through in the end. It wasn't because there was a lack of quality, it was more so because they decided to go into a different direction sonically. I got really hyped for the opportunity and that is when I learned to not get your hopes up.

I wasn't saying that people should want to help you for your betterment (is that a word?). From working with other artists I learned that not everybody understands that simple logic. I think dudes take themselves too seriously and don't understand that other dudes don't actually care about the artist, or whoever it is they are trying to help. Dudes don't always understand the business aspect of it, would probably be a better way to explain it.
 
[F_or_DEAF] said:
what exactly does that mean? people don't care about the artist? how does that work?



what is it that they should probably know that they don't know?
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Didn't think I was wording it that bad to have to explain everything...

Dudes don't care about the artist as a person. Dudes don't care about the producer as a person. Dudes don't care about YOU as a person. What I was saying from a business aspect, I think people forget they are a commodity and not a person. When people start talking nice about them, it has nothing to do with them as a person, it has something to do with them as a commodity. Your friends are with you from highs to lows. The business is with you when you are peaking.
 
ACakaOMALS said:
I think people forget they are a commodity and not a person. When people start talking nice about them, it has nothing to do with them as a person, it has something to do with them as a commodity.
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damn...

that's some cold shyt...but some real shyt right there...
 
ACakaOMALS said:
Didn't think I was wording it that bad to have to explain everything...

Dudes don't care about the artist as a person. Dudes don't care about the producer as a person. Dudes don't care about YOU as a person. What I was saying from a business aspect, I think people forget they are a commodity and not a person. When people start talking nice about them, it has nothing to do with them as a person, it has something to do with them as a commodity. Your friends are with you from highs to lows. The business is with you when you are peaking.
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not entirely true though. Celebrity, image, controversy sells...true, they may not care about YOU as a person, your family, the struggles you go through, but at the same time...they do, depending on who you ask.

a lot of "normal" people outside the music, film and entertainment community LOVE controversy, death, drama, etc. If you don't think so, why is the Entertainment Tonight's, TMZ, Media Takeout's surviving? Why are people still taking about the kanye/taylor shyt? b/c they LOVE drama, they love to see a person's downfall, they love to see struggle, it entertains them (us?).

i do agree..the "business" is most of the time only with your when you are peeking, but at the same time, there is money to be made when you are falling. i.e. a lot of people will make money of of Michael Jackson's last footage from his rehearsals. people LOVE the fact that Whitney came back from bobby and crack and released a new album that is doing well.

so yes, they may not care about your WELLBEING as a person, but they do care. some love to see you rise, some love to see you fall, thats the only difference IMO.
 
that the labels are setup to rape you with no vasaline and will if you arent careful
 
Here is the ONE Principal that changed my Game forever:

When reppin': That which you give off, is that which you will receive. Rep your artistic work with positive outlook, and supportive energy.

A while back and 9 Months into producing, I finally decided to demo my tracks. Here is how I demoed it to listeners (At college, work, car..etc.)

I said to listener(s), Before Demo: "I just started, so I'm not all that great!" and "I've been only doing it for 9 months, tell me what you think!" - (None the less, I did believe in my work)
Feedback, After Demo: "It's OK! keep at it." - Response, 90% of the time

I got massive amounts of negative feedback in a short time scale, but only one feedback struck a chord with me from a local pro studio. I simply asked "Why is no one feeling my tracks?!"...

And so, I played my tracks, and after a brief pause.. they said to me: "Its alright! you've been only doing it for so long... I think its because you need to mix it better!"..

Feeling let down, I thought maybe that's it! I went to guitar center to buy some good speakers to help me mix my sound better. I played my tracks on some speakers, and 15mins after..to my surprise... I noticed that there were random folks who were vibin with it. Many commented that my sound was hot... nothing I was expecting. I even exchanged numbers with a few producers and a songwriter that day.

After that experience, I started reppin' my sound a lot better, like: "I got some hot tracks, listen.."

In Return: Over 60% of feedback was positive, a big step-up from 10%.

This principal and tool is known to many upcoming producers and artists. But they just don't use it or treat it as a guidline.
 
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xtrordinare said:
lol, gettin ur hopes up is the LAST thing u should do, never ever!!
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So true, sadly. Dreaming also gets you nowhere.

It takes a lot of work (in the beginning for free, just to get a resume); self-promotion and marketing; pure hustling...and sadly, luck - you just happen to be at the right place with the right person at some moment in time.

Looking at the industry today - you can't help but think that actual talent and success don't go hand in hand. A certain ringtone king comes to mind...but's enough on that subject. ;)
 
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Don't piss on anyone 'cause these musicians **** back big turds.
 
what have i learned?

a lot of artists who are unhappy in their situations have to put on a fake front to make everything seem like they're not on a sinking ship.. cant let the world see the families struggles

i've learned that just working on your music, and not worrying about placements will get you further than hitting up everybody asking "where do i submit beats"

Word of Mouth is still one of the best promotion of all time

ive learned that music is mere form of promotion to other ways to generate revenue.. album sales have never really been the main money maker for artists, but now that stands even more true.

ive learned that everybody has Voyeuristic tendencies.. we love to watch people make beats, love to see people in a home environment, love to interact with people on what seems like a personal level.. thats what makes social networking sites so much more popular, and websites like BlogTV, and Ustream so popular nowadays

ive learned that as a producer your Brand is worth more than your beats no matter how good they are or how good you think they are

lots of **** in the last year or two
 
If you plan on making it you have to operate like a business and
make business moves as well as think business minded ...

Its the only way you will be taken serious ... Unless you have a friend
with alot of money to contribute to the cause and buy your way up).
 
[F_or_DEAF] said:
don't EVERYBODY be sayin' that?
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From my experience, No!

Some are good at it.
Some practice it, but are not consistent.
Some know it, but just don't bother with it.
Some do it way overboard which makes them seem to cocky.

I would like to clarify that the quote you quoted is just an example, not a replica of what I do say. There are examples that can demonstrate the above categories, but I'd like to keep things short for now.
 
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alot of timez image is more important than actually sounding good...

i dont understand it but thatz how it iz...

also keep your head in the game, run good business and do not trust other people with even slightly important jobs.
 
as20gp said:
what have i learned?

a lot of artists who are unhappy in their situations have to put on a fake front to make everything seem like they're not on a sinking ship.. cant let the world see the families struggles

i've learned that just working on your music, and not worrying about placements will get you further than hitting up everybody asking "where do i submit beats"

Word of Mouth is still one of the best promotion of all time

ive learned that music is mere form of promotion to other ways to generate revenue.. album sales have never really been the main money maker for artists, but now that stands even more true.

ive learned that everybody has Voyeuristic tendencies.. we love to watch people make beats, love to see people in a home environment, love to interact with people on what seems like a personal level.. thats what makes social networking sites so much more popular, and websites like BlogTV, and Ustream so popular nowadays

ive learned that as a producer your Brand is worth more than your beats no matter how good they are or how good you think they are

lots of **** in the last year or two
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Good post...
 
I've learned not to trust anyone who says their hot until I listen to their music and my ears can confirm that.

I've learned a lot of models will just venture out into "singing"...soooo just because someone has the look, doesn't mean they have the talent.

I've learned it's difficult to work with ppl who value their own ideas more than the final product. If someone is humble and can share a common goal with you, it makes for a much smoother collaboration.

I've learned to trust actions more than words.

I've learned that a lot of ppl who don't take the time to understand the business side of things are either not in the game or rely on others to maintain their business.

That's enough for now.
 
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