THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS (#1)

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THE TRUE REALITIES OF BECOMING A MUSIC SUPERSTAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MARKET

THE BASIC THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS

Well in today’s music business, it takes more than writing a good song, or being a talented musician to reach stardom. Since most stars are usually signed by a major record label also referred as “the big boys� (Sony Music, Universal, Warner Brothers, etc…) So, in term, it has become every artist’s dream to get signed by one of these major record labels to be assured the proper exposure in the main stream media (MTV, VH1, BET) and achieve the “Superstar� status that most artist want to achieve.

So, let’s look some of what it takes to get a recording contract with a record label. Before going into the specifics of the above, let me give you a good and a bad news about this industry.

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First the bad news: Given the current reality of the music business, one stands a better chance of getting hit by a bus than having a Number one hit record on the charts. With today’s technological revolution which greatly affected the industry, added to the millions of artists from all over the world competing for that one spot, it is not an easy road.

Believe me, the record executives in the major record labels are not holding their breath to receive a particular artist’s demo, and when they do receive a demo, most of the time, the answer is “No�... So if you are the type of artists that doubt yourself at every bad news, then you should really think of getting out the business now, if not, toughen up and make sure your material is the best thing since slice bread.

Now the good news: This is the best time to break into the music business. Many factors like the free downloads on the internet and the whole digital revolution have somewhat lessen the stronghold of the major record companies in the business. So, in term the artists have more tools and accessible platforms to promote themselves and create their own buzz before approaching a record label. Believe it or not, it makes a big difference when a record label hears about an artist and look for that artist then the other way around. And generally nowadays, the labels are giving more ownership and more lead way to the proven artist.

After all, these major record labels are also big cash cows, with many executives earning big salaries, etc…and at the end of the day there is one equation which can override everything : “no new hits songs + no new stars = no paycheck = no jobs. True, they may not be holding their breath on anyone’s particular demos, but they do rely on the next good song, or the next great potential artist to keep their job.

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You have probably heard the old saying to make it in the music industry: “ first you gotta pay your dues� to me, that phrase is a myth, because making it in the music business is not about paying your dues, it’s about learning how the industry works, refining your talent, setting career goals, planning and taking action.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s actually a “process� to becoming a professional musician and landing a recording contract. The music industry is filled with rumors, myths, and misinformation which makes it extremely difficult to carve a successful career out of it. Understanding how this industry works can be a tremendous asset. Part of this “process� includes the use of very specific “tools� which have become music industry standards! The following list contains some of the required tools that you will need to pursue a serious career as a professional musician and to attract the attention of a major record company.

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There are many approaches that you can take in search of a record deal, like putting a band together and gig as much as possible to create your own buzz etc….however, whichever route you decide to take, there is one tool you will always need which is a press kit / containing the following items:

a) A Demo tape/CD consisting of 3-5 of your best songs. (Quality does matter, so don’t spend too much money on packaging, make sure that your demo is well produced with good sound quality). As they say in the business: it is all about the song.

b) An Artist’s biography: (Detailing important information about the artist, including who they are, what they’ve done, what they are doing, where they are headed etc…)

c) A song list and lyric sheet: (listings of all the song titles and sheets containing the lyrics of material that is on the demo).

d) Artist Photo: (very important, we are in an audio visual age, so image is crucial).

e) Write-ups: (Any interesting stories or reviews about the artist which were printed in industry publications, newspapers or received radio or television coverage).

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Just having a great press kit will not guarantee you a recording contract; there are many other strategies and approaches that can take you there as well, topped with a little bit of ‘luck� or being at the right place at the right time�, anything can happen in this business.

But having a good press kit and a good sounding demo will put you in a better position to be considered by a record label, or be considered as a professional to say the least. So if you really want it, start with “beefing up your press kit and demo�
. “Each one teach one�.
****You are as strong as your support team*****

JUBE for KOMPAMAGAZINE.COM!

[BABYFACE]

Thank you for those very interessting informations. However i have a few questions.

1. What would be the best way to introduce the musical industry if he chooses to go on a solo adventure?

2. What is the real role of a Singer? Is it only singing?

3. How can we recognize a true talent ( i mean someone whose you listen to for the first time and catched your attention)

4. If Haitians artists or bands feature on American, Spanish, or French artists, how can this help the artists or the band to touch new markets?

5. Mr Jube are you interested in producing new talents?

Thank you very much.
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HARMONIKER FOR LIFE

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