In an era where everything is fueled by competition, I think music should just stay out of it. I get it, I’m not saying the music industry shouldn’t be competitive, in fact, I’m all about a little competition when it comes to the field. However, what I’m not about is keeping music hidden. In my opinion, there shouldn’t be any reason to keep music all to yourself for the sole reason of not wanting there to be more fans. The best part about music is that it’s a universal language and people all over the world are free to interpret it however they want. If we choose to keep music confined to ourselves, we really are doing a disservice, not only to the band but to other potential fans as well. I recently saw a comment on a YouTube video that captures how I feel about this idea perfectly. In response to someone saying, “I want them to become popular but at the same time I don’t because if they blow up, that means tons of fans :(” a user replied with, “Oh shut up and share the music.” Music is meant to be shared. Plain and simple.
Here are some ideas on how to avoid becoming the first person in the conversation:
1. Pick a friend and share your favorite song with them once a week. Not only will you be looking for new music to show them but they will be giving you something new to listen to.
2. If you’re part of a fan base, don’t be a jerk. Be open to new fans just discovering the music. In the long run, how many shows you’ve been to or how long you’ve been a fan means nothing. What matters is if the music had a positive impact on your life.
3. In addition to purchasing your music on iTunes or something of the sort, I recommend picking a good streaming source. They usually have an option to listen to similar artists and this is one of the best ways to find new music.
Woman of the Week:
I chose Marsha Vlasic because of her impressive history in the artist management industry. Currently, Marsha is is the president of Artist Group International. When she joined the company, she was able to bring all of her clients with her, expanding the already impressive client list at AGI. She has been in the industry for over 30 years and worked with to ensure the touring careers of Neil Young, Elvis Costello and many, many more were successful. Before her time as president at AGI, she worked for International Creative Management, eventually working her way up to the Vice President of concerts. All of the work she has done over her time in the industry make her the perfect role model for anyone just beginning their journey.
Until next week,
Emily
Emily K Johnson 