New Disaster, the Internet, and the Survival of Today’s Rock N’ Roll Band.
DIY Music is all about the LOVE.
Got this interesting read today from CDBaby, our online outlet for our CDs. The topic, “Has The Internet Really Destroyed the Music Business?”, actually raises a ton of good questions.
There’s no debate that the Internet and its marketing and sales applications has completely changed the landscape of how music gets bought and sold, but has anything really been destroyed?
Many of the sources quoted in the article are multi-platinum selling, ultra-mega-stars of the old world way of the music business (Stevie Nicks, John “Cougar” Mellencamp, Prince). These guys and gals lived in a different era, with different marketing and distribution methods… and they also lived in an era with far less readily available music. But now, things have changed. Anyone can get out there are make their music available to the world… record label or not.
Which brings me to all of us bands forgoing the record deals and striking out into the brave new DIY world of the WWW and what an amazing yet arduous struggle that can be. Being great at being a musician isn’t simply enough. No, you have to take the reigns yourself and expand your skill sets. Now, you have to learn how to make a website (or at least a decent MySpace page), find out how digital distribution works, figure out how to get gigs, book tours, self-promote, and sell your merch and music. That can be a ton of work and the learning curve can be tough.
But every day I see it and every day I get really excited. I see bands like Dirty Penny deciding to let the chips fall where they may and book a tour themselves to the EU because they felt it was finally time to go pay their fans (whom they made using the Internet) a long overdue visit. New bands like Hot Crush hitting the ground running and getting their name out there by using social media and other avenues to show you just how good they really are. Bands breaking ground like One Eyed Doll creatively experimenting with every kind of marketing, merchandising and promotional scheme imaginable.
The new music business model is almost like what Frank Costello says in Scorsese’s The Departed: “…no one gives it to you. You have to take it.” But I say, almost.
Support your music habit. Buy band merch!
While you have to get out there and really get your hands dirty and scrape out an existence for you and your band, you also depend on your fans more than anything else. They are the lifeblood of your entire enterprise. Without them, you can never hope to succeed in a business capacity. That’s why it is also import for fans to support these bands.
If you like a band and their music, support them. Simple as that. Come out to every show that you can, buy their CDs and T-shirts, spread the word, get your friends to come out with you when your favorite band comes to your town, recruit new fans, join/start a fan club/site, etc. They are out there living like gypsies, eating horribly, sleeping in terrible and unspeakable places, living out in the world far from home, working cruddy jobs, etc., all to get that music out to you, the fan.
But don’t feel sorry for them. They choose that life everyday. It comes with the job and is indicative of the passion they put in the music you love. All you have to do, as a fan, is support them. Buy what you love. Then, regardless of what Johnny Cougar or that cougar Stevie Nicks say about the destructive influence of the Internet on the industry, the music business isn’t a hopeless cause for the musician.
So go to the ND Store, or your favorite band’s online store/merch table today and show the love. We appreciate it and you are doing a great thing. Fleetwood Mac and that Jack and Diane guy will be just fine… The Internet isn’t the monster they say it is. In fact, it may just save the band you love.
The Silver Beast. Legendary to a status worthy of a Dio song.
