TO DIGITAL OR NOT?

   It is amazing how many people ask me, How do I sell my CD’s?  Well there are as many ways to sell your product, as there is product.  However, there is more to it than just uploading your product to one of the many digital stores.  As an Artist, do you have a fan base?  Is your product packaged professionally?  Do you have the support in place, meaning people to work your product on a regular basis?  Do- do - do. There are a lot of do’s and a lot of don'ts.  So how do I know what they are?  You have to do your due diligence. In other words, unless you have the funds to pay someone to provide the marketing services you will need, you will have to do the work yourself.  You may find friends or family that believe in you and want to help you get started, or someone willing to work and get paid on the back end.  That’s all good.  Remember you still have to do the work.

YOU MUST JOIN THE DIGITAL AGE

  The digital age is the biggest gift ever given to the unsigned Artist!  We don’t need the record labels any longer.  Why? I’m glad you asked!  Let me give you a lesson in basic music economics.  If you were signed to a record label and sold a Gold Record, that would be $500,000.  How much money do you think you would get?  Your return would be 1 million dollars!  I’m just joking...  Believe it or not, you would get approximately thirty five thousand dollars.  That’s it!  If you sold 7,500 at ten dollars each your ROI would be the about the same, $35,000.  So imagine selling a gold record on your own through the digital stores.  Not too bad a deal, you think?

  Let me encourage you.  Do your due diligence!  Work hard!  Join a professional organization!  Hone your craft!  And don’t lose your passion!

The Grammys Make a Statement: Authentic Talent is Still a Priority.

I don’t know about you, but for me, the 2012 Grammy Awards made a huge statement concerning the music industry.  The already platinum selling Nicki Minaj was trumped for Best New Artist by the very alternative Bon Iver, The Civil Wars beat out Kelly Clarkson, and Jason Aldean for Best Country Duo, and Adele dominated all the leading Pop categories even though, as she admitted - she’s not really “Pop.”    What does it all mean?  I think we’re seeing a shift in the priorities of the public, not just the academy.  With songs like “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye becoming radio hits, and topping tigers on iTunes like LMFAO, Drake, and Madonna, one thing seems to be very clear: popular music is getting a big makeover.  

Entering into the night, although critics favored Adele to walk away with the most awards, I think many were still surprised by her six-for-six sweep.  She trumped Katy Perry’s “Firework” for Record of the Year, Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” for Song of the Year, and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” for Album of the Year.  Not too shabby.  The soulful British singer seems to embody a very bygone era of music and performance that music fans are desperate to hear.  In the midst of the bubble-gum pop that is stretched and molded by money-minded industry hot-shots, Adele represents a time when having a perfect body was not one’s ticket to selling records, when having impressive vocals was not uncommon for female performers, and when writing your own music was assumed, not exceptional. Her six awards represent a new value in the quality of music that hits our airwaves.  How often have you turned on your radio to hear the same monotonous chorus being repeated over and over... and over?  Relevant lyrics have been sacrificed in place of catchy music that can be easily remembered and played in clubs.  That’s where the Adele factor comes in and shakes the foundations of the industry.  She’s not half naked in her videos, she actually can sing, and her music is actually unique and meaningful.  The reality is, it's sad that we have to make such an honor of someone because of these characteristics - all music should be backed by the same artistic fervor.  But that’s what makes her so special and that’s why she made musical history on Sunday.  

While Adele proved that talent still speaks louder than imagery, The Civil Wars showed that simplicity still has its place in a mainstream setting with their two awards for Best Country Duo/ Group Performance and Best Folk Album.  They don’t tour with a big band or lots of instruments, just a guitar and a lovely ability to produce complicated harmonies.  Their brief performance before introducing Taylor Swift was powerful and folksy as always.  

One of the most surprising wins was Bon Iver for Best New Artist.  Up against The Band Perry and Nicki Minaj, many were expecting money to talk and for Minaj and her many hits to steal the prize. Against all odds, the indie folk band trumped the newest pop/ hip-hop princess and claimed the coveted title that has foreshadowed so many successful careers (including that of Adele).  They also won for Best Alternative Music Album.

So an indie folk group wins two Grammy's, a Country/ Folk group wins two Grammy's, and a soulful singer/ songwriter takes the cake with six Grammy's.  I think the big statement here is a shift not only in the academy, but in the public.  People are over the exhaustive synthetic pop that screeches over top 40’s stations.  The public is itching for music, and meaningful performances by artists who truly connect with the message behind their songs.  The shock that came from Arcade Fire’s Album of the Year win in 2011 humbled the likes of Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry.  It's refreshing to see the underdog succeed and even more refreshing to see true creativity recognized.  Overall, I think the 2012 Grammy Awards sent a message out to the music industry and the public that true, heartfelt music has not lost its place, and that talent is still a priority.  This is going to be a great year!

The Battle of Blankets !!!!!!!

The Battle of Blankets

   One of the hardest things I have to do everyday is get out of bed.  I'm sure some of you struggle with that also.  I call it the battle of blankets!  This business we're in can be emotionally draining.  It can kick the mud out of you, if you let it.  The key is, don't let it!  Easier said than done.  I believe the harder you work the luckier you get.



I NEVER TELL ANYONE TO GIVE UP, UNLESS THEY'RE LAZY AND HAVE NO PASSION!
Really, if you don't have those two ingredients, and talent, get a job!  You may be thinking I'm sounding tough.  Wait until you get into the music business, then you'll see tough!  Most of the great industrialists of the world will tell you, there are 3 ingredients to success.

1. The number one ingredient to be successful is PASSION!
2. The number two ingredient to be successful is HARD WORK!
3. Last but not least, PERSEVERANCE!!!!!

If you mix these three ingredients in the music pot, you are almost guaranteed success.  If you don't, you are certainly doomed for failure!



To quote one of my favorite industrialists and motivators, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
"The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night."

Once again, we all need each other on this journey.  We need encouragement just as much as we need a helping hand!  Lift your brothers up!  Help them realize their dream, and you will surely find yours along the way!!!!!!!!!!

Free Download sites getting nailed by the FBI. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!

   Free music download sites are getting nailed by the Government!!!!  It's about time.  I feel I can speak on behalf of all of those who make a living from music sales.  We have been molested by all these thieves stealing our music, and for the Arts to continue to thrive we must join together and put an end to these creeps!!!!!.  Would you like to know what I really think?  The music industry is reeling from a severe loss in revenues over the last decade.  I personally am ready to see the record labels get their just desserts.  They have taken advantage of Artists and Writers long enough.  The digital age is here, and it's here to stay.  The world wide web is a great tool to even the playing field for Artists and Writers.  The sad thing is, there's always those out there looking for a way to get over. 

    Did you know you can make the same amount a gold record would make being on a label, (500,000) by selling 75,000 as an independent.  Surprised?  Most people are.  Let's say you're a new artist, and you've invested your last dime on your project, and and now you're working your butt off to make a living.  Now Joe-Blow - free download comes along and gives your music away, for free.  Are you OK WITH THAT?  I'm not!  There is lobbying in Washington going on as we speak to allow this to happen.  There is also lobbying going on to prevent this unethical practice from happening.  Get involved, let your congressional representatives know how you feel.  In politics, always, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  Squeak, squeak. squeak!!!!!!!!!!  Write blogs, tweet it, Facebook it!!! All we're asking for is the right to our own personal intellectual property.

   This is a short blog.  I think I've made my point, so I will end with this.  There are three kinds of people in this world:
1.Those  who make things happen. 
2. Those who watch things happen. 
3. And those who wonder what happen after it happened.

Ask yourself. which one am I?

     

                                 Good writing

                                 J. Grady

ThE DREAM GRAVEYARD

The Dream Graveyard

What does a graveyard look like?  It's a place of worldly finality.  A dark isolated spot where things are buried, covered up, smothered and fried, and more times than not forgotten.  The dream graveyard is very similar.  It's a place where aspirations, inspirations, hopes, visions and great ideas have been thrown  away to live out life unfulfilled.  Sounds gloomy, doesn't it?  It does not have to be.  It could be inspiring, life changing, as well as hope inducing, and very effective in bringing exciting benefits to the world.

This imaginary place we're speaking of is unbelievably packed with lost causes.  The good news is, it doesn't have to be!  You see, most of those holes would never be filled if we learned the basic principal of perseverance.  There are as many reasons for broken dreams, as there are types of dreams.  We will be speaking specifically to the music entrepreneurs who are on the verge of giving up.  In no way is this going to be an exhaustive list!  The intention here is to help those visionaries who are on the verge of throwing in the towel.  There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of dreamers ready to give up.  If you're in that group, you are not alone!!

Perseverance:  Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. 
First, lets talk about difficulty.  My friends, don't be so simple minded as to think that for one second anything in the music business is easy!  Simple:  easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty.  One of the biggies that stops some people in their tracks is when they enter into this business, and realize how competitive it is, they become overwhelmed with fear and give up.  Fear is a big one!  We all have fear, you just can't let it control you.  If you do you will never succeed.  

With that being said, let me give you some tools that are proven to help you overcome. 
1). I cannot tell you how important it is to surround yourself with people who believe in you, and that you trust and can confide in. 
2). Get rid of the naysayers!!!!!  Don't listen to those losers that tell you you can't succeed!  You have a dream, live it!

I could write a book about this topic, and probably will.  However this is a blog.  So, I will end this with a few final thoughts and quotes:
-- "Don't quit before the miracle happens". 
-- "What if your ship came in the day after you quit". 

 There will be times when you will want to give up, and throw in the towel.  But, you have to keep going if you want to succeed.  "Winners never quit, and quitters never win".  So hold your head up high, push into God, and win the prize!!!  Lastly, you've gotta be tough!!!!!!!!!!