Why Being Just an Artist No Longer Works? Multiple Roles Challenge

When we listen to our favorite artists, we tend to think of them in that precise light. To us, they are just that- artists. But little we know what it’s like to be one in 2019.

It is true that the internet has allowed artists to connect with their fans in an intimate manner, and it is much easier to make their music heard. But the reality the artists live in is much severe than it used to be years ago.

As someone once said:

“It is a lot easier to make your music heard than it was back in the 90s, but it is much harder to get paid for it”.

In the streaming era, artists are compelled to sell music online for pennies or get other jobs that help them make a living. Maybe, it is not the case for every artist, but it is most certainly the case for the large majority of artists. While the financial struggles are just one part of the artist’s life story, it still does not tell us the full story. I should know because I am one.

Being an artist in 2019 requires from me much more than just making and performing music. I have to know how to sell music online, how to promote my music or speaking in business terms- how to market my music in the current digital era. You have to be business-savvy all-in-one music professional with deep knowledge of business strategies of how to market your music to the 21st-century fans. Regardless of the genre, the artist is now multi-faceted.

The Musician

This one is obvious, isn’t it? Whether you are a vocalist or play an instrument, developing this craft for any musician is essential to progressing music career. This aspect of being an artist surprisingly becomes overlooked as time moves on. Studio tricks and sound technologies allow artists to cut corners where talent lacks.

But over time, this will be exposed. Especially for those musicians who play live. True artists understand this. They constantly improve their skills and progress in innovating their sound. Therefore, progressing their music career.

The Performer

The performing aspect does not apply to all artists. A certain subset of artists will only sell music online or digitally, without ever performing it live. The artists who do perform live must always focus on becoming better performers. Not only in the playing of their songs but also in the show presentation. The best artists in the world are constantly trying to find ways to innovate their live performance since concerts are a very sufficient income stream and another point of music monetization for artists.

The Entrepreneur

Regardless of whether we would like to accept it or not, all artists have to be entrepreneurs if they want to succeed. You as an artist create a product just like any business does. Your product is your music. What do you do after the product has been created? You sell it! That’s why you have to know the strategies on how to market your music to increase sales.

Of course, some artists are innately great entrepreneurs. Others are not. I myself had to learn how to promote my music for I had no business education and even an idea of how to do that. Similarly, artists have to either learn how to run their music business- learn about music distribution, promotion, public relationship, and marketing tools- or you can hire a manager to take care of the business aspects while you continue focusing on delivering great music. Music is a business, and it has always been a business. The question is… Who is the business owner?

The Marketer

Marketing is no doubt an incredibly important aspect of every artist’s career. Social media and various music platforms have allowed artists to market their music to their fans much easier. It no longer requires hundreds of thousands of dollars to pull this off. Rather, it requires an artist to understand some fundamental aspects of how to market your music. The knowledge- is power. This is especially true for independent artists who handle their own marketing and music distribution. Artists must now make an investment into understanding marketing to successfully build their career.

The Public Figure

Artists are public figures. Fans come to respect the opinions of the artists they love. In fact, many fans actually want to hear what artists have to say when it comes to hot topics such as politics, current social issues. The stances you take, the brands you partner with, the statements you make, all this have a massive impact on your followers and your career.

Clearly, being an artist goes far beyond music creation. It is a hard work of managing multiple roles while still finding time to create unforgettable music masterpieces. For all the fans out there, let this be a reason to continue to support the artists you love. And if you are an artist- don’t worry, you can do it!

Learn how Show4me helps you to handle these multiple roles here.