Does art deserve payment?
On the day of the official release of my new EP 'Most Popular', I ask myself why would anyone want to purchase it. Over the past few blogposts I've analysed the current state of the music industry and how we interact with it. So with all this data and statistics swirling around in my head it would seem the news of another EP from some obscure artist is hardly worth a mention. On top of which, languishing in obscurity and asking for payment is highly contestable.
With the ability to reach around the world via the internet a relatively unknown artist can nowadays beam themselves onto computer screens, ipads and mobile phones. They can setup social profiles, appear on digital retail sites and reach an audience that back in the day was never thought possible. The problem with that is every Tom, Dick and Harriet with a guitar is doing it. This now diminishes the advantages, since viewers and potential fans may never find you amidst the masses.
Noel Gallagher, in a recent interview on radio q said, if they (Oasis) had of been able to access this super highway into peoples lives, they would have conquered the world. A far easier route than what they had to work tirelessly on and endure. But what was the one most important thing he said about achieving that goal? The songs, the songs have got to be good enough.
That's the key. Why would anyone want to download my new EP or anyone elses for that matter? Because the songs are good, it's that simple.
In conclusion, to engage with someone through the medium that is music, to get them to discover you, to stop them skipping the track, to keep them listening past track three, to get them to download your tunes all comes down to one thing and one thing only, the songs have got to be good, really, really good. Who is the judge of that? You the listener...
No comments:
Post a Comment