The music industry is notoriously hard to break into. Yes, you can have a lot of passion when it comes to your instrument or other specific area of artistry, but you also need to create an image and brand to go along with it.
Essentially, when you become a musician or seek to get involved in the music industry in any other professional capacity, you will need to be able to market yourself to the right people. This includes managers, record labels and, most importantly, your audience.
If you are able to show that you are a serious musician or professional to the people that matter, it’s very likely that you will be able to break into the music industry. So, how can you get started? That’s what we are going to explore in the article below.
- Figure out your niche
Before you start to advertise your skillset, it’s important that you figure out for yourself what your brand is actually about. You may be extremely talented when it comes to music or an associated practice of relevance to the music industry.
For instance, you may be interested in becoming one of the best lyric video freelance producers, however you may also be a talented pianist and music composer. This is why it is crucial that you figure out what sort of creative or professional pathway you want to lead before you start advertising your skillset.
Of course, you can advertise yourself as talented in a variety of skillsets. But if you wish to appeal to an employer in a certain area of music or other creation, you should try and create a profile that shows off what you can truly do.
So, let’s say you were a pianist looking to break into the industry. Make sure that all of your images relate back to the piano and that you have samples of your piano playing ready for an employer to listen to. The more information you have relating to a specific musical or creative skillset, the easier it will be for employers to track you down when they are looking for fresh talent.
- Industry news
In reality, you are going to have to put in a lot of time and effort if you hope to become a successful professional in this industry. Most of the time, you are going to find work through word of mouth, through a referral from your mentor or colleagues, or through advertisements. So, be sure to keep an eye on industry news from magazines and online websites.
- Attend music conferences/workshops
Nowadays, the best way to network with other musicians or professionals in your field is often through conferences and workshops, as well as concerts and gigs.
Get to know the local talent in your area and you may be able to end up collaborating in the future. You will also be able to expand on your skillset in the process and learn how this can make you marketable to relevant record labels and companies.
- Advertise on freelancing websites
If you want to start off small, why not advertise your skills on relevant freelancing platforms? There are platforms that are specifically designed for music-industry professionals or freelancers who are looking for work. Some platforms even allow for different companies to look for freelance creators, so that they can offer them work.
The more freelance work you take on, the more likely it is that you will build up your image. If you are consistent in your productivity, and you are able to produce a good product for your customers, you may find that they will spread the word about your services.
This should help bring in new business in the future. Once you have built up your image, you may be able to reach out to bigger labels to start working on your brand.
- Show your work on free platforms
One of the best ways to show off your creative or musical ability is to go onto social media. There, you can provide videos and audio clips of your music or related work. If you create your own songs, you can even upload them on YouTube alongside a music video or image of your album.
Don’t forget that you are marketing yourself as a brand, therefore it is useful to network with commenters and other musicians or creatives on the platform. Some musicians even share covers of popular songs that will help bring in a loyal following of people. Once they have obtained an audience, they move onto creating their own songs and showing off their own album.
Social media can be a great channel through which to become a musician, influencer or creative. Just make sure to keep to a strict schedule when uploading your content. That way, your follower base will come to know what to expect. If you’re feeling generous, you could even take song requests or livestream your music so you can have an audience watching you. It can be a great way to build an audience and gain some notoriety (of the right kind).
Are you ready to take the next step necessary to advance your career as a creator or freelance professional in the music industry? If so, registering an account at Creative Commission could be one of the wisest decisions you make this year.
