What are the Common Challenges Musicians Face?
Aug 02, 2024How to Overcome the Challenges of Being a Musician?
The music industry could appear to be pretty intimidating, vast, and incredibly difficult to navigate. Independent musicians have it a tad more tedious because they often do not have the support of a record label. If you are an aspiring musician and you’d like to step into the music industry then it is only fair that you’re ready for all the challenges you’d face and go in with the solutions.
In this article, we shall be addressing common challenges faced by musicians:
Financial Stability
One of the most common and probably life-altering challenges that musicians face is the lack of financial security because the nature of the job is so unpredictable. The music industry can be unstable, with income varying from month to month. The income from live performances might vary substantially. Musicians may have busy periods with many engagements, particularly during festival seasons or holidays, followed by months with few or no performances. Gigs or tours can be canceled unexpectedly for a variety of reasons, including illness, venue challenges, or logistical difficulties, resulting in lost revenue.
What can you do?
Tackling the unpredictable nature of the job could be exhausting but the simple solution to this is to have a source of income that is guaranteed and regular. This means diversifying your income:
Music teaching:
If you have received music education and believe you have enough to impart that skill and knowledge, get a certification for your eligibility first and begin taking music lessons. Provide music lessons in-person or online. This can give a consistent source of money while also fostering a local or virtual community.
Sync Licensing:
This means giving official and legal permission for your music to be used in TV shows, series, commercials, video games, and so on. This could be a lucrative revenue stream and would also expose you to different professionals in sub-sectors of the industry.
Session work:
Offer your expertise for studio sessions or live performances alongside other artists. This can result in regular employment and networking possibilities.
Pssst…come here: Freelance and paid internship opportunities go a long way in shaping up a sense of permanency in the music industry because they help you create a source of income as well as help you gain the experience you’d need for your next big step.
Smart Financial Planning:
Create a precise budget that includes both income and expenses. Track your expenditures to uncover places where you might save money. Save a percentage of your money during high-earning seasons to cover weaker times. Consider opening a second savings account just for this purpose. Consult a financial advisor who understands the music industry to help you manage your money and plan for the future.
Crowdfunding:
Given the right approach, your loyal listeners could also help fund your music projects for starters. Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon enable people to directly support your projects in exchange for benefits such as exclusive releases, unreleased tapes, early access, or in-person artist-fan interactions.
Grants and Sponsorships:
Sponsorship for musicians has been steadily growing and for all the right reasons - the rise of independent music. Look for sponsorship opportunities with brands and companies. Collaboration with relevant brands can provide both financial help and further exposure. Apply for grant and funding opportunities from arts councils, foundations, and music organizations. These can provide financial assistance for recording, touring, and other endeavors.
Effective Promotion and Marketing
With so much music being created every day, musicians, especially young and independent artists like you, may find it difficult to stand out in a crowded market. Effective promotion and marketing methods are essential for ensuring that your music reaches the intended audience and has a lasting impact.
What can you do?
For starters, you’d actually need to research what marketing campaigns work the best for the kind of music you make before you actually brainstorm and execute a promotion. This includes reading up on case studies and studying the brand strategies of popular musicians like The Weeknd, Doja Cat, and Taylor Swift to try and draw inspiration and ideas.
Develop a Strong Brand Identity
Determine what makes your music unique, and create a distinct sound and visual identity. This encompasses your musical style, logo, record artwork, stage appearance, and general aesthetic. Maintain consistent messaging across all channels. Your brand should create a story that connects with your target audience and reflects your personality and beliefs.
Pssst…come here: Storytelling is extremely important when it comes to making a music brand from scratch - you need to be able to connect with your audience and you won’t be able to do that without letting them know where you are from, what you stand for, what does your music say and so on.
Social Media Marketing for Musicians
The influence of social media in the music industry is huge because some artists wouldn’t have been discovered at all if not for their music going viral on TikTok or Instagram. So yes, we are going to say this again and again - social media marketing is extremely important for emerging musicians like yourself. Create a content calendar and publish regularly. Come up with short clips from behind-the-scenes footage, live sessions, music videos, personal stories, and interactive articles such as surveys and Q&As. Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages, enjoying and sharing fan content, and joining any discussions relevant to your music.
Music Blogs and Press
If you are an independent musician, it is less likely you would have a dedicated PR team that would get you the press coverage you’d need to grow your artist visibility. So, what you can do is start small but effective - music blogs. Write quality press releases for upcoming releases, tours, and major milestones. Send them to music blogs, e-publications, and local newspapers. Contact music bloggers and reviewers in your field. Positive reviews and features might attract new listeners and boost your reputation for reliability. Participate in interviews and podcasts to tell your story, discuss your music, and reach a larger audience.
Pssst…come here: A lot of musicians often overlook radio stations as a part of their music PR strategy but getting a radio play as an independent musician could be just as great as landing a placement in one of Spotify’s editorial playlists. Firstly, the competition for a radio play is so low because not everyone goes for it, and secondly, once your music is in, it is likely that the program producer will play it often. Do not underestimate this and ensure your networking efforts include making acquaintances with radio professionals.
Build an Email List
Invite fans to subscribe to your email by providing exclusive content, early access to new releases, or exclusive discounts. Send out regular emails featuring updates on your music, future performances, behind-the-scenes content, and personal thoughts. Use email correspondence to establish a personal relationship with your fans. Share your narratives and encounters that make them feel involved in your path.
Paid Advertising
Hear us out - the paid advertising we are talking about doesn’t take up a lot of your money and time. Meta Ads that run on Instagram and Facebook hardly take a dollar or two so when you set up a campaign and decide for how long you want the ads to keep running, you make a decision according to the limited budget you’ve cut out for advertising. Your ads don’t need to be extravagant, they just need to be creative and engaging enough to actually head to your website or streaming platform artist profile and check out your music catalog.
Pssst…come here: There are free music marketing tools as well. Once you utilize those fully, you can slowly build up to more efficient and large-scale music promotional efforts.
Creative Burnout
You have to be different but also somehow fit into a category that is memorable, you have to make music every now and then but not release too much at one time, you have to make sure that every song is unique but also ensure that there is a story in your EP or album. Yeah, sounds like you’re in for a creative block. If you feel uninspired and unable to generate new ideas, and you lack motivation to compose or perform music, then it is most likely that you’re undergoing creative burnout. Physical and mental exhaustion makes it difficult to focus and do work. Increased tension and worry about fulfilling expectations and deadlines. I feel alienated and disconnected from the music scene and fans. Very natural.
What can you do?
What you definitely shouldn’t do is push yourself and force yourself to keep it going because, trust us, it makes the phase worse and lasts longer.
Take Regular Breaks
Schedule regular breaks and vacations to rest and recharge. Taking a break from music can help to refresh your creativity. Add brief breaks to your everyday routine. Spend time outside, meditate, or do something that will help you relax. Dance like no one is watching in your room, color books (it could be quite therapeutic), and indulge in other activities that you find engaging and calming.
Set Realistic Goals
Set attainable goals and deadlines to prevent overwhelming yourself. Break down huge undertakings into smaller, more manageable jobs. Recognize and appreciate your victories, no matter how minor. This can increase your morale and motivation.
Quality over Quantity
Prioritize the quality of your work over its quantity. Take the time necessary to create music that you are actually proud of. Instead of racing to produce material on a continual basis, plan your releases intelligently. Focus on releases that have an impact on your target demographic.
Building and Maintaining a Fanbase
In today’s music industry, where thousands of songs are released every day, acquiring and sustaining a loyal fanbase can be difficult. With so many options accessible to listeners, standing out and building a loyal audience needs strategic planning and consistent involvement.
What can you do?
You could start off by developing a relationship with your followers and listeners that is consistent, interactive as well as respectful. What you’d not want is toxic fans obsessed with you who do not understand the meaning of privacy (take it from the K-pop industry).
High-Quality Content
Invest in top-tier production for your music and videos. Well-produced content is more likely to grab and hold listeners' attention. Use visually stimulating album covers, advertising visuals, and music videos to boost your music's popularity.
Streaming platforms
Ensure that your artist profiles on streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube are complete and visually appealing. Include high-quality photographs, an engaging biography, and links to your social media and website. Submit your songs to prominent playlists. The Spotify playlist ecosystem is definitely a game changer for new-age artists like you, so being featured on famous playlists might help you gain more visibility and attract new listeners. Keep your audience engaged by regularly releasing songs. This can comprise singles, EPs, and remixes, as well as whole albums.
Pssst…come here: Make use of all those live streaming tools at your disposal, and interact with your fans as much as possible. The K-pop industry has a culture of Fan Service, for example. Basically, your K-pop idols or artists host events where fans buy tickets to meet you, and they et a dedicated time slot to interact with you, ask you questions, and so on. It is called a fan service because there, most idols give in to the fan’s desires.
Navigating the Music Industry
The music industry is rife with complex regulations and financial intricacies that can be confusing for musicians, particularly those who are new and independent. Understanding contracts, royalties, rights, and revenue streams is critical for preserving your interests and increasing your earnings. However, the complexity and specific expertise necessary can be intimidating.
What can you do?
You learn everything possible and attend as many events as you can. You try to network and increase your contact list as much as possible.
Educate Yourself
Use books, distance learning programs, and webinars to learn about the music industry. Donald S. Passman’s “All You Need to Know About the Music Business” is a thorough resource. Websites such as ASCAP, BMI, and PRS for Music provide useful information about royalties, rights, and industry procedures. But really, there’s nothing like being out there and learning everything in real time and space than from the books.
Key Concepts
Familiarize yourself with common contract terms and provisions including confidentiality, duration, area, advance payments, and royalties. Before signing a contract, make sure that you know its consequences and obtain legal advice. Learn about many sorts of royalties, such as mechanical, performance, synchronization, and print royalties. Learn how they are obtained and distributed, and register with performance rights organizations (PROs) to ensure you get paid. Understand your intellectual property rights, such as copyright, publication rights, and neighboring rights. Understand how to protect your work and what rights you might be giving up in contracts.
Music Organisations and Associations
Join performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or their overseas counterparts to ensure you earn performance royalties and stay current on industry standards. Join unions and associations like the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), the Music Managers Forum (MMF), and local music groups. These organizations provide tools, networking opportunities, and advocacy for artists’ rights.
Of course, these are just some of the challenges that musicians face but if you have tackled these well, you can pretty much handle the rest. The goal is consistency and balance in your work.
We at GreaseRelease, have a bunch of curators on our network who are looking for new & exciting music to push on their massive playlists. If you make music and want to reach a wider audience, check out our submission platform and get a chance to reach millions of listeners! Submit your tracks now!
Studies show that 80% of musicians constantly feel overwhelmed and we want to take that load off by helping you stay organized and that's why, my team and I created the ProdPro 2.0
The ProdPro 2.0 is the ultimate organization tool built by and for musicians. Click here to learn more!
Don't miss my newsletter!
Join me on a music entrepreneurship journey with new tips and tricks delivered straight to your inbox.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
