Independent Artist at all cost (or no cost at all)!

As I sit here working on the finishing touches for my next full length album I keep thinking about what the really hard part about being an independent music artist is. Thankfully I don't have trouble coming up with material or finding the time to get the production work the way I am envisioning. It's also very easy to get music out to the marketplace these days. I use CDBaby and my music gets everywhere I want it, from Itunes to Spotify and everywhere in between.  

The hard part is having people know that your music is out there.  This is the last and only function that a record label has left to provide an artist these days. To get this sort of support requires you to sign to a terrible deal and leverage all you have creatively for a few marketing dollars that your royalties will be used to pay back anyway.  I think this is why so many high profile artists are speaking out against streaming services. The way I see it they are clearly not the enemy, the label that had you sign that 360 deal is. There is a saying in the music business, "If you sign with us you'll get 50% of something, right now you have 100% of NOTHING!"  Only a business man would see art as nothing until they've made money from it.  My songs are like my fingers. Would you sell yours for a few bucks knowing fully well that they will never grow back?  Stupid question right?

Independent artists still have predators to contend with though. Seems every online music website knows the exposure struggle and has it's hand out to take your money with a promise of market penetration.  I've tried  a few of these and have found that fan word of mouth seems to work best.  Besides I'm not looking to get rich from my songs. If listeners see the value in buying it that's their choice. If they want to listen to it for free on youtube or Spotify, so be it also. I'm just simply looking for my audience. I think I have found a few of you and I'm very hopeful that this next release will help to find more.

---