Let’s be real. It’s getting increasingly more difficult these days to be able to let go of your 9 to 5 or odd job to do this music thing full time. If you’re a do-it-yourself artist, there’s a good chance that you’re recording your own projects, doing your own graphic work, booking yourself, promoting, marketing, and even editing your own indie videos. Maybe your’re doing some of these if not all of them. If you’ve become good at any one of them, you’ve just developed a valuable skill that many other artists need. And these are skills that can provide you with some extra income or replace a sucky job that not related to the music business at all. Read the rest of this entry »

In this video clip, producer, musician and label owner George Howard, breaks down the importance for artists to become creative entrepreneurs. He also gives examples of how some musicians have used this mindset to create and sustain successful careers in the music business. And while the musicians talked about in this clip aren’t hip hop artists, this same mindset can be applicable to any artist in any genre of music. If you’re not doing this music thing just for fun, you must remember that YOU ARE A BUSINESS.

George Howard’s Twitter Read the rest of this entry »

The music business model is ever changing. Even if you’re an artist that’s signed to a label, you have to learn how to manage the business of being a successful artist.  In this aritcle, producer, John Snyder goes further into depth about these 8 qualities of being an artist entrepreneur.

1. Wants to work for themselves, doesn’t want to work for someone else
2. Can communicate and is organized about it
3. Isn’t afraid of taking risks Read the rest of this entry »

Today, your security in having a long career as a successful, major artist, rests mainly on how much of a foundation you build as an independent artist. Developing a sizable fan base and creating a revenue stream as an indie, almost guarantees that you will keep artistic control over your projects, should you get signed by a major label.

In this clip, Bob Jamieson, former President and CEO of RCA Music and BMG talks about the benefits of being an independent entrepreneur.

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