Musicians Can't Cope With Their Own Business

wolfgang.senges@contentsphere.de (Wolfgang Senges) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:34:00 +0200

Please note: If you’re a musician, feel free to make yourself a voodoo doll of me first. But, before putting the needles in, covering it in tar and feathers, tearing off limbs, and finally setting it on fire… give me break. You can do so after reading this post.

Whenever I’m attending any kind of music conference there’s one thing I’m curious about most: How many musicians are to be found at this event? How many of you are attending the seminars, workshops and lectures on schedule? Finally, after resigning once more: Why doesn’t it appeal to you?

Obviously, some events are well-attended by musicians… though the majority is not. Mainly, I’m going to constrain the issue more specifically down to Germany – simply for the reason I’m more familiar with that region.

Most of you will know I’m curator of all2gethernow, a platform and convention for music and culture. Since 2009, we established all2gethernow (a2n) as a conference not to be missed. Though we only went two rounds as of yet, we learned a lot.

Unfortunately, there’s one thing we still are trying to figure out. Even more unfortunately, it is a core issue we have to solve as soon as possible.

Our conference aims at bringing together all stakeholders from the so called music business, including everything related to that in culture. Otherwise, it is not worth tackling any issues and topics. Nevertheless, I’m pretty sure we all agree that it’s most important to get musicians in there. To get them involved. Because we’re doing it for those who create our culture – ok, that sounds pretty pathetic. Kinda like we are their parents (whom we are not)… and it certainly isn’t about “we always wanted the best for you”.

Some simple observations for Germany to start with:

all2gethernow (conference) and Popkomm (trade show) for some part shared the same location in 2010. Admittedly, musicians were to be found at Popkomm while all geeky artists went to all2gethernow.
Frankfurt Music Fair is flooded with musicians.
Any workshop that’s not related to instruments is hard to sell.
Even seminars and workshops that are part of an institutionalised schedule of any academy are fighting hard for scholars.
Nearly all printed magazines for musicians in Germany are published through either PPV or MusikMedia. Last year, the latter has started a comprehensive portal for the first time tackling issues in copyright and online marketing.
There’s just one platform, namely regioactive.de, that overtly pushes both - current issues in music business and live music/booking.

What does that mean?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think there’s a deep gap between “traditional” musicians and “online” artists. Don’t get me wrong… of course most traditional musos will have their own website (at least on Facebook, MySpace etc), and most onliners are sure to perform offline.

Those who stick to print media are pretty likely longing to be signed with a label. Nothing wrong with that, but often they seem to tend towards believing in the mythical part of piracy, in “who killed our business”, and in “free culture” equals “give away for free and earn nothing”. I can only presume that they are also in fear to be urged to deal with business themselves – which is a good reason to hand over any responsibility by signing a contract.

But, please, if any of those musicians I’m tagging “traditional” reads this… there’s even more reason to catch a glimpse of issues in marketing, in how to connect with fans, even in issues in technology. You might have been accusing labels of foul contracts. If you don’t educate yourself in what happens outside, you will be framed by yourself.

DIY does not strictly say “do it all by yourself”. It’s like, be as much involved in business as you are inclined to and let a team of people do the rest. They must be good at what they’re doing, and they must be as motivated as you. Collaborate with fans. Or with a small label. Or with independent professionals.

But be sure to keep track of what happens. You’re the boss. That’s why it’s important to bridge the gap.

Recommended reading (found during writing):

Robin Davey (GROWVision Media) – Do You Really Want A Major Deal? (via hypebot.com)

all2gethernow 2010: Out Now - Free Sampler With Creative Commons Licensed Music

wolfgang.senges@contentsphere.de (Wolfgang Senges) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:47:00 +0200

(CC BY-NC-SA) by all2gethernow

Just a quick note out to everyone interested in good music for free private use, licensed under Creative Commons.

For all2gethernow 2010 (a2n), I contacted a few guys from the German netlabel community plus some artists and teamed up compiling this sampler. It includes various styles of music, from electronics to singer/songwriter stuff. But, you should take a listen for yourself. It’s a treat.

Download from Finetunes by filling in the code a2ncc2010 - and there you go. Available at Finetunes until 30th September only.

In case you encounter any problems, download the zip file here for free! (zip file, 144,3 MB, all tracks 320 kbit/s, incl. cover picture) - temporary host… no code, direct link.

Right now, it’s only available at Free Music Archive - and what a great host THAT is. (Thanks to Jason!)

Here’s the tracklist:

Shlohmo - Socks [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
Bitbasic - The Lack Of Anything Good [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
Entertainment For The Braindead - Relapse [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
Pixelord - Cybernator [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
Small Radio - Excellenti [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
Raziel Jamaerah - Flow 4 Ever / 1Time2TheBeat [CC BY-SA 3.0]
Giraffe - 4am [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
The Inventors Of Aircraft - The Tower [CC BY-NC-ND 3.0]
Emilie Lund - Sad Blue Mountain [CC BY-NC 3.0]
Damian Valles - A Wake Pattern [CC BY-NC-ND 3.0]
Derrick Hart - You’re Winning So I Quit [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
/’angstalt/ - wie weich [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]
Zoe.LeelA - U.G.L.Y. [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0]

Involved (net)labels: 12rec., aaahh records, Error Broadcast, Resting Bell, P-Pack Records, rec72, Weisser Herbst.

Many thanks to the label owners, artists and people who supported the project - in alphabetical order: Danny Bruder (P-Pack Records), Christian Giering (Finetunes), Oke Göttlich (Finetunes), Christian Grasse (aaahh records), Zoe.LeelA, Marco Medkour (rec72), meik michalke (/’angstalt/, Open Music Contest), Matthias Quellmann (Finetunes), Roland (Machtdose Podcast), Christian Roth (Resting Bell), Moritz “mo.” Sauer (Phlow.net), Sim Sullen (12rec.), Sven Swift (12rec./Error Broadcast), Thomas Ternes (tompigs.com).

ContentSphere - Music & Media in an Online Culture - Art & Content

Musicians Can't Cope With Their Own Business

What does that mean?

all2gethernow 2010: Out Now - Free Sampler With Creative Commons Licensed Music