Hardest Part of Music Business

Berenice Mulubah 10/19/2016

Berenice Mulubah

 

If the world was perfect, musicians would need just their voices to succeed. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and it takes way more than talent to make it in the music business.  Musicians have to go through many battles to make it to the top.  As an artist moves from one stage to another in their career, their struggles change.  All musicians struggle, but not all musicians struggle with the same thing.   There are three stages to a musical career. 

1. The new artist stage 
2. The in-between stage
3. The seasoned artist stage

 Each artist goes through a different kind of struggle based on the stage in their career.  The new artists struggle with standing out and finding fans, the seasoned artists fight to stay relevant and not lose fans, and artists that are in-between have to find ways to spread the word about themselves.  But, all of that, is not the hardest part of the music business.  So, what is the hardest part of the music business?   It is not coming up with amazing ideas for your songs or finding the producers with affordable fire beats. The hardest part of this business isn’t building a fan base or getting DJs and blogs to support you. The hardest part of this business isn’t planning out the marketing and promotions for your release and then launching your campaign. The hardest part isn’t putting together a team of people who will help you.
The hardest part of this business is actually doing the work. DOING THE WORK!! That’s the hardest part for everyone.
Talking about doing the work is not the definition of doing the work. Pretending to do the work, is not the definition of doing the work.  Coming up with excuses for not doing the work (I’ve heard them all), is not the definition of doing the work. Being involved in propaganda, is not the definition of doing the work .  Talking about who’s doing what or complaining how unfair it all is because you are far better of a rapper than they are, is not the definition of doing the work. The absolute hardest part of this business is actually doing the work.
The hardest part of this business is getting up every day and following the models and roadmaps of the artists who’ve come before you. Doing it. Actually doing it.
Getting your music created. Getting it up online. Launching. Analyzing. Tweaking. Continuing to market & promote. Bringing in new fans. Handing out CDs. Hanging posters. Taking pictures. Signing autographs. Performing everywhere. Showing up at clubs and events where your fans frequent. Being seen and reminding people constantly who you are, what you do, and which songs are yours. Doing it is the hardest part.
Those that win do the work. Knowing what to do is key. But actually doing it? That’s where success lives. Doing the work is the hardest part.