ShareBeing an independent Artist or Musician is very much like running a small business. In this video I discuss the challenges that independent artists face as well as business strategies indie artists can use to overcome those challenges. This video covers the importance of identifying the right audience and providing the correct modalities of content to that audience. Also covered in this video: release strategies for indie artists, how to build a local following, how to leverage your following to create partnerships and how to avoid getting bad deals as an indie up and coming artist. This video contains excerpts from my live stream on 6-25-17 entitled “Indie Vs Signed and Why I Don’t Chase Placements with Major Labels”.
Unlike artists signed to a major Label, independent artists are responsible for managing all aspects of the production the products that they release to the public.
Independent artists are responsible for hiring, subcontracting and negotiating rates for all ancillary personnel and services that their businesses makes use of including: composers, arrangers, musicians, studios, engineers, promoters, marketing managers, graphic designers, videographers, video editors, merchandise manufacturers, web and domain services etc.
Indie artists are also responsible for the marketing of all of their products such as: singles, EP’s, albums, music videos, concerts, live events, merchandise, etc. As an independent, you control the direction of the messaging for each product and service that you provide. It’s your responsibility to identify where your audience is as well as which platforms and methods provide the best communication with your audience.
Some of the major benefits of being an independent artist include:
1.) You have more control over the creative direction of your art and business without having to shape it to fit the vision or the needs of another party.
2.) You can release projects at a pace that fits the needs of your audience without waiting for the project to be approved by another entity.
3.) You have the ability to own the relationships that your product releases create if you run your business correctly.
4.) You keep more of the revenue associated with your products and events.
5.) You control the players involved with the production, marketing, sales and management of your business. If something is not working you can respond as you see fit.
The strategies and tips outlined in the video are meant to give independent artists actionable tools to capitalize on the incredible opportunities available in 2017.
