Nils Infos
So, CD sales are down, six figure record budgets are a thing of the past. What are we going to do about it? The industry was driven by CD sales and nothing has replaced this revenue stream. Online sales and downloads are up, but only bring in a fraction of the moneys CD sales did. As the music industry is being turned upside down everybody is trying to find a new business models that will work.
From an artist’s point of view, I hope someone will figure it out fast so that we can get back to doing what we do best, which is creating and performing music. In the meantime we need to take action and find a way to survive. For us artists it means that we need to re-invent ourselves.
My job description used to be simply artist/producer. Now it includes recording engineer, mix engineer, radio show producer, radio personality, promoter, writer, publisher, teacher/clinician, web master and finally blogger. In short I call myself “content-creator”.
When I perform at festivals I use the opportunity to interview my fellow artists for my series “Backstage Pass with Nils”. At home I then edit them into episodes of 3min and 45sec length, palatable for radio. I then contact radio stations and negotiate deals for airing my show.
I put together the Nils Songbook, a collection of lead sheets of my music including tablature of my most popular songs “Pacific Coast Highway” and “Cat Nap”. I am also thinking of recording video at home showing how I play these songs and edit these into video lessons. Those I would post on my website, where I sell my songbook and my instructional guitar book.
I know I won’t have the budget to go into a big studio to record and mix my next CD. I am fortunate enough that I have an engineering and producing background, so over the last years I invested into my studio. Since the beginning of last year I have been able to produce records at my house from conception to final mix. I realize that not every artist has the background, skill or mindset to do this, nor do I think they should. For me it was the right choice and a wise investment
I feel lucky that I am signed to a record label that supports me. But there is no big staff to take care of my career. I am glad that they spend the money for advertising and hiring a radio promoter. But to keep myself in the spotlight I am constantly looking for opportunities to help promote my CDs and my name as an artist. I see the record label more as a partner in this endeavor and no longer as the sole driving force.
Overall I think these days artists need to be more business minded and entrepreneurial as ever. The cool part about these changing times is that the rules haven’t been written yet. I am sure somewhere out there is a kid who figures out a great way to embrace the new technologies and get the music industry booming. The music business might look very different then what we are used too. But let’s not forget at the core of it is, and always will be just one thing: a great song.
When I perform at festivals I use the opportunity to interview my fellow artists for my series “Backstage Pass with Nils”. At home I then edit them into episodes of 3min and 45sec length, palatable for radio. I then contact radio stations and negotiate deals for airing my show.
I put together the Nils Songbook, a collection of lead sheets of my music including tablature of my most popular songs “Pacific Coast Highway” and “Cat Nap”. I am also thinking of recording video at home showing how I play these songs and edit these into video lessons. Those I would post on my website, where I sell my songbook and my instructional guitar book.
I know I won’t have the budget to go into a big studio to record and mix my next CD. I am fortunate enough that I have an engineering and producing background, so over the last years I invested into my studio. Since the beginning of last year I have been able to produce records at my house from conception to final mix. I realize that not every artist has the background, skill or mindset to do this, nor do I think they should. For me it was the right choice and a wise investment
I feel lucky that I am signed to a record label that supports me. But there is no big staff to take care of my career. I am glad that they spend the money for advertising and hiring a radio promoter. But to keep myself in the spotlight I am constantly looking for opportunities to help promote my CDs and my name as an artist. I see the record label more as a partner in this endeavor and no longer as the sole driving force.
Overall I think these days artists need to be more business minded and entrepreneurial as ever. The cool part about these changing times is that the rules haven’t been written yet. I am sure somewhere out there is a kid who figures out a great way to embrace the new technologies and get the music industry booming. The music business might look very different then what we are used too. But let’s not forget at the core of it is, and always will be just one thing: a great song.
Recent posts
Getting things done
2010-03-08
Music Industry
2010-02-22
Nils Blogs for JazzRadio!
2010-02-03
Nils Bio
2010-02-02
Catalina Jazz Festival Live
2010-02-01
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