3 Music Industry truths in 2017.
1. You are a brand- Think of yourself more as a brand than an artist. In history, artists think of themselves as solely the creators, then pass the boring stuff to the managers, labels, booking, and business people. You have to do everything now until you can afford it. You should be learning about marketing, about selling, about business development, and about merch. Your are the CEO of "Insert band name here".
2. You are a content machine - Your music should be considered your core content but it is just the start. Think about your Youtube Channel just like a TV network would. Content Content Content. Behind the Scenes, Lyric Videos, you at home, playing with your dog, talking to your band, and on and on. People want to connect with you visually as well as audibly.
3. Done is better than perfect- This is a big one. In the past, it was all about being perfect. Records that took a year to make, completely perfect mixes and really expensive music videos were everyday life. Now, even though quality still matters (of course), it's also about quantity. It is about being able to give your fans music on a regular basis. It's about connecting with them on Facebook Live and showing your less than perfect self sometimes. Perfectionism will absolutely keep you from doing something great. Let it go. Release it. Move on. Learn from your mistakes and keep going.