Comments on: State of the Music Business at the Millennium Music Conference http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/state-of-the-music-business-at-the-millennium-music-conference/ save the music - not the industry. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Brian Franke http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/state-of-the-music-business-at-the-millennium-music-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-5610 Brian Franke Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:15:33 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3067#comment-5610 If this conference happened seven months ago I would have been one of the musicians with a bewildered look on his face. It was when I went to the Future of Music Coalition's Policy Conference in October '09 that I really started to get what a musician means in today's terms. Connection. Engagement. Letting fans in. Two way conversations. I wasn't doing much of that if any consistently enough. So it's good to hear that some of the things going on at the Millennium Conference are actions I started taking. The 360 is very key. Musicians need to realize labels are losing ground and it's not an all or nothing industry anymore. They also need to be okay that you don't have to be a super-millionaire to say "I made it". Google "1000 True Fans" and you'll know what people mean. I'm a solo artist and have been at it full time for about six months. I believe focusing your efforts starts with educating yourself, period. Read blogs (like this one), follow experts on Twitter, get out and network in your town with other musicians (and also graphic designers, film people, booking agents, venue managers, etc), follow artists making it to see what they're doing (especially regional ones), go to workshops and conferences, and don't be afraid to try something different. If people respect your art and what you are trying to do with it, they will help you--and there is your team (I have had family and friends help with my website, press kit, and photoshoot with minimal cost). But to the main point of this post--offline interaction is so crucial still. I believe face-to-face interaction is the best form of communication for fans and potential fans. These days I now go to thank and talk with as many people as possible during set breaks to promote myself. And my email list has increased more than before over a short period of time. And when people don't see me, I put video blogs up on my website to give everyone a more intimate update than typing it out in a newsletter. Of course it helps to be a social person, so if you're in a band and you're not that person, have your social butterfly bandmate go out and do the face-to-face stuff (lots of musicians are introverts unfortunately). Anyhow, congrats on being invited to talk on an awesome panel! I hope one day to be a living proof that these strategies do work. It takes time and a lot of work, but if music is your passion you won't mind one bit. Brian Franke Singer/Songwriter www.brianfranke.com @bfrankemusic (Twitter) If this conference happened seven months ago I would have been one of the musicians with a bewildered look on his face. It was when I went to the Future of Music Coalition’s Policy Conference in October ’09 that I really started to get what a musician means in today’s terms. Connection. Engagement. Letting fans in. Two way conversations. I wasn’t doing much of that if any consistently enough. So it’s good to hear that some of the things going on at the Millennium Conference are actions I started taking.

The 360 is very key. Musicians need to realize labels are losing ground and it’s not an all or nothing industry anymore. They also need to be okay that you don’t have to be a super-millionaire to say “I made it”. Google “1000 True Fans” and you’ll know what people mean.

I’m a solo artist and have been at it full time for about six months. I believe focusing your efforts starts with educating yourself, period. Read blogs (like this one), follow experts on Twitter, get out and network in your town with other musicians (and also graphic designers, film people, booking agents, venue managers, etc), follow artists making it to see what they’re doing (especially regional ones), go to workshops and conferences, and don’t be afraid to try something different. If people respect your art and what you are trying to do with it, they will help you–and there is your team (I have had family and friends help with my website, press kit, and photoshoot with minimal cost).

But to the main point of this post–offline interaction is so crucial still. I believe face-to-face interaction is the best form of communication for fans and potential fans. These days I now go to thank and talk with as many people as possible during set breaks to promote myself. And my email list has increased more than before over a short period of time. And when people don’t see me, I put video blogs up on my website to give everyone a more intimate update than typing it out in a newsletter. Of course it helps to be a social person, so if you’re in a band and you’re not that person, have your social butterfly bandmate go out and do the face-to-face stuff (lots of musicians are introverts unfortunately).

Anyhow, congrats on being invited to talk on an awesome panel! I hope one day to be a living proof that these strategies do work. It takes time and a lot of work, but if music is your passion you won’t mind one bit.

Brian Franke
Singer/Songwriter
http://www.brianfranke.com
@bfrankemusic (Twitter)

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