Many people go into the music industry head first and heels up. They have no idea who to buddy up with, or what to do to get their name out there. Think about your career. Your biggest dream is probably to go to a recording studio and make your CD. However, who is going to buy it? Is it really professional enough to sell? How will anyone know who you are when they see your CD? You have to get exposure.

In truth, there is no promise in this industry. You just have to hope that you are heard by the right person. However, how are you going to be heard? Are you organized enough to impress those who hear? If you want to be in the music world, then you have to get a basic idea of how the industry works.

Before we go on, I would also suggest that you begin to read the many fine books on the music business. The more you know the more you will be prepared when success comes knocking at your door.

Many people believe that when they go to a local recording studio and create their record, they are ready to become famous. We all wish it were that simple, but it’s not. In truth, no matter how good your demo sounds, it’s never good enough until it has a professional label on it. This is where many people fall in the industry. How do you get a record company to sponsor you? It all starts with your demo.

The local recording studio is the first step to success.

Once you have recorded your music to the utmost professional quality, you may send it in to various record companies. What can you hope to achieve by doing this? Obviously you want a record deal, but do you really know what a record deal is? If a record company likes your music they will offer to give you time in their studio. They will do one of two things when they do this. If you show promise, and they believe that you have what it takes, they will loan you the money for the studio time. When you make money off of your record, you must pay them back with interest. Or they will offer you time in their studio that you may pay for yourself. Not just anybody can record in their studio so if you get the offer consider yourself lucky.

Advertising, Who Pays?

Once this has been completed, they will advertise your record through radio time, television, posters etc. This is important because most radio stations refuse to play any material that has not been solicited by a record company with good status. However, this service isn’t free. You must pay the record company back with interest for this as well. So where does the money come in?

Your first album is going to mainly be about getting exposed. You won’t make much money off of this project, but it will give buyers a reason to purchase your later records. This is how you make your money.

The biggest thing to remember is that if this were easy, every one would do it. If every one were noticed artists, there would be no money in the industry. Thus the reason many worthy musicians never get publicity. Just persevere, don’t give up, and you won’t have the burden of never obtaining your chance to fame and success.

The music business, it is a fascinating world and if you learn all you can you will be ready.

Written by Bill Kernodle

The Music Business- How to choose your first musical instrument. Articles, tips and lessons on how to sing, play guitar, piano or band. Overcome stage fright. Write your own songs! Learn to play and read music www.simplemusicsecrets.com

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: http://www.music-career-guide.com

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To DRM or not to DRM… is this really the right question? The problem with drm in the music space is a terrible music experience and lack of interoperability. DRM itself that is the problem, but the lack of transferability between the DRMs of the various players like iPod/iTunes, Zune, Napster, Rhapsody, and SanDisk, among others.

The bottom line is that people want music and they want it in a format that’s convenient for their lifestyle. If the typical music consumer wants the same download they’ve paid for on their iPod for one reason, or on Zune, their mobile, their mini disc player or their MP3 player for yet other reasons, why should they be punished?

Consumers aren’t meek like they were in the days of yesteryear… ask any Advertising exec and they’ll tell you. Once upon a time a consumer did as he or she was told. Those were the days when companies and corporations were infallible and unassailable. Those days are gone and they have been for quite some time. The more manufacturers and producers of goods attempt to force consumers to toe the line, the more modern consumers will rebel. And these days, consumer rebellion is openly hostile. The column inches dedicated to stories involving music downloads and file sharing show that the music industry is on the front line of this rebellion.

While I don’t have a magic wand to magically fix the sorry situation labels are now faced with… I hope I can lay claim to that most British of virtues: Common sense.

An informed and open discussion with music consumers is long, long overdue. No clever marketing surveys are needed, no expensive media campaigns to win hearts and minds and no heavy handed threats and legal actions required. It’s time for the music industry to, well, face the music and dance. It would naturally be impossible to ask every man, woman and child who buys music what they think. An effort could be made to initiate dialogue with enough music lovers around the globe to find out what, exactly, they want. What music formats do they want, how do they prefer to listen to the music they purchase, do they think the current pricing structures are equitable and fair?

This can be accomplished relatively simply with an open, moderated online forum. Labels (major and independents), music publishers, industry organizations, collection agencies, retailers, manufacturers and distributors could post their case. Consumers would post theirs. Polls, online forms and similar vehicles would be the conduit to ascertaining the answers to questions which need to be asked. Specific forum categories would be easy to create to address main areas of discussion.

While it seems a straight forward way to proceed, it does require two essential ingredients: compromise from both sides and understanding. The music industry will certainly hear some uncomfortable home truths. Not all consumer demands can be met. If both parties could accept those starting terms, then let the dialogue begin.

At the end of the day, this label is in the business of getting its music to the people who want to buy it in the format they desire; without difficult hurdles to jump over or fiery circus hoops to jump through.

Written by Aardvark Records

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: http://www.music-career-guide.com

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