FYI DIY

“Why listen to someone else tell you how to do it, when you can do it yourself. It’s all in you.” – Nas “Black Zombies”

Nas’ words come to life as I sit surfing the internet, becoming aware of the infinite amount of resources available to us and discovering new music from artists all over the world. The “Industrial Age” paved the way for corporations to thrive and instilled a sense of dependency from the people who became the driving force behind “Corporate America”. As technology advanced, the world wide web allowed us to explore new realities. We began constructing information highways, developing social networking communities and now we’re at a point where we’re starting to see the emergence of virtual civilizations.

With this leap into the “Information Age” we began to see the rate of entrepreneurship and independency rise. Change is a gradual process and it may take time for the majority to identify, accept and embrace new ideas or realities. With the current “Recession” taking its toll on the world, I feel that the time is now to step into the front seat of our destinies and begin taking advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.

Within the music realm, I continue to see artist operating in “dependency mode” that the Industrial Age created. “I need a record deal to have success.” “I need a record label to connect with my fans, produce and distribute my album.” “I need an advertising agency, marketing and/or PR firm to build my brand.” “I need startup money to finance my music career.” The list goes on to the point where we feel that we cannot accomplish anything without an overseer. What if that infrastructure crumbles and you’re forced to depend on self to steer your career in the direction you envision? Look at the success and financial rewards gained from entrepreneurs who exited the corporate world and invested in Telecommunications in the 80’s. Look at the success and financial rewards gained from entrepreneurs who exited the corporate world and invested in Real Estate in the 90’s. Look at the success and financial rewards gained from entrepreneurs who exited the corporate world and invested in social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Last.fm in the last decade. The message that I’m conveying is that we need to follow the pattern toward success by stepping outside of the box and putting ourselves in a position where we’re ahead of the curve.

DIY, Do-It-Yourself, is the new trend in music. Artists are taking matters into their own hands, creating success, connecting with fans, producing and distributing their own albums, and building their own brands without a record label. By no means am I saying that we should completely eliminate the record label. As an independent artist getting a start in the industry, take advantage of the infinite resources available to you and use them to your advantage. Once you’ve built a strong following and brand, if you feel that you need assistance with taking your career further, approach a record label to expand your platform. As I said before, the market is over saturated with artists, so the demand for unsigned acts is low. Don’t be afraid to take risks and explore the infinite possibilities that lie ahead. FYI, For-Your-Information, DIY, Do-It-Yourself, so you can stand out from the other zombies who are all moving in the same direction.

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