The No Airplay Opportunity
Promotion If you really care to know the dirty details about how the big business music machine operates, go ahead and get a copy of "The Hitmen" by Frederic Dannen".
In summary, it's impossible to get any kind of serious radio airplay unless you are prepared to pay somewheres in the ball park of at least half-a-million bucks. In the industry these fees called PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES.
If your major label recording contract doesn't include something to cover these costs, your releases are not likely intended to go anywhere except the shelf.
Payola, Freedom and Monopoly
Yes there is a legal loophole that allows this practice – infamously known as "Payola" – to continue. Visit Wikipedia for an explanation.
Think about it this way. By monopolizing the airwaves and keeping out smaller competitors, the music industry increases the chance that big artist roll outs can break even. This status quo has been repeatedly challenged without any lasting success, so don't expect it to change in the immediate future.
HOWEVER It Could be Very Important for Your Music Career to see what you and your friends can do to help Save Internet Radio.
Recording Industry Demographics
Mainstream radio and music have a few well-defined target markets which spend enough money on music to pay for big business. However up to 80% of the public are unable to find mainstream musical products that FIT with their tastes. It may be partly because these people have outgrown the pop music that fuels adolescence.
Most of today's industries "grew up" during the baby boom years – a period of about 20 years when the typical American was a YOUTH. Successful business was typically trendy. Many business giants who succeeded in such a reality have not awakened to the fact that those baby boomers have long since grown up and their tastes have changed.
Alternative
Even among youthful music markets, there are many special niches collectively called "alternative" which don't fit into the mainstream commercial business model. Millions of youth fanatically support their favorite underground artists and often turn against them when they go mainstream.
Your Time to Shine
After decades of drowning in a sea of artificialism: Americans are thirsty for something REAL. By bringing your own unique musical statement to the world, you are serving a VAST untapped market of people just like your self, who want a FRESH and personal musical experience. A cornerstone of our philosophy is replacing a dependency on mass market radio airplay by bringing back the live-performance personal music experience.
Wouldn't you rather buy an album from a musician who just inspired you IN PERSON, and who also took the time to BS with you afterwards?? It's within Your reach right NOW! If you have read our other articles on marketing, you will see that it is fully feasible for any talented, motivated musician to Earn a (VERY) comfortable living this way.
Using the methods we recommend at Making Music Pay – you can create a highly marketable music product with a minimum of investment – AND – generate strong on-going demand.
Starting from the point of having demand built-up for your music – even if your market-base is only regional – you are in a powerful position. With this advantage, it becomes feasible to take your music all the way into the mainstream and keep much more of that creative control. For specific details on this process: please read A Better way to go BIG!
Sell Your Music Now!
