What the Music Industry Really Sells | Erik Mehlsen | TEDxRPLCentralLibrary

[thisbusinessofmusic]

Been in the music business full time, since 1972 when I started gigging. You make a lot of great points and there is a lot to consider in this talk. Forget what the scoffers and nay sayers post here. Theres always those that just dont "get" that this isnt really the music business, its the business of music. Its always been a business and nothing else. The marketing of a product to a demographic that will financially support it. Demographics shift. Times change. Marketing platforms change. Means of product production change. For example you can use a medium powered laptop and a $250 audio interface to set up a recording system capable of turning out top quality product from your bedroom. Look at Billie Ilish. Of course they went outside the house and hired a pro to mix and master the tracks but you can learn how to do that and set up a tuned acoustic environment in your home, for not a lot of cash.
You can shoot a music video on an Iphone like lady Gaga did. YOU have access to that quality of tech right now and its dirt cheap compared to the cost of gear they used back in the 50s 60s and 70s and beyond. Most modern phones can shoot 4k video. You just need some imagination and hustle to make it happen. The difference between those that do and those that dont is that those that do, "do" whats necessary to be successful actually "DO" whatever it takes, and those that dont, ... DONT do what the "doers" do. Theres a few videos put up by Fineas and Billie detailing the complete process of how they produced their CD. Just watch, take notes and learn.
As the industry changes you have to take the approach that the US marines use to navigate the changing situation.
"IMPROVISE, ADAPT AND OVERCOME. "
Again, great Ted talk.

[yissansosa]

11:08 :''Live music is gonna stick around forever'' Literally one year later update : ''Well...''

[akashita]

So I'm writing this post-pandemic, having seen so many people who are my contemporaries (and even newcomers) see great success doing home projects with their music, while I've been stuck in a creative rut since 2017. Honestly thought this break from routine life would be how I got my "music back" but it didn't happen. So I'm here, nearly at the end of 2021, and this sudden idea struck me just a few weeks ago -- Why don't I go back to playing music like I did when I was growing up? Obviously I didn't do it for the views or the money back then, it was just about expressing myself and hanging out with like-minded people. So I've been trying to play without recording myself. While it's not changed anything yet, I feel a tickle of hope. I see this TEDx Talk as confirming the path I've decided to take with my music. Thanks so much for sharing this with the world, this is invaluable insight.

[trevorlindsey]

"Playing music for the sake of playing music" was exactly my life until Covid. This virus has been the counter movement to what this speaker sees as the answer to the survival of music. Not being able to play live and interact with other musicians and an audience has been devastating to what I had settled on as my life's true calling.

[SHATHECROW]

Some of these comments are clueless and pretentious it’s really not that hard to understand what he is trying to say stop trying to prove a point and absorb the information

[coreyt.rogers]

The music industry is selling IDEAS, OPINIONS, & SENTIMENTS period. The music is just a vehicle for IDEAS, OPINIONS, & SENTIMENTS.

[chaseanonymous]

Wow great presentation. I completely agree. I love to play music for the sake of playing music.

[vestel]

That’s why Artists need 100% control over their Publishing and Masters. Also get an Entertainment Lawyer who knows how the Music Industry works plus Entertainment Accountants who also know how the Music Industry works. That way the said Artist or Artists will also have the complete picture as to what they’re about to get into before signing a deal with a Record Label. Also now days make sure to have 100% access to the Streaming Income for Streaming Music for platforms like Spotify, Pandora, and iTunes.

[alessandroxxo]

wonderful. we're start to go in the direction of consciousness of need of no-identification

[rineric]

You can now be a star (world-wide celebrity that is) without touring.

[sheajones]

Funny how the music industry has a correlation to how the world is doing. Good music means a good era in society. That's why theres artists that will be timeless and mumble rappers are digging themselves into a corner of the same theme, sound, and rhythm. If you're not actually being genuine in your music, you will be forgotten

[Omanjisinkala]

Very true, this guy knows what's happening in the industry

[Synsere_Lyfe]

This made so much sense it has changed my views on my brand.

[winthefutr]

Truly relate to your idea. I strongly believe in today's based off of what music is selling. Kids don't do music for the sake of doing music they do it because Social Identity

[maxmetzger]

Mans really giving a Ted talk after his dog died a few years ago😔respect to him. This man also had some crazy movies

[TheCymbalProject]

Ticket reselling is what killed music for me. $300 for concert tickets? FA-Q Ticketmaster and their computer algorithms scripted to create fake demand and inflated prices is what has completely turned me off music.

[todd]

So much truth in this message. I also go to concerts to connect with my people.

[NURREDIN]

Here's the problem I have with this. If I only play music just to play music, that means I'm going to remain a financial analyst for the rest of my life if I refuse to give up my publishing and my masters to a label. There's no money in playing just for the fun of it.

[tunesidig]

Very profound. This guy nailed it. I hope the next movement IS making music just to do it.

[vestel]

Also be fully aware that the Record Labels will reel You in with a Signing Bonus of say $30, 000 but that music goes towards everything one needs to pay for Studio time, engineers, producers, and extra musicians if needed. Plus paying for the hotels, food, traveling expenses like gas for the tour bus. There’s a TON of shady things a Record Label will do to make sure that You’re their indentured servant (100%