How to get into the music business?

So I like making music, I really enjoy it, but I don't actually see it as a career at all. Right now studying software engineering which I enjoy, but I also want to make my hobby a bit profitable.

Basically I have thought of selling music for ads, videogames, menu music, artsy installations, whatever, really. I don't see myself as a musician, just a guy that can do it (good, or at least that is what people say sometimes). Right now, I feel, I have solid stuff to offer (not online atm, though). But how do someone advertise it? I already made a topic about this long ago, and some even told me that I need lawyers and shit.

What do you guys recommend? In which website should I post my stuff (apart from soundcloud/bandcamp)?

I'm really looking forward to the replies of the people who actually do it (I think one was Squee?). How did you accomplished it?

Thanks! :)

like this. a guy that was looking for free music used a track of mine (which the track isn't thaaaaat good, imho, but hey, he liked it :)

have sex with the fat guy from smashmouth

edit sorry thought this was the change your life thread

make friends with people in high places

  On 2/10/2014 at 2:22 AM, Cryptowen said:

have sex with the fat guy from smashmouth
edit sorry thought this was the change your life thread

this

If you are good enough people will find you

also follow trends in music, do whats popular

all i know is electronic musicians are a diamond dozen in this dogey doge world so you definitely might want to think about doing the guy from smashmouth. good call owen.

Have a bass go wubwubwub over a trap beat. And then rap about money over it.

yes

19 million views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCfm-vWuQRk

Have a website showcasing all the things you do. Not just a soundcloud or a tumblr... An actual website.

Shitmat had a site but it seems to have gone now. It showed off all his data bending skills.

http://www.vaetxh.com

This guy is a bit of a ledge and seems to do a bit of everything

"the music business".

lol

Try places like Music Clout. There are others like it too, that's just one example.

  On 2/10/2014 at 10:25 AM, 2WV said:

"the music business".

 

lol

fucking lol. Depending on what you make, different ways to promote your music. Trying to get big labels and make money, start rapping about money. I don't see why watmm can't have a label. Why doesn't watmm release more shit? When I first signed up, I bought the watmm vol1 CD. Why can't watmm release more CDs? We've got more than enough good artists on here. Doesn't take much to make a website. Then it's just printing CD and vinyl. So many fucking indie labels these days. Indie artists fucking everywhere.

Does anyone know how to sell shit on bleep? A label make connections with bleep people then they'll sell your shit?

It almost feels like so many people are trying to make music on the computer that softwares and hardwares are where the money's at.

what's wrong with soundcloud/bandcamp?

nothing wrong with it. They are just online storage space for music. You still have to promote your music somehow to get people to listen to them.

put your kneepads on...

  On 2/10/2014 at 7:57 AM, feltcher said:

Have a website showcasing all the things you do. Not just a soundcloud or a tumblr... An actual website.

 

Shitmat had a site but it seems to have gone now. It showed off all his data bending skills.

 

http://www.vaetxh.com

This guy is a bit of a ledge and seems to do a bit of everything

That guy's music is good. I feel like he is lurking around here. I found it not too long ago.

Ah, he is on Schematic. Makes sense. They have released some good stuff.

find a label (nobody likes a freelancer) and start playing gigs. best way to promote yourself is to by playing live unless you're lucky enough to make something that will spread by people sharing it, but that's rarely the case. once you do play live you will meet people and it will eventually evolve into something if you're cool enough for them to hang out with you. having actual music skills help too, like if you know your way around some instruments and programs so that one day someone will think 'i need this, i better call that guy'. and that guy being you. if you're not into being a full blown musician and songwriter just start going to gigs and hanging out with the musicians, maybe do some improv stuff. just meet people. people who know people. make improtrant contacts, keep yourself out there, do some free jobs for people who will ask for it. and hope it amounts to something. don't sit on your ass hoping one day some executive will stumble upon your stuff on bandcamp. shit like that never happens.

Through the casting couch

First of all, it's good that you've thought about the option of producing music for video games, ads, business, etc. I'd only recommend you have a mindset that it's for money and not art. Personally I think a division of hobby versus work is a healthy one, even if both deal with music. I have friends who have taken their passion for music into being audio engineers and do their own music in their free time.

I'm going DIY all the way. I do no see any possibility in making a living off music anytime soon. Thankfully I like cassettes a lot, and that ethos pairs well with the tape label "scene." I'm going to be duplicating tapes for my friends band and an artist who I literally met when I reviewed his tape on discogs. Even before setting anything up on bandcamp, we're planning on merch sales and a local record store as outlets. It's very much one step at a time (we all work 40+ hours a week) Hopefully from their releases as practice I'll get a label going and release my own music even. Small, reasonable, tangible goals for now.

A big step is to meet people, make connections. I don't mean that in a spammy, bullshit way of ass-kissing either - go to local gigs (as mentioned earlier), local record shops if any are near, find like minded peers and artists. Browse other forums or social media groups with similar taste as you. The internet is such a huge equalizer in terms of getting content out there to everyone, and to people who will appreciate your work, but it's also a vast desert of unheard and unseen music and art if you don't promote it. The big problem with promotion is having the confidence and self-assurance to do so, and then after that it's the struggle with not selling out. There's a lot of quick and easy ways to get attention, but at the expensive of you self-respect and respect from sincere listeners (or snobs like us)

Here's the deal: many people will shamelessly compromise and alter their art solely for fame and success and on the other end some people are so protective that they end up never sharing music with anyone. There's a happy medium in-between, but it will likely not be lucrative. Very few people can be sincere in their art and respected AND financially successful and "famous." Many more have to release and perform for years before they get their critical recognition they deserve. You will be let down if your expectations are high: the public is too flippant and the media is too uncaring. Make music for yourself, then for your friends IRL, then for acquaintances strangers with similar taste, then for labels you respect, and then for the "general public." Getting ahead of yourself will lead to frustration. Also don't sell yourself short on the value of your creativity: a handful of people buying your music will outweigh thousands of free downloads in the long-run.

Just my perspective, good luck regardless!

I met a guy who did pretty well for himself in the business back in the day. His advice to me:

"They always say it's about being in the right place at the right time, but what that means is - being everywhere all the time."

So, basically what Kinski said. Play shows all the time, meet people, play more shows, make killer music that busts out of your soul like a malignant alien species, then find new places to play shows and go play your awesome music at some shows.

  On 2/10/2014 at 2:59 AM, Deer said:

If you are good enough people will find you

 

also follow trends in music, do whats popular

Even better… create your own trends.

I feel like the people that usually make it, are the people that have a unique and distinctive sound. Not people that just try to recreate other people's music, then you might as well just listen to the real thing. It's okay to do when you are new and learning, but at some point you have to give your music its own identity. Having some kind of a gimmick doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Easier said than done, I know. I sure as shit can't do it.

Also… dedication.

If you make music to make money, just quit.

  On 2/10/2014 at 6:57 PM, Ceerial said:

 

  On 2/10/2014 at 2:59 AM, Deer said:

If you are good enough people will find you

 

also follow trends in music, do whats popular

 

Even better… create your own trends.

 

I feel like the people that usually make it, are the people that have a unique and distinctive sound. Not people that just try to recreate other people's music, then you might as well just listen to their music. It's okay to do when you are new and learning, but at some point you have to give your music its own identity. Having some kind of a gimmick doesn't have to be a bad thing.

 

Easier said than done, I know. I sure as shit can't do it.

 

So true. The same analogy applies to 99% of vocalists - Distinct character is a selling point.

What kinski and joshuatx said.

Trying to find short films or web series to score is a good place to get your foot in "a" music biz. There are usually some people making those or games who need composers. You might have to do a few freebies at first, but you can use that experience to shop around for bigger budget productions. You need to portray confidence (whether you are or not) and be able to be somewhat flexible in style. Later on you might develop your own colour to projects and be sought after for that.

There's really no harm in going to a production house or even a post-production house in person to smile, shake some hands and give them your portfolio. Emails usually just get forgotten or ignored since everyone is busy. Personally, I love having new hungry people coming to our studio to show us their stuff and some of them ended up getting some contracts.

  On 2/10/2014 at 7:01 PM, azatoth said:

If you make music to make money, just quit.

Caveat: You can make music for the love of it and get paid for it. But to make music solely for a career is the equivalent of trying to get a career playing snooker.