How to "Get By" as a Musician

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It is difficult as a musician to get by nowadays, especially with illegal downloading of music. And with such a big music market, it is difficult to be noticed beside many other musicians. If the goal of a musician is to make good music and earn enough money to get by, it is still possible.

Kevin Kelly, the co-founder of Wired magazine, has been looking at the idea of artists making a living from what his colleague Chris Anderson calls "The Long Tail" - the niche markets that exist outside of the mass market, which the Web makes possible to tap. He admits the Long Tail is "a decidedly mixed blessing for creators." The phenomenon doesn't raise the sales of most artists, but does add "massive competition and endless downward pressure on prices."

At the same time, Kelly's theory is that it should be possible for artists to succeed provided they can come up with what he calls 1,000 "true fans." If each of these fans either pays for music or buys other content that is worth $100 or so a year, then an artist should be able to make a living, he argues. But is that possible?

This is a very interesting way to look at making music. Instead of trying to hit the mainstream and make it big, it is suggested that musicians find a small niche that appreciates their music and market to true fans. It seems hard to believe that fans would pay $100 a year on content but still if it were a little less per fan and a little more fans then it seems very plausible that a musician could live off that revenue.

On his blog, Kelly describes a letter he received from Robert Rich, a musician who specializes in what's called "ambient" music, and had a couple of mainstream hits in the 1980s. Rich says he has been able to support himself by marketing to loyal fans - but just barely.

"If it weren't for the expansion of the Internet and new means of distribution and promotion, I would have given up a long time ago," Rich says. "In this sense, I agree wholeheartedly that new technologies have opened the door for artists like me to survive. But it's a constant struggle." The musician describes how he is "my own booking agent, my own manager, my own contract attorney, my own driver, my own roadie. I sleep on people's couches, or occasionally enjoy the luxuries of Motel 6."

In today’s world with youtube and other tools on the internet, it is easier to be an independent musician. It is easier to get fans this way and promote one’s music. Also, distribution is easier. Instead of handing out CD’s, an artist can sell their music easily with an iTunes link. The only problem that technology brings is the illegal download of music that takes away money from a struggling musician. But if that musician finds that niche of true fans willing to pay to support their favorite artist, then it is possible to survive.

Ingram, Mathew. "HOW MANY TRUE FANS DOES AN ARTIST NEED TO SURVIVE?(The Globe Review Column)(INGRAM 2.0: NEW MEDIA)(having loyal fans would make a musician survive the industry)(Brief article)(Column)." Globe & Mail[Toronto, Canada] 28 Apr. 2008: R4. Global Issues In Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.

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