Representing the artist that would otherwise not have a voice

Tag: Songwriter

Making it in the Music Biz

Is it even possible to make it as a Musician or Songwriter now days?  The music industry is, no doubt, complicated and out of control!  I’m you or someone you know, feels the pain.  We all love music, but loving music isn’t enough to pay the rent.  Navigating Musicians the complicated music industry is not easy for anyone — not even the biggest names in the industry.

This infographic shows the typical organizational hierarchy of a Record Company:

Record Label Industry Org Chart

The big labels have resources that can take someone with minimal talent and make them a star.  We all see the performances and wonder, how did they get on TV, Radio, Morning Show, etc. when we all know x people that are better?  The reason is simple.  The labels know how the system works — they created it!

But what about the guy or gal that can’t even get a meeting with a label?  What about you or your friends?  Why can’t we make it?   Right!  We are with you on that!

Do you ever wonder why record labels require musicians T-shirts to effectively give away their names, lives and careers by requiring them to enter into 360 degree deals? They do so because they can.  They are in the business of making money for their investors, not making music. wholesale NFL jerseys  Think about it…How many record company CEO’s were ever making a living as a musician or songwriter?

This is where the Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters steps in.  We leverage our connections and resources to help the artist we huge represent develop their careers.  In many ways we function similar to how an Independent or Major Label works with one BIG exception — We DO NOT take any ownership of the Intellectual Property of our artist.  They come in with music — they keep it.  We help them write hit tunes — they keep them.  They make zillions of dollars as a superstar — they keep the $$ (although we hope they thank us when they win a Grammy ;).

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Artist DO Make it on their Own!

As an independent artist, how can anyone make it on their own?  We not only believe — we know, that it is very possible to make a good living as independent musicians and songwriters.  The key to success, however, is not simply being talented — there are millions of talented artist that never make it!  We believe the key to success is through learning how to navigate the complex nature of the industry.  It isn’t a secret that record labels and publishing companies make money through the artist they represent.  How many record label CEO’s actually made a living as a Musician or Songwriter?

Yet, we all know artist that have made it big largely on their own.

Sheryl Crow

After being a school teacher, jingle singer and backup vocalist (for Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder) throughout her 20s, Minimo she released her debut album at 31 and didn’t get a massive hit until a year later with “All I Wanna Do.”

Pharrell Williams – 40 years old

Pharrell is an excellent example of someone that has figured out how to navigate the music industry. He created his own production company, he has had a very successful career as an independent producer (his production duo, The Neptunes, wrote and produced Britney Spears #1 hit “I’m A Slave 4 U” in 2001 when he was 28). However, he also Off-Shoulder-Obsession was the singer/songwriter/producer for “Happy.” One of the biggest songs of the decade.

Bill Withers – 32 years old

After serving in the US Navy for nine years and working on a factory assembly line, Withers released his debut album cheap NFL jerseys with the hit “Ain’t No Sunshine” at age 32.

Talented Artist Walk Away from the Music Industry Every Day

We are tired of seeing amazing talent walk away from the industry and give up their dreams because they can’t make a living as a musician  or songwriter.  Humanity suffers when people are not creating music.  Think about cheap jerseys our world history.  From the beginning of time people were creating music and sharing it with others.

Music Matters — Future Generations are Counting on us!

Every generation has created new music that has influenced future generations — Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, EDM, etc.  Every genre of music can be heard in the next.  The Rolling Stones, in fact, were deeply influenced in the UK by the Blues music that was coming out of America.  Heck, they got their name from a Muddy Waters tune titled “Rollin’ Stone!”  If the Blues music wasn’t being recorded and shared from America, the chances are we would have never had the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, etc…

We have been fortunate as a society to have had an industry that, good or bad, has backed artist and helped them get their music out.  That all started to change sometime around the Napster era circa 2001.  15-years later, music is not being created or discovered like it once was.  Now days there is more music available in the word than ever, but there is no filter that helps people discover music they like.  It is very difficult for the average consumer to weed through the constant barrage of media hitting them daily.

Musicians need to create music that targets their core audience and generate fans if they ever want to make it in the music business.  Fans drive plays, which drives credibility, that drives interest, that drives revenue…  And the entire process starts by creating good quality music that is at a level that consumers expect — not a Garageband competition recorded in the basement.

The Internet is Quickly Evolving

Let’s talk a minute about developing fans and how the industry and the internet is evolving.

Here’s a video wholesale jerseys of Ian Rogers, former GM of Yahoo Music, CEO of Topspin and now the CEO of Beats Music talking about the Stages of the Internet and the importance of trusted sources.

Ian Rogers Discussing the Phases of the Internet

The Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters can, and will, make a difference…

The Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters was established to help in all areas of artist development.  FMS through the generous donations of our sponsors can bring in the resources artist need to establish a career that can influence future generations.

FMS has the connections, insight, eCommerce expertise and business acumen that the vast majority of Musicians and Songwriters don’t have.  Accordingly, as a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to FMS are 100% tax deductible, which helps our Donors pay-it-forward and promote the continuation of music for future generations — benefiting all of humanity.  As a Music Foundation, every dollar we rase is used to develop the artist so they can make a living in the Music Industry and get their music to the world.

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Finally! A Foundation FOR Musicians and Songwriters!

Virtually everyone knows a talented Musician or Songwriter that is struggling to make it in the Modern Music Industry.  It is very difficult to be “discovered” in today’s climate.  And the ones who are fortunate enough to get a Labels interest are often pressured to sign a one-sided 360 degree wholesale nfl jerseys contract.

The sad fact of the matter is that even if they do sign a contract, there is zero guarantee that the record company will cheap jerseys actually promote the artist.  All too often the artist ends up signing their name, music, copyrights, and career over to a Company only to find out they are still on their own.  All too often they wake up one day realizing that they owe the Label that was supposed to help them hundreds of thousands of dollars, that they are “Controlled” by an organization that is not in the business of music — they are in the business of making money for their shareholders and investors, and with they have zero ability to get out of the long-form rock solid contract!

The Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters represents the artist that would otherwise not have a voice. Through the generosity and philanthropy of our donors, FMS provides services similar to a record label without binding those we serve into any contract.

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The story that is as old as the Music Industry

It cheap nba jerseys is very difficult to be a young artist and turn away a development deal and a check for more money than they have ever seen in their lives!  Countless musicians and songwriters have been in this situation.  Recent news about Prince (RIP) highlights the struggles that even an artist as accomplished as he was faced.

“Record contracts are just like — I’m gonna say the word — slavery,” Prince said as recently as August while speaking to a group of reporters at his Chanhassen, Minnesota, recording studio, Paisley Park. “I would tell any young artist … don’t sign.” —
Prince Warns Young Artists: Record Contracts Are ‘Slavery’, Rolling Stone Magazine, August 19, 2015

Prince was an incredibly famous Musician that also had incredible resources, yet he was unable to get out of his contract with Warner.  This is a story we all need to take to heart.  We hear about Prince.  He can get articles into Rolling Stone.  What about the thousands of others who end up bankrupt and unable to sing their own music without paying royalties to their Label?

  • When musicians and songwriters sign over their copyrights, this is precisely what happens.

Want another story of a famous PPT powerful rocker that had to file bankruptcy and nearly give up his career to fight a record label?
Tom Petty’s Real-Life Nightmares, Rolling Stone Magazine, January 17, 2015

The Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters purpose is to help musicians develop their careers so when they do get to the point of signing a “Record Deal” they have the leverage to negotiate a fair contract.

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Here’s a good video interview from Liquid Web’s This Week in Music with Scott Roger who is the Manager of Paul McCartney, Arcade Fire, Noah and the Wale, BDI and others.  They talk about how Scott has navigated the complicated record industry.  Scott Roger is one of the few managers out there that understand the music industry well enough to help his clients navigate it successfully.  Of course, most artist can’t afford or even get a meeting with someone like Mr. Roger.   This is another area where FMS can make a difference for the artist we represent — without taking any money, copyrights or intellectual property from them.

Music Matters — Future Generations are Counting on us!

Every generation has created new music that has influenced future generations — Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, EDM, etc.  Every genre of music can be heard in the next.  The Rolling Stones, in fact, were deeply influenced in the UK by the Blues music that was coming out of America.  Heck, they got their name from a Muddy Waters tune titled “Rollin’ Stone!”  If the Blues music wasn’t being recorded and shared from America, the chances are we would have never had the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, etc…

We have been fortunate as a society to have had an industry wholesale mlb jerseys that, good or bad, has backed artist and helped them get their music out.  That all started to change sometime around the Napster era circa 2001.  15-years later, music is not being created or discovered like it once was.  Now days there is more music available in the word than ever, but there is no filter that helps people discover music they like.  It is very difficult for the average consumer to weed through the constant barrage of media hitting them daily.

Musicians need to create music that targets their core audience and generate fans if they ever want to make it in the music business.  Fans drive plays, which drives credibility, that drives interest, that drives revenue…  And the entire process starts by creating good quality music that is at a level that consumers expect — not a Garageband competition recorded in the basement.

The Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters can, and will, make a difference…

The Foundation for Musicians and Songwriters was established to help in cheap jerseys all areas of artist development.  FMS through the generous donations of our sponsors can bring in the resources artist need to establish a career that can influence future generations.

FMS has the connections, insight, eCommerce expertise and business And acumen that the vast majority of Musicians and Songwriters don’t have.  Accordingly, as a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to FMS are 100% tax deductible, which helps our Donors pay-it-forward and promote the continuation of music for future generations — benefiting all of humanity.  As a Music Foundation, every dollar we rase is used to develop the artist so they can make a living in the Music Industry and get their music to the world.

To Subscribe to our Music News Updates, Click Here
Click to Subscribe to our Newsletter