I always wonder why talented musicians are never as successful as the guys out there who make Pop or Hip Hop Music. Many musicians spend years at a music schools developing their craft but at the end of the day they have to be living gig to gig or worst, end up changing their career path all together while the not so talented people are making millions each year.
Let us look at modern Pop music for example.To many of us musicians we could care less about listening to Pop track as it usually comprises of simple repetitious melodies. Musicians like to hear crazy chords,progressions and licks. We like to hear things that challenges us to practice harder. We would rather to listen to jazz music or even modern gospel as these genres usually are more exciting and pleasing to our ears. These genres of music are however still not as popular and does not have a great money making potential compared to Hip Hop, Pop or RnB. I will tell you why talented musicians are not the ones making all the money.
In order to make significant money from music, you first have to change you perspective on music. You should look at music as business. As with any business, the key to success is to constantly create value for your customers. This means we have to understand exactly who our customers are and what they want.
In the case of music, our customers would be either the average man or other musicians.
The average man can understand and appreciate so much when it comes down to the complexity of your music.. Music that are simpler, catchy and causes people to dance is what is usually appreciated by the mass. This is why Hip, Hop and Pop Music are more appreciated than Jazz and Gospel music. On the other hand music that is complex is more appreciated by other musicians. There is no limit to how complex this music can be as musicians always want to learn something new. Unfortunately, the larger audience is not musicians but the average listener.
The average listener usually don't what to hear crazy chords, a song crowded with instruments or progressions that are too complex for them to understand. The average person will naturally tune out music like these and gravitate towards music that breath (has less instruments-usually 3-4), have fun and catchy melodies and gets them dancing.
If you disagree with me then feel free to compare the top jazz and gospel songs with the top Pop or Hip Hop songs of today on YouTube and see which gets the most views. The numbers don't lie.
Musicians should always determine whether their audience is other musicians or the average listener. Knowing this would make a great impact on the success of your music.
Let us look at modern Pop music for example.To many of us musicians we could care less about listening to Pop track as it usually comprises of simple repetitious melodies. Musicians like to hear crazy chords,progressions and licks. We like to hear things that challenges us to practice harder. We would rather to listen to jazz music or even modern gospel as these genres usually are more exciting and pleasing to our ears. These genres of music are however still not as popular and does not have a great money making potential compared to Hip Hop, Pop or RnB. I will tell you why talented musicians are not the ones making all the money.
In order to make significant money from music, you first have to change you perspective on music. You should look at music as business. As with any business, the key to success is to constantly create value for your customers. This means we have to understand exactly who our customers are and what they want.
In the case of music, our customers would be either the average man or other musicians.
The average man can understand and appreciate so much when it comes down to the complexity of your music.. Music that are simpler, catchy and causes people to dance is what is usually appreciated by the mass. This is why Hip, Hop and Pop Music are more appreciated than Jazz and Gospel music. On the other hand music that is complex is more appreciated by other musicians. There is no limit to how complex this music can be as musicians always want to learn something new. Unfortunately, the larger audience is not musicians but the average listener.
The average listener usually don't what to hear crazy chords, a song crowded with instruments or progressions that are too complex for them to understand. The average person will naturally tune out music like these and gravitate towards music that breath (has less instruments-usually 3-4), have fun and catchy melodies and gets them dancing.
If you disagree with me then feel free to compare the top jazz and gospel songs with the top Pop or Hip Hop songs of today on YouTube and see which gets the most views. The numbers don't lie.
Musicians should always determine whether their audience is other musicians or the average listener. Knowing this would make a great impact on the success of your music.
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