What’s Love Got To Do With It? Commentary on the state of the Music Industry
Everywhere I go there seems to be some sophisticated discussion or debate about what’s wrong with the music industry and what needs to be done to fix it. The conversation takes place in offices among
professionals who have been around long enough to know that
things are indeed different, and annindustry conferences among
music artists who revel in new found optimism that the changes
will “level” the playing field and make economic opportunities
more accessible to them.
As tempting as it may be, I am not enamored with or preoccupied by
the current problems that face the music industry. Issues such as
declining record sales; the consolidation of radio stations; the
constant merging of record labels; the lack of longevity in the
“careers” of music artists; the boom in retail sales of used CDs;
or any myriad of issues regarding the illegal downloading of music
on the Internet. Why? Because while so many in
the music industry (professionals and artists alike) spend countless
hours lamenting over things that they can’t control, I only focus on
the things that are within my control; like my professional
choices, income generating activities, and building valued
relationships. Most importantly my business model is based on my passions because while I know that the economy will always fluctuate up or down, and industry trends will turn hot and cold in the blink of an eye, my love for what I do is a constant
and remains unaffected.
In 1999 I had the pleasure of meeting and briefly talking to
Barry White at a party for the release of “Love Unlimited,” his
semi-autobiographical book on his adventures in life, love and the
music industry. When he asked me what I did for a living, I told
him I was a music business consultant. Barry, who
was much darker in person than he is on television and in his videos, flashed some of the whitest teeth you could ever imagine and said, “I don’t know what that is, but as long as you believe in what you
do, that’s all that counts.”
I went on to enthusiastically explain to him what I did as a music business consultant, asking him for advice and hogging up his limited time in the process. He stopped me before I could really dive
deep into it and interjected in his sincere, rich baritone voice, the advice that I still follow to this very day, “Constantly re-commit yourself to what you do and the money will follow…”
We all need to re-commit from time to time. We all lose sight of what we actually do for a living and the reasons why we do it, but the long roots of true passion run deep…and even when the tree is cut
down by unfair business practices, a gluttony of superficial encounters, busted deals, a never ending parade of fakes and flakes, and rampant un-professionalism that plagues the industry, you
endure because you know that at the end of the day you are truly passionate about what you do and it all becomes a mere occupational hazard that you learn how to deal with.
While many aspiring industry professionals have fashionably set their sights on the greener pastures of the music business, prostituting their values for the sake and pursuit of money, the vast majority
will not obtain the riches they so desperately seek, nor will they be in it for the long haul. Why? Because they lack vision, focus, commitment, and above all else, passion for what they do – which
brings us to the question: what’s love got to do with it? When it comes to art, you would think everything, but the sad truth
is that there are many in the music industry that are more
passionate about self-expression and self-serving interests, than
they are about music as an art form (unless, of course, the music
we are speaking of is their own).
But you don’t have to be passionate about music to be in the music industry, you just need to be passionate about your motivations and respect the process that allows you to make your money. Show me an act or professional who has failed, and I will show you how that statement applies.
And what about all the “changes” that people are talking about so
adamantly? History shows that this industry is always changing.
The industry never stops changing; technologically; structurally; logistically; and creatively. Adaptability is a requirement of success in every industry because change, to an entrepreneur, is readily accepted, embraced and capitalized upon.
So for those who are distracted by the changes that are taking
place in the industry, my free, but valuable advice to all of you is to focus on what you love to do. Your passion is the intangible that
will increase the value of your product or service. Your business
needs and opportunities will announce themselves at the appropriate time. Until then, rekindle your love affair with your business or art, because in the end, love has everything to do
with the reason you do it in the first place.
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