Everywhere you look the story is the same…gloom and doom of not only the major labels shrinking grasp of the record business, but for the whole economy. We hear there is massive unemployment, we watch industrial icons like the “big three” automakers fall into financial collapse, blah, blah, blah…. the whole thing is surreal.
There are reports that we are headed for another great depression, and like children staring through the window, watching for a parent to come home so that they can feel safe again, we wait for the changing of the guard…for a new President and a new administration to step in, wave a magic wand and save us.
So what does all this mean if you are a “struggling” musician today, in spite of everything hoping to realize your dream? Is the prospect of success out the window for you now? To the contrary, things actually aren’t that bad for you!
In times like these, we as a people come together, we unite in common cause, bonding together almost by instinct, like wild animals threatened in the forest. We are all going through something together. This brings with it a wealth of song topics that you can write about, rich in content and even more important - lifting the spirits of others who are bound like chains in today’s seemly hopeless situation.
Now is the time, “your time ”, to write songs of hope, to share your fears and even to create a fantasy world for people to escape to and forget about their daily problems if only for three or four minutes. You can be part of creating that place.
History tells us that during times like the “Great Depression” of the 1920’s and 30’s people did just that…they turned to entertainment for a diversion…in fact, entertainment was one of the only industries that was insolated from the disintegration of other industries, it actually prospered!
Why? Because music is a perfect fit for these kinds of times. It’s great entertainment, some say it’s “the soundtrack of our lives”, and by any other year’s standards, it’s very inexpensive for people to enjoy.
In contrast, to the old system where if you wanted to own original music, you were forced to lay down $17 for a CD, only to find it was otherwise filled with junk. Today you can hear samples of a track before you buy it and then pick and choose one for virtually any mood for the modest price of $.99, an amount that is not going to make a difference in anyone’s tight budget.
And just like the Berlin Wall and Iron Curtain came crashing down, the “gatekeepers” have “left the building”, and the recording and distribution of music has become anyone’s game via the Net.
So run with it…let your ideas flow without the restriction of “big brother” – the label, who chokes your creative flow, constantly telling you what you can and can’t do. Your have a fresh white canvas and you can paint it anyway you like.
Just remember though, like any other time, successful music has to be great so don’t skip over the fundamentals of learning how to make great records. It’s time… it’s “your time”! This is a unique period that happens maybe only once in a century, many only realize it after it’s over. Those who were able to see it and are prepared will be the ones who will prosper.
