When it comes to finding opportunities in the music industry, you have better luck winning with the best NFL bets than with actually finding an opportunity.
While the industry may seem abundant in the different ways to make money and earn fame in the process, it’s a highly saturated field that requires a lot of hard work, risk, and dedication. But even with that, there’s no guarantee that these efforts will bring you the lifestyle and riches that you’re looking for.
While many are attracted to the music industry because of the fame and fortune they see from successful artists, the reality is that this line of work presents a lot of struggles that many are not aware of.
Going “MC Hammer Broke”
The stories we hear about struggling musicians that are incapable of paying their bills is a reality and while some of them can reach great heights of fame, many artists fall rock-bottom shortly after making it big simply because they’re incapable of managing their finances.
One of the struggles that come with making it in the industry is that after making a successful hit, many then believe that this money will last forever. So, they go on spending sprees and elevate their lifestyles unaware that more work is needed to maintain these great heights.
It’s here that rising back up becomes a struggle, especially since most of these artists are then faced with the pressures of paying off their debts while trying to maintain this new lifestyle.
Producers And Studios
There’s a misconception that goes around in believing that being in the right studio or getting a record with a hit producer means that you will automatically score a record deal that’ll make millions so you never have to work a day in your life again. This is far from true.
While quality music is important, what’s topping charts and popular on radio stations is also key. This means that by only looking at the music you’re bringing to the table, the producers you’re working with, and the kind of studio you’re recording in, you’re viewing only a single dimension of what’s really going on.
Artists that make it on the top 40 charts aren’t just singing in the studio. A lot also goes into getting the music out there, so a strong PR and marketing team is constantly at work to get the public to know about what’s coming up and stir hype around it.
This means spending endless hours doing shoots and covers just to get the word out there. So, if you don’t have a powerful and influential record label to back you, your journey may prove to be harder than it already looks.
Selling Your Soul
Every third person you come across these days is somehow trying to get into the music industry making it highly saturated. Even the most talented and gifted artists are struggling to crack it in the industry. Because the public is constantly scrutinizing and investigating it for criminal and unethical behavior, this shows that a lot goes into getting to the top other than just talent alone.
Some have admitted to having to “sell their souls” by demeaning themselves sexually whether it be through their music or behind the scenes. This isn’t the case with some successful artists but it is a reality that many artists are going through. Here, everything is about motive and since many are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top, competition is very stiff even in this regard.
Sacrifices
In our personal lives alone, we face a lot of commitments. Some aspiring musicians have families and kids to take care of and other commitments also offer a limiting factor to how far you can go to get what you want.
The music industry requires sleepless nights, unpredictable hours, and a lot of traveling. It’s a heavy price to pay for success and while many don’t think much of this level of commitment, those who live this reality are aware of the unpleasant sacrifices they have to make when it comes to things that matter the most.
Many aspiring artists fight to balance this out but in time, many of them end up leaving the journey because it’s too much of a price to pay.
