Preparing for the COMPETITION SEASON

My Newsletter

Are you being bullied by the music business?

ARE YOU BEING BULLIED BY THE BUSINESS? BE THE BOSS!

Today’s Global music scene is a creative playground compared to earlier versions I have had the pleasure (and pain…) of knowing.  Particularly, Nashville.

I recall my first real experience with a much respected National Talent Agency. After being selected to join the group, I was scheduled to have a meeting the following Monday in Nashville, Tennessee. Home of Country Music, The Grand Ole Opry and home where most of my dreams lived.

In this meeting, I assumed we would discuss details of my career, maybe go over some of my original songs and basically get a plan together. Nope. The topic: Lose 30 pounds in 30 days.

I was the only female at a table with 8 or so men in suits who, in no uncertain terms, informed me losing weight was MANDATORY to any further action. So, I did. 28 pounds in 32 days. I looked great. But, this 28 pounds was barely acceptable to the “suits”. I was told I looked “sick” by my southern relatives. My family seemed disturbed that I had collar bones. This further prompted a brief confrontation by my parents and an ongoing intervention by my Pentecostal aunts to pray away any “drugs” that I may be on. Because, skinny people were on drugs or depressed as far as they were concerned. No, I wasn’t on drugs. In fact, the only “drug” I was on was “Nashville” and “making it in the business”. Which, in retrospect, actually should have had some F.D.A. regulations.

During this time in Nashville, I was groomed on what to wear, how to do my hair and makeup, what to say, and without my even realizing- WHO to be. Which was ANYONE- but, ME. I was discouraged from writing my own songs, encouraged to study other singers and basically led into the direction the agency saw a need for.

The music market had a domination on corporate advertising at that time. Super models were no longer the faces endorsing major products, it was singers and actors. Larger record labels were changing the look of Nashville. No longer did they want the back woods singers with something to say; the cute and sassy singer/songwriters ala Dolly Parton. They wanted super models that were decent singers (Enter 2001 Auto Tune) and preferably with a southern accent. A BELIEVABLE southern accent- because God forbid any one doubt your southern heritage. Even those who were from Canada.

Now, many years later Nashville has gotten more progressive. But, that philosophy continues in the Country market to a smaller degree. Now, however, the roles have reversed. The menare the ones getting the “Nashville Glossing”. Is it just me or does the following seem to be a prerequisite for male artists to get a good record deal in Nashville?

1. Tattoo’s  (and preferably a “tribal” art)

2. An assortment of shiny silver rings on non-traditional fingers (yes, pinkies, thumbs and what not…)

3. Facial hair -like you just don’t care (but, actually is in a determined design by a recognized stylist)

4. Songs about beer, beaches and broads. (written by everyone BUT the artist yet the artists name is on the credit as a writer- DUH…you MUST have “writing street cred” to be taken seriously in this town!)

5. Jeans that have “Be-Dazzled” pockets. (I refer to these as “Bitch- Britches”- pardon the language. Also, * I do reserve the rights on that name for possible future branding.)

Maybe it’s just me. But, probably not. By now I have offended a lot of my fellow Nash-villains. Yes, I spelled that correctly. Wink, wink.

But, now the music industry (as a whole) is not driven by the big record label machines. This is due to the ever growing successes of smaller and/or independent record labels. Thanks to social media, internet marketing and awareness, artists are able to put the music they want to into the ears of many. They are able to fund their own campaigns, albums and appearances while advertising in volume- for FREE.

Thus, exposing the world to some unique music and organic talent that may otherwise have been unnoticed. Recent studies show that listeners just might be tired of the over processed artists and over rotated radio songs. Listeners are embracing the non-mainstream. This has had a great effect financially on the “Big Bosses” and “Lords of Labels”.

Now, taking the lead in music sales are many artists that maintained their “brand”. the singer/songwriters that stayed true to their music and the message of their own choosing. It is raw, it is REAL and it is REFRESHING.

So, for all of artists that have been hindered from the business because you were told (or even thought) there was no market for your music- GOOD NEWS, there is.

It is a large, mass market and by the looks of things it is still waiting on YOU. You do not have to change yourself anymore. You do NOT need to compromise like some of us had to yesteryear. Yep, a whole big world of listeners are waiting to LIKE you! So, keep writing what YOU write. BE YOU and GET HEARD. The music market is YOURS now- just one “share” click away. Right there at your finger tips! No silver rings required.

xoxo,

Missy