Image by Getty Images via daylife...Recording artists are growing in number in spite of dropping record sales by major recording companies. In news, industry colleague Owen Husney (artist manager for Prince who negotiated an unprecedented deal giving complete creative control over the albums he produced and recorded over a number of years) explained how recording artists at any level need to diversify revenue streams with or without label support. Furthermore, understanding revenue diversification in music is paramount for obtaining sustainable success in the industry.

Revenue diversification is one reason why music creation has
Image via Wikipedia become so popular. Music can be made today with negligible cost and recorded at home with a simple computer based setup. The Internet provides digital marketing at little to no cost via mp3 download. Unfortunately, over-saturation in the music industry has made an even larger chasm between the majors and start-up record labels due to marketing concerns.

One fact has not changed; major record labels sell a million or more copies of records because at least a million people hear their product. Comparatively, indie labels don’t have the client outreach necessary to make substantial money without marketing effectively. Take advantage of the legal protection provided by copyright. Recent news articles that protect musician’s rights like the crackdown on p2p company Limewire by the RIAA could not be prosecuted if recording artists did not feel it necessary to protect their art. Music protection is a necessary component for all music compositions and should not be overlooked. Moreover, the business training required for proper setup of copyrights, publishing, and industry standard marketing materials stifle most recording artists from making money because of the lure for increased music production speed. Ultimately, the recording artist loses out on licensing opportunities and royalty compensation (the most important revenue streams heralded by both majors and indie artists alike) in today’s changing music economy.

In conclusion, both Owen Husney and myself champion the idea that substantial monetary compensation can be made through music creation; however, recording artists need to protect their work and solidify their ability to make self-sustainable profits. In short, protection for music is given through following the copyright procedural guidelines and sustained profit is accounted for by attaining warranted publishing rights for musical compositions. These steps must be followed to maximize any music creation’s full wealth creating potential.


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If you have questions or concerns about setting up your music catalog's copyrights, publishing, sample clearance negotiation, and/or A&R/Radio/PR One Sheet creation do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to help, so, leave comments with your contact information and stay in touch. 


Also, feel free to reach me via phone contact. I personally check my work line throughout the day at 1.888.210.1447 and look forward to hearing from you.


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References:

Bruno, Antony. (2010, November 19). RIAA continues crackdown on Limewire.  

Retrieved December 5, 2010, from http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/

content_display/industry/e3i02240e53d2361c71e5c3606073e8694f

Husney, Owen (2005, November). Income solutions for independent and major

label artists [Video file]. Video posted to http://www.artistshousemusic. org/videos/income+solutions+for+independent+and+major+label+artists

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Bryan W. Bell

CMG Artist Development 

Boyd Allen Music Group

Business Manager, ASCAP Publishing Admin.
Sample Clearance Advisor
V.Mail: 1.888.210.1447

Twitter: bryanbellmusic

E.Mail: e.artistdevelopment@gmail.com

Web: http://boydallenmusicgroup.com/