[This article was written by Dave Kusek, founder of the New Artist Model, an online music business school for independent musicians, performers, recording artists, producers, managers, and songwriters. He is also the founder of Berklee Online, co-author of The Future of Music book, and a member of the team who brought midi to the market.]
One of the biggest complaints in the music industry is that people just aren’t spending money on music anymore. There’re all kinds of reports about how fans aren’t buying albums, that Spotify and Pandora are paying musicians cents, and that piracy is still damaging the industry.
We can be quick to blame other people when our music isn’t bringing in enough money, but what if I told you that it’s not the fans’ fault or that it’s not Spotify’s fault?
Believe it or not, a lot of musicians put a hard limit on their income and put a cap on their own potential. The traditional model that many musicians still base their career around puts all music fans into the same category. If you’re a fan, you buy a $10 CD or download, and if you’re really serious about the music you buy a $20 shirt or a $30 ticket. On top of that, you sell most of these products during set times – like an album release or a tour – and the rest of the year is slower.
However, most artists have some superfans who love their music so much that they would buy anything they put out. They would buy a vinyl with a special, limited edition cover even if they already owned the digital copy. They would pay the extra money to see you backstage at your gigs. They …Read the full story
Source:: The DIY Musician