What Comes Next?

     What comes next? That's a question that keeps me up some nights, especially now that I'm thinking about what my next EP is going to sound like. I want to create something innovative, but that question it isn't just about the music I'm making. I also want to make sure I'm taking advantage of every tool that is available to me, and using them in a smart way. Unfortunately, that is the hardest part about making music. The creating part of the process is fun, even when it's stressful. Trying to get your music heard on social media and other sites is the frustrating and demoralizing part of that equation. I understand why some people aren't interested in selling themselves to other people, because to be perfectly honest, it can make you want to quit altogether. There is so much music out there that most things cease to be exciting. A lot of people can recognize potential, but that doesn't mean they're going to be falling head over heels to buy your music just yet. What comes next? Patience. Lots of patience.

     And persistance. Even when it seems like no blog is interested in that single, you just have to keep sending it out until you find the one that does. If you really believe that what you're creating is good, then chances are that there is another person out there who agrees with you. That's the beauty of the internet. There is something for everyone. As time moves forward, I think the music industry is only going to get more and more competitive. You'll have to be pushing boundaries to remain relevant, and  you'll have to be inventive about selling your music over the web. Money is leaving the industry at this point, and of all the jobs to be involved in, music is one of the most unstable. But with new innovations like streaming and the death of physical media, a new system is going to be established. It's unclear at this point how this is going to effect musicians, but I suspect that things will get harder before they get better. 

     So seize the moment. Social media is still young, and there is a lot of positive change and opportunity waiting on the web. What I've really taken to heart in the past year is that no one is searching out your music. You have to bring it to them. A lot of musicians haven't realized this yet, or are afraid to put themselves out there. They want to continue to live in some other time where people payed ten dollars for a physical copy of your CD, but that isn't what is happening right now. Now is the time to take advantage of the vast resources of the internet. I really believe that making your presence known on social media today is what touring small clubs was in the 90's. As social media continues to evolve, the voices clambering to be heard are going to get louder. Refine what you're doing, consume as much music as you can, and produce something novel, soon. Get yourself heard online, because if you don't, someone else will.