Gearhead wroteIf the internet is such a good medium, then why are the ones making the big bucks the likes of Google?
With all due respect, you clearly underestimate the internet. There are many people making over $1m a year using internet marketing to sell a product they've put together. Be it a book, audio, video or something else. People are doing it and they are NOT Google. They started off in their spare bedroom.
But let me be clear: I'm not talking about matching what the current music stars make. I'm not talking about living extravagant lives. I'm talking about making enough to live on (either as a single person or in a dual-earning relationship) while still doing what you love. We're lucky in SA because our cost of living is low but our talents and resources are pretty damn high. We have an advantage that is currently immeasurable.
Gearhead wroteMy point: admittedly anyone could put the best song ever on the internet (it might already be put on!) but how would you find it? The answer to 'life, the universe and everything' might be posted on a forum, but who would read it?
Again, no offense, but you don't understand how things are found on the internet. There's a big game called niche-marketing where you can dominate a niche (get #1 spot rankings) with zero outlay. I've done it before. It takes significant effort but zero money up-front and you can pay your rent with the earnings. (I've done it!)
Gearhead wroteIf in fact anyone can make music that millions listen to, would the total amount of money spent on music, worldwide, annually, go up? If not (or not dramatically) would all those 'anyones' not earn a lot less than the few stars we have now? It just does not add up.
I'm not talking about music that millions would listen to but music that 10s of thousands,
maybe 100s of thousands would listen to. The important thing here is that, with the internet, your metal band can appeal to listeners in Germany, Portugal, Romania and more. Easily. THAT's the power - you only need a few 1000 people from a few countries to like your music and you can make money.
Gearhead wroteEven if I became GOOD (which will not happen any day soon) I wouldn't quit my day job. I've seen Rolling Stones live and I would not want to grow old like that. ?
Agreed ?
Gearhead wroteThe issue with making music for a living is, once you depend on the income your music generates, you will start making music that generates income. Being friends with professional musicians has taught me that much.
Agreed, great insight ?
Gearhead wroteI work hard on my career which will over time pay for all the GAS I could possibly want, but that same career will never be as close to my heart as music is. Imagine what would happen if music became a 9 to 5 kinda thing for you (but then at terrible hours)?
The music industry in SA will explode over the next 5-10 years. It's begun already but it's a long process. If you're prepared to dedicate yourself NOT just to music but learning how to make money from music, I believe you can make a success from your passion in SA.
Take a look at this forum, I make no money from it and neither does Alan. It eats away at our wallets on a monthly basis. But, at its current rate of growth, we could both be financially independent within 2 years. And I'm basing that on actual figures we've received from ad-networks opening up in SA.
"Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're usually right" -Henry Ford
THAT's the difference ?
