There’s no question that a great chorus makes or breaks a pop song. In fact, it’s even possible to write a hit song with a chorus so good, that the mediocre verses don’t matter. To me, ‘The Boys Are Back in Town” is a classic example of a song with a killer chorus that has…
Marketing yourself as an artist is an ever-changing and challenging effort. Different artists in different genres will take different paths in their promotion, and there truly are no rules. Some artists make it totally independently and others need a full team working with them. In the hip-hop world, artists like Chance the Rapper are changing…
Children’s music is a real market that often slips under the radar, simply because most children’s entertainers will never be famous enough to be in a major spotlight. That said, there are exceptions to this rule (Raffi, The Wiggles, Fred Penner), and there are many, many people that make a living playing children’s music. For…
If you’re fairly green in the music industry, knowing how to spend your money is challenging to the point of overwhelm. Everyone tells you to spend it in different ways, and everyone is more than happy to take your money. It’s become extraordinarily clear to me that if you want to pay someone to do…
When you’re playing with a band and taking it seriously, it’s important to take rehearsals seriously. You need to show up on time, know what you’re going to rehearse, and have structure throughout the rehearsal. In a big band, it can be hard to get regular rehearsals in. This makes it all the more vital…
Disclaimer: This article is one man’s view. In short, yes. Location matters in any career, and this is especially true in music. If a town is inundated with plumbers, it’s probably not a good place to start a career as a plumber. You should always be looking for where the opportunities are. That said, it’s…
Music is an all-consuming job. A lot of people work jobs they don’t need to take home with them. If you’re working reception or serving at a restaurant, when you punch out, you’re done. You don’t need to think about your job for the rest of the day. Music isn’t like that. In fact, if…
One of the most interesting things about the music industry is the different musical paths that artists and bands end up on. Depending on your upbringing, you may or may not have known people who played music their entire lives. People go about it in a variety of different ways. There are many stages in…
As I’m sure you know, if you hang out with anyone long enough, you’ll eventually get into some sort of disagreement with them. This problem is sometimes exacerbated tenfold when you’re in a band with them. Something about the intense shared experiences, creative process, and the ties that art has on people’s ego and pride,…
Ideally, you’ll end up playing a lot of live shows. The more shows you play, the more you get in front of an audience, the better you’ll get at your craft, and the more people will hear your music. The amount of shows you’re playing is often a good indicator of how well your career…
Playing music is without a doubt the best job in the world. If you can make it work financially, you’ll be free to do pretty much whatever you want, whenever you want, and play music every day. Those of us who can do this are among the luckiest people in the world. On the music…
House concerts have been around forever in one form or another – from the East Coast kitchen parties to live band parties – but lately, they’ve become a way for artists to make good money and for fans to experience music and art up close and personal. Having hosted and played many house concerts, I’ve…
My home studio is my happy place. It’s far from perfect and I’m kind of addicted to making upgrades (both aesthetic and practical) but it’s where I call home for most of the day. I’ve had a home studio for most of my life. It started out as my bedroom in my parent’s house, and…
With the rise of music blogging, it’s easier than ever for artists to be their own publicists. And I think you should try your best to be your own publicist whenever you get the chance! It’s cheaper, and nobody cares more about your music than you do. The problem is, everyone can do it, and…
For many artists, booking agents are a logical first or second team member to bring on board. Playing live is a huge part of how most artists earn an income, build a fan base, and gain press coverage. When you start booking your own shows, you’ll quickly realize how difficult and time consuming it can…