Spotify Is Part Of The Solution, And You Can Be Too.

If Spotify was paying artists $10 per stream, all artists would love it and endorse it.  But if it was this way, their message to the fans would not be “Spotify compensates us really well, therefore go use it”.

It would sound more like “Spotify is awesome, convenient, and a great way to hear all of our music.  Go get it.”

All artists would champion Spotify if it put a lot of money in their pockets, because no matter what the royalty rate is, it’s a great service for consumers.  And aren’t artists all about the fans???

If you see an artist boohooing about only being paid $0.02840 for 100,000 streams, one of two things is true.  Either they’re looking at the numbers wrong (an independent artist distributing music through TuneCore would net roughly $450-$550 in this scenario), or they signed a bad deal with a record label where the label is entitled to a large percentage of streaming.

So either way, I’m tired of the complaining.  Do the research, know your rates.  And don’t sign bad deals.

Years ago artists wouldn’t stop crying over Napster and the fall of the music business and artists are never going to get paid. Independent musicians are screwed.  There’s no more money.

While that wasn’t true back then, it’s even less true today.  Here you have a service that will compensate you for people streaming your music.  You want the royalty rate to be higher, I know.  But come on, everyone wants more money.  Nothing new.

And the royalty rate will go up, not down, in the future.

Taylor Swift and the few others pulling their music from Spotify (you can listen on YouTube, which somehow hasn’t been under scrutiny for being a place to listen to music for free while being ad supported just like Spotify) aren’t doing it out of moral conviction or principle, or cause they’re music purists or cause they’re spear heading some other solution.  

It’s all a game.  She doesn’t care about you, the fan or the indie musician.  Taylor will get at least two giant stories out of this move…one when she took her music down, and another when she puts it all back up.  We’re the suckers.

What should artists do? Encourage everyone to join Spotify. Rave about how paying $10/month to carry millions of songs in your pocket is on target with the solution.  Especially in the long term.

Artists can help increase the size of the pie, then they can make a play for higher royalty rates.

(Right now it’s between $0.006 and $0.0084 per stream, depending on ad revenue and number of plays. TuneCore distribution, for indie artists, takes 30% which leaves artists with $0.0042-$0.0058 per stream).

If you’re a big artist on a major label, 99% of you are never going to see any money from album sales or anything to do with your master recordings, so your career isn’t tied to this source of revenue anyway.  Tell people to join Spotify.  It’s good for everyone.

If you’re an indie artist scraping by on the road, don’t worry, people will still buy your album at your shows.  But its a souvenir, not a means to listen.  So that person not only bought your album for $10 but now they’re going to generate more money for you by actually listening to your music on Spotify.  It’s a win win.  Better yet, come up with another $20 item that your fans NEED to have.  Get creative.  That’s what you do, isn’t it?

Spotify is a fantastic service that is set up to satisfy both musician and listener.  It might not be perfect yet, but artists need to embrace the fact that this (Spotify, streaming, etc) is the present and the future and figure out ways to use it to their advantage.

Let’s boil it down, what do you think the per stream royalty rate should be?

Artists, start receiving your Spotify analytics HERE

Everyone, start using Spotify HERE

Playing vs. Listening

Music that is enjoyable to play isn’t necessarily enjoyable to listen to.  The same is true for the other way around…songs that are pleasing to listen to aren’t necessarily pleasing to play.    

The third scenario is when the music is awful to listen to and awful to play.  That sucks.

And then there’s the forth possibility that we’re all dying for, music that gives life when people hear it and brings you to your knees when you play it.

But the mediocre music that is so prevalent these days, that artists and bands trumpet as their “best work ever” usually comes from that first situation: fun to play, boring to listen to.

With all the bands and artists I’ve played with since I was in middle school, I can honestly say, a lot of music is enjoyable to play.  

But most music doesn’t make an impact on the listener.  And like Celine Dion says, “that’s the way it is”.

I get it, it’s hard because you can’t simultaneously be inside the music (playing it) and maintain a regular listeners point of view at the same time.

You chose to try your hand at a career in music, to make money with it, so at some point you have to come to terms with the fact that a certain amount of people in the world have to enjoy your music in order for you to succeed. It matters what (some) other people think. i.e. your music has to be enjoyable to people who aren’t actually playing it.  

I know I know I know, it’s not good to sit around in agony all day in the studio wondering if people are going to like the way you put the first verse and chorus together.  But it’s something to keep in mind.  It’s a trap that’s easy to fall into without realizing it.

We’re all looking for a song we need to hear again. Do you have it? 

Starbucks Makes You Stand Up

I don’t mind paying a little extra for an above average cup of coffee.  I probably wouldn’t have said that 2 or 3 years ago, but things have changed and I can now taste the difference.  Regular Starbucks coffee is not above average, it’s average.  

There’s nothing wrong with that.  Especially being on the road, I value Starbucks’ reliability to deliver me an average cup of coffee.

While I was waiting in line today, ready to order my regular coffee, other people’s orders were being called out on the other side of the bar, loudly, for the entire world to hear.  As usual.  Great big long drinks, something like, “venti dairy free iced mocha latte with an extra shot for Derek!”.

Derek, not really expecting the announcement and fanfare, slowly steps forward to own up to his drink and get back to the construction site.  At least that’s what his attire hinted at.

Starbucks just happens to be one of those places where they force you to own up to your nutritional religion in front of everyone.  

And let’s face it, when we hear the drink title shouted from the rooftops, it’s kinda interesting to see who claims it.  What kind of person corresponds to THAT drink?  How shall I choose to judge them?

Oh, HE’S getting a skinny? Does SHE really need sugar free? Should children even be having coffee?  Who are these parents?

If you really pay attention you can see everyone else judging too.

Man, it’s a zoo out there.  And I guess I just have appreciation for a place where you’re publicly forced be FOR something rather that against.

Derek, it’s all good man.

Shopping For Cell Service

Today I shopped for new cell service. AT&T vs. Verizon. I really didn’t care who won.  

Fellow friends and musicians have used both carriers and coverage seems to be comparable enough to not try and make my decision based on which random highway in Oklahoma has faster 4G. I just needed a reason to choose one or the other.

In Nashville, in an area right by the Blue Bird Cafe, the AT&T and Verizon stores are literally a block away form each other. So I parked in between, walked into both stores and simply asked a salesperson to sell me on their company.

AT&T salesperson: did not introduce himself or ask my name, eye contact was rare, could not do simple math, made my options sound confusing and walked away without saying anything after giving me the fine-print info sheet to figure out for myself.

Now, I’m a smart dude and had already figured out in my head which plan would best suit me, but that wasn’t the point. I didn’t want to buy from this guy because he wasn’t interested in selling to me and treating me like a human.

It was humorous how he didn’t care about the customer, and also his associates near by who weren’t helping other customers but refused to come save my situation. I don’t think AT&T is a bad company, just surprised by the lack of professionalism, especially for a potential new customer.  My guy should probably be fired or get a lot more sales training so he doesn’t do this to more people.

Verizon salesperson: good eye contact, remembered my name throughout the entire process, could do the quick math to tell me what was the best deal for my situation, walked me to the door, opened it for me and shook my hand. Easy.

Obviously I went with Verizon, not based on cell coverage, price, data plans or contract terms, but because the salesperson treated me with respect and value.

Isn’t it ironic that while going to buy a device/service that constantly takes me away from practicing real human interaction, the only real selling point today was the human interaction, not the device/service.

Are You Taking It Too Seriously?

Somehow the idea of “I’m just not taking it too seriously” caught on and spread like wildfire. It’s a staple in our conversations.

It’s viewed as this achievement, like I need to run after it as a goal, everyday.

But “not taking it too seriously” is usually just used a back door to not be held accountable for the purpose or outcome of whatever you’re doing.

If I tell you that I don’t take playing the bass too seriously, I instantly avoid your criticism and judgement.  Because who cares.  I don’t care, so it’s whatever.  Congrats on criticizing bass notes that are just off the cuff nonsense.  I don’t stand behind it, so you’re welcome to push it over.

It’s so stylish to be laid back.

It’s much more vulnerable (and few people equate vulnerability to stylish) to tell you that I do take playing the bass seriously.  It means I have to stand up for it in the face of judgement. I have to be willing to say I put my best foot forward, tried as hard as I could, slaved over it and that it still might not be good enough for some people.

Admitting to yourself and others that you are taking something seriously means you’re about to find out if you have what it takes.

The watchful eyes are coming, subtle or not so subtle condescension and people will definitely be talking about you behind your back.

You can wander into failure and even mediocrity, but success requires clenched teeth and a piercing eye.

Do You Want To Be Famous At SXSW?

So you want to be everyones hero at SXSW?  You want to be known by everyone and be praised from Red River St. to Whole Foods.?

Answer: Quit your band and build a cell phone tower on 6th. 

You could even put your name on it.  You’d not only have free food and drink for the week, but probably free food and drink and admittance to any band’s show in the world.

But better yet…write a great song.  Did you hear any last week at SXSW?

SXSW is an exercise in management of expectations.  A physical, emotional, spiritual battlefield where no one really wins. Some just do better than others.

This year, the vibe that I got from many people I spoke with was that there wasn’t the glue, or the center piece, like in years past.  No really rally point or center of interest.

It could have been the iTunes fest, but they did a bad job.  It was way off the beaten path and there was no chance of getting into it.

Want to throw a great party? Make everyone THINK they have a chance at attending.  That’s what makes everyone talk.

iTunes should have done their thing at Stubbs, or just set up a stage down on 2nd Ave and let everyone in.  Now that would have been the glue every night.

SXSW is a great place to begin business, to be a hustler, to harness your charm and whit and pass it out in the form of a business card after three minutes face to face.

Now we’re all home.  No more free bbq.  No more free Lone Star beer.  No celebrity sightings.  No pats on the back.

Now what are we going to do?