I want to step back and widen the lens from the post yesterday about the leaders in the band needing to step up and lead.
Why do we need those band guys to be leaders in the first place?
Because this is where the change is born. All the things that feel broken or are broken about the industry will be revolutionized by artists willing to be leaders.
Gone are the days where the band gets to be the dumb lazy band guys and everyone else makes them valuable and successful.
What if by being a great artist and also a great leader, you gained leverage, attention, respect, success? This is possible. But you need both ingredients. An artist leader.
When we have great leaders in bands we have band guys willing to ask questions, willing to properly interview possible team members (agents, PR, labels, etc), willing to take responsibility for their entire team. Successes and failures.
And in turn, leading the entire music business.
For years now I’ve heard people talk about “there’s gotta be a better way” or “why does it have to be like this” or insert your generalized yearning here.
I’ve discovered that the revolutionary response to those questions is hiding in the mirror. Cause if you’re the type of person to really ask those questions, you’re already on the path.
There’s something to be said for the fact that if artists stopped doing their thing, the whole industry would literally cease to exist. So there’s where the change needs to start.
Leadership is in dire need. You are part of the solution. No no…in your sliver of the universe, you are THE solution.
p.s. Don’t misunderstand any of this by thinking I mean you need to be an island, to do it all yourself, to close others off, or to simply work harder. Working harder and leading better are two different things. And if you don’t have anyone (team members) following you…you are, by definition, not leading. So you need to be working with other humans!! Serve and lead your team better.