the AMP - Issue 03

"Music has the ability to bring us joy and comfort, to motivate us, and to help us relax. It has the power to transport us back in time, to calm our worried minds, or boost our moods. There really is a song for every emotion."
— Graham Psychology

In This Issue… [8+ Pages approx 13.30 mins] You Get...

• RECOMMENDS — Reading: How Music Works by Talking Heads' David Byrne. Watching: MUBUTV Music Business Television.

• TALKABOUT — Why You DON'T Have To Believe In Your Success. (Really)

• GUEST ARTICLE — PEER SUPPORT. It's About Community & Collaboration

• ASKING FOR YOUR HELP — For people who appreciate the AMP

• PS from PS — If You Build It They Will Come. And... You've Got To BUILD it!

Here we go...

• RECOMMENDS— Reading: How Music Works by Talking Heads' David Byrne. Watching: MUBUTV^TM Music Business Television.

— How Music Works by Talking Heads' David Byrne

How Music Works is David Byrne’s incisive and enthusiastic look at the musical art form, from its very inceptions to the influences that shape it, whether acoustical, economic, social, or technological. Utilizing his incomparable career and inspired collaborations with Talking Heads, Brian Eno, and many others, Byrne taps deeply into his lifetime of knowledge to explore the panoptic elements of music, and how it shapes the human experience and reveals the impetus behind how we create, consume, distribute, and enjoy the songs, symphonies, and rhythms that provide the backbeat of life. Byrne’s magnum opus uncovers ever-new and thrilling realizations about the redemptive liberation that music brings us all.

On Amazon, of course.

And there's a great “more than” a review from The Guardian here:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/nov/09/how-music-works-david-byrne-review

— MUBUTV^TM Music Business Television

Here's an always (yes, always) weekly entertaining and useful blend of: A. Passion for music. B. Educating artists who have a strong curiosity about music. C: Technology and the new emerging models within the business. MUBUTV^TM gets NML's top Inform, Involve, and Inspire rating. Co-founded and so-hosted by Ritch Esra and Eric Knight.

From Ritch Esra: I started my career in 1978 at Record World, a leading trade magazine, and have spent my entire career in this industry. From 1980 - 1987 I worked at two record labels; A&M in radio promotion and Arista in A&R where I had the privilege of working with the legendary Clive Davis.

In 1986, I began teaching several music business courses at various schools including Trebas Institute of Recording Arts, UCLA Extension, SAE (School for Audio Engineering), and Musicians Institute where I continue to teach today.

In 1992 I formed the Music Business Registry with my business partner Stephen Trumbull. For the last twenty years, we have published the music industries leading contact directories for personnel in A&R, Music Publishing, Film/Television Music, Music Law, and Artist Management.

From Eric Knight: As an independent recording artist, I have taken the contemporarily appropriate 'do-it-yourself' attitude to a whole new level; Having opened for such acts as KISS, Dave Matthews Band, Aerosmith, and Kid Rock, I have worked tirelessly to introduce my original music to the masses.

Throughout my career, I have worked on both the performing and business sides of the music industry. Besides being an accomplished musician with a strong D.I.Y. work ethic, I started my own artist management company Persistent ManagementTM not only for my own career as an artist but also to create a vehicle for other artists to achieve their artistic vision and integrity.

My band Rock act Disciples of Babylon has put everything I've learned throughout my career to the test in order to build a self-sustaining career that is totally autonomous and completely independent.

My current and most ambitious project, Symbiotic Nation^TM is a new entertainment company startup with a mission to reinvent the entertainment industry completely. “Think Google of the new entertainment industry.”

I am a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Science [NARAS] and The Latin Recording Academy [LARAS] Grammy Awards.

I’ve always had a strong passion for teaching and sharing my experience with other aspiring artists, musicians, and industry professionals. As a result, I have lectured and conducted several workshops over the years with students at the Berklee School of Music in Boston as well as my alma mater Musicians Institute [MI] in Los Angeles.

MUBUTV^TM is here: https://www.mubutv.com/

Watch. Fun-Learning at its best!

• TALKABOUT — Why You DON'T Have To Believe In Your Success. (Really) NML Coaching with John Fogg

Anybody ever tells you, "In order to succeed, you must believe...?" Or, "To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself...?" Or, "The body achieves what the mind believes...?"

They meant well. Really. They did. Trouble with these, 'If you don't believe you won't succeed' authors and gurus is... That's bullshit. I'll explain.

Belief, by definition, means something one accepts as true; or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction. So...

You want to be a successful Singer Songwriter. That's your heart's desire. Your dream. So... you affirm, "I am a successful Singer Songwriter." You visualize that in vivid detail: On stage. Singing your best best. Dishing with the audience. Having fun. High energy. They love you. Standing O's all around. AND you just made $7,000 doing it.

Yay!

Well. No. Nay!

You don't believe it. Why? Because your mind rushes in (to save you from being a fool) and tells you 'That's not true! You're uptight speaking with audiences. Your songs aren't that good. And you don't make $7,000 in a YEAR from performing. It's all a lie."

(Which, by the way, is right there in the middle of the word be-LIE-f.)

A number of years ago, I came up with 'a New Definition of Belief.' I saw so many people struggle with 'That's not true' and kill their desires and dreams. Dead.

So, I was looking at the word. Two parts. Be: To exist. You're alive. To be or not to be.

And lief, which comes from the Germanic root, leubh, and that means love.

What if instead of having to think something was true or not didn't matter?

What if you simply had to love the something?

What if you BeLove instead of believe?

Can you BeLove the idea of being a successful Singer Songwriter? Having a fist full of hits songs with great hooks... Song poem stories that moved people...? Grabbed 'em and didn't let go...? A performance is full of memorable moments one-after-another-after...? Spontaneous applause that seems like it will never end...? Merch selling out every show...? 21,416 TrueFans who love you and your music...? Oh Yeah!

Believable? Nah.

Belovable? Absolutely!

You don't have to believe your desires and dreams to be successful. Just BeLove them. Spend a couple of 12 minutes every day with your eyes closed picturing yourself and all aspects of your Singer Songwriter Success Story and how much you LOVE that. And watch what happens.

in partnership with Mike Goodrich

• GUEST ARTICLE — PEER SUPPORT— It's About Community & Collaboration

[This 'Guest Article' is an adapted and edited post from Seth Godin's Blog. Seth used authors as his example. I replaced authors with Singer Songwriters. Which fits? Perfectly. — JMF]

PEER SUPPORT

Treasure it when you find it.
Offer it when you can.

One of the greatest joys of being a Singer Songwriter is the other Singer Songwriter. The game theory would indicate that Singer Songwriters are competitors— there are a scarce number of record companies, streaming slots, of listeners and fans. But, being the only Singer Songwriter in the world wouldn’t just be lonely, it wouldn’t work very well. Songs actually sell best next to other songs, not in the supermarket.

But more than that, peer support comes when
people are part of something bigger than themselves.

When they see their work as a craft, and a chance to turn on a light or raise a standard.

In every field, our best work can feel lonely, because we don’t have a guarantee, a map to follow, or a crowd of people sure that it’s going to work. That’s when peer support means the most. And when it contributes to the evolution and forward motion of a field.

“Peer” is a job title, and it’s earned. One way to earn it is by finding others, connecting them, and leading them. We spend our lives looking for peers to accept us, but in fact, we have the chance to establish the foundation for our peers to find each other.

While most people say that when they’re a stranger in a room, they’d like to be warmly greeted, it’s also true that we hesitate to be the greeter when a new voice arrives. That’s a natural instinct, and worth pushing back against.

Organizing your peers feels awkward. Who are you to invite three or four others to a weekly Zoom group call check-in? Who are you to speak up about a new idea that isn’t obvious or easily defended (yet?)

Well, if not you, who?

One of the cornerstones of NML is community. The gathering of Singer Songwriter 'Peers' coming together to collaborate, network, share resources, and exchange ideas. Yeah, it's going to take time to build that out where it's vital and alive, engaging and useful— and fun. Gotta' start somewhere. Now, https://facebook.com/groups/newmusiclives
Join. Jump in. If not you, who?

• ASKING FOR YOUR HELP — For people who appreciate the AMP

If you're one of them— the AMP Appreciators— you can help us make more of you. We're not big deal Internet nor affiliate marketers. We're building NML on a shoestring. (Not even bootstrapping.)

So, if you enjoy the AMP... Benefit from what's in each issue... And you're willing and able to spread the word with and for us... Please. And thank you!

Here's the link: https://newmusiclives.com/free the AMP. the Book. the Group. No charge. No strings.

We don't hound people or hassle with sales pitches.

It's Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time.

We're asking you to help us make that happen. Thanks.•

PS from PS — If You Build It They Will Come. And... You've Got To BUILD it!

“Build what, you ask? Why... Build Your S, M, L, XL Music Empire. Of course.

Look, I know. You’re an artist you don’t look back. Well. I'm NOT sorry. Do you want to earn a living doing what you love? Then you've got to BUILD your Singer Songwriter Career. (I know, business is a dirty 4x2 letter word.) So...

Here’s a list of individual bullet points to outline what you MUST BUILD for success as a Singer-Songwriter:

• A Unique Brand: Identify and embrace what sets you apart. Develop your own musical style, image, and persona.

• Quality Content: Hone your craft. Write and produce excellent music that resonates with your audience. Experiment with genres and stay true to your artistic voice.

• Solid Online Presence: Utilize social media, a personal website, and music platforms to reach your audience. Stay active and engage with your followers.

• Diverse Revenue Streams: Don’t rely solely on ‘record' sales. MONEYtize your talent through merchandise, gigging, licensing, crowdfunding, etc.

• A Loyal Fanbase: Build a community around your music. Foster genuine connections with your fans through sharing stories, regular interactions, and exclusive content. Fans and TrueFans.

• Music Distribution Strategy: Get your music on major streaming platforms. Consider partnering with digital distribution services for wider reach. Exposure is key.

• PR and Marketing Skills: Learn the basics of promoting your music. Leverage marketing tools and platforms to get your music in front of new audiences.

• Professional Network: Build relationships with other musicians, producers, venues, and industry professionals. A strong network can open doors and create opportunities.

• Live Performance Skills: Refine your ability to captivate an audience. Play them memories. Invest time in rehearsing and polishing your stage presence.

• A Clear Career Plan: Set short-term and long-term goals. Create a roadmap for your career, including milestones you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.

• Adaptability and Resilience: Stay updated with industry trends and be willing to adapt. Be prepared for setbacks and keep your focus on your ultimate goals.

• Legal and Business Acumen: Understand basic music industry contracts, royalties, and rights. Consider seeking legal advice for any agreements you enter.

• Self-Management Skills: Learn to be your own manager, especially in the early stages. Understand how to balance creativity with business decisions.

• Physical and Mental Well-being: Take care of your health, and practice self-care. A healthy mind and body are crucial for longevity in the music industry.

Wow! That’s a helluva’ list. Yes, it is.

Look, building a successful career as a Singer Songwriter is like constructing a house. Every brick matters and it’s important to lay a solid foundation. Be patient, stay dedicated, and always keep the music at the heart of what you do.

NML's raison d'être is to do EVERYthing we can to help you do all of that. Some things we've got now. Some are coming soon. Others will be, will be: Que sera sera.

• FEEDBACK JACK— Tell Us What You Want Most

NML's The AMP is FOR YOU. (Another Tip4 deal.) Like it? Love it? Tellus why. Don't...? Tell us that, too. We want to know what you want. What can we do to make it better? Again... FOR You!

Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback. And remember, all Issues of the AMP are posted in the Private Group:
https://facebook.com/groups/newmusiclives.

AND... got any Singer Songwriter friends who'd enjoy the AMP? Pass it on. Please.

It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time.

Paul Saunders