10+ famous artists you didn’t know started as indie

Ever wonder what it would be like to have a successful, independent artist? You know the type of artist you see on TV all the time who’s just starting out. They’re playing small venues with only a few people in attendance. The band is barely making enough money to cover their basic living expenses. But they don’t care because they believe in themselves and their music so much that it doesn’t matter if no one else does. Well, today we’re going to explore 10 famous artists that started as indie musicians before blowing up.

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10 Hard & Awful Truths About Being an Independent Artist (And What You Can Do About It)

For independent artists, the road to stardom is not always red-carpeted and bathed in the spotlight. Obstacles and challenges can unnerve even the most determined indie artist. However, knowing what you can do about these ten hard and awful truths about being an independent artist can ensure a smoother and more successful journey.

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Did Spotify Purge Indie Artist Music January 1, 2021?!?

Several clients of mine have brought this to my attention, so I thought I would address it here.

It appears that on January 1, 2021, Spotify enacted a massive, global takedown of music from thousands of independent artists. Upon information and belief, some 750,000 songs were removed, the vast majority of which appear to have used Distrokid for distribution.

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The Takeover Online Music Conference For Independent Artists

Back in May, Right Chord Music launched The Takeover, an online music festival championing incredible independent artists. The Festival showcased 49 artists, from 11 different countries playing live on Facebook. The Festival presented by BOSE generated over 600,000 video views and raised over £4,000 for Nordoff Robbins music therapy.   

Now The Takeover returns as an online music conference.  It’s the first online music conference designed specifically to support the challenges faced by unsigned artists. Tickets on sale now via DICE

Right Chord Music Founder, Mark Knight explains. “In my experience, even music conferences which say they support unsigned artists don’t really cater to their needs. Tickets costs are high and all you hear is major record label execs talking about their big budget campaigns and success with radio, live, and John Lewis TV sync deals. Unsigned artists leave feeling frustrated because none of this is in their grasp or relevant to their realities.”

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How To Promote With Emotions (And Why)

Now more than ever, it’s not just enough to show up. You have to stand out. As we all know, the pandemic has leveled the playing field to where your “stage” is literally the same size as everyone else’s. All of your fans and the ones following artists on major labels are all being viewed on mobile devices, laptops, and tv screens.

So how can you shine above the rest?

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Tips For Starting Your Own Record Label

The music industry has undergone some transformation over the last couple of decades. Our digital landscape has been instrumental in altering the shape of how we consume tunes, how artists make music, and how the business operates. One of the positive effects is encouraging a DIY approach to all areas of the industry.

This means that there is a propensity for musicians to have direct access to audiences. They can release their music via streaming platforms such as YouTube and Spotify rather than rely upon the costly physical media that has dominated the industry This also presents openings for entrepreneurs who want to start their own indie labels. 

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5 Tips For An Indie Band Going On Tour

You’ve got your sticks, picks, and kicks, and it’s time to get on the road to show the world your tricks. Your drummer is jazzed, your guitarist is electrified, and the passion is through the roof. But before you step out your door with your gear in hand, make sure you’ve thought about some key ingredients for tour success.

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Fail To Succeed And Stop Rushing Your Music!

Why is it so many talented artists don’t see the light? Why do so many artists release so much music without thought or learning more of what is required outside of the music.

As mentioned in various music tips on Music Talks I still fail to see so many artists not taking up opportunities to learn. Instead, they are releasing one single, EP or Album after another in the hope it sticks. 

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How Do Indie Music Blogs And Radio Survive? A Harsh Reality

How Do Indie Music Blogs and Radio Survive? A Harsh Reality. Over the past few years I’ve watched many indie music blogs and independent radio come and go like the wind. We often hear about supporting the artists, which is exactly what these independent platforms do. The people behind the indie platforms sacrifice their health, families, lifestyle and quite often go into debt struggling to pay for the necessary costs associated with running such platforms. MusicTalks recently ran a poll on twitter which asked the question; ‘What would you do if all the independently run blogs and radio disappeared? Who would you get to place your new releases, interviews etc. up?’

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Is The Proliferation Of Indie Streaming Platforms Hurting Unsigned Artists?

When major streaming platforms are fighting to build a monopoly on the music business, one which will allow them to dictate how the general public should consume music and basically who should be listened to, helped by AI algorithms that are heavily biased towards big artists from contractual and financial ties to their labels, for unsigned artists the deal is impossibly bad and will continue to be, so it might be argued that this is a clear case for alternative/independent solutions.

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Why Budgeting Is So Important For Independent Artists

No matter what, one thing is for sure: If you can’t get your budget under control, your music career will be a huge waste of time and money.

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The Future For Independent Music Artists

It does not come as a surprise that the evolution of the internet has completely changed the entire music industry for the good of course. Different technologies such as streaming, sharing, eCommerce and social media are offering independent artists increased chances of exposing their musical creations to bigger audiences. This further helps the artists in increasing their fan base. However, one major drawback of having several options is that making the choice of the best source for promoting music online can be a little difficult. Therefore, in order to make the best choice, it is important for you to go through the most effective and popular online hangouts where you can get some word about your musical tones.

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