Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists?

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@t3hh indeed, yet more tracks among thousands are not the no. 1 thing the world needs.

[cognessence@social.linux.pizza]

@elifyalvac It's a valid question, imo! Prior to finding Mastodon, I was reaching a point a few years ago where it felt it wasn't worth it - the psychological cost of investing so much in something, knowing it was likely to land in an overloaded void. The paradox of hating to ask people to do anything / to listen - with [strangely] wanting to share. It felt better to just make tracks and send them to a few friends. No disappointment that way (apart from when even they couldn't be bothered to listen. ) You don’t want to impose on anyone; you don’t want to self-advertise - yet the work itself seems to say it wants to meet listeners.

It should perhaps be talked about more, I think, how dispiriting or even traumatic it can be to put out music. (I wrote more about how I felt back then on a forum: https://rllmukforum.com/index.php?/topic/319131-feeling-like-a-failure/ ) Some people I think are going through that and aren't even admitting it to themselves - they're keeping up something of a picture of success, but cracks are showing. One artist I know eventually had a breakdown over it. Someone could judge that, given other suffering going on, but it is a strange place to navigate psychologically for many sensitive souls. (They didn't want fame or accolades; just the barest acknowledgment.)

It changed with me due to health issues (and other things, including encouragement from certain folks here) - and the basic realisation that it is probably still better to share than not to, in case the albums work for others. I had also seen a fair few people [suddenly] drop dead in recent years - and as mentioned, had my own scares (not to get heavy!) - so there's been a stronger sense of urgency to...actually get to see the music come out. Music as a willing to life, too. Even if some outwardly “bigger" possibilities suggested themselves earlier on in music life, I've killed (or am trying to kill) any set expectations of anything specific happening; the bare fact of it being available, should anyone care to engage, in itself tips it to "worth it."

[tootkotootarov@mstdn.party]

@elifyalvac @Binder

Release music on old media first. CD/cassette/vinyl. In that way there is Proof Of Life. It's physical evidence that your music was released before it was copied endlessly. There are different copyright jurisdictions, and each one operates by a different rule set.

[sordidamok@mastodon.social]

@elifyalvac If you want to make and release music, it's worth it. If you're trying to make money, probably not.

[c_reider@sonomu.club]

@elifyalvac sharing music is actively participating in the community and culture you want to exist in this life.

[sknob@mamot.fr]

@elifyalvac releasing music before the internet was also difficult and thankless, and you were lucky to get it heard. The music scene on the fedi is rich and vibrant and supportive. Check out @nham, #bonkwave, @TheIndieBeat + bandwagon.fm, @audiointerface, @strim, @TIBtv and others. A lot of places to hear great DIY indie music, and to be heard.

[dried@sonomu.club]

@elifyalvac glad that it was such a positive thing for you overall!

[qwyrdo@disabled.social]

@elifyalvac For me it's worth it, even if just one person enjoys what I've put out. If I get a little lucre out of it? I am overjoyed.

And I think I agree with what others have said about "too much music." Yes, great artists get lost in the crowd, but the amount of choice out there is a boon to the world. We can celebrate our shared creativity.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Been releasing music on BandCamp for maybe 5 years and have made over $200 USD. I'm proud of that and happy for listeners.

[dereisenhofer@metalhead.club]

@elifyalvac What do you mean, worth? Should I keep it for myself? I rather give it away for free.

[nielso@digitalcourage.social]

@alisynthesis @elifyalvac

I think now that we have learned that Spotify & Co are pretty much useless for niche music, and also now that AI is about to supersede mainstream music, we as musicians can allow ourselves to be free and do what we want.

[liebach@mastodon.art]

@nielso @alisynthesis @elifyalvac Regarding AI "music", I think it is worth watching Adam Neely's take: https://youtu.be/U8dcFhF0Dlk?si=jD6Kxm-CXqFSJ6l2

AI music might fork from real music, like movies forked from theater. So real music will still exist, like theater still exist. But today theater and movies are seen as different things.

I am not sure how I feel about that.

[thaell@musicians.today]

@elifyalvac if you're releasing it just to share it so people can listen to it : YES absolutely !!

If you're releasing it with the goal of getting rich : no forget that immediately (and you're making music for the wrong reasons anyway)

[nielso@digitalcourage.social]

@liebach @alisynthesis @elifyalvac

Real music always will exist. No matter what AI will do.

Real musicians have to face the fact that the idea of the noughties' Internet, in which everbody had a chance to be heard and to make it somewhere, has been killed by streaming. So basically, we are in the 90ties gain, but having replaced labels as gatekeepers by streaming services.

First, Spotify decided not to pay for 80% of their streams (which are those tracks with less than 1000 plays per month), now AI slop muzak aims at replacing the remaining mainstreamy 20%. Esssentially, the aim seems to be 100% revenue for the Tech Bros, 0% for musicians.

Yet, real music always will exists. It will need to establish other ways of distribution, if we want it to be heard.

One issue that I don't know to solve is that there is no middle ground any more. Like 10 years ago, a lesser-known artist could reach break-even of a CD production by selling CDs on tour. Now there's no CDs no more…

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@thaell the 2nd reason would be ridiculous

[nielso@digitalcourage.social]

@elifyalvac

Regarding the question if it is worth to still release…

… I'd say yes. It's worth to be out there, on platforms like Bandcamp or Mirlo or similar.

As far as I am concerned as a listener, I need to take the time and find the muse to really listen. One of the releases I have listened to a couple of times now is “Sediments” – yet you don't see that, because it happens on my computer, because I downloaded it from Bandcamp.

So, in terms of providing something valuable to at least a few listeners… perhaps even enable them to experience feelings they wouldn't discovere in their souls otherwise: Yes, releasing music makes sense.

As others said, it's also of pesonal use, like installing a milestone of your personal musical development that you can refer to later.

Yet, if one wants to go for a lot of attention (which is a goods of its own theses days) or even money, it probably doesn't make sense any more these days.

[ben@mastoart.social]

@elifyalvac my perspective would be any and all visible ‘events’ for experimental arts, especially local based, raises visibility for everyone - & becomes harder to ignore - in a Britain where anything non-mainstream has become untouchable and anything difficult to pigeon hole is regarded with deep suspicion, or uh ignored, arts that challenge rather than impose hegemonic values, or offer complexity in medium / message rather than homogenous packages; are struggling somewhat.

[ben@mastoart.social]

@elifyalvac The more we produce and work together to promote and work together to produce the more chances there are that we can sidle into general consciousness….

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@Cognessence I can’t view your post in that forum. I guess I need to create an account, which I’ll do in a bit

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@tootkoTootarov @Binder I don’t think everyone can afford that. If you can, yes it definitely makes sense. CD especially.

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@dereisenhofer What did you understand from the question? Making it available for free or keeping it to yourself is not related to each other. Approximately 99,000 to 120,000 are released every day.