Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists?
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@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." 
@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
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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.
@tootkoTootarov @Binder I don’t think everyone can afford that. If you can, yes it definitely makes sense. CD especially.
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@elifyalvac What do you mean, worth? Should I keep it for myself? I rather give it away for free.
@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.
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@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.
@sknob Yeah cheers, I am already aware of some of them. Especially Nham. Cheers
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@elifyalvac sharing music is actively participating in the community and culture you want to exist in this life.
@c_reider It is a way of bonding
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@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 Oh, sorry - I didn’t realise it was not publicly viewable! Maybe they’ve changed this since I last shared it, because in the past when I gave the link it worked.
Hope it isn’t too much trouble! Thanks for the great thread.
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@elifyalvac sharing music is actively participating in the community and culture you want to exist in this life.
@c_reider @elifyalvac yeah this is how I think about releasing things too
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@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.
@elifyalvac I didn't understand what you mean with "worth". I make stuff and I give it away for free rather than keeping it to myself until it makes me money.
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@elifyalvac I didn't understand what you mean with "worth". I make stuff and I give it away for free rather than keeping it to myself until it makes me money.
@dereisenhofer “worth” has nothing to do with making money there. Realistically DIY artists don’t earn money through music. I added further notes about the question so please feel free to read this https://tldr.nettime.org/@elifyalvac/116136835344390621
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Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists? Why?
I don’t have a yes or no answer yet. I’m questioning… if you have an answer please can you explain it? Thanks!
@elifyalvac the only music I've listened to or purchased in the last few years has been from indies on the Fediverse. Many of them are now my pocket friends and some even recognise me (with or without dread) if they have a launch or listen party live stream. Music is no longer a parasocial experience for me.
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@elifyalvac the only music I've listened to or purchased in the last few years has been from indies on the Fediverse. Many of them are now my pocket friends and some even recognise me (with or without dread) if they have a launch or listen party live stream. Music is no longer a parasocial experience for me.
@wordsmith This is a great insight because how we experience music has changed dramatically. Here is a great place for bonding through music, going beyond the bs they keep broadcasting on other channels
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@c_reider @elifyalvac yeah this is how I think about releasing things too
@grahamdunning @c_reider @elifyalvac
agreed, even if the community doesn't find it as interesting as you do.(fwiw, I think this review is correct)
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Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists? Why?
I don’t have a yes or no answer yet. I’m questioning… if you have an answer please can you explain it? Thanks!
@elifyalvac Very cool discussion you started here, reading a lot of great takes on it. I think creative people should always create, sometimes they must in order to survive. The internet digital concatenation network broadcasting channel is a bit of a separate topic, like what is even "content" and what should even be "consumed" when you are online. It's cool that for people here for the most part, it's independent music, that's more than enough reason I would say to keep at it
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Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists? Why?
I don’t have a yes or no answer yet. I’m questioning… if you have an answer please can you explain it? Thanks!
@elifyalvac I think it depends what you mean by "release". If you mean putting together a package with artwork and liner notes, IMHO no. If you mean sharing your tracks on a faircamp or funkwhale instance, absolutely yes.
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@alisynthesis Thanks for this!
I’ve stepped onto that stage of not worrying and it definitely makes things much more fun.
@elifyalvac @alisynthesis I’ve taken a similar perspective on releasing music. I try to not worry about absolute perfection and once something feels good I can consider it done and ready.
Plus, remember that no one can make the music you would make. We all have our own perspective of the world around us and the music we make is created through that. That makes any act of creation unique and worth sharing. -
T tsrono@mastodon.social shared this topic
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@c_reider It is a way of bonding
@elifyalvac it can be.
making music is a way of relating to the universe, and sharing it is a way of relating to community. both have risks and rewards.
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@elifyalvac @alisynthesis I’ve taken a similar perspective on releasing music. I try to not worry about absolute perfection and once something feels good I can consider it done and ready.
Plus, remember that no one can make the music you would make. We all have our own perspective of the world around us and the music we make is created through that. That makes any act of creation unique and worth sharing.@attksthdrknss really good point. there was a time when I had a stalker copycat and I was extremely worried about someone stealing my ideas constantly but this was ages ago, like 15 years ago when I was more naive and in initial steps of my self-care and being an adult journey. One of the best learnings for me has been what you have just written here: we all have our own perspective, and any creation will be unique. Even if someone copies the idea or even when there are others doing the same stuff, which there inevitably are, it’s not wrong or it wouldn’t cause a harm because we have tons of other things and side that add a unique touch to whatever we do. Thanks! @alisynthesis ps: not like the edison vs. tesla ideas though—that goes into a whole patent law and legal topics
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@elifyalvac Very cool discussion you started here, reading a lot of great takes on it. I think creative people should always create, sometimes they must in order to survive. The internet digital concatenation network broadcasting channel is a bit of a separate topic, like what is even "content" and what should even be "consumed" when you are online. It's cool that for people here for the most part, it's independent music, that's more than enough reason I would say to keep at it
@Nixtrove Didn’t guess it would generate so many nice insights. Happy if it helps others as well. And I agree.
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@grahamdunning @c_reider @elifyalvac
agreed, even if the community doesn't find it as interesting as you do.(fwiw, I think this review is correct)
@GuyBirkin @grahamdunning @c_reider it can be for your very own archival purposes, one of the insights I got from the responses here. Documenting your ideas and artistic journey as they may give you insights when you look back at them. The work in question you shared is this? https://guybirkin.bandcamp.com/album/sars-cov-2-lr757995-2b
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Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists? Why?
I don’t have a yes or no answer yet. I’m questioning… if you have an answer please can you explain it? Thanks!
@elifyalvac I believe that the reason for making art of any kind is for the benefit of others, and they won't benefit from it if they can't find it.
I'm more of a writer, and dabble in audio sculpture (or something like that).
I've written ~350 pages so far this year. These are rough stories. They are me experimenting and looking for perspectives, themes, etc. I'm playing with all the constructs and tools I have at my disposal for the best way to communicate to others the underlying meanings within those stories. Not just the immediate, surface level plot.
If the ideas and thoughts contained within those rough pages aren't seen by others, then they are wasted.
