By 
The music industry is extremely complex. As in any industry, having innovative ideas and thinking outside the box is important to having a successful career. Talent alone is rarely enough to turn a non-contract artist into a superstar. As a non-contract artist, having talent is good, but it takes a strong work ethic and character to move to the next level. Many popular artists today spent many years working very hard, seizing the right opportunities, and meeting the right people to get where they are today.
Just be yourself
It may sound cheesy, but staying true to yourself is the first thing non-contract musicians should do before doing anything else. You can be proud of yourself, but feel humbled by what it took to get where you are. The last thing you want to become is to appear arrogant. It is also very rewarding to work as a freelance artist, as there are not many other people telling you what to do. However, being your own boss is not for everyone. If you work for a company, don’t let them try to change your identity. Being different may seem like it makes it harder, but in the long run, knowing that you did things your way is its own reward.
Don’t forget where you come from
As you move up in the music industry, it can be easy to forget where you came from. It is also important to keep your friends away from outside music. Be respectful to those who end up admiring you and seeking your advice and guidance. Helping rising musicians who are still at the bottom is the best thing to do. Always make time for those who are important to you and those who deserve your attention. Not only will this make it easier to promote your own music, it will grow your network in ways you can only imagine now.
Surround yourself with positive people
The best thing you can have around you in any endeavor is to have people who support and encourage you on a regular basis. Surround yourself with positive people with interests similar to yours. There will always be those who will try to bring you down, sometimes out of envy or jealousy. Be optimistic, as in the end, the good times will beat the bad. Nothing worth fighting for is easy, and fights are worth fighting for. Keeping hope alive overnight will make success that much sweeter. Having your own support network makes that success so much easier in the long run.
Never burn bridges on purpose
Not everyone is going to be on your side. That is just a fact of life. But do your best to keep the lines open with everyone you can. Sometimes you have to apologize for situations that weren’t even your fault. If they don’t accept your apology, acknowledge that it’s not your problem and move on. Kindness and honesty are golden. If you have those two things, you will find the right people to work with, people who are really passionate and serious about promoting musical artists.
Professionalism is everything
As in any other industry, networking is one of the keys to success. That means professionalism is everything. Adopting a mature and professional attitude is the way to earn respect. While it’s okay to be casual eventually, be sure to develop close relationships first. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are. It’s still the same when it comes to networking. It is more than just a song promotion. Networking is about people.
Help others. It’s not just about the money
Money is not everything. Especially in music, the best way to do this is to help others succeed in their own craft. Hardly anyone makes a lot of money right away. Follow your passion and the money will come. If you put others before yourself and solve their problems, you will be a happier and more satisfied person. Just make sure you are happy and satisfied, and you will be able to help people more effectively.
Be open to everything related to music. You might be surprised how genres of music you’ve never considered before can inspire you. Carefully consider the ideas and constructive feedback that people give you. Embracing the diversity of the music industry is critical. Don’t do favors for people just to expect something in return. Do it because you care and you really want that person to be successful. Being selfless and unselfish will help you in the long run by making connections that you might never otherwise have had.
Sacrifice, ambition and dedication
While it’s “all about the music,” having a lot of talent and making amazing music doesn’t promise you success. It takes a lot of ambition and dedication, and you will have to make a lot of sacrifices along the way.
Having lofty and seemingly unrealistic goals is actually a good thing, as long as you don’t get carried away. Setting goals is about always having something to achieve, not necessarily something that you have to achieve. Helps you keep your expectations high. In fact, it’s good for people to question and doubt your goals. This provides motivation. It is good to have lofty visions, because even if you don’t achieve them, you are going to achieve something significant.
You also have to know your level of dedication to music. Is it a true passion for you or just a hobby? If you can live without it, you won’t have the boost you need to truly succeed in a music career. While music starts out as a hobby for many people, you must find a true passion for it before you can hope to take it anywhere.
The reason you need so much dedication is because there are so many sacrifices you will have to make. Music has to be your number one priority in life and nothing else can stand in your way. It’s like creating a start-up company. Not only are there many things to do that require your constant attention, but you also need to network to find people to whom you can delegate some of those responsibilities so that you can focus primarily on the creative, performing, and producing aspects of music.
You have to sacrifice parts of your social and recreational life to make it all work. You are not entitled to breaks until you have made it work. In fact, your shows can eventually become your breaks, as crowded houses that can’t wait for you to play are the best motivation there is.
If you follow these points, pursuing success in the music industry will become much more than a dream. Sometime along the way, you will find some kind of success that you can be happy with.
Learn more about breaking into the music industry by visiting www.superstartunes.com/blogs/