The 3 W's of the Music Industry By Khem Na'khi
What words come to mind when you think of “The Music Industry”? Do the words, music fan, music artist or music label come to mind? These three elements make up the whole of the music industry because you can’t have one without the other. If fans didn’t exist; who would support the artist? Who would the labels market to? If the artist didn’t exist; who would the fans listen to? Who would the labels manage? If labels didn’t exist, well, the fans and the artists would still thrive. However, if artists were to manage themselves and their careers; would this reduce their ability to create quality music? As an Examiner for the Atlanta Music Industry, I will focus on these three elements and how they all play a major role in uplifting and strengthening the music community. So who are the music fans, artists and labels? Why are these elements important to the music community? And what information will I provide about these elements to keep you informed?
The Music Fan – “The Support Factor”
Everyone can be considered a music fan. In the traditional sense, music fans were just consumers who purchased an artist’s album and shared their experience with friends and relatives through word of mouth. Due to the ever expanding internet and technological advances, the role of the music fan has changed dramatically. No longer are they just consumers; they are prosumers who are becoming more active and involved in an artist’s development and career. When I use the term “music fan”, I’m still referring to the consumer who only purchases and listens to an artist’s music. However, I want to concentrate more on the fans who rise above the traditional sphere and partake in co-creating concepts and music with the artist and assists in promoting their project. Who would be considered a music fan? Bloggers, podcasters, radio, magazines, record stores, street teams, etc., are all considered music fans that play an important role in the success of an artist’s career. Why are the music fans important? They are important because they are the support factors for the artists and their future. Without their support, an artist wouldn’t have success. What will I provide? As an Examiner, I will provide an outlet and information that will help music fans strengthen their platform, as well as their communities. I will focus on five key areas when it comes to the music fans: community news, interviews, featured fans, events and resources. With community news, I will address the issues, concerns and opportunities we face as music fans. With interviews and featured fans, I will have in-depth discussions with or highlight some of the most profound and respected music fans who are uplifting and bringing about change in our community. With events and resources, I will attend different functions and music facilities to give music fans an idea of where to go to hear or find quality music in the Atlanta area.
The Music Artist – “The Creative Factor”
As with music fans, everyone can be considered a music artist. I’m sure you’ve watched the lip syncing videos on YouTube, encountered all of these so called rappers persuading you to buy their albums or read the “I want to start a band” ads on Craigslist. With the rise of Web 2.0, music artists are given infinite resources to assist them with hosting, distributing and marketing their music and merchandise. With this new found power, music artist are becoming DIY (Do-It-Yourself) artists. As I mentioned earlier, without music labels, the fan and the artist would still thrive. Who would be considered a music artist? This is self explanatory; however, I will add spoken word artists, musicians, DJs and producers to make the list well rounded. Why are music artists important? They are important because they are the creative factors that inspire us and cater to our emotions. What would the world be without artists? It would be a very dull world indeed. What will I provide? As an Examiner, I will provide an outlet and information that will allow music artists to connect and build stronger relationships with their fans and gain more exposure. I will focus on five key areas when it comes to the music artists: community news, interviews, featured artists, album reviews and resources. With community news, I will address the issues, concerns and opportunities we face as music artists. With interviews and featured artists, I will have in-depth discussions with or highlight some of the most positive, inspiring and progressive artist in our community. With album reviews, I will critique some of the most anticipated, critically acclaimed underground albums from Atlanta area. With resources, I will provide information about recording and engineering facilities, CD duplication companies and music management companies that an artist can use to their benefit.
The Music Label – “The Service Factor”
Everyone claims to or wants to have their own record label. However, the record industry is taking a severe blow due to the transition into the digital age. Major record labels and indie labels who are jumping on the bandwagon to point the finger at music fans & ISPs for their role in the decline of record sales are steadily loosing ground. They are still holding on to the traditional business model of marketing, distributing and selling records. “Adapt or Die!” is the new slogan used by advocates, such as myself, who are well aware of the transition in the music industry. Music has been sold as a product for almost a century. Record labels thrive from selling “records”. However, music is an experience. So the aim of the music label is to sell a musical experience. A music label is structured the same way as a record label, however, the aim is different. Who is a part of a music label? A&R’s, publicists, music management companies, music attorneys and music organizations are the key components of a music label. Why is a music label important? They are important because they provide the services to help develop, manage, represent and expose an artist to the world. Even though artists have the ability to take on these tasks themselves, I feel that this reduces the artist’s ability to create quality music. In turn, I feel that a music label would play an integral part in an artist’s career. What will I provide? As an Examiner, I will provide an outlet and information to help steer music labels into the digital age and beyond. I will focus on five key areas when it comes to the music labels: community news, interviews, featured labels, advice columns and resources. With community news, again, I will address the issues, concerns and opportunities music labels face. With interviews and featured labels, I will post in-depth discussions with or highlight key individuals that are going above and beyond to provide services for artists that can benefit the music community as a whole. With the advice column, I will post commentary from key individuals that are experts in their field and can provide sound information to the artists. With the resources, I will provide information on where to go to take advantage of these services available to artists.
I’m an advocate for change and progress in all walks of life. My passion for music drives and allows me to be a leader in all areas of the music industry. As a music fan, I’m a music journalist and podcaster. As a music artist, I’m a rapper, spoken word artist and a DJ. As a music label, I’m a music futurist, lecturer and publicist. From a communal standpoint and as an Examiner for the Atlanta Music Industry, I will focus on the roles of the music fans, artists and labels and how they are major contributors in uplifting and strengthening our music community. I believe in the idea that we evolve and create the future. So let’s begin the process of building a new music community for the Atlanta area where we’re all working together with the aim of creating and exploring the future of music.
The Music Fan – “The Support Factor”
Everyone can be considered a music fan. In the traditional sense, music fans were just consumers who purchased an artist’s album and shared their experience with friends and relatives through word of mouth. Due to the ever expanding internet and technological advances, the role of the music fan has changed dramatically. No longer are they just consumers; they are prosumers who are becoming more active and involved in an artist’s development and career. When I use the term “music fan”, I’m still referring to the consumer who only purchases and listens to an artist’s music. However, I want to concentrate more on the fans who rise above the traditional sphere and partake in co-creating concepts and music with the artist and assists in promoting their project. Who would be considered a music fan? Bloggers, podcasters, radio, magazines, record stores, street teams, etc., are all considered music fans that play an important role in the success of an artist’s career. Why are the music fans important? They are important because they are the support factors for the artists and their future. Without their support, an artist wouldn’t have success. What will I provide? As an Examiner, I will provide an outlet and information that will help music fans strengthen their platform, as well as their communities. I will focus on five key areas when it comes to the music fans: community news, interviews, featured fans, events and resources. With community news, I will address the issues, concerns and opportunities we face as music fans. With interviews and featured fans, I will have in-depth discussions with or highlight some of the most profound and respected music fans who are uplifting and bringing about change in our community. With events and resources, I will attend different functions and music facilities to give music fans an idea of where to go to hear or find quality music in the Atlanta area.
The Music Artist – “The Creative Factor”
As with music fans, everyone can be considered a music artist. I’m sure you’ve watched the lip syncing videos on YouTube, encountered all of these so called rappers persuading you to buy their albums or read the “I want to start a band” ads on Craigslist. With the rise of Web 2.0, music artists are given infinite resources to assist them with hosting, distributing and marketing their music and merchandise. With this new found power, music artist are becoming DIY (Do-It-Yourself) artists. As I mentioned earlier, without music labels, the fan and the artist would still thrive. Who would be considered a music artist? This is self explanatory; however, I will add spoken word artists, musicians, DJs and producers to make the list well rounded. Why are music artists important? They are important because they are the creative factors that inspire us and cater to our emotions. What would the world be without artists? It would be a very dull world indeed. What will I provide? As an Examiner, I will provide an outlet and information that will allow music artists to connect and build stronger relationships with their fans and gain more exposure. I will focus on five key areas when it comes to the music artists: community news, interviews, featured artists, album reviews and resources. With community news, I will address the issues, concerns and opportunities we face as music artists. With interviews and featured artists, I will have in-depth discussions with or highlight some of the most positive, inspiring and progressive artist in our community. With album reviews, I will critique some of the most anticipated, critically acclaimed underground albums from Atlanta area. With resources, I will provide information about recording and engineering facilities, CD duplication companies and music management companies that an artist can use to their benefit.
The Music Label – “The Service Factor”
Everyone claims to or wants to have their own record label. However, the record industry is taking a severe blow due to the transition into the digital age. Major record labels and indie labels who are jumping on the bandwagon to point the finger at music fans & ISPs for their role in the decline of record sales are steadily loosing ground. They are still holding on to the traditional business model of marketing, distributing and selling records. “Adapt or Die!” is the new slogan used by advocates, such as myself, who are well aware of the transition in the music industry. Music has been sold as a product for almost a century. Record labels thrive from selling “records”. However, music is an experience. So the aim of the music label is to sell a musical experience. A music label is structured the same way as a record label, however, the aim is different. Who is a part of a music label? A&R’s, publicists, music management companies, music attorneys and music organizations are the key components of a music label. Why is a music label important? They are important because they provide the services to help develop, manage, represent and expose an artist to the world. Even though artists have the ability to take on these tasks themselves, I feel that this reduces the artist’s ability to create quality music. In turn, I feel that a music label would play an integral part in an artist’s career. What will I provide? As an Examiner, I will provide an outlet and information to help steer music labels into the digital age and beyond. I will focus on five key areas when it comes to the music labels: community news, interviews, featured labels, advice columns and resources. With community news, again, I will address the issues, concerns and opportunities music labels face. With interviews and featured labels, I will post in-depth discussions with or highlight key individuals that are going above and beyond to provide services for artists that can benefit the music community as a whole. With the advice column, I will post commentary from key individuals that are experts in their field and can provide sound information to the artists. With the resources, I will provide information on where to go to take advantage of these services available to artists.
I’m an advocate for change and progress in all walks of life. My passion for music drives and allows me to be a leader in all areas of the music industry. As a music fan, I’m a music journalist and podcaster. As a music artist, I’m a rapper, spoken word artist and a DJ. As a music label, I’m a music futurist, lecturer and publicist. From a communal standpoint and as an Examiner for the Atlanta Music Industry, I will focus on the roles of the music fans, artists and labels and how they are major contributors in uplifting and strengthening our music community. I believe in the idea that we evolve and create the future. So let’s begin the process of building a new music community for the Atlanta area where we’re all working together with the aim of creating and exploring the future of music.
