Today I want to talk about YOU. How vitally important is is that you as fans support music and come to shows. If you are a really successful DJ like Tietso etc you are probably quite well off. That happened because he worked hard, had a great team and most of all amazing fans who support him and his music and is lucky. He is probably at a stage where he can afford a life that we can only dream of. For the rest of us mortals like you and me this is an expensive hobby… and without your support one that won’t last. Many people ask me how the impact of illegal downloading has affected the business.
The answer is simple – it has almost killed it, well we are barley breathing so to speak. But we move on and have to realize that music is now only a promotional tool. However I want you to know what goes into the business and probably others spend more but this blog is about costs and what it takes to stay alive, so if you wanna be a dj read this. If you think we don’t work hard, read this. If you really feel after reading this that it’s not worth buying our music or coming to shows then you really are the kind of fan that will kill music in the end.
For those of us who own labels (because we believe in our artistes and want to give others a chance as well as wanting to bring the music we hear to the masses) The cost are quite expensive. Let me slide you into our world.
Generally you need a label manager (2 to 4 k a month), an art designer, (50 to 150 to 300 per design). Most labels pay to have their records mixed and mastered (80 to 100 bucks) and then there is a publicist (2 to 4000 a month), often that dj has a manager (20 percent of all earnings), an agent (10 to 15 percent of your bookings) a business manager or accountant
(5 percent or 3 to 400 bucks a month) not to mention building websites,banners etc all the things we need to do well…. ( there is a ton more but you get the idea) This all needed so you look professional and you can start to see how expensive that is not too mention the time put in longer than the average Joe normally. “MY PIE IS NOW TINY AND ALL I GET IS A SLITHER” May seem like we earn plenty but now you know where it goes. Again our choice but we can only exist because you make it so…..
Now add to that that music does not sell. We are practically giving it away so what is left? BOOKINGS,maybe some Merch but realistically Bookings.
Many artistes can not afford all of the above, that is why so many fail, so you have to respect the artistes who goes it alone . Ask yourself “I wonder who does all this for them” you may find out it’s just them flying solo- doing it all themselves, so I hope you feel the same way I do when I support them by buying a download and going to shows.
If you guys don’t want to see us live we will die as artistes. I know I am good but if people don’t ask promoters who they wanna see just because you are good does not mean you will get work. Even if you have a record out, most record companies take the piss with awful deals and the term ‘starving artiste’ is really true!!! Again the huge djs have cracked it but they are few and far between.
So how can you help? If you want to continue reading blogs, watching streaming shows, downloading podcasts and all that we give remember that it costs and we do it for the passion and joy it gives but like you need to eat and pay rent, so do we. Support us smaller dj’s , ask promoters to see us we are not just here to tweet and blog!!!! Support the promoters in as many shows as you can .When people only go to the big shows no one can afford to go out and see the smaller ones and often these are the the magic shows too.
Listen I would love to be rich but truthfully all I need is to be able to do this and to continue doing this for a long time. When you turn up that makes it possible, when you ask promoters to see me that makes it all worth it. For all I do in return and the work I put in you don’t see- it seems like a fair trade.
I want you to realize it is totally in your hands how we all survive here. If you love us you need to do more than say hello on social sites. We need You’re support !
Hope this helps — Members of my mailing list get free music in their emails! Sign up now on www.djrap.com. Luv and Bass DJRAP
Propa Talent presents
‘SIGNS’ out March 09
Impropa Talent presents:
‘Move It With Me’ out March 09
New single ‘Give it all Away’ Out now on Ministry of Sound, and on I tunes- album in May
Luv & Bass DJRAP.