Help me define success
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- Serious Musician
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Re: Help me define success
beatsbygcThanks for chiming in. I really appreciate your willingness to share real numbers. Sounds like you've had lots of success, congratulations!!!!!!!Nomi
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Re: Help me define success
Everyone's definition of success is different obviously, but I don't consider myself a success since I still have to work non-music jobs. But definitely hang in there. You never know what piece of music is going to make it for you. as far as Taxi goes, I've been a member for 4 years, get forwarded 90% of the time, but have yet to see a penny from anything. Having said that, the critiques are great and almost worth the price of membership. Although lately, the have been so positive that they aren't as helpful.
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Re: Help me define success
it's been forever since this thread had any activity, but I just found it, and I wanted to say THANK YOU to matto for taking the time to put this info out there for everybody. Truly awesome of you to do that...
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Re: Help me define success
My pleasure... Maybe one of these days I'll get a chance to update it.And btw, thanks to beatsbygc's contributions as well.
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Re: Help me define success
but all that is changing... net radio and podcasts will be paying royalties in the next couple of years... and good music from unsexy unknowns will get played cause people are tired of crass commercialism in music. I have to say that 90% of my listening is now INDIE music from around the world. And I dig it.HVickyIs all mainstream radio in the US/Canada 'crass commercialism' ?I'm just wondering?Is there no airwave space over there for the non-commercial outfits, the so-called unsexy unknowns - like Enya, White Stripes, DJ Sasha, etc.2005/6 - top 10 albums worldwideColdplay X & YHigh School Musical, Soundtrack Me and My Gang, Rascal Flatts Some Hearts, Carrie UnderwoodAll the Right Reasons, Nickelback Futuresex/Love, Justin Timberlake Back to Bedlam, James Blunt B'day, Beyoncé Hannah Montana, Soundtrack Taking the Long Way, Dixie Chicks Extreme Behavior, Hinder While none of the above appeal to me particularly - esp Timberlake and Beyonce or Hannah Montana (a kid's album) - I think there's a great deal of talent there. And I also think that it would be a sad world if the top ten selling albums of last year suited my taste exclusively. Or yours. We live in a culturally diverse world. And denouncing one culture (say rap or black or pop) might have led to the non discovery of blues or jazz or female pop or whatever.I think music is healthier than its ever been. It's harder to find the good stuff because there's a lot more noise. But there's much much more good stuff than there's ever been. In any genre. You just have to dig a bit.Give me pretty much any genre, and I'll point you to more contemporary artists than ever before. And good ones.I really believe this.Liam.www.liamkellylive.com
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Re: Help me define success
Sincere apologies.I have posted the above in the wrong forum.Too many windows open!Thanks for your understanding.Liam
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Re: Help me define success
As of today, this thread has 8,273 views. Is that a record?It's because of the great info from Matt and others. Michael sending the link out in 2 of his emails may have had a little something to do with the number of views...So is it a record? Does it beat out Sgt Peppers and Onoffon? (I'm kidding, who cares?)
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Re: Help me define success
I bookmarked this thread the first time I visited this forum. Not because of Matto's wonderful information (which is so thorough), but because you kept asking the questions that needed answering for me. I was glad to see both your persistance, and politeness. There is so much to learn about the different ways music makes money, and I didn't have much of a clue. Sometimes, asking the right questions, is the golden key that opens the castle!So thanks again to you, Nomi, as well as Matto & everyone else,steve
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Re: Help me define success
Quote:I bookmarked this thread the first time I visited this forum. Not because of Matto's wonderful information (which is so thorough), but because you kept asking the questions that needed answering for me. I was glad to see both your persistance, and politeness. There is so much to learn about the different ways music makes money, and I didn't have much of a clue. Sometimes, asking the right questions, is the golden key that opens the castle!So thanks again to you, Nomi, as well as Matto & everyone else,steveSteve,Thanks for the kind words!!!!! I've enjoyed reading all your posts.Nomi
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Re: Help me define success - MORE REAL NUMBERS
Yo to all,Wanted to update people on some more numbers. I mentioned earlier I had placements on MTV with no upfront fee. I got my residual check from BMI for the winter quarter 2006, and it was around $3,500 for the placements I made. That was for about 8 songs that were used 3 or 4 times, so totaling about 25-30 placements. It was definitely worth it. It literally took a year from the time I signed the agreement to actually get paid. And hopefully they will continue to use the cues in more shows and money will trickle in, adding up slowly but surely.Also got my first paying Taxi Deal!!! Not enough by my standards of success but its a start.As far as movie placements go, I'm still battling it out with the same production I was awhile ago to get what's coming to me. My advice to you is;1. Whenever you collaborate with someone (especially when there is money behind the project!!!), put the agreement in writing once the song or songs are finished. Oral agreements only work when they are between family, and sometimes not even then. 2. Save all emails, letters, memos, schedules, phone lists etc. regarding any project that you have the claim of creative ownership of. Get a damn file cabinet, you're in business now. On that note, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER include an emotional outburst in an email or recorded correspondence (voice mail). Email is most effective when you use it to logically and coherently to state your case. It also makes a dated record of your position that is helpful later down the line.3. Be realistic, but confident, about your worth and the value of your contribution. 4. Figure out the people who make decisions, and the ones who actually carry them out. Get to know both those kinds people. They are both very knowledgable and helpful in thier own ways. You'd be suprised that there are people whose job it is to just facilitate between those two parties. Those middle men are usless. Use them to get introduced to the other people. I've spend too much time dealing with people who couldn't actually make a decision in my current fiasco. Move up the ladder. But I got great information from the clerks and low rung people, who may not be aware of politics at the top, but they know procedure and paper trails, which are very important to your cause. (especially in a legal case).5. Avoid making threats, and never make threats you won't follow up on. (I'm speaking legally and non-violent of course). 6. Don't take things personally, but expect a level of professional respect, based on your level of acheivement and area of expertise. If someone consistantly violates that respect, they need to know about it. Some people just aren't professional at all, its important that they be made aware of it. In a professional manner.7. Judge people on thier actions, not thier words. People will say and promise all types of things to make you happy. Make em put thier money where thier mouth is. A promise is only as good as the person making it, which makes any promise in hollywood worthless. And if people who wouldn't return your phone calls before, start returning them, that means they need something from you.8. When the time comes, find a good lawyer. And think of all the little people who have been screwed over in the biz, and do it for your fallen brethren.OK so its more the "Art of War" than "defining success", so sue me....
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