Differentiating yourself

[Jeff196]

Hi all. How do you guys define yor niche? I am a marketing guy as well as a songwriter and I am always curious how people find their niche. I believe that too many songwriters believe mere quality of the songs are enough. But I think we all know that quality songs are a must. Love your thoughts...

[CHuckmott]

I'm getting a sense that a lot of the more experienced guys here learn to find where this a need, and write to that. Many libraries will list what they are looking for or the types of music they think they can place. Myself, I want to aim for this bar. Other guys get really good at a niche and do well that way. But think about it. They are still writing to a specific need. Good thread BTW.

[Kolstad]

For me, it's a puzzle slowly coming together.

Finding your niche is really about finding yourself, what music you really like and what you can do with integrity, confidence and conviction.
It's very easy to think you have to be something you're not, when you read Taxi listings, but be careful there. It's the road to blocked creativity.

I've had to map out what music I love, write and produce a lot of stuff untill I had an idea about what I can do the best, and listen a lot to which reference artists that is in the ballpark of, and THEN look at the listings before I say.. ah yeah, I'll give that a shot.

So for me, differentiating myself, is about working on my integrity and voice as an artist.
You can't do everything and you can't be anyone, it's hard enough to find yourself.
I found that to be a rewarding but also very challenging (never ending) process.

[andygabrys]

its a combo of where my interests are, and the opportunities which seem to be hot. lately, those have lined up.

actually for most people, i think that is exactly what happens. there is stuff you like to do. you do it well. and then all of a sudden, you start finding opportunities there to pursue.

I don't know many people who do a certain thing at a crazy amazing level that don't have a chance to sell their stuff, or market it. usually people drift into something else.

[DesireInspires]

Honestly, I do not think finding a niche is helpful for production music.

It seems that the most successful people who create library music actually do the best by copying other popular songs and styles. The guys that can convincingly write in many different styles and copy other peoples' works seem to generate more revenue. Many of the listings I see ask for songs in the style of a band or ask for a knockoff of a popular song.

Even the trailer music seems to replicate music from other films or trailers. Imitation seems more important than invention and innovation.

I say that initially it is best to copy other peoples' music to build up a catalog of music that is ready to license. Once a steady royalty stream has been built, more experimental music can be pushed.

[themichaelscott]

It has been a process for sure. If I look at my favorite songs of mine I can see influences from my favorite musicians over the last 15 to 20 years. Going to school for music blew my narrow mind wide open. Since then I have narrowed things back down to what I like and what I am capable of realistically. Luckily I love everything from Willie Nelson to the Ramones to the chopped and screwed scene in H-town. Blending those together for me equals a fat beat, soulful sincerity and a little raw attitude and I like it.

So far, Taxi has been fun trying different things, but if my heart's not in it the song shows.

So as far as differentiating, I am the only me (and I have always been a little different.) Hopefully there is a use for me somewhere, because I'm not happy doing music I don't like.

Michael

[coachdebra]

Have to weigh in here - simply about terminology - because you guys are using Niche to mean both
Niche - the market you're looking to engage with (such as music supes, libraries or even particular kinds of projects)

and

Genre - the type or style of music you are creating.

Niche isn't about you - it's about your prospective customers, clients and fans.

I'd say quality of your product is paramount no matter what your niche is. But figuring out who already wants what you do - that's critical to success.

What TAXI does IMO is to narrow and define the niche for you. This opportunity wants X, but you produce Y. Not your opportunity. Not your niche, if you will.

Which is why songwriters who can write for a listing (know what your niche wants/needs/desires and provide that for them), tend to have better success using the TAXI system.

But knowing who your niche is, defining them as narrowly as possible, preferably in a way that they self-identify helps with all your marketing.

A broad demographic inspires general/generic marketing messages, which are both boring and particularly ineffective from an SEO standpoint.

[HectorRContreras]

Thank you for this interesting Topic, dear Jeff.

Dear Debra, we are very grateful for your analysis here. You speak ideas that make sense indeed.

Ok; for us, here, that is Hector and Catherine :

Hector's Niche is definitively Latin Jazz, Afro Cuban Music, and Brazilian Music. But Hector can also excel in Lounge Instrumentals, Romantic Instrumentals (with a lovely Melody), New Age Instrumentals, and Piano Solos !

Catherine, she has a feel for Contemporary Avant-Garde, Abstract, and ... Dramedy ! That would be her Niche because of her confidence in those areas. But she also composed three Classical Concertos, and varied World Music : French, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and North Native American. She does not mind trying her skills at Electronic Dance Instrumentals, and Children Music.

[davewalton]

Hi all. How do you guys define yor niche? I am a marketing guy as well as a songwriter and I am always curious how people find their niche. I believe that too many songwriters believe mere quality of the songs are enough. But I think we all know that quality songs are a must. Love your thoughts...

Everything takes work and practice but given an equal amount of work and practice on various genres, when I think of "niche" I think of what somebody seems to do faster, easier and more naturally than other genres. For example, Americana is *not* my niche. Not that I couldn't come up with a catchy Americana tune given enough time to research/listen but it's not what I normally do. For one, I'm a keyboard player. Guitar players will pretty much always have a different niche than keyboard players.

I didn't have a niche five or so years ago but today, probably the thing that I can specifically do faster, easier and more naturally at this point is "crime drama music". Because I liked what I heard when I heard it, I've wound up spending quite a bit of time listening/studying/etc the various styles of music on shows like CSI, CSI Miami, etc so that now if someone wants something in that basic style it's easy, natural and very enjoyable for me to pull that off. So that's my specific niche and more generally my niche would be orchestral, electronica and/or a combination of the two.

Anyway, I think a person develops a niche because they like what they hear when they hear other people do it and they're generally attracted to that sound and style. I think that develops over time and it's better if early on that a person tries different things. Some people are primarily attracted to Frank Sinatra, some to Slayer, some to Hans Zimmer and some to The Crystal Method. A person might be able to do all those styles (and do them well) but they'll have a "niche" where one of those will just seem to be easier and more natural to pull off.

My 2 cents fwiw.

[HectorRContreras]

Woah, well said dear Dave !