BY: MATTHEW MYERS
I sometimes get approached by aspiring recording artists looking for help, and I’ve broadened my skill set from a songwriter to music producer. One of my long-term goals with Leet Music is to be serve as a music / label and publisher for artists within the anime, video game and “otaku” music genre. This article outlines my plans and how I hope to benefit from it.
What is artist development?
Recording artist development is how an publisher (record label, etc.) partners with an emerging artist to create a music product for the first time. Often the artist will provide creative assets like vocals, sometimes the music and lyrics, and the publisher invests in the business of music production, assets like graphic design and music video, as well as promotion and distribution of the record. In exchange for assuming financial risk in the project, the publisher often takes the lion’s share of the earnings from the music.
If the product is a success then the publisher turns a profit and starts paying the artist a percentage based on the terms of the contract. If the product turns out to be an extremely successful release then the artist will usually be able to broker a better deal with a publisher for their next project. If the product is a flop and the publisher never recoups their investment then the artist usually will not receive any royalties. The relationship is similar to that of an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist.
Risks
Investing in the career of an emerging artist is extremely high competition and high risk. Even at the major record label level only 1 new artist out of 20 turns a profit. The costs of recording an album and making a music video are very high. Often seeking press and promotion requires established industry relationships and credibility. Because of the amount of competition and cost of product development, artist development is a dangerously big bet.
Rewards
Breaking a new artist pays dividends when it works. If the song / video becomes popular then fans become extremely attached and loyal to the artist. Future releases will have a built-in fan base eagerly awaiting. Opportunities to perform and tour, as well as partner with other businesses become more available. With new releases and new fans banking on the success of the past, it adds up to a lot of money over time! The artist turns into a brand and franchise and that can be the basis of a life-long career.
Approach
Because of the high costs of artist development, the publisher needs to strongly believe that the end product is going to be a commercial success, capable of recouping the development funds and turning a profit. This means that publishers are extremely cautious about working with new talent. They tend to dedicate the most resources to a project they believe in the most, and do little or nothing to support a project with expected middling results.
For a small publisher with limited financial resources, the best way to approach seems to be focusing on a small product category and aiming to become a leader in it, rather than trying to be everything. Sub Pop produces alternative music. Death Row produces gangsta rap music. Fueled By Ramen produces emo music. This helps carve out an identity for the publisher to be recognized by fans rather than merely a department of a large conglomerate. For someone like me with a background in video games, anime and convention performances, it makes the most sense to continue to focus on anime, video games and the “otaku” genre right now.
To establish a new artist, the product is an extremely high quality pop song. It needs to be so good that it’s capable of being somebody’s favorite song. The song release is then accompanied by a music video to amplify the promotion, as well as a full album to add artistic depth and commercial value to the release. Nobody knows which song is going to reach a critical mass all the time, but some songs obviously stand a better chance than others. In order for the artist to have a sustainable career they need to be capable of producing further hit songs, putting on an entertaining live performance that will entice fans, and be attractive to partnerships with other brands.
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