15 Reasons Why Most Upcoming Artists Fail And Others Succeed

Obviously, every upcoming artiste got their own game plans regarding their career. Most of them got one thing in mind; and that is being “Recognized” and getting a juicy record deal to boost their personality and be treated as “Stars”…

There is a saying that “Heavens Helps Those Who Helps Themselves” and you should know that recording 200 songs does not get you closer to a record deal; but the impact a song makes is what gets you deals. Some artistes gets a deal with just one debut single and that is because he/she really took time to build his career before approaching the world.

Below are 15 simple things artistes ignore or never thought of.

1.Work Ethic:  Many artists with a dream, talent and creativity still manage to fail due to poor work ethic. If you don't consistently make songs, you won't consistently get fans. If you limit your ways of promotion to Youtube only or Twitter only, you are missing out on success by not taking a chance and trying other ways to promote your music. Your work ethic in this business WILL make or break you.

2.Lack of Knowledge: If you don't know the rules of the game, chances are, you'll lose. Many indie artists don't even take the time out to research how the music business operates. Those who are always hungry for knowledge to expand in their field are the ones who usually excel the most. Take some time out to Google a few things about your genre, your instrument, and how the people doing what you aspire to do operate on a regular basis.

3.Ineffective Efforts: This can also tie into work ethic. Not only should you work hard, but you should work smart. Funneling money into bad marketing efforts, spamming people with your music who aren't even in your ideal target audience, and performing to the same crowd of people or at the same venue over and over in hopes of expansion are just a few examples of ineffective efforts.

4.Building Relationships: Networking is sometimes the push that indie artists need to make it over the ‘no results' hump. You would be surprised by how quickly your career will start moving by regularly connecting with those at your level in your music market, and making efforts to connect to those who are even a few steps ahead that can help you with your exposure.

5. Strong Foundation: Many artists don't build a solid foundation so their success is limited and fleeting. It also means that when opportunities arise (e.g. a YouTube video goes viral), they are not in a position to take advantage of them. Successful artists prepare for and put themselves in the way of opportunity.

6. Team:  A lot of artists tend to make the mistake of trying to boost their career all alone. Sure, you may be a hustler who can make major things happen when you put your mind to it. But, there is strength in numbers! Growing a team of people who are dedicated to promoting and helping your brand is also a great way to excel fast in this industry. Not to mention, new listeners tend to want to hear the opinion of someone else about your music, not your own opinion of your music. Having a team to vouch for you is a great way to draw in even more potential fans.

7. Talent: Let's face it, if you don't have any talent at all, it's very unlikely that you will make it far. This is a consumer-based market that relies on an artist's likability. If no one likes you or your sound, no one will give you money. Now I know you are probably thinking, “What about the talentless crap I hear on the radio all the time?”. Firstly, in a scenario where the artist is garbage but still on the radio, they still have a talented team (writers, producers, engineers). Also, people fail to realize that established artists that you might think sound like garbage still have great work ethics . How do you think they got where they are? A great work ethic is a very under-rated talent!

 

8. Uniqueness: Many artists are trying to be the next ‘____' instead of creating a sound and look all their own. Even though they may be incredibly talented, nothing about them distinguishes them from the artists they hear on the radio or the multitude of similar artists vying for attention. Successful artists know that the best way to stand out from the crowd is to be unique in as many ways as possible, and they work hard at it. They also know how to build a brand around their uniqueness.

9. Perseverance: Many artists quit too soon. Maybe they have had some success and so they stop doing the things that got them there. Many just get tired of wasting time, money and effort, when all the while they have started creating the kind of buzz that can lead to much bigger and better things. Successful artists refuse to give in. They are determined to figure the puzzle out. They measure the results of their efforts so they see and work to capitalize on even the smallest amounts of progress.

10. Image: Many artists look like amateurs. Their promo materials, if they have them are not attractive. Many either don't have a website, or the one they have looks like it was developed by a 3 year old. Often they don't have business cards. Many don't dress appropriately, especially for business meetings. Successful artists know that everything about them and everything that represents them has to make them look like they are in the major leagues. They never settle for ‘good enough.' They hire experienced graphic designers to create their online and print marketing. They dress like businesspeople when it is appropriate. They know that their biggest competitors are doing the same!

11. Finances: Many artists are under-funded and so they can't purchase the tools they need or hire the help they need. Sometimes this is a result of lack of funds to begin with. Sometimes it is because the available funds are not spent wisely. Successful artists know that they need to constantly invest and reinvest in their act. They establish a budget and stick with it. They raise capital if it is necessary, whether it comes from investors, crowdsourcing, a loan or some sort of enterprising venture. If they are not good at managing their money, they hire someone who is. They do not let money, or the lack of it stop them.

12. Professionalism: Many artists act unprofessionally, or just don't have a pleasing personality. They don't treat others with respect. They are not on time for gigs, rehearsals, photo shoots, interviews or anything else. They are oblivious to other people's feelings, egos, needs or desires. Successful artists always act in a professional manner. They are personable, so people want to be around them and help them succeed. They know that this is what it takes to earn the respect of their team, their fans and the industry.

13. Freshness: Many artists get stuck in ruts and never climb out of them, becoming stale and predictable. This can become evident in their music, their stage show, the look and feel of their marketing, they way they dress and everything else they do. Successful artists are always adding new dimensions to themselves. They keep everyone curious about just what they are going to come up with next. They not only watch the trends, they either jump ahead of them or set their own. They find ways to become pioneers. They avoid stagnation by constantly reinventing themselves, all the while remaining true to their fans and their brand.

14. Fan Management: Many artists have no idea who their fans are. They can't tell you with any sense of accuracy their biggest fan demographics like age, gender, income level, where they live, what their occupations or hobbies are etc. Successful artists know their fans and everything about them because they interact with them. Many conduct surveys and contests to extract demographic information that they use to select the merch they sell. They use that info to know what to write songs about. They track where the people who visit their website are coming from so they know where to book gigs.

15. Communication: Many artists are bad communicators. They don't have an email list or newsletter. They don't keep their website or social networks up to date. They don't blog. No one knows if the artist is still performing or recording, or even alive. Out of sight, out of mind. Successful artists know that constant communication with their fans is key to keeping them for a long time. By keeping their fans both informed and engaged, they dramatically increase the dollar value of every one (how much each fan will spend on music, merch and gigs in a specific amount of time).

There are countless more reasons why some artists fail and some succeed. Timing, unforeseen circumstances such as illness, lack of family support, etc. can all dramatically affect an artist's career. But when all the playing fields are leveled, the bottom line is that those artists who succeed and remain successful are the ones who are constantly improving, adapting and creating and taking care of business.

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