Music Industry

Attention Musicians: Here Are 17 Ways to Kill Your Career

Digital Music News has assembled 17 pieces of advice to keep you from sabotaging your music career.  While a lot of these points may seem like common sense, anyone in the music biz will tell you that sense is quite uncommon.

Here are the first five:

1.  Having a shitty, entitled attitude.

You wouldn’t believe how many musicians I run into believe that just because they make music they deserve to be heard.

 

2. Being addicted to anything.

I don’t need to explain any more, do I?

 

3.  Relying on a label, manager or anyone besides yourself to build your career.

While labels and managers are necessary, ultimately, the onus lies on you.

 

4.  Choosing a name that anther band is using. (And I’d add “has used.”)

Why confuse things?  Besides, you’ll probably just invite a lawsuit.

 

5.  Not having a serious web presence.

Buy a domain, fer crissakes!  When your email address is [email protected], you look cheap and amateurish.  And when you set up a website, don’t have a URL like www.wordpress.yourname.com,  Spend $15 on your own domain!

 

Twelve more gems can be found here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 40208 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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