How to Make It in Music Today



How to Make It in Music Today
by Sue Basko, esq. 

 “Making it” in music today does not mean the same thing it did in past generations.  Back then, signing a record label deal was a sign of “making it.”  In the meantime, musicians have figured out that most traditional record label contracts constrict their creativity and pay them a pittance for making money for a corporation.  Today there are new types of record labels that may present a more balanced, if less immediately lucrative and flashy, situation. 

Today, “making it” in music means having the skills and connections to pursue music as a career, whether or not significant money is made.  The keys to making it today are the same at any level of financial remuneration.  And here is the list.

How to Make It in Music Today:

1.  Start young.  If you can start playing music and / or singing by age 3, that is great.  Age 17 to 30 is the prime time for developing professional music careers, so you need your basic foundation laid before then.  However, do not try to be a child star.  Instead, spend your early years building a solid foundation of skills.

2.  Own a musical instrument.  Get a piano or keyboard, a guitar, a cello, a flute, a harmonica.  Ask for these things as gifts.  Save up your own money and buy them.  If you want to help someone else become a musician, give them a musical instrument.

3.  Get lessons.  Most great songwriters play piano.  They learn to play piano by taking lessons in childhood.  It is great to have a person teach you, if you can afford this.  If not, pursue anyway.  Your lessons can also be self-taught. There are lessons online and there are also lessons on youtube for free.  There are video lessons and book lessons you can buy or check out of a library. 

4.  Practice every day.  You will only become skilled if you train.  Most good musicians practice 3 to 8 hours per day.

5. Sing.  Even if singing is not your main strength, sing.  If you think of yourself as a singer, get lessons and practice every day.

6.  Write songs. 

7.  Listen to many kinds of music.   This is so easy now with the internet.  Make a point of expanding your listening experience, even if the music is not immediately enjoyable  to you.  Develop an expansive, rather than a limiting, mindset.  Listen to music from many genres, from many regions and cultural groups, from many time eras.  

8.  Learn to play or sing music outside your comfort zone.  Jump into other genres, other languages, try out a new instrument.

9. Get a computer and develop skills you will need for music production and business.  Learn to record, mix, and create music on a computer.  Learn how to make videos and put them up online.  Learn how to make digital photos, web pages, email lists, etc.  The more computer skills you have, the more you can place your music online and promote yourself as a musician.

10.  Become proficient at home recording, mixing, and mastering on a computer.  Learn how to use loops, create and lay music beds.  Look into the great products for creating drum and string tracks.

11.  Learn the basics of music law and business.  Read books and websites on these topics.

12.  Get a good music lawyer early on.  This is crucial.  If you are co-songwriting, get a contract written that reflects your agreement.  If you start or join a band, get a band contract.  Before you sign a contract or agree to anything, have a music lawyer read it.  Do not rely on a manager, parent, or friend to do this for you.  Get a music lawyer.  The effects of signing something bad will often harm you for decades to come.

13.  Do not fall for music scams.  Music scams take a musician’s money in promise for a dream.  These scams can destroy or halt a burgeoning music career.   Have a music lawyer look it over before you agree to it.

14.  Make use of performance opportunities.  The only way to learn how to put on a good show before an audience is through practice.   

15.  Avoid drugs and alcohol.  Eat right and get fit.  Look and feel your best.  Take care of stress and psychological issues early on.  Avoid troublesome people.  The music industry, moreso than ever before, is a business.  You are expected to be on time and in excellent performance shape with totally professional behavior.  Music contracts now include cancellation clauses that can be invoked if a performer starts to have substance abuse, mental, or behavioral issues.  If one of these clauses is invoked against you or at your option, you may also be banned from performing music for a period of time.

16.  Be you.  Try to have any contracts written so you have creative control over your music, songwriting, and appearance.  One of the silliest things I ever saw was when one of my favorite rappers, who makes amazing music and truly clever lyrics that are of the sort that absolutely cannot be played on the radio, signed a deal with a major record label.  Then, the record label people acted surprised that he was writing songs that cannot be played on the radio, when that is the only kind of songs he writes.   What were they thinking?  He should have gotten a deal with a record label that was not trying to change his music, a label that does not rely on radio airplay to promote music. 

17.  Don’t try to be someone else.  If you want to sound like some already famous artist, start a cover band.  That is totally legit and good cover bands get lots of bookings. 

18. Avoid making music your second choice.  If you want to go into music, do not instead go to law school or engineering school as a practical choice and develop a career in that field, telling yourself that you will pursue music later or in addition to this other career.  This almost never happens.  (Yes, you will most likely have to do other things besides music to make money, but launching a major career in a different field means you spend your time and energy on that other career.)

19.  Don’t quit. You may have interruptions, but don’t quit.   The surest way to quit is by selling your musical instruments.  Only sell the instruments if you are upgrading. 

20. Develop an online presence.  However, only put good things online.  Make sure all the videos you put up have good audio.  Make sure all photos convey the right image you are trying to portray.  Avoid profanity or violent images or words.  These mark you as unprofessional and rule you out for most bookings and other opportunities.

21.  Develop a strong sense of gratitude.  Thank people for their help.  Be courteous.   

22. Love what you are doing.  If you love what you are doing, you will attract the right people and opportunities.              

Streamer Journalist Code of Ethics


Streamer Journalist Code of Ethics

This is a Code of Ethics for journalists who work as live streamers at events such as protests.  It originated in the Occupy movement.  It was written by @Cross_X-Bones, a highly experienced streamer journalist from Occupy Los Angeles.  He got input from @PMBeers, who has covered a tremendous number of Occupy events, including overnight camping occupations on the streets of Los Angeles.  Also contributing was @Rebelutionary_Z of Chicago, who has streamed protests in Chicago and nationwide, including 2012 NATO in Chicago.  The document itself can be found below and also at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nwX_bLxV1hZU93YGtwx-6ijU1B7Ojq36ZVwZHBuPvn4/edit

As you read the Code of Ethics, please notice the care and detail that have gone into it.  Live streamers are a crucial element of today's Freedom of Assembly.  The live streamers provide a witnessing element so those not present can participate. They also give a protective element in providing evidence of what really happened.  Live streamer footage has been used in numerous court cases nationwide as evidence for the defendants.  Live streamers are truly independent media makers.  

Live streamer footage provided much evidence for the U.S. leg of the  OSCE ODIHR Report on Monitoring of Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in Selected OSCE Participating States May 2011- June 2012.  This is a study with which I assisted.   In the U.S., the study covered the 2012 NATO Protest in Chicago, the 2012 G8 Protest near Camp David in Maryland, Occupy Wall Street New York City, Occupy Los Angeles, Occupy Oakland, and Occupy Chicago.  In each location, ample video footage was provided by live streamers, making this perhaps the first study of human rights in protest that was backed up by audio and video live on-site documentation.

The importance of live streamers to human rights in public assembly cannot be overstated.  Live streamers are crucial to our democracy and freedoms.  These people have voluntarily undertaken this important role in our society.  They do so at their own expense and with the help of donations from viewers.  Below are the Guidelines they have set out for themselves.  You will see they expect a lot of themselves and their fellow live streamers.   


Streamer Journalist
Code of Ethics
Preamble
The act of streaming may be used for journalism, documentation of controversial events or for entertainment purposes. Streaming can provide personal protection when involved in situations that may have legal implications. Those engaged in one or more of these activities may be a considered a Streamer or a Citizen Journalist. Due to the many categories of streaming, as well as differing journalistic styles, which may include advocacy journalism and gonzo journalism, the technique is sometimes treated with contempt by law enforcement as well as the traditional journalistic community.
One who is claiming to be a Streamer Journalist needs to operate under the established journalistic framework despite possibly using streaming for other purposes. It would behoove a Streamer Journalist to adhere to a code of ethics to that will establish a recognized credibility.
The rise of Streamer Journalism represent a need for public information in a journalistic landscape that is either unable or refuses to report on relevant events in an unedited way. Complete coverage of under-reported news is needed in order for a free, open, transparent and fair society to exist. Streamer Journalists therefore must hold themselves to the highest journalistic standards when streaming or reporting on events and should do so with the principles of Vigilance, Honesty, Fairness, Courage, Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Accountability and Humility.
This document represents a Code of Ethics that adherents can uniformly adopt to insure journalistic credibility as well as a framework under which one can make ethical decisions.
Principle of Vigilance
Vigilance keeps the Streamer's news reporting relevant.
Streamers should:
  • Be clear about what is verifiable information, and what is speculation. Information moves quickly, but so do rumors.
  • State sources of information so that they may be independently verified.
  • Give the public open access to governmental and authority conduct.
  • Persist in holding those with power accountable for their actions.
  • Seek truth no matter where it lies, but do so with respect, and compassion.
Principle of Honesty
Honesty helps the Streamer build credibility.
Streamers should:
  • Represent biases truthfully to give proper context.
  • Avoid highlighting, editing, or recording footage in a way that removes proper context, or distorts events.
  • Make a clear distinction between advocacy, opinion, and news. This clarifies the context with which such comments should be understood. Do not misrepresent which is being given.
  • Properly attribute all broadcasted or mirrored footage. Only use this footage based on the licensing terms of originator.
  • Keep all journalistic promises.
  • Visibly show when streaming video or audio in all but the most extreme circumstances. If hiding streaming, make sure that the reason for doing so is made clear.
  • Cover a diverse set of opinions during an event even if those opinions are not popular.
Principle of Fairness
Fairness allows a Streamer to protect credibility by acknowledging bias.
Streamers should:
  • Recognize differences in values and keep from judging other's values.
  • Give equal opportunity to unofficial sources of information to be heard.
  • Avoid loaded language and belittling commentary, and let facts stand for themselves.
  • Avoid stereotypes, especially in regards to race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, economic or social status, and political or ideological beliefs.
Principle of Courage
Courage helps keep the Streamer's news noble.
Streamers should:
  • Report honestly in the face of coercion.
  • Balance a need for personal protection with the need to report on events which may be physically, emotionally, or mentally threatening.
  • Stand up for journalistic principles and ethics.
  • Protect sources from intimidation.
Principle of Compassion
Compassion helps keep the Streamer's news reporting viable.
Streamers should:
  • Be compassionate to those who may be negatively affected in the course of covering the news. Be even more sensitive to those who may be emotionally compromised in understanding the events in which they are exposed to, especially children and the mentally ill.
  • Be aware of the impact that the presence of a stream may have on those grieving or dealing with tragic events.
  • Be understanding when reporting on issues that may cause harm or make others feel uncomfortable.
  • Avoid getting information that is not news worthy when it's only function is entertainment at the expense of others. In the course of covering news one may capture personal moments that are unrelated to the event. Under these circumstances editing archived coverage may be permissible.

Principle of Respect
Respect allows a Streamer continued access to communities, organizations, and individuals.
Streamers should:
  • Encourage open discourse, even when the views may seem difficult to agree with.
  • Respect a source’s wishes to be anonymous, but be aware of the source's possible motives.
  • Be respectful by not identifying a victim of a crime unless allowed to do so. Especially if this may cause them unwanted attention or trauma.
  • Refrain from identifying or accusing someone, by name, who may be involved in illegal activities, especially prior to formal charges being made. Use aliases or identifying characteristics instead.
  • Respect the private individual's rights to privacy over those who are in power or act as public representatives.
  • Balance an individual’s right to a fair treatment and the need to inform the public.
  • Respect the right to privacy for those who are receiving medical treatment.
Principle of Integrity
Integrity allows a Streamer to operate without destroying credibility.
Streamers should:
  • Openly and quickly disclose potential or real conflicts of interest. Avoid all unnecessary conflicts of interest.
  • Be transparent and reveal biases when involved in actions, activities, and associations  which may cause others to questions journalistic intentions.
  • Disclose all gifts, favors, free travel, donations when contributed by individuals or organizations whenever possible as they could hurt credibility by representing a conflict of interest.
  • Be honest about any political involvement, public office, community organizations or activism, as these may be conflicts of interest.
  • Disclose all unavoidable conflicts of interest honestly and in a timely manner.
  • Refuse all gifts, favors, free travel, donations when contributed by individuals or organizations if there is an expectation of special treatment or influence by those entities.
  • Be careful when discussing equipment or services being used. This can appear to be advertising. Be clear if sponsored to use equipment or services, or if preferences exist for one over another. Refrain from saying negative things about another product or service.
  • Be transparent about paying or giving favors to sources for information.
Principle of Accountability
Accountability assures participants, viewers, and sources that a Streamer holds true to all principles.
Streamers should:
• Provide all raw live footage in an open-source manner.
• Give explanations and invite participation on your stream and through other means about journalistic conduct.
• Encourage and listen to public grievances against the news. Try to improve when possible.
• Admit mistakes in a timely, honest, and open manner.
• Reveal any unethical institutional journalistic practices, but also try to hold to the highest standards in all journalistic actions. Do so with an eye toward restorative justice.
Principle of Humility
Humility provides a Streamer a continued place in the emerging social media news community.
Streamers should:
• Acknowledge the contributions of sources, participants, viewers, and other journalists.
• Balance the need for competition with the need for cooperation.
• Not overstate accomplishments.
• Help others learn about the streaming medium.