There are so many variables in the music business and becoming a super-star is like winning the lottery. Playing the lottery is based on luck, chance, hope, dreams and it’s a lot like the music industry. There is only so many places available at the top, people can only consume so much music and they tend to stick with what is familiar. Competing for the attention of music listeners is a near impossible task beyond a few semi-successful marketing campaigns, some radio airplay and word of mouth.
A number of things need to align in order to increase traction on streaming services, get radio play and get the attention of music supervisors, producers and record labels. Having good music isn’t enough, you need good music, money and some luck. I posted a link below to a book called “Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters”, by Brian Klass. Fluke talks about chance and how the small things we do can change the outcome of a situation. It’s a great read and has helped me realize that I just need to keep do what I’m doing and the path will pave itself and I just need to enjoy making music and let everything else work itself out. Of course that does not mean that I won’t promote my music or make important decisions, it just shows me that I shouldn’t focus too much on making it and just get on with it.
Streaming platform algorithms put listeners in charge of choosing the next music super-star. Sure, there are things you can do to promote your music on streaming platforms, but the final decision is in the hands of the music fan. Algorithms follow listening habits, music preferences and scan the web for blogs, articles and other information about artists and uses the information to get a head of the buzz about a band or artist.
Getting to the “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow in the music industry is available and possible for all of us, but not probable partly due to the number of people competing for attention of music fans, and limited space at the top of the charts and a little bit of luck along the way. After reading “Fluke”, I thought back about things and choices I’ve made in my music career and wonder what small action could have been slightly different, creating one of many paths that would have been if some of the choices were different. I’m not looking for change anything from the past, but it is mind boggling to think of all the possibles and variables after reading “Fluke”
There is no direct method to getting the Spotify algorithm to share your songs more frequently and to send it out to more listeners, but it is exciting trying and not knowing what could happen. Hypothetically, if a million people clicked on the same song simultaneously would that song become an instant hit with the algorithm and cause it to push your music to more listeners which could continue to snowball from there? Being a rock or pop star could be just a click away.
Coffee & a Playlist 