At which extent a new band/artist can generate revenue from this massive online music publishing machine?
Technological advancement in the music business has enforced on artists pure entrepreneurship skills need. Which connote that the DIY (Do It Yourself) model is at an expansive cost and high risk for newcomer artists.Though it might not account for cash money.
On the 1st of August 2017, Tombra Robert Group was releasing his first Extended Play (EP) record entitled Color of Nature. This EP of three tracks was digitally launched through various web platform from social media to others web music streaming services available online today.
This is a clear instance of a shift from the physical configuration to the digital format in the music industry. While years back, it could have been for some thousands of dollar bills, the Tombra Robert Group single-handed manages to make it on a DIY model with an almost free cash investment.
Let me put it simply here: Either you paid it in cash or not, your level of investment will ultimately determine the outcome.
But what does it take for a band/artist to run a music career in the digital age on DIY model?
#1- Music business minimum literacy
Everything answers to understanding. The more illiterate new artists are about the minimum of this industry (both music education and business), the less revenue they will attract. Digital free online music publishing services are not created for an escape.
The Tombra Robert Group is a band of jazz young talented musicians freshly graduated from the popular Music Society of Nigeria School, known as Muson School of music.
The MUSON School of Music was established in 1989 to offer music training and diploma courses for children and adults interested in learning how to sing or play any musical instrument. Thousands of students have attended the school since 1989.
#2- Not fame first, but a clear vision/calling first
Back to his hometown on November 2016, after the London Jazz Festival, one of the world’s largest and most ambitious festival, Robert invited three of his schoolmate around a coffee table on the campus to pitch to them his vision.Which gave birth to the Tombra Robert Group.
“Music came to me in term of sound. The way people listen to music is different from mine. I’m always looking for something rare in the sound,…”Robert said.
Over a century, the music industry has successfully produced amazing celebrities all around the world with strong and lasting global influence. They are incredibly talented and passionate artists. In fact hard-working even. But all of those celebrities was made by a vision bearer. Which was in most case other entrepreneurs (Maybe a talent agent, a publishing company, record label…) bearing a clear vision to serve a specific need for a specific market.
Where there is no vision, talent will surely perish. (Proverbs 29:18)
On a DIY model, band/artist need first to have a clear vision and carry it out by themselves. It’s all about service. Servicing life with sound and melody.
Every success in business/startup relies much on the vision bearer/founders’ abilities.
Tombrapade Robert is the drummer, lead of the band, manager bearing the vision and named the group after his name. This is exactly what a startup would call CEO and Founder.
#3 — Value delivery
Some years ago, while the physical configuration was still dominant in the music industry, only one good song can carry 5 to 10 less significant songs along to the market. We called it an album.Today, it is the single life which means for artists live in single sales. However, you generate more money from live performance. People might like your music but they will only pay for your value per single. This value can effectively be delivered on live performance.
While chatting with Robert Tombrapade, he said “I’m hoping to record again. But for now, we are backing into a tour for this first EP.”
DIY model is demanding. Will you also be your own booking or road show agent? Maybe. But there are also booking service available online.
For a new band/artist, the extent of revenue you can generate from this online massive music publishing machine is a function of the leverage you have built offline.
