Bands and Artist Development

Singers, Bands, & Artist Development!
By Tom Gauger

Have you ever wondered what exactly artist development is, what it’s not and why acts need it? With all of the artist press kits, new artist showcases and cd,s that I’ve either attended, listened to, or was asked to evaluate, I can tell you that not many young artists understand what artist development is. You would think with the age of the internet and instant access to vital information for artists to chew on and utilize, that there would be a better understanding out there, but there really isn’t. It’s unfortunate for so many and I guess fortunate for a few, that so many really don’t know the ins and outs to even get their foot in the door, but let’s face it, not everyone’s a go getter or even minimally motivated for that matter. So what does it take to get your music listened to and then further looked at for a possible management deal or record contract? In this short article, I will attempt to look at a few concepts that should give you some insight and serve to move you in the right direction.

The first concept is fairly easy to grasp, but few do so. And that is, don’t follow the road most traveled. Most who make it in the business certainly have their story to tell, but each individual will more than likely give you a completely different background to their attainment of success. If you travel with the crowd where you have to communicate with a certain “vibe” or role that you must uphold, then you’re in the wrong crowd following the wrong definition of what will get you to your artist deal. If you look at multiple individuals who have made it in their perspective careers you will hear stories that don’t sound anything like the crowd you might be running with. Think about that the next time you are reading some biography of some famous individual and see if that idea doesn’t hold true.