As we know, famous singers get discovered through many different means – from attending music conventions to listening to songs you like and then writing down the lyrics or singing them along to find who produces those lyrics or melodies.
Some people have a knack for being able to recognize voices and will actively look for it, while others are more intuitive when it comes to vocal talent. Either way, if you’re looking to break into songwriting or performing as a professional, understanding how popular artists got their start is a great place to begin.
In this article, you’ll learn about some of the most common ways that well-known musicians were found and what professionals should take away from these lessons.
As we know, music is a form of expression that most people enjoy at least some part of. It can be made into anything from party entertainment to serious art depending on how it’s used and who listens to it!
Many people get inspired by the way other musicians play or sing and then use those techniques in their own singing or song writing. Others may find inspiration for lyrics or melodies themselves.
The more you listen to new artists and different styles, genres and formats, the better chance you have of hearing something you like and want to try out yourself.
A lot of young aspiring performers are familiar with popular singers and groups because many of them are very public about their musical journeys and collaborations. By listening to the music of these artists, you will learn a lot about vocals, instruments, and creative writing.
Reading interviews and blogs written by musicians is another good source of knowledge. You might also come across tips and tricks that they share with others on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Recording artists are very popular these days, which is why it is important to learn how to sing like a pro! If you want to be a singer that people listen to, then learning your music basics is essential.
Music theory, or studying the science of singing, includes concepts such as note names, intervals (the distance between two notes), chords (groups of notes built in sequence) and rhythm (timing).
When listening to songs, you will sometimes notice singers who seem to use their voices intuitively and naturally. This is because they have learned the fundamentals and applied them well.
By applying yourself to the study of music theory, you’ll find that some of the secrets to becoming a successful singer lie within.
As with any career, being a singer takes work and dedication. A lot of people have to help you achieve your goal!
An artist’s first job is finding their audience. You can’t be an artist unless you are constantly exposing yourself to new music and styles, meeting other musicians and engaging in conversation about music, so how you connect with others will determine whether or not you get noticed.
This is where having an agent comes in very handy. An agent works for you- he or she gets paid by you (the musician) to help you reach your goals. Agents typically earn a percentage from what they negotiate for you as an employee, and then also receive per diems (travel expenses) and entertainment costs if they find you potential clients outside of just negotiating fees.
Agents come in all shapes and sizes. Some are one agency that represents several artists, some are independent contractors who represent individual singers, and some are media professionals who promote you to venues and radio stations. All agents do different things, but what they share is your success is dependent upon them and they get the highest compensation when you succeed.
Some agencies have big corporate offices with lots of people, while others are run like small businesses. It depends on the size of the organization and the level of service each person receives. No matter what kind of agent you choose, make sure you look into his or her reputation before investing time in them.
As of today, there are over 2 billion songs in the music industry, with new releases coming out every week! That means there’s always an audience for someone who can sing well and connect with people.
The more famous you become as a singer, the larger your fan base will grow, which is why it is so important to organize your career as a musician according to three main components: recordings, publishing, and representation.
Recordings are what most people refer to when they talk about singing — you're probably listening right now! But beyond just having a good voice, being able to express yourself through song requires developing your writing skills and knowing how to use instruments.
Publishing includes all of the royalties that come from owning the copyrights to your lyrics and melodies, as well as the rights to reproduce your work. This also covers producing your own material if you have them!
Representation includes everything from finding an agent or manager you trust to booking tours and speaking engagements to fielding media inquiries and keeping up-to-date online profiles. All of these things help bring in money for you, whether it's by sharing your talents with the world or earning kudos for your achievements.
As we already mentioned, being discovered is totally dependent upon your exposure. If you are not able to find yourself on TV or in a magazine, then chances are high that you will never get exposed.
This is especially true for artists who begin their career as struggling musicians. They need to create their own fan base or risk getting nowhere with their music.
The more people that know about you, the greater chance they have of exposing you to others. This is why it’s so important to develop a personal brand.
Having a strong social media presence is a good start, but nothing compares to having a strong reputation built off of direct interactions with other individuals.
By creating an audience that supports you and keeps up with your activities, you’ll be setting up some big opportunities for yourself.
As we already mentioned, being discovered is an elusive goal for artists. It takes hard work, dedication, and sometimes years before you get to that point. However, there are some things you can do to make your music more accessible to others and promote yourself as an artist.
One of these things is investing in effective marketing strategies and tools. You should definitely try out any new tool with caution, but don’t hesitate to use them if they seem worthy.
Here are our top five favorite ways to market your artistic talent!
I will be talking about them in order here, so hold onto this page and come back when you have time.
#5 Create An Online Presence
This one may sound obvious, but it really isn’t. A lot of people start creating content and sharing it online without thinking about how their audience uses social media sites.
You want to make sure you are catering to all of the different platforms where your potential customers live. This includes making accounts on sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
By having a presence across these sites, your followers and fans can easily access you at any given moment. They also help other users find you by linking to your pages or profiles.
Making an account on each site is a good starting point, but you can also choose to remain anonymous or less than full-time depending on your needs and what types of exposure you want to gain.
As we know, being famous doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to build your reputation as you work hard to gain recognition for your talent. But one of the most important things that helped some of the biggest names in entertainment get noticed is recording and releasing their own songs.
Many people are under the impression that artists are paid for singing, but this isn’t always the case. Some singers must do whatever it takes to make ends meet by offering their services as a voice-over artist or taking small salaries to promote and market an album on behalf of the publisher. Or they may be too busy to find time to record and produce their music because of their career!
Whatever path they choose to take, talented musicians should not depend solely upon micro-payments and word-of-mouth advertising to earn money. They must develop their craft and invest in self-marketing tools so that they don’t have to rely on others to push their products. This can include creating a personal website, developing social media profiles, publishing articles about your art form, and responding to other people’s comments and questions in forums and blogs.
As we already mentioned, being discovered happens when your potential audience finds you or you get found by them. This can be done in many ways- through social media sites, listening to certain songs that resonated with you, or just looking up their work and admire it.
If you are passionate about music and want to make your career as a musician, then starting out as an artist is not easy. It takes hard work and dedication for little money at first but in the long run you will see yourself thriving as a musician.
