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I was wondering how many folks actively seek out some of these underrepresented music genres and target those as a way to build up sales? And far how out if your comfort zone are you willing to go? Not necessarily just temporarily, but finding a niche market and writing several of those.
I do whatever I feel like doing.
I have total creative freedom. This means that I have the freedom to sound like a genius or a total fool. I can make something glorious and epic or I can make something that a monkey with a drum kit and a guitar could make.
I have music all the way from Urban to Pop to EDM to Orchestral to Country to Jazz to whatever!
Either way I stand by what I make whether it is good, bad, or ugly. I own whatever music I make.
I’m building my own little niche. It’s not an underrepresented area but AFAICT there are not many people who do it believably. It must be working because I’m now onto my third major gig for it.
IMHO, there seem to be two main ways of getting by in this biz. Do a bunch of things well (enough) and have a very large catalogue. Specialise in something and rise towards the top in that niche so that you create/find demand. If you are capable of doing both, even better! No doubt there are other perspectives and this is only what I see.
Ps. I wrote, ” there are not many people who do it believably.” That sounds conceited/arrogant. That’s not how I meant it, ’twas unfortunate wording. Sometimes there are sounds or styles that come along and a whole bunch of people jump on it but they don’t take the time to learn how to work and produce that sound and what they come up with sounds like disparate ideas brought together without the effort in making it work cohesively.
what they come up with sounds like disparate ideas brought together without the effort in making it work cohesively
Pretty much what I’d sound like if I tried to do what you do Rob! 😛
No, Rob , I agree. Some of the newer genres/trends you really need to put the time in to do them justice. But along the way you might write a load of , um, not so good tracks to get there. One of the libraries I’m involved with has lists of genres “with insufficient content” and have one of my songs in their playlist. Is a decent track but not a genre I specialize in – if I were to pick one track of mine to put in a playlist it wouldn’t have been that one(but I ain’t mad at ’em, matter of fact I’m thrilled). But it’s in a genre where they are fairly light so starting to think I may be on to something. And I see a lot of requests for popular music that is not necessarily American. But probably the question is, is the content light because it’s not a well selling one or because there is just not much of that being produced. SOme of those absolutely seem doable for me – others would take some work and study (mainly a lot of world music influenced stuff).
I like trying all styles. Mainly because I like the challenge.
haha MichaelL, and what I sound like every other cue. Doesn’t always work. 😀
Chuck, yes one does write a bunch of less usable stuff while learning new styles and production skills. 🙂
It’s a good question – is a genre light on material because it doesn’t sell well or because not many people are doing it? That’s where the research comes in!
[removed] (is that you Art?!), I’m definitely different. I want to nail down a few things. Could never be accused of being a jack-of-all-trades. Plus, there are a lot of styles I just don’t feel. I think it shows when one isn’t ‘into’ what they’re writing.
[Removed] (is that you Art?!)
Yeah, stupid WP keeps defaulting back to admin name (not a good thing) when I update my user profile. Fixed now.
Plus, there are a lot of styles I just don’t feel.
Maybe because I have been in so many bands and played so many types of music as a studio musician I actually do “feel” a lot of different types of music. Plus my A.D.D. is not happy if I focus too much! LOL!
I like to write in many genres, otherwise I’d get bored.
I come from a library music background, where I’ve always written on “assignment.” So, if they say, “sports music,” “news music,”
“kitchy sci-fi music,” that’s what I do.I also spent 35 years writing for documentaries, educational films and corporate projects. In those instances, you are often writing for “mood” not genre. When the visuals are horseshoe crab and sandpiper habitat, directors don’t usually say “give me some indie rock, hip hop or dubstep.”
So…I never write on whim, or what I just “feel” like writing. I write
what I know functions in a given situation, based on my experience. Most writers seem to be focused on backend money from TV placements and probably don’t even think about what music gets used outside that world.There’s always a visual in my head to which I’m writing.
So…I never write on whim, or what I just “feel” like writing. I write
what I know functions in a given situation, based on my experience. Most writers seem to be focused on backend money from TV placements and probably don’t even think about what music gets used outside that world.Interesting. That changes things a bit. Writing to “moods” sounds like a new challenge.
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