Now, most of the time, this does not happen. We can probably name a few artists who lucked up and received a deal from a hot single, but the truth is most people never make it. By no means necessary is this article meant to put you down, but I hope that by the end of this, some inspiration is found. There are those individuals who actually have a passion for music, and I think that they deserve to make it. But while everyone wants to be a superstar, are you doing what it takes to be one, and most importantly, do you have star potential?

          First and foremost with any industry, but especially the music industry, you have to set yourself apart. What makes you unique? I understand how tempting it may be to copy ones style, but try not to do this. You may look at a person and think that they are winning, but this gives you no right to be a carbon copy of someone else.

          Focus on the music. Let’s be clear, after originality, you should focus on the quality of your music. If it doesn’t sound good, then who in their right mind will want to listen to your songs? I think more artist need to take the time out to invest in themselves. If you want to be the best, then you have to operate with a certain level of professionalism and class.

          Next let’s talk about Marketing. No matter what field you are in, marketing is one of the most important aspects, if not the most important issue. You can have the best product out, but if no one knows about, then how will you get the recognition that you deserve? Before you put any music out, I think that you should have your marketing plan in order. What are you going to do in order to bring yourself to the forefront?

    Some marketing can be free, such as social media. With Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and even the re-launch of Myspace, there are ways to get your music heard. I think Youtube is very important when it comes to marketing. People are very visual. If I hear a hot song, I immediately want to know if that person has a music video. Don’t under estimate the power of a video. You ever hear of an unheard artist on the radio and they have this hot single, and then the next thing you know, they have a video to match? Well that’s because people want to know who they are listening to. If you want major labels, and even people you don’t know to invest in you, then you must first do it yourself. Have videos, do as many shows as you can, even though most won’t be paid starting off. Pass out flyer. Have good artwork on your CD’s. Make quality looking videos. These things are important because they set you apart from the amateurs. Remember, just because you aren’t making the big bucks yet, doesn’t mean you can’t conduct yourself as a star.

          Become multi-skilled. You may be a really good artist, but can you write, can you produce, can you make beats? The more skills you have, the more you open yourself up to making money, and being able to connect with different artist. The music industry is very saturated. You have to be good at more than just one thing now. They want to know that you can make money on your own, and that is when they will decide to give you a chance. A lot of times, this road to fame take longer than what we think.  But you can’t be sitting around waiting for someone to make your dreams come true. You have to get out there and hustle. I mean, do you want to be a starving artist literally? While you may not be a superstar yet, there are ways to still be relevant in this game, and make a lot of money.

           Last but not least, have fun. This probably should have been number one, but this article is in no particular order. If you don’t love what you do, then why are you doing it? Don’t get into something because you think that it’s going to bring you all of this money and fame. Do whatever it is that you do because you love it. That’s the number one way to be successful.