The twenty-first century offers infinitely more opportunities to new and upcoming musicians than ever before; the rise of technology has revolutionised the industry in terms of production, marketing and streaming. The number of aspiring or beginner artists has increased exponentially with this growth. More and more people are realising that becoming a musician has never been more accessible.
It’s easy to say that ‘technology’ as a whole has facilitated this growth, but what are the exact components that make this process so much easier nowadays compared to times gone by?
High-quality, Publicly-Accessible Studios
Long gone are the days when individual musical instruments were the only way to create and collate sounds into a track. A competent computer paired with some advanced DJ software provides the average user with the ability to use thousands of existing sounds, create new ones and have unprecedented control over audio production. While this is often an expensive personal investment that most beginner artists cannot afford, public studios around the world, like Pirate level the playing field for upcoming musicians. Available to rent for a small fee, these venues allow aspiring artists to test out their musical skills, hone their ability and record new music for distribution.
Digital Streaming Platforms
The multiplicity of benefits that the innovation of streaming services provided has been immeasurably positive for the music industry. The collection of millions of artists, songs and albums on a single platform allows beginner producers to connect their DJ equipment to the platform to import and play with an endless source of music. SoundCloud is a popular streaming platform that is used by beginner DJs to mix new and existing tracks.
Beyond production, the perks of these services have transformed music consumption across the globe, where access to such large databases of music is at a level never seen before. The ease of sharing new music via these platforms is a crucial feature to the success of new artists; new music can be shared with friends and family via these services, and the potential for audience growth once an artist starts gaining traction is then nigh limitless.
Advanced Music Writing Software
Music writing software, or a scorewriter, (like Notion6) is a type of unique and innovative programme that allows the mapping of frequencies and soundwaves produced by your instruments. The sounds you create are recorded, analysed and recreated in score form to be replicated by yourself or other artists. This method of music production is incredibly more efficient than just relying on your mental abilities and is another example of how digitalisation has had a positive impact on the music industry for aspiring artists.
If there is anything to take away from this short piece, it is that the pathway to a successful music career has never been more supported: now is your chance. Utilising the opportunities afforded by digital components within the industry is a sure way to boost your first step into the music industry. The first step is always daunting, but with the right equipment and aid from available resources, you can make it a successful one.
