The ART of Giving Back

Most would agree, I think, that as artists we spend the majority of our time giving of ourselves, our visions, our dreams and that really is the purpose of art, isn’t it?  Someone told me yesterday that when I dance, I set people free and it was probably one of the greatest compliments ever paid to me because that really is one of my hearts deepest desires.  As I always tell friends that when I dance, I want people to feel it, to feel me, the music and for it to make them believe in the possibilities of life.  This is grounded in my firm belief that the whole purpose of art is to give, so it does not surprise me at all when artists further this endeavor through the act of charity.

source:  www.pilgramsmap.com

So often, as artists we have not had an easy life nor is the more serious pursuit of our art easy.  Through it we may develop quite the support system that helps us maintain our sanity and create some stability, for me I call them my dance family.  But I understand that most artists develop a family of sorts that support them through the disappointments and successes alike and this really does breed a feeling of wanting others to feel this love and support.  We have been gifted with the ability to share our art with the world and the gift of having those that support our endeavors and it warms my heart when I see artists, especially very successful ones, giving back to the communities and people who support us.

The inspiration for this blog comes from reading an article a few days ago on Music Industry News Network regarding a new foundation being established by Cee-Lo Green and his sister called the Greenhouse Foundation whose mission is to educate students on what it means to live “green” and how they can contribute to the health and sustainability of their environment.  The best part, from my perspective, is that the program is geared toward assisting in communities that would otherwise be overlooked.  Also, that it is teaching the next generation how their actions impact the future of the environment and what they can do to preserve it.    Programs that are geared toward building better environments for youth are of special interest to me.  This new program excites me as much as my favorite organization Black Girls Rock, which was established by Beverly Bond and focuses on creating programs that focus on the arts for young women of color and by empowering them and helping them develop a more enriched perspective on life. 

These examples are reminders for me that giving is one of the greatest roles an artist can play in the world and inspire me to want to give more.  Imagine how much more successful each of us can feel when we are adding so much joy and richness in the life of others.  This is really an extension of what it means to be an artist.

What gifts are you giving through your art?  These are just my thoughts and I would love to hear yours.   In the meantime, do you and creatively mind your business.

Peace

Music and the Digital Movement

Not so long ago, a career in the music industry was considered one of the most lucrative for an artist to pursue.  And while profits have been on the decline for major labels, it remains an area within entertainment where an artist can still earn quite a decent living.  For many years, there has been an ongoing discussion around how much of an artist’s income is generated through cd or album sales and whether digital sales would be a threat.  It’s a fairly known fact that cd sales do not account for a significant amount of income for an artist and it appears that online sales are even worse.

Source:  www.musicroom.com

In fact, according to a recent article in The Huffington Post, some of the popular artists in the industry made over $50 million in 2011, which is great.  But when we examine how much of that actually comes from online sales, it does not account for a large amount of income for the artist.  With so many different mediums for consumers to choose from, it seems that most artists are not feeling much love from online sales, particularly music streaming services like Spotify and Rhapsody where the artist profit is less that $.10 per stream in contrast to iTunes where the artist gets just under $7.00 per album download.  Based on these numbers it appears that the digital age can be both a gift and a curse in the artists’ world. 

On one hand, social media and the digital connections allow an artist to connect to their fans in a way like never before.  It allows them to create a community and build a relationship with their fan base that will ultimately translate into sold out concerts and a large number of digital downloads and streams.  Conversely, due to unapproved music track leaks and the lack of profit for artists the digital world can also create challenges for the artist in their pursuit of success and financial profitability.  So what’s an artist to do?

First, accept that the days of large advances and monster record sales are likely a thing of the past and recognize what the digital movement has to offer and work within it to create success.  As reported in another article in The Huffington Post, if artists can work with their management and promotion teams to develop a solid brand and utilize their music as a foundation for touring and other business ventures, this approach can be very profitable.  This is not to say the music takes a back seat, because that is at the core of developing the fan base, selling out concerts and influencing fans to purchase merchandise as well.  Whether we like it or not, this is the formula today’s artist may need to follow when building a successful and lucrative career. 

These are just my thoughts and I would love to hear yours.  Is it fair to ask artists to become a brand and engage in endorsement deals and the like, just to make a living as an artist?

Let me know what you’re thinking.  Until then, do you and creatively mind your business.