Written by: James Turner
Behind an industry that seems to be thriving, many young musicians struggle to navigate their way to success.
For many young musicians, the world of music is confusing to navigate. It’s a world where you start with nothing but a dream and you have to somehow turn that dream into a reality.
Our biggest obstacle has definitely been exposure.
It’s no secret that music is tough. Alongside the endless hours of practice and lessons, it can be hard to get your talents seen by others. Whilst it may seem like online streaming would make this easier, sadly it rarely does. The nature of online streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music makes it incredibly hard for small artists to get seen so when a young and budding musician releases their music into the world, it is often heard by no one.
It can be incredibly disheartening for young musicians when they spend weeks or even months curating their work just for no one to notice. But why is this the case on streaming platforms?
After speaking to Suite Mentale, a newly formed band from the South of England, they believe that their “biggest obstacle has definitely been exposure”. This is just a universal challenge for small artists who end up being pushed beneath a mountain of larger artists who continue to have their music pushed to more and more people.
Another huge obstacle for young musicians is the cost of music. Many young musicians are balancing college, music and potentially a part time job. This leaves them little time to work and earn money. This means that it can be incredibly hard to afford the necessities for producing and performing music like hiring out studios, getting professional equipment and hiring venues to play live. This is also where streaming platforms continue to play a role. Even if a small artist does well on streaming platforms and gets 10,000 streams on their song, this would only equate to £30 on Spotify.
While there are schemes to help young musicians succeed, they are often underfunded or run by charities so they don’t provide a constant and reliable stream of income. For example, the Young Sounds UK’s Thrive program receives two thirds of its funding from trust and donations which is fantastic, but what happens if these generous individuals lose interest or begin to question how effective it is? It won’t be long before these schemes become redundant and we are back where we started.
So what can be done to support vital industry?
First of all, local venues should act as a hub for local musicians to perform. These musicians shouldn’t have to rent the venue and it should act as a chance for them to play in front of an audience and promote their music. By giving these young musicians a chance to perform, you can allow them to develop their skills and improve their craft. Small opportunities like this do musicians a world of good and can really boost their skills and talents.
Another way that young musicians could be supported is through their colleges or schools. Their schools could set up newsletters which highlight the works of musicians at the school. Schools should do their best to promote their students’ talents and work. Schools should be a space where talents thrive and blossom. They should be the places where young musicians can get a chance to practice and be supported.
Finally, what can we do?
Well first of all, we need to be more willing to try something new. If there is a small band playing nearby who you’ve never heard of, go and see them. If you see a band promoting their music online, give it a listen. There is so much talent that is wasted because people just aren’t willing to try something new. This approach has worked as well in the past. For example, one of England’s most iconic rock bands, Joy Division, only caught the eyes of the mainstream media after Tony Wilson (the presenter for Granada Television at the time) asked the band to perform on his show. After this performance, the band went on to release one of the most infamous punk albums ever made and they rose to stardom. This just goes to show how far some bands can go when you give them a chance.
Music is the biggest art form in the world right now, but its future isn’t looking bright. We’re heading towards a future where large music corporations can pump out AI-generated songs that lack any human touch or talent. So it is more vital now than ever before to make sure that we value talent and embrace the hard work of young musicians.
