Sex & the Indie Artist?…

This is a question you must ask yourself as an indie musician. Why?, you may ask. Simply because for most of you this option will be opened to you at some time throughout your careers. You see, there is not only the form you most commonly think of today–those video vixens prancing around in bikinis, if even that much, but today even you as an artist may be asked to join in on the sex sells action. I know, I know, sex and the music industry have long been two best friends…however, have sex and the indie music industry always been this tight?

I think not! Simply because in the past there was no Myspace, YouTube, and other things like blogs or podcasts which you could easily self publish and show before possibly millions of internet viewers (or webcams and other digital recording devices). Its never been this easy to make it big going this route right? Wrong! The ideas and even examples of the bands that utilize this tactic are definitely out there. There have been bands that have catapulted themselves to the top of the mountain using this on the very places and sites I’ve listed above, but my question to you is this…Where are they now? (If you’ve even heard of them yourselves).

That’s right, you see there are two kinds of making it in the industry–the getting signed kind (usually followed by shelved or numerous flops before becoming unsigned) and the actual making it (which usually is based off of your hard work, networking and developed talents). Which would you like to have? I have to be honest, for most acts there is still only a 3-5 year pocket of time that they can hope to make their million dollar jack pot dreams come true, but at least going beyond selling just sex, you’ll have this window. Think about it, how many acts have broken with a highly sexual–degrading to women–type of club hit/video in just the past five years? Now tell me how many are still around?

These bands fell into the music business trap. Making hot n’ sexy music and videos that catapulted them above the rest in a short matter of time with songs that, yes were hits, but weren’t necessarily what you’d need to base a career off of. You think the record executives by now know what these artists and tracks look and sound like? You betcha! In reality the music business is simply an industry comprised with a few repeat big moneymakers and many more quick bucks for the record labels. They know that big careers aren’t necessarily going to be launched off of the latest version of the drop it-shake it-bend it over girl hits (okay so maybe Cash Money was the exception here, but what about Sisqo’s single The Thong Song?).

The public has its fun, the record label makes its quick cash, probably didn’t put to much into the artists themselves knowing they’d fizzle out sooner than later, and you as the artist are left there to die with just recent memories. I know it’s easier than the tried and true way in terms of getting buzz and it’s also maybe cheaper than putting together those more creative ideas as to how you can get attention today, but consider the consequences. Not only will you be labeled as that sort of artist, but you’ll find yourself forced to having to try and top your past successes, which could easily make you end up some place you never thought or imagined your career would become. Rather than being that most respected top caliber star, you could easily find yourself being yesterday’s news…and today’s newest joke.

~ by bmarcel on July 15, 2007.