The Danger Of A Music Career Run by Drive Without Purpose

by Cari Cole

So Lady Gaga said that what Rebecca Black did was “brilliant” – really? If you haven’t heard – Ms. Black posted her song “Friday” on Youtube, got 6 million views and landed a deal with Universal Records – and she sucks. Unfortunately for Rebecca Black, “Friday” hasn’t gone viral because it’s great – it’s gone viral because the lyrics are laughably bad. Metro Vancouver called it “the world’s worst song.” I know that’s not the music career you want!

Hmnnn…

So.. it’s not her songwriting or singing talent that got her there – it was her moxie. She used the system – created a platform and got attention – but to what end?

And – laughs of all laughs — Universal actually signed her? Clearly a sign the record industry is out for money, not artistry – and is a dying model for artists.

Will she survive? Is there any substance behind the facade? One would guess not.. but who knows? If she (and her team) are smart enough to get that far, it will be none-the-less interesting to see what comes of it. Now that she has our attention, I hope she gets some serious vocal lessons (and songwriting co-writes) – the auto-tune is out of control – really!

I have written about creating a platform to get your music out there – ideas for creating exposure – it’s within your control — and, if you’ve got talent (or moxie), you know that if you can just reach the masses, you’ve got a shot at the big time …

Clearly!

That’s exactly why I wanted to take this moment to talk about purpose — how important it is to have purpose behind your drive and how without it, you could be swimming in dangerous waters.

Webster says “purpose” is

1. Reason for existence

2. Determination

3. To design; to determine
Purpose is knowing why you are (reason for existence), what you want to say (to design) and what you want to give (to determine) – even the legacy you want to leave in your trail. It’s about having your own voice, your own opinion – and changing the world or the desire to leave the world a better place because you and your music are in it – period.

It’s what every great star has and without it, again I say – you’re swimming in dangerous waters.

Drive without purpose is like going shopping with an unlimited budget and not knowing what style you want. You end up throwing money at stuff you don’t even really want and looking like everyone else out there. You’ll melt into the sea of artists out there trying to be heard and never find who you really are.

You’ve probably heard it from some industry dude or you’ve watched American Idol so many times — and you know what they mean when they say “you don’t know who you are as an artist yet” — you have a sense of what that might be for you — but you’re not completely sure?

You know that given the chance you can shine, but what’s the secret ingredient that will take you all the way?

Yesterday one of my darling students, who is so uber talented, said to me that she’d do anything to make it – she’d just sing whatever “they” wanted her to sing and once she was famous, she’d do what she wanted to do..

You’d be surprised how common that perspective is.

But — nope..

That’s not how the cookie crumbles in the music biz.

Two things were wrong with what she said (bless her heart, she’s only 16) —

1) You won’t get any attention at all unless you have a clearly defined identity as an artist. The industry sees tons of talent without it — they are not going to create it for you. The artists that are successful have that down.

2) Once you get major promotion and exposure, you just can’t all of a sudden jump stream and create a different sound – you’ll lose your audience and your career.

I see two sides of the coin every day –

1) Artists who are so talented that it’s freakin’ scary — but they are so wrapped up in their artistry that they don’t make the connections they need to make their careers happen… and don’t even have a mailing list set up right on their sites…

Or

2) Singers or bands who are completely dedicated and driven but without purpose or real artistry – dangerous for them.

As an artist – you have the ability to change lives – you are a leader – so lead.

And.. the conundrum is – if it’s getting easier to get attention via media — i.e. Rebecca Black and the Bieber.. what will YOU do with it if you are able to grab it?