This is why i love to shop at vinyl shops and dig older records. No algorithm that drives me, i just look for good labels, a dope sleeve or take a gamble with whatever title looks interesting. You find the best stuff really and the vibe there is always great with fellow musiclovers and passionate likeminded people who respect the older craft and where music came from
1 month ago (edited)
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Even though I have never produced any music, I have felt this issue for quite some time now. It is getting harder and harder to find high quality music through the internet, especially since these shitty tiktok music trends have started to boom. It feels like 90% of new music does not have an own theme/ idea. My personal house music playlist is full of small artists who stayed true to their vision. Everytime I listen to it, I am impressed with the uniqueness and extremely thought out rhythms and melodies. The kind of music you cannot listen to without getting excited and happy. My utmost respect goes out to all the small artists who can produce such life enhancing music! Even though they might not reach the numbers they deserve, they are responsible for huge amounts of happiness. Maybe they aren't rich in money but for sure in good karma! If you read all my blabbering, thanks, and have a nice day everyone!
1 month ago
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Excellent post. I'm looking at some CDs on my desk and all I can think about is: "How music changes through the years".
1 month ago
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I enjoy supporting artists I like via bandcamp, I save releases and always make sure to buy on bandcamp Fridays. Sometimes I pay more than their asking price, I love that I'm in control. I will still mostly use streaming for everyday listening
1 month ago
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The old fashioned answer: an artist is doing it for the sake of art, with self expression and esthetic as the primary goal. If you plan to live from your art with financial income, you're still an artist, but also an entrepreneur. So you have to analyze the market and adapt. I prefer the first, even if it means having less time and resources for the art. You're less professional and your art is probably "objectively" worse, but it's simply the perfect creative valve in life. You're having fun and there is no serious pressure, so you can freely experiment. You don't have to compromise, which is essential for authenticity and the ideal of art.
1 month ago
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soo much music is out there, I love bandcamp for finding new things and supporting artists, the sea of music will get bigger but we'll still find our own gems I think. shoutout to all the DJs and musicians that play great music too and put us on to new things, my favorite radio stations have been HKCR and soma fm (: and youtube is the best for casual listening and playlists imo, so many hidden gems all throughout here that don't get removed like how spotify does
1 month ago
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Very interesting take. If a song is too popular or mainstream i refuse to listen except the classics of the past they get a pass
1 month ago | 1
I think we should all just be grateful that so many artists are eager to create new music for us to dig through, regardless of how they choose to release them. You have to move with the times and keep up with a competitive market if you’re trying to make producing music your livelihood. So I don’t blame them, however there’s something beautiful about an artist who produces for the love of the game with no financial incentive because one day you end up copping one of their limited releases in your local record shop and get to play that secret weapon out potentially inspiring the next wave of DJs and producers.
1 month ago
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Staying true to what you want to create definitely is the way for me but it might be a luxury most of the time of that's your income.
1 month ago | 1
wrt electronic music, things began to change in the 10's. The music itself became less important than attending a festival, especially the "right" festival with the "right" aesthetic, or having an exclusive vinyl-only release. I think of record labels like L.I.E.S., Giegling or 1080p among others. Sure, they released good music - but somewhere along the line music stopped being the point. When label bosses started to gain traction simply for being outspoken, I could see what was happening. Now I think the "artist" and the "influencer" are inseparable. There are no longer popular genres, just popular personalities instead. It's freeing in some ways - you could make any type of music now - but retaining an audience is dependant on using social media as a window into your life, not just your music. People want to be invited into your relationships & activities, hear your opinions on all matters, roil in your personal drama and condemn/esteem you and those around you as worthy and unworthy. But how do you reconcile that with something that used to be an underground secret life?
1 month ago
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Let's discuss solutions for this. Firstly, I cannot thank you enough for this post. It's a much needed discussion as the reality of musicians and composers is mostly based in a unsustainable model regarding royalties, live gigs and hard-copy sales. As a musician and producer, I stay true to my own thing, and I don't consume sh*t platforms like sp0tify, just as much as I never eat mcdonalds. Nearly every artist breaks even any investment (when things turn out ok) and the same happens even with independent promoters. Most people I know in the music scene do it as passion projects and any reasonable accountant would jump right out at first sight. Now, how to solve this? Let's discuss solutions. The digital promotion: if you don't play the tiktok bro's game and tap in the mainstream, actually, it's fine. Digital marketing like tiktok will never get you anywhere remotely interesting, unless your aim is to pretend being a lame EDM dj, but I don't think anyone subscribing your channel is looking for that. I'm seeing a growing number of artists reaching out locally, face to face in clubs and independent venues, joining collectives and forming new ones. Never underestimate the number of people out there who think they're alone in this. New collectives can grow beautifully fast in the music scene. Secondly: new platforms like Indify. Let's see how this pans out because we need new revenue models made by artists for artists. And lastly, always remember that in the light of this mad ravaging, war-mongering, inhumane 21th century profiteering alienation that we have to deal with, making music and art is a form of resistance. Music that stays true to it's instinct is a form if resistance to all this destructive alienation. We may be underdogs, but we are fighting the good fight, never forget that. Don't forget you're precious and be kind to people and yourself. Help the artists you love to grow in every way possible.
1 month ago
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Slav
The music industry has always been a reflection of technological and cultural evolution. In 2024/2025, the landscape of music releases, particularly in the realm of electronic music, is undergoing a shift. Gone are the days when artists relied solely on record labels and physical albums to reach their audience.
Today, the process of releasing music is a multifaceted, data-driven, and trend based. But with this newfound freedom comes a host of challenges and questions.
What does it mean to be an artist in an oversaturated, algorithm-driven world? How do you stand out? And most importantly, how do you maintain authenticity in an industry increasingly shaped by technology and trends?
Let's dive deep into how electronic music artists release their music in 2024/2025 specifically:
- Streaming Platforms is at humongous 65%
(35% Spotify, 20% Apple Music and 10% the rest)
- Social Media and Short-Form Platforms (20%), Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have become essential for releasing music. Artists often debut tracks or snippets on these platforms to generate buzz.
- Direct-to-Fan Platforms (10%). Artists increasingly use platforms like Patreon, Bandcamp, and their own websites to release music directly to fans. This method allows for greater control and higher revenue share.
- Physical and Limited Editions (5%) Vinyl, cassettes, and USB drives with exclusive content are still popular among collectors and dedicated fans. This is especially true in the electronic music scene, where limited-edition releases are highly valued.
Nowadays, around 42% of the releases are singles, 28% goes for EPs and mini albums, while 19% accounts for full-length albums, with the remaining 11% reserved for collabs and remixes.
Now let's take a look at the revenue streams:
- Streaming Royalties (40%)
- Live performances (24%)
- Merch and Physical Sales (16%)
- Direct to fans sales (12%)
- Sync Licensing, brand deals (7%)
As the music industry evolves, one question looms large what does it mean to be an artist in this new landscape? Is it about chasing algorithms and viral trends, or is it about staying true to your vision, even if it means reaching a smaller audience? The answer, perhaps, lies in finding a balance between the two. What do you think?
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 209