Music and business go hand in hand. Nevertheless, many music operators don’t take the time to learn the business side of the music as well as how they have learned the science of making music. In a constantly evolving music industry, independent musicians need to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to administer their careers from a business point of view.International independent artiste, Yared has expressed his bewilderment with what he labels as a ‘serious lack of business knowledge’ in the music industry among his peers.
As a child growing up in the trenches of New Jersey, Yared has not only been an avid student of music but also a diligent student of the business of music. The musician who has amassed a credible catalog to this date has prepared himself for the turbulent music journey by studying the ins and outs of the music business. As a teen who flexed his initial muscles in the music industry by joining a music youth group that played the steel pan, Yared met his first music engineer peer who was essential in introducing him to music production and sparked a fire of intrigue which would evolve into a rabbithole of self education as it relates to the aesthetics and business of music.
“Since I can remember, music has always intrigued me. Maybe it was something about the vibration or the energy I got from listening to it. I always had an interest in the production process as well as the business process. I feel every artist should do their due diligence and attain at least a basic understanding of what a contract is or split sheet etc. Most artists don’t have a BMI or ASCAP or even know what it is, and that’s disturbing. If more upcoming artists gain a basic understanding of the business side, I feel more artists can flourish and go beyond where the music can take them.” Yared said.
During the start of the year there was widespread controversy in the Dancehall community concerning an upcoming artist by the name of Silk Boss and his former manager, Terro Don. According to several reports at the time, Silk Boss had accused Terro Don of allegedly swindling music revenue that the artist was entitled to in some capacity. The story later revealed how Silk Boss was allegedly not receiving his portion of mechanical music earnings as it relates to YouTube, Spotify and other distribution platforms.
Regardless of which side of the fence you end up on in the Silk Boss and Terro Don saga, the predicament that arose from the dispute further highlighted the lack of music business knowledge that existed within the space. The ongoing dispute also exposed how a vulnerable artist could leave themselves open for manipulation or could be taken advantage of, due to their lack of understanding of music as it relates to the business structure, process and formalities.
Following the disputes that transpired, Yared reinforced his beliefs that artists have the responsibility to adequately educate themselves about the industry that supports their livelihoods.
“Understanding the business of music is key for every artist. Everyone is not your friend and everyone is not looking out for your best interest. In this industry you will quickly notice that you will have the good, the bad and the ugly.” Yared told HipHopSince1987
According to Yared, he has learned from many musicians, producers, engineers and industry insiders throughout his music career thus far while utilizing the knowledge base that the internet has to offer. He agrees that as with most things in life, having business knowledge wont guarantee success or give you instant gratification. What it will do however, is allow you to maneuver your way in the industry better and choose the better opportunities to progress your music career.
“Music in itself is a form of art, a combination of sound vibration and harmony with expressions of emotions. See, we understand that by studying the science of music, so if we take the same scientific approach to the business side of music, we can understand royalties, distribution, mechanical earnings, streaming revenue, split sheets, performance earnings, contracts etc. Knowledge is power and it’s everywhere. As an independent artist in this information age, the internet should be your best friend.” Yared elaborated.
© 2022, Logan. All rights reserved.
