Camaron Ochs - Official Site

I had a Q & A with writer Sheryl Nance-Nash the other morning for an article she's writing about 'how songwriters make money'. After laughing out loud (so many jokes, so little time), we started discussing the topic seriously and I actually had quite a bit of knowledge to impart. Sure I fall closer to the left on the "Starving Artist------Lady Gaga" continuum, and sure my first cd isn't even 5 months old, but there I was, dishing out info on music licensing, social networking strategies and corporate partners.

It may come as a shock that roughly 75% of a career in music has absolutely nothing to do with music. Ok, I made that percentage up, but a seriously enormous amount of time is spent on finances, promotion, distribution, booking, networking... *ugh, the business side of music is so un-romantic. There have definitely been times I have naively hoped for a 360 deal with a major label that would handle all of that stuff.

The trouble is, with the current state of the music industry, nobody knows how to "handle all of that stuff" anymore. The old methods are no longer successful or profitable. The music industry has gone all topsy-turvy. For example: The NPR music website is now a "major player in the indie rock scene" (whaa?) while the world's fourth largest record company, EMI, couldn't afford it's own Grammy Party this year.

Already successful musicians like Thom Yorke of Radiohead call the whole industry a "Sinking Ship".

Typical creative type, to think we are the only ones suffering. The whole world is changing. It's the Digital Revolution yo (which means much more than the miniaturization of objects). Here is our opportunity for creativity. It's very much an artistic endeavor, to move forward where there is no set path. Like modern day explorers, we are.

So, how do songwriters make money? There are endless possibilities. The only generalizable advice is: 1) become amazing at what you do, and 2) get a business partner (:high five: Jason Shafton).

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