Stop Bitching and Go To The New Music Seminar 2010

There's an awful lot of naysayers complaining and commenting about the state of the music business, mostly lamenting about either how things are worse than the past or how labels, promoters, artists, management, venues just don't "get it" and everyone is doomed to failure, mediocrity, and irrelevance.  This summer it has been particularly acute.  Every time a show is not sold out or is cancelled guys like Bob Lefsetz (who I generally like to read) can't wait to jump on it to provide evidence that they were "right".  Times of uncertainly and upheaval are the golden moments for two classes of people - the complainers and the opportunists.

Complainers thrive when things are in flux or decline. They love to bitch and moan and talk about the old days.  Some even profit off it.  But they rarely do anything about where things are going mostly because they're too established in the status quo, too much to lose, feel a sense of entitlement, or maybe they're just too tired and cranky.

Opportunists look at things they way they are and make things happen.  But they come in two camps - parasites and hosts.   Parasites live off the changing conditions and preach fear and doom.  Hosts create things and strive to truly make things better for themselves and others.

I bring this up because we're going out to the New Music Seminar in NYC next week.  And what a great message it has for Opportunists:

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There are millions of artists with MySpace pages. How can you become one of the few hundred each year that rise from the obscurity zone to become successful?

The old record business is over. Album sales are down 60% since 2000, radio is breaking less new music than ever in history. Record companies are signing fewer and fewer new artists and artist development budgets continue to shrink.

A new music business is rising from its ashes.

We are entering the greatest era of opportunity in history.

You can take advantage of this opportunity if you know the secrets.

In three days at the New Music Seminar you will learn:

1. The secret to leaving your millions of competitors in the dust
2. How to turn your music dreams into reality
3. A whole new way to see the music business that will give you opportunities you never knew existed
4. Simple strategies to build your touring business
5. The newest technologies and techniques to market yourself and manage your business

I don't know if anyone can predict how the Great Digital Music Upheaval will play out.  But there always be a great deal of human value placed on music and music culture in all forms.  Those who understand this, look forward, and make failure pay are the folks I'll bet on.  Lots of those people will be in NYC next week, will you?