THE NEGLECTED POWER OF THE VILLAGE

In this ever changing world of music it is proving most necessary for independent artists and labels to recognize the importance of the village. The village, as I will use the term in this short blog, is the world’s growing community of independent artists and music enthusiasts inciting a musical revolution.

These mavericks or rebels, as some might characterize their fervor, are beating a new drum and clearing a path of liberality from the conventional and therefore mundane musical renderings most popular today. We all, together, hope for an artistic matrix free from bureaucratic control and laundered musical canvases.

As indie artists and labels we must resist the temptation to thumb our noses at the growing mediums of social networking. We must focus on their benefits and the incredible possibilities they afford us. I agree. They do present challenges for artists of all genres and disciplines which manifest in forms of piracy, etc.  But I believe they are a necessary evil, and they undoubtedly provide the Indies with a glorious means to reach the masses at little to no cost.

Technology in all of its glory and power is not really the focus of this short treatise. Instead, I hope to draw our collective attention to a much more important ideal, leveraging our village. We can, with a little creativity, a bit of hard work, and a lot of focused and purposeful efforts serve the world in a most profound way. We can deliver, directly to the public, the music they want without the interference of a middle man.

I propose that we are neglecting our responsibility to serve humanity with quality and soul gripping music. Much of the neglect is as a result of our commitment to conventionality in our approach to the business of music. It has been done one way for so long we have grown to accept it is the “right” or only way.

We, Indies, have overlooked our greatest and most powerful advantage, the village. In our rush and clamor for the paradise of success we have been neglecting to recognize the thing we as Indies all have in common. We are doing it our way, on our own!

While that may inspire warm feelings of pride, while it may inspire goose bumps it does not serve our objective to sell records too well. One thing remains true. We need each other! Sadly, we have succumbed to the mistake of seeing the public as consumers instead of informed music lovers. Therefore, we have often chosen to pitch to people with which we have not taken the time to develop relationships.

We also have segregated ourselves as Indie artists and labels in the erroneous belief that there is some lack of abundance or of lovers of music willing to spend their hard earned cash on our musical renderings. The moment we adjust in our thinking we will see we hold awesome power in our hands. Our musical destinies do not have to be determined by marketing, promotional budgets, and radio airplay. There is no lack of abundance or opportunities. They are both immeasurable and without bounds.

When we decide to come together and embrace our wonderful and growing community of Indies and music enthusiasts we will create our pot of gold at the end of our multifaceted rainbow in the land of success. It means we should support one another by simply committing to encouraging one another, spreading the word about some new artist or band we’ve come to enjoy, and buy the records that move us. Every opportunity we reject or dismiss to support one of our own community (Indies) is a missed opportunity for us at some future moment. If we would make it our business to contribute to the creation of word-of-mouth epidemics we could all win.

Therefore, I encourage you; even dare you to step out of the lime-light to see the bigger picture of Indie music as the whole. Perhaps, then you will perceive this present opportunity to energize this swelling movement called Indie music.  An investment in someone striking out on their journey of musical independence will be one with incalculable return.

To ensure I will not become a hypocrite of my own proposition, my own message, I, on behalf of Regality Records, have committed to donating some time to spread the word about seven Indie artists this week. I am then going to purchase at least one song I like and enjoy from the artists I select. I simply challenge you to do the same.

We can no longer neglect the power of the village. If we take up the cause I am proposing we will surely begin a movement that will have no end. It will only hold infinite upside leverage.

We are the POWER! The village is us!

 

For music’s sake,

Rashiid K. Coleman

President/CEO, Regality Records, LLC

www.regalityrecords.com