Wow. Do you have any idea how much work it is to create not just one, but three music albums, create your own brand, build a website, connect all your content to it, have a booking and payment system, make it look good, user friendly and then promote it and find people who care about it. It's so much work, that most people will give up or wouldn't even try.
Especially, when it comes to music I think these days most people undervalue how much effort and heart artists put into their creations. Music is so easily available on Spotify, Apple music and whatever the other platforms are called. As a consumer it's really convenient, because for a couple of bucks a month you get literally a billion songs to choose from. I get it.
However, as a music creator first of all you have to pay money to upload your music to let's say Spotify. Then, you will get paid per stream. When somebody listens to a song of yours for at least 30 seconds, Spotify will give you an average amount of 0.004$. That's right. You will get less than half a cent per stream. For 1.000 streams you will get 4 $ or for 10.000 streams 40$. I think most people these days don't realize anymore how much 10.000 actually is. If you have 10.000 people at a concert, that's a fucking big concert. On top of that now Spotify is in control what music will be promoted. Unless you already have a big following as an artist, it's very unlikely that Spotify will push an independent artist. All of these platforms are based on trends. Something is trending and this is what's gonna be promoted more. For example, I don't listen to Justin Bieber. I have nothing against his music, but I just don't listen to it. However, when I still had Spotify his music was suggested on my home page all the time. I didn't search for his songs, but the promotional power behind him is what these platforms care about. I also understand that Justin Bieber has been around for a while now and put a lot of hard work in to get where he is. I'm not taking away any of that. But, for a streaming platform it's much easier to promote a guy you have already have heard of. And as a consumer you eat what your being fed. Justin Bieber gets around 70 mil streams every month. First of all look at this number 70.000.000. That's a 7 with 7 zeros. Insane. Also it adds up to 280.000 $/month for Justin. Well the money probably goes to his label and not to him. According to google Spotify made over 1 Billion $ revenue per month in 2022. Most of that money does not go to artists, even though they are the ones creating all the content. Joe Rogan is an exception I guess.
Anyways, I actually don't want to get caught up in numbers here, because creating art is not about money. It's about expressing yourself, it's about connecting to people, pouring your passion and emotions into growing something. When I write a song I never think about how much money this song could make. If I would, I would loose the essence of the song.
Unless the lyrics are actually about
how much money can I make with this song
Everybody in the club sing along
I make a million dollars and a million more
Everybody get you ass on the dance floor
My song so fancy when I drop the verse
I can buy another fuckin' universe
Drop the chorus
shake ya ass
this song 's makin'
tons o' cash
Drop the chorus
shake ya ass
this song 's makin'
tons o' cash
hahaha
Anyways. You see. It's about connecting. Connecting to yourself and others.
And when people really like what you are doing they actually want to help you grow and invest into you. With their time, with their attention, with their help and also with their money. But, loyalty is so much more valuable than money. Loyalty is a strong bond. Money is a short cut over a rusty old bridge.
Let me finish with this. I respect every artist, whether I like their music or not because I respect their intention to create. I respect and appreciate their way of expression. Putting big platforms between the artist and the listeners takes the purity of the art and turns it into money business. For me it is infinitely more valuable to have 1000 loyal JellyFans than 100 Mil streams because loyal fans care about you and the art you create and want to support you to create more.
That's why I will release my music only on www.jellyfishgeorge.com and invite everybody to enjoy listening to it there. It will be available in a few days. All the profit I make, I invest into making more music, creating events, art, concerts and more experiences to share with my loyal JellyFans.
Thanks for checking in guys.
Have a creative day.
Big love
Jelly
Comments