Okay.. I searched up the words ‘success’ and ‘music’ on Google to try and find a picture for this week’s post (I know, I’m such an independent thinker) and this came up on the first page. This definitely sets me up much better than a music note and a check mark…
The picture above, which is the cover of a book that is out now, presents a few things that I am not that happy about. First of all, it says ‘The ARTIST’S guide”… I know that musicians are often called musical artists, but using that word invalidates the art form in a sense. I know what the purpose of that is .. “Oh, I must be an artist if I’m reading this book…let me figure out how to make my artistry better”. But that’s not what happens underneath the surface. What’s happening here is the disintegration of a word. An artist does not create upon the motive of commercial success.. that is as simple as I can make it. This book is entirely about commercial exposure.
Secondly, this ensures that this is one sure-fire approach to music, when the 2000s has taught us much more than that (points for tying it back to the 2000s!). The Internet has provided so many new avenues for commercial exposure, and whole new ways to experience success. This book cover defines success extremely narrowly and misplaces the definition of ‘artist’. But that’s enough of a rant on that for now…
What defines success? I know that’s a broad question, so let’s just focus in on music. What makes music successful? When I discussed N’Sync, The Beatles, and One Direction 2 weeks ago, would you consider them successful based on their economically-based achievements? I know that selling a million albums is a success, yes. But why are people still want to hear No Strings Attached and not 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’, the top Album of 2003? It’s beyond the numbers…
I believe the answer to this question is closely connected with one of the themes of my blog: nostalgia. Instead of thinking of the songs themselves, what do they remind you of? Perhaps that is what gives music its power. But what makes it have longevity and cultural power? Is that what you define musical success as?