This one will really hurt for some artists. What do we really wish for in an artist as a music company? If we could choose what would we look like perfect to develop?
Good to know is that you never get all perfect.
I spoke to some colleagues around this and it all boiled down to this:
Age, you don't want them to be too young because parents are a pain in the ass. Many times the kid is just a substitute for their own failed careers and usually, they are not familiar with what the industry looks like today and really are a bigger barrier for the kid to move forward. So 18 to 20. Why so young? You calculate it takes 10 years to break an artist. If you take a person that is 30 it will break at 40. Also after the age of 25 people start to have things that keep them back. Things like their own apartment, a partner, mortgage, probably a steady job that takes time. Suddenly the rough introduction tour is not that appealing. of course, you can do it as an older person but the obstacles are not smaller with age.
Good work ethic is important. Mainly that they have a good work ethic in the right areas. Too many either just sat on the sofa waiting for others to get the job done. On the other side, there were some artists running around like headless chicken and swirled into the management world or the record label part. Suddenly they were doing deals and stuff that really didn't work out that was actually the area the record label or management control. The part they should focus on is the fans, A area that very often is forgotten. An artist that worked hard to get new fans and entertain the ones they have was very looked after by the industry people.
Motivation was also an important part. All of the people I spoke to told the same story. In the beginning, all the artist told them that this is what they really are focused on. When it came to the real thing many failed. To take a gig when it was your best friend birthday or on your family vacation proved to often that many things went before their careers. Sometimes even the work as a truck driver was prioritized before important gigs.
Good songs were not that important. You can always buy them or get a good writing team. Then of course if they are able to write good tunes themselfs that is a big plus. But the skills to working with other produceras and writers was more important.
Good live was important, but all thoght that they could be trained and built up.
So this is why the industry look for young talents around 20 that are very motivated. To be 35 with a good song is not any convincing in this game.
Of course, this is what we wish for. Usually never happens. At the same time, I see artists have the same unrealistic dreams around the industry. Suddenly a music company just shovels in money and make you famous in six months and you become filthy rich.
Well, we can always dream :)
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