In the digital age, aspiring musicians often see Spotify as the holy grail of music distribution. It's the world's most popular music streaming platform, boasting millions of users and an extensive library of songs. Many up-and-coming artists believe that by releasing their music exclusively on Spotify, they can quickly catapult their careers to stardom. However, the reality is far more complex. While Spotify can be a valuable tool for musicians, relying solely on this platform to kickstart your band's career is a risky strategy for several reasons.

1. Oversaturation of the Market:
One of the most significant challenges artists face on Spotify is the intense competition. With upwards of a hundred thousand new songs uploaded daily, it's challenging to stand out. A band might release an amazing track, but it can easily get lost in the vast sea of music. To succeed, musicians need more than just great music they need a well-thought-out marketing strategy that extends beyond Spotify.

2. Limited Income from Streaming:
While Spotify provides exposure, it often yields limited income, especially for smaller, independent bands. The platform's payout rates per stream are notoriously low, and with fierce competition among the streaming platforms, user subscription fees will remain low for the foreseeable future which will keep payouts to musicians at a low level. Relying solely on Spotify for income can make it challenging to sustain a music career, invest in equipment, or finance future projects.

3. Diversification is Key:
Focusing exclusively on Spotify ignores the power of diversification in the music industry. Successful artists understand that they must utilize multiple platforms and revenue streams. This includes performing live, selling merchandise, and engaging with fans on social media. Building a holistic brand and presence across various channels is crucial for long-term success.

4. The Importance of Live Shows:
Live performances remain the most vital component of a musician's career. While streaming platforms provide a global audience, nothing beats the connection forged at a live concert. Touring allows bands to interact with fans, build a dedicated following, and generate revenue from ticket sales, merchandising, and other associated activities.

5. Building a Fanbase:
To create a lasting career, it's essential to build a dedicated LIVE fanbase that goes beyond passive Spotify listeners. Interacting with fans at concerts, engaging on social media, and nurturing a community of supporters are all part of this process. A strong LIVE fanbase is the backbone of a band's success, leading to long-term sustainability.

6. The Role of Record Labels:
For many emerging artists and bands that have built their own LIVE fanbase, working with a record label can provide the resources, guidance, and industry connections that are often hard to come by when you are ready to take things to the next level. Labels can assist with promotion, distribution, and funding, helping to boost a band's career in ways that Spotify alone cannot.

In conclusion, while Spotify is undoubtedly a valuable tool for musicians, relying solely on it is not a recipe for success. The music industry is multifaceted, and a successful career in music requires a multifaceted approach. Bands should consider diversifying their revenue streams, focusing on building a LIVE fanbase by engaging in live performances. Furthermore, as the next step, the support of a record label can provide opportunities that are hard to achieve independently. By recognizing the limitations of Spotify and embracing a more comprehensive strategy, emerging bands can increase their chances of achieving their musical dreams and sustaining a long and prosperous career.

The Emergenza Final at the Taubertal Festival was a vibrant musical spectacle that transcended borders and celebrated independent talent from around the world. Eight bands from different corners of Europe and Asia, each bringing their unique sound to the stage, transformed Taubertal into a melting pot of musical diversity. The highlight of the weekend was the sensational victory of TRAinnovation from Japan, whose performance left an indelible mark on the audience.

The Rock Boy, FR: The final kicked off with The Rock Boy from France, delivering a powerful dose of rock 'n' roll. Their energetic performance set the tone for the night, with catchy riffs and dynamic stage presence that got the crowd on their feet.

Afternoon Astronauts, FI: Hailing from Finland, Afternoon Astronauts took the audience on a cosmic journey with their powerful glam rock sounds. Their melodies and atmospheres created a captivating sonic experience that left a lasting impression.

Grell, DE: Germany's own Grell brought a heavy dose of gritty rock to the stage. Their raw and passionate performance resonated with the rock aficionados in the audience, and their charismatic lead singer commanded attention throughout their set.

Indra, IT: Italy's Indra introduced a touch of Mediterranean flair with their blend of rock and pop. Their infectious melodies and charismatic frontwoman won over the crowd, creating a vibrant atmosphere that had everyone dancing.

Oscar Kusko, SE: Sweden's Oscar Kusko brought his soulful and heartfelt indie tunes to the stage. His emotionally charged performance resonated deeply with the audience, providing a soulful interlude in the midst of the rock-centric lineup.

Catch The Fox, NO: Norway's Catch The Fox injected a dose of high-energy pop into the mix. Their catchy hooks and infectious beats had the crowd singing along and dancing throughout their set, creating an electric atmosphere.

Wojtek, DK: Denmark's Wojtek delivered a sonic assault of heavy rock and metal. Their thunderous riffs and headbanging performance shook Taubertal, showcasing their undeniable prowess in the genre.

The culmination of the final was the crowning of the Emergenza champion, TRAinnovation from Japan. Their performance was nothing short of a revelation, combining intricate instrumentals, electrifying energy, and an otherworldly stage presence. TRAinnovation's fusion of traditional music and electronic elements created a sonic landscape that transported the audience to another dimension. Their victory was well-deserved and marked a significant moment in the event, showcasing the global reach and appeal of Emergenza.

The Emergenza Final at Taubertal was a testament to the power of music to unite and inspire. It celebrated the rich tapestry of musical genres and talents from around the world, and TRAinnovation's win was a shining example of the event's mission to elevate independent artists onto the global stage. The final was a musical journey that left everyone in attendance eagerly anticipating the next wave of emerging talent.

At the outset, you are going to do everything yourself whether you are in a band or alone as an artist, but when the non-music activities reach a level where the workload supersedes the time you spend on the music then it’s a good idea to get a manager. A manager is a person who oversees activities that are relevant to move your music further and expanding the business surrounding your band. Still, the manager usually is not involved in the creation of your music. If things really take off, and a whole business evolves around your music, you might even need a business manager who oversees all business-related issues while the manager focuses on you the artist and the elements of how to improve your career.

After all, it’s worth recognizing that being in a band or being an artist eventually will turn into a business if you want to move from just having fun playing music to taking your music career to a more serious and focused level. You might feel you want to control every little detail but if you are touring, writing new music, recording in the studio, and collaborating with other artists then your calendar will quickly fill up, and to keep your focus you will need someone from the outside who takes care of all the practical stuff regarding your music, your brand, and your career.

You will need to and want to work very closely with your manager. This implies the need for good personal chemistry between you and the manager. The manager is acting on behalf of you concerning the world around you, and therefore you want it to be someone you feel comfortable with handing over that responsibility to. For this reason, some bands choose the easy way forward and ask a friend or family member to become their manager. Still, while this might work well at the outset because of the already-established relationship, it might turn out to be the wrong choice further down the road when more complex issues or even conflicts or problems need to be handled. You don’t get a manager so you can fire him or her, but you will want it to be an external person so if things heat up you will be able to choose the best way going forward even if it means changing management.

Management comes in different forms. Some managers are independent sole contractors while at the other end, some music companies offer management services to artists. These companies might offer other music career-related services at the same time. This could be a record label or booking agency that provides management to the artists on their roster.

While having a manager is not a guarantee that you will succeed in your music career, there is a strong consensus that when your activities reach a level where you don’t have time to focus on creating music, then having a manager can step in and take that workload off your shoulders. In another article, we will focus more on the timing of when you should get a manager.

In conclusion, having a manager is crucial when you want to have a career in music and especially when your popularity requires someone to step in and handle the practicalities around you. It’s no secret either that having this extra buffer layer between you and the rest of the world can not only create a mystique and unreachableness but it can be beneficial at times when you need to focus, and the phone is not ringing off the hook but someone will handle this for you.

Wanting to create and play music is driven by impulse and feelings. The whole foundation of music, and art in general, is the human longing to express oneself. This is why music can affect so many people, which in turn can enable you to build a following around you and your music.

Most musicians don’t have any plans when they start playing music. They simply do it because they feel they have to. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, it will not help kick-start a career, which is something much more based on facts and numbers than emotions.

When you have reached beyond the first initial rehearsals and the excitement of doing something new, there will come a time when it makes sense to sit down and formulate some concrete goals on which to base your future in music.

If you are studying you might see that as your future profession, and you want to play music as a thing for fun for as long as it will be possible. Maybe you want music to be a second income besides having a regular day job, or maybe you are confident and determined to make music your main occupation. Another scenario would be music starting out as your hobby and slowly turning into a full-time job.

No matter what your situation and perspective on the future, now is the time, to be honest, and write down your goals in order to make the most of the time you spent with music in your life.

If you are in a band you will need each member of the group to formulate his or her goals and then base the overall goals of the band with respect to those individual goals. Failing to do so could turn out to be the reason why your band will split up, result in unproductive writing sessions, or even mistrust and discontent among the members of the band.

Before you go on to formulate the main goals for your band or project it is extremely important that you seek to route out any misunderstandings, misconceptions, and oppositely directed intentions. This can be extra challenging if you are a solo artist and you don’t have the opportunity to talk with your bandmates, so try to be honest with yourself, even if it can be hard.

A couple of examples of what to look out for:
Oppositely directed intentions: One member of an otherwise ambitious band only wants to play music for fun whereas the others want to have a go at kickstarting a career. This is often not spotted at first because playing music is all about the fun. Only when it’s time to invest real time and money in the project it will become obvious who will be holding back the rest of the group. At that point, you might even have spent a great deal of effort which can feel wasted, so it’s better to have a talk about this upfront.

Misconceptions: You might know what a manager is and what a manager should do but you have the wrong idea of when you should get a manager and when you are not ready to have a manager. The classic example of this misconception is the idea that all I need is a manager and then I will be on track to success. If you haven’t already put in the work and reached a certain level, so that you have got something to show for, or if you are not willing to work twice as hard as a manager, then you are expecting someone to do your work for you. A manager is there to support your work when there is more work than you can handle - not to do your work. Don’t get a manager too early and not until there is actually something to manage.

Misunderstanding: There is nothing wrong with not knowing everything from the get-go, but you can’t make up your own rules and decide that doing A-B-C will lead you to a certain result. So if you are a band that only wants to play in pubs and become established in the pubs’ circuit then that’s fine, but you can’t decide that just by playing in pubs you will automatically become an international star. If you are getting something wrong you will probably meet someone who will tell you the truth, so take note of that and correct your misunderstanding of the matter. This doesn’t mean you can’t be original and do your thing musically speaking but be open to learning how different parts of the music business work.

So now that you have routed out any negative or counter-productive thinking in your band or project it is time to go ahead and set your goals.

Start out by agreeing on the purpose of your project. Is the goal of your project to achieve worldwide fame, to be famous in the local area, to have fun and play a lot of fantastic concerts and party with all the people you know or is there another short one-sentence description of what the purpose of the project should be? You can think of the purpose as the WHY of your project. Why are we embarking on this journey together?

When you have a clear idea of the purpose then it is a lot easier to articulate the ambitions of your project. If you chose a purpose to strive for a career in music in your home country then you can write down your ambitions and set a more concrete overall goal. For instance, you want to go on tour each spring and autumn with summer festivals in between. Your ambition might be to write music continuously with a number of songs released yearly and one album released every second year. The ambitions are the WHAT you want to achieve.

Finally, you will need a more detailed breakdown of the HOW. This is where you have to be specific about how you can achieve the WHAT of your ambitions. This will also include the time frame for achieving each step of the process. One of the main topics you will need to focus on is building a live fanbase. This is what will help you to increase the number of concerts and the size of the concerts to achieve the goals you are looking for in terms of income. No online tool or manager can do this for you, as they should be seen as tools and helpers, so you will need to dig in and start doing the work that’s required to get off the ground. In some of the upcoming articles, we will discuss many of the topics you will need to consider when you map out the time frame and steps you need to take to achieve your dreams.

The music industry is constantly evolving, and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends and developments. That's why we're excited to announce a new series of articles called Knowledge Tuesday that will provide insights into the music business on Tuesdays.

Emergenza Festival has existed for more than 30 years. In that period we have seen firsthand how bands and artists have taken their music and career to the next level, and it therefore seemed natural for us to share our knowledge and experiences on a range of topics, including:

- How to break into the music industry
- The role of record labels in today's music landscape
- The rise of streaming and its impact on the industry
- The role of live concerts in promoting and building a successful music career
- The importance of networking and building relationships in the music business

Each article will contain valuable information and advice for those looking to reach the next level and stay up-to-date on the latest developments. We're committed to providing high-quality content that will help our readers succeed in the competitive world of music, and if you sign up to participate in the Emergenza Festival we will give you a chance to apply this knowledge in real life.

We'll be publishing the first article in our series next week, so be sure to check back for regular updates. In the meantime, follow us on social media. We look forward to sharing our insights with you.