There are many aspiring music artists in Birmingham who are all heading in the right direction of making it big in the foreseeable future. However, there are many implications and challenges which artists currently face in such a competitive and popular industry which has been created today due to rises in technology and music platforms as well as many rising artists due to this.
There have been many occasions of famous artists which have developed their career in music through ways which could be easily duplicated by the 'typical person'. For example, Justing Bieber using YouTube as his platform for major success in the market.
This has been spotted through the public as an easy opportunity for success, resulting in a much more competitive industry as a whole with the global recorded music market growing by 8.1% according to ifpi statistics and 2017 digital revenues increasing by a total of 19.1%.
There are also now more than ever, so many new platforms for the consumption of music which has made it equally a larger more broader market to compete in. Different apps and services for the distribution of music have grew over time with percentages rising more by the year.
Performing rap artist Lady Sanity from Birmingham has been on the music scene for many years trying to break through as a solo performer along side plenty of others around the same region as herself.
"Being a female rap artist as it is is difficult because when people think of rap they stereotypically think of males. So trying to male it as a female has been a massive struggle in my life so far. I don’t think I have necessarily had many serious knock backs because that is to do with your personality and how you bounce back - I just get on with it.
“Female rap artists like Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have been my greatest inspirations and without their music I wouldn’t have found my passion and I hope to do the same for someone else one day! I have a tour which launches on May 27th which I am half excited about but more so nervous because the nerves start to kick in that it’s not going to be a success. I just hope my hard work pays off and I make it to where I'm hoping to be".
Rising star Molly Morgan form Solihull near Birmingham, like many other young aspiring artists has found it extremely difficult to start up her career. She attends a performing college called BIMM (British & Irish Modern Music Institute) in Birmingham and is striving for success.
“ I think it’s so important to set up your career based off what you love because either way you are going to achieve something incredible because it’s what you're passionate about.
“I have had many knock backs from when I started up my own YouTube channel it got people talking - mostly negative comments, not getting in a higher ranking in competitions I have entered - all stuff like this just sets you back and you start to doubt whether this is really the career you should be striving towards. My advice is to just carry on doing what you’re doing because since all that negativity I have had many positive times in the industry. A highlight of mine is performing with my band as well as solo. Doing small gigs can really help your confidence as well as getting your name out there to people who would never of heard of you before.
“I thought BIMM was the best place for me to go because it’s brand new and up and coming like myself so we would compliment each other in our work ethic in a way if that makes any sense? It is the foundations to most of my success so far and has opened up many opportunities for me in terms of venues I have been able to play at, collaborations with other aspiring artists and has even helped me with my confidence issues I had when starting up”.
Indie rock band Pleasure House forming of 4 males Alex, Abbas, James and Jon who also come from Birmingham have too, faced challenges in the industry to make it big and have felt the pressures hitting hard.
“We felt so much pressure particularly as a band because a lot more solo artists tend to make it bigger because they are a lot more easily recognised with there only being one of them.
We found it hard to keep up with other competing bands, yet alone other solo artists in the music world because everyone is striving for the same goal inevitably. You just have to keep thinking is this still making me happy and if it’s not you have to find something else that is going to make you want to keep going.
“That’s why we decided to call it a day as a band and as a team. When part of the team is falling apart - the team is not the same and that’s exactly what happened. My advice to other upcoming bands is that you shouldn't loose focus on what you're doing and chivvying just because “you’re in a competitive industry”. All industries are competitive, there’s always going to be some other person wanting to do that same thing you want to - you just have to do it better”.
This approach to competing against other artists in the field may not always be the best way moving forwards. In a recent Twitter scene with Kanye West and John Legend where they aren’t seeing eye to eye in the competitive industry, it portrays the tension even in bigger more developed stars lives that has carried on throughout their career.
The tweet shows how passionate artists are about striving in the music world and how how they can be tactical with their approach. The tweet supported one artists career on John’s new album however tampered with Kanye’s.
Kanye also tweeted after the Charlamange interview where he was seen in a relaxed state and says he is in a “better place” after stressing out so much about being a popular face in the media. He talks about his career and the struggles he faces with competing in radio, producing music and his connection with his audience.
The struggles in the music industry have been seen to set artists back, especially up and coming ones who are trying to make a career out of what they love doing most. The challenges with competition in the market alongside global artist pressures is a much larger issue than we think and will potentially be at harm to the future music industry.
