In true year-end fashion, looking ahead to the new year can often consume one’s thoughts with the ambitions and resolutions they’d like to achieve in those next 365 days. It is a time for reflection, and a time for looking forward.
So, as a music professional, what should your 2019 goals look like? If you’re having some trouble deciding, here are some suggestions from our Founder and CEO Alex Heiche.
1. Register Your Works
I may sound like a broken record for constantly repeating this advice, but it’s that important. If you’re not following this best practice, you could unknowingly be leaving hundreds or thousands of dollars on the table.
This year, make sure to register all of your songs with the U.S. Copyright Office, SoundExchange, your publisher, the Performing Rights Organization (PRO) that best suits your needs, and all of the entities working to protect your rights and collect royalties on your behalf. You’ll be glad you did.
2. Think in Terms of Streaming
Sure, radio play and selling albums are still important pieces of the music industry, but they’re no longer the whole puzzle. Streaming has established itself as the new king, and savvy creatives are adapting accordingly.
For you, maybe this means focusing on releasing singles that can get strong streaming numbers instead of spending time on a full traditional, storytelling album. Maybe it means greater investment in promoting your works on these platforms.
Either way, musicians must learn to adopt to the new world of streaming, or risk getting left behind.
3. Read up on the MMA
The Music Modernization Act (MMA) passed this year and will have a profound effect on how creatives get paid for the use of their works on streaming services.
This new system will rightly update archaic laws, so it’s vitally important for musicians to understand how the new process will work and take proper steps to ensure they’re set up for success in 2019 and the years to come.
4. Move Beyond Your Comfort Zone
A new year is the perfect chance to explore new opportunities and take risks.
Successful musicians are known for pushing creative boundaries, and we’ve continued to see impressive success from artists who put together interesting collaborations, or crossover into unexpected genres.
Is there a type of music you love, but have always written it off as something you can’t produce? Give this another look in 2019.
Do you have other ideas of resolutions musicians should consider for 2019? Feel free to share in the comments.
To all our friends in the music community, Sound Royalties would like to wish you and your families a happy, healthy and joyous New Year! Cheers to 2019!