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Innovate Your Way To Music Career Success

by | Mar 7, 2012 | Blog, Career, Music | 7 comments

“A business enterprise has two basic functions: marketing and innovation”

This is my favorite quote from the late, “greatest management thinker of the last century,” Peter Drucker (November 19, 1909 – November 11, 2005). And though you may not know who he was, I’m bringing his quote to you because marketing and innovation should be your two basic functions too.

But You’re a Musician

Yes, I know that all you want to do is play or sing but I also know you want to make money playing and singing so you are officially a business enterprise. Congratulations.

To learn more about Marketing, check out a recent post and get a free copy of my e-book on the subject entitled, How to Get Noticed, Heard and Hired here or on Smashwords.

I want to focus this post on innovation: a subject that I hope you find exciting because…

You’re a Creative!

Yes! Finally an area of business that you were born to do well.

Well, I wish it was that easy. As a creative myself, I’ve found that I can be extremely creative about my art – 1st music, now writing – while struggling to find even one imaginative way to promote what I do. Weird.

But I have found the following tips to help:

Focus

The most valuable step you can take is to focus on your career as a separate entity from you and your art. You are a passionately artistic person who creates breathtaking music. Your career is a business entity that is the way you pay for your food, shelter, needs and wants. It can also do things that you can’t – like “be” a recording on iTunes that makes you money 24/7.

Set Aside Time

Set aside specific times to creativity explore and invent ways to do the business of your career.

Study (steal)

Study other businesses and steal their ideas:

  • Formal: Yes you can actually study businesses. Read books about businesses you admire and/or their founders and CEOs. Read magazines like Fast Company and Inc.
  • Informal: Be aware of the companies you interact with everyday. Sitting in Starbucks? Why? How did they get you there? What do they do well and how? Etc., etc.

If something’s working for another company it can probably be used successfully by you! All you have to do is:

Dare to Be Different

I’ll bet you’re already thinking about what you need to get yourself noticed, heard, and hired.

What’s keeping you from using your idea?

  • Art Noble

    Steve great stuff..

  • http://www.rickandjilda.com/ Rick Watson

    I’m a charter subscriber to Fast Company and it’s an excellent resource for ideas and innovation. 
    Though it’s a “business” magazine, in my mind it goes way beyond because I’ve gotten inspiration for the folks they write about.
    I just found your blog through ASCAP Daily Briefing and started following you on Google + 
    Thanks for the info above.

  • http://stevegrossmanonline.com/ Steve Grossman

    Thanks for reading and commenting Rick. I’m a HUGE fan of Fast Company too (and Inc.) and I recommend it to everyone – cover to cover. It does indeed go way beyond and I always find multiple things that challenge me in every issue. Thanks again and let me know how I can help.

  • http://stevegrossmanonline.com/ Steve Grossman

     Thanks for reading Art, truly appreciated.

  • Pingback: Why Players, Singers, and Songwriters MUST Market Themselves to Succeed in Music | whyifailed.com Blog()

  • http://twitter.com/GoingGirlCrazy Cereal Dater

    http:EricRockMusic.com
    Hear and notice piano rock now.

  • Rob

    I heard you can make money entering contests at moneyolo.com

  • Pingback: Why Players, Singers, and Songwriters MUST Market Themselves to Succeed in Music | Your Success in Music()

  • JackBlair

    People have a misconception about the business press – and business in general.

    I worked as a news assistant for one of the top business publications in the world. It was some of the most fascinating material I’ve ever had the opportunity to explore. Business and economics touch every aspect of human life. Publications like Fast Company, Inc, the Wall Street Journal, etc do not “go beyond” economic life. Business, finance, econ are expansive and diverse – truly art, truly human.