Summary
- I am a musician who cares more about the sound of my music than the lyrics.
- I have realized that many listeners want to connect with the lyrics and the message behind my music.
- I have had to prioritize the lyrics and vocals in my marketing, even though I don’t want to.
- I see this as a compromise and a necessary evil to share my music with the world.
As a musician, I’ve always been fixated on the sound of my music rather than the lyrics. While lyrics can add a little something extra to a song, they’ve never been the deciding factor for me. To be honest, I often can’t even decipher the lyrics to most of the music I listen to, but I still need them there because they contribute to the overall composition. In fact, there are certain vocal styles that can completely ruin a song for me, no matter how great the lyrics may be. For me, the vocals are an integral part of the sound, separate from the lyrics themselves. I care more about how the words fit with the music and the flow of the song than the words themselves.
But as I’ve begun to market my music, I’ve realized that not everyone shares my perspective. People want to know what the song is about, and they want to feel a connection with the message behind the music. And as much as it pains me to admit it, I’ve had to start giving more importance to the lyrics and vocal elements in my marketing efforts.
Honestly, it’s not easy. I don’t want to have to ask people to care about my lyrics more than the music itself. I don’t want to have to pretend that the words I sing are more important than the sounds that I create. But if I want to connect with my audience, I have to give them what they want.
Marketing music is all about knowing your audience and finding a way to connect with them. And while I may not personally care about the lyrics as much as some of my listeners do, I have to acknowledge that they are an important part of the music experience for many people. So, I’ve had to find a way to balance the instrumental elements of my music with the lyrics and vocals to create a complete and fulfilling musical experience.
It’s definitely been a challenge, but I’ve come to accept that compromise is just part of the process of sharing my music with the world. I’ll still prioritize the sound of my music, but I’ve learned that I can’t completely disregard the lyrics when it comes to marketing. It’s just a necessary step that I have to take if I want people to hear my music.
As much as it bothers me, marketing music is not just about my personal preferences. So, alright, I’ll give in and emphasize the lyrics more than I originally planned. But let it be known, I’m doing it out of pure spite. I put just as much effort into the lyrics as I do into the music, but I never intended for them to overshadow the other elements. Yet, here we are. It’s frustrating that I have to compromise my artistic vision just to meet market demands. But, I’ll do it, even if it’s just to prove a point. In the end, if it means getting my music out there and connecting with an audience, then I’ll play the game.
Photo by Steven Erixon on Unsplash
Full disclosure: I wrote this post with the help of ChatGPT. ChatGPT helps me flesh out ideas and deliver them in the clearest way possible all in a shorter amount of time. Having said that, I remain fully responsible for what has been written and the specific ways that they have been expressed in this article. I strongly discourage the use of ChatGPT in school or in any other formal or academic contexts.