Facts. Too many people expect instant gratification. Most artists don't take the time to develop their craft to their full potential. There's always room for improvement.
Imma be honest, I've been trying to figure out how to get in the game for a while now, and a lot of people have videos that all say the same thing. This was the realest advice I've ever heard. Thank you so much.
This is thee most important video (For music) I've ever seen. Wisdom. Pure wisdom. Thanks for clearing up the mess in my own head. :) Can't thank you enough man.
Just seen your video fam. This is some real shit... I been ding music for over 10 years and almost got signed before and even got Grammy nominated Tony Sunshine on my First album and im still pushing to hit the next level. Been on the radio in multiple states, and have known influencers as well as famous people liking my stuff. Shit aint easy. You a real one for this.
Thank you! This was so thoughtful and truly helpful. Lyrics come easy to me and I’m starting to figure out how I can get them out there. Your advice gives me an excellent place to start.
RESPECT! Many people who have been as successful as you don't want to share anything, but you seem so willing to help out, it tells me you are a secure and confident individual. I usually only sub amateur or up-and-coming musicians, but I feel I need to sub and share your channel. Best regards!
@Dame every time I see one of your videos, I can't help but have a serious appreciation for all of the great tips you share with starving artists. A lot of us have literally no idea what we're doing, we don't know how to reach people, we don't know how to be heard, and you have some great ideas on how to do that. Serious kudos, amd a huge thank you.
Dame, this was the most current, real and helpful messages I've found on RU-vid. I'm an old country boy from NC. I feel like Rip Van Winkle. I feel asleep in the late ninties and woke up in the 2000s and I'm lost. My main focus has always been songwriting. I had 20 or so songs published by reputable Publishers in the ninties while on an indie label there. Most were pretty much sold to regional artists. For 30 years I gave it up, finished a prison career and played regionally. I started writing again with a passion 4 or 5 years ago. More than half the songs on my channel are originals...just Smart Phone quality, so they'll probably never be heard. I'm rambling on. I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to tell it like it is to those with stars in their eyes and old songwriters with a bucket list. Thanks. Blessings to you in your business ventures.
Hey Dame, My Brother - This is an AMAZING VIDEO, which is probably gonna save me LOTS of headache. Everything you say is REAL TALK because I ABSOLUTELY HATE when people send me emails and text messages, which are NOT Personalized exclusively for me. Thanks so much for taking out the time to post it. -DTG Artist/Musician/Composer in New Orleans.
Real talk, communication is key in the music industry. You could be the dopest rapper ever and still won't get nowhere if you don't know people. Mad props to this vid.
One thing I feel I should point out. No one in the industry gives a single shit about your talents. Why would they? A good producer and marketing strategy can turn his 13 year old niece into a star, regardless of talent. He will never give a shit about you unless you are in a position where he has something to gain, or you are personally close friends/family. I hate to be that blunt, but it's the truth. Nepotism beats your talents every time. If you don't have connections, you will NEVER get a deal. You're better off trying to make your own career as an independent than hoping an industry mogul will ever want to make you a star when he has friends and family..
+Ryan Evans (Sakreligious) Wrong. Ofc theres money involved, but take dre signing Em as an example. Everybody else was saying to dre "dude hes white hes not gonna have a chance in hiphop" blablabla. But dre saw raw talent in the dude. So thats not the case every time
the music industry is complicated as fuck. you just have to be in the right place, at the right time. you gotta have the right things for the right stuff, you feel me? look im a beat producer and i dont think a living soul knows im a producer, but you know what? fine by me, im a patient individual and i love making music. so im gonna keep making my music until that day comes.
You Got Some good advice there man! Don't tell what the music sounds like that you are sending, give some hints and let the music speak for itself. You speak for yourself, and the music speak for itself! Keep that in mind!
Thanks Dame for the crucial information you gave in your video because it gave inside information on how A&R's look at what people send them and now because of the video you shared we as producers can reinvent ourselves on a more professional and more noticeable basis.
Word up fam! I watched the whole video and you just told the realest and coldest buy yet honest truth. I have been a producer for ten years and watching videos like this help a lot.
Man I really like what you said bruh. ima rethink my whole strategy. I always thought it was best to keep it short cause anybody worth sending your music to would be really busy. but i get what you're sating
Yo thanks man I'm 18 from jamaica and I'm really tryna motivate myself and push through the struggle man and this helped alot. With all this new information from you I'm more committed and encouraged #respectman this helps alot.💯
Loved listening to you dude. I enjoyed the way you up front and straight aboutall your experiences and no beating around the bush. Yeah the industry was tough in the 80's and still tougher today. Standing out in anoriginal way is even harder with all the music that's coming out. Good stuff keep up the good work .... I subscribe. :-)
Just want to say its harder when you don't have the funds to put in but you have the talent. Talent can only get you so far. I appreciate this message because being unique and genuine with how you get your projects out goes a long way.
Amazing advice, I'm glad I came across your video. I am an artist, I sing and write music. I have tried everything from auditioning for The Voice, American idol, promoting my music on social media, sending out unsolicited demos, and what makes it worse is you live in a small city that don't offer shit so that makes it harder so this is definite tips I will take. I do understand the music business is very HARD to get into and I definitely do not want to be seen as an everyday artist that sounds like everybody else. What's sad is that in my own personal opinion I feel that the music industry has shifted as times changed and talent isn't respected as much as it used to be. They now have a lot of "Aritsts" so called out now that sound horrible on the radio. It's also about who you know that can pull you through the door as well.
Thanks a lot! That's some great advice coming from your experience! And it makes sense too! I will keep all of this in mind as I try to promote my own music compositions!
this video confirmed how i felt about the approach towards Record Labels.... hope to meet you one day my brotha you a real dude and this video helped me out ALOT,again thank you brother @DameTaylorTV
Yo what you are saying makes so much sense, I've been making beats since i graduated in '13 but i don't know any body that's truly connected to the music business so its hard to get a legit opinion from someone in the business as suppose to a friend or random listener Patience is key!
Yo man I totally respect what you mean, and I'm a artist thats trying to find a label myself. Thanks man, this helps me alot because I didn't even know where to start.
You don't even know how much that helps me man and i dont know if you'll ever see this comment but im 17 at he verge of getting kicked out the house with no place to go and the only thing i got is my music man. Sorry for the run on but that shit just open up a new perspective on my rapping skills u know and keep making these videos, damn got my ass crying
Way to make REAL SENSE. The truth is that we Indie Artists need to hear what we basically DONT want to hear. The truth also is that success is earned. I absolutely love that A&R's are more visible and willing to share what the Industry is really looking for.
great video. one thing to remember about getting attention from A&Rs and labels in general is to have an attitude that you are going to make it no matter what even if that means without a label. nothing will get labels more interested than you already having a fanbase that you built indpendently...already playing shows...already having and doing the things they are looking for in artists. never just wait to get signed by a label...you gonna be waiting a longgggg time
Hey thanks for the insight, your story and point of view just confirms everything Ive been feeling. You have to do it the hard way and make something that stands out and is worth someones money. Thanks
Hey dame, So I put so much in to my music and my music doesn't sound like anyone else but i don't do it to perform, I do it because I enjoy it. I get better with every song I finish but im not quite industry quality yet but every song gets closer. I appreciate your content
Good video. Made me laugh. It also reminded me of emails where rappers and producers just be throwing names out of ppl they've worked with and opened for.
just watched your video...good stuff... what you said is right building "relationships" is the key to success...it's not what you know but_______ ....you know the rest. Good video fam
really helpful, its easy to forget that the person on the other end of that email is real.. its great that you take the time out to help people with these videos.. gave me some stuff to think about
Saw your basketball video, impressive... then I stumbled upon this. You have an awesome perspective on life man, subscribed look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
You have a good point. I'm a upcoming rapper trying to make it and I get tweets from this so called producers that send me automatic tweets that they done sent to like 20 other rappers that are unsigned or even signed... and as far as rappers go its the same way. On social networking sites I don't even bother promoting music because there is over a million rappers on the internet blowing up peoples social networking accounts with their music.
This is some good advice to be honest my mission is to make sure the whole world listens to my music, my music just doesn't fit in our generation unless you mean J.Cole or Kendrick I only spit how I feel about our society but I don't care what nobody but I will truly excel and become The Greatest Of All Time.
Damn this really hit home ... I understand dont go the extra mile... go the extra 9 miles because u wanna be that far ahead of your competition.... The Keys to success in the industry... YOUR SOUND HAS TO HAVE SOME ORGINALITY YOUR LOOK HAS TO BE DIFFERENT AND TRENDY YOUR ABILITY TO ESTABLISHED NEW RELATIONSHIPS ALSO TO MAINTAIN THEM
Cool message.. Helps me a lot. I used to have those bad habits years ago. Now, I check my messages before sending them. I am a new artist. Sometimes I play the keyboard while my dad sings. Other times I play alone. I don't know if I am good or not. But, everyone I meet, seems to like my music. I play the keyboard by ear. I started playing when I was 17 years old. I taught myself. I also write songs. I was born with mild cerebral palsy. People tell me that my writing is better.
lol thank for the advice im upcoming producer/artists from Cleveland Ohio. Appreciate the knowledge you given the to producer /artists to have hope and keep striving thank One
This is a helpful video because it further explained what I had already thought about. Honestly, I feel like I have superstar level talent but novice level promotional skills. I've sent e-blasts and one sentence emails but that didn't get me far. People told me to just send in a demo, but you should never send one without artwork. The funny thing is that people on the street hate when you hand them your CD more than A&Rs.
Good points bro! Fortunately UNIQUENESS & TALENT is something I have going for me. Just need to UPGRADE my PRESENTATION. The personal touch is important.
Thanks for being real, man. Good advice and informative. I'm a singer/songwriter and alto sax player. Currently in school for music business so I can learn the business better most definitely.
Thank you, before i watched this video my videos were terrible i used to just freestyle an put it up, recording one time an putting it up an my old page was terrible but since i've watched this an began to to write my videos already have 2 times as many views than before so just know i really appreciate the advice hope everything going good
yo am a young rapper/trapper at the age of 16 and i send personal emails to record labels weekly. i know its not a 30 min thing but i first rapped 6 years ago that gotta count for sth right. Anyways i feel you dawg, emails aint really the best way to go, amma put on effort to get my song out the old fashion way. thanks for the advice
This video is just game changing... really puts things into perspective. He only talked about one guy too.. imagine all the A&R guys getiing hit up by 300 random ppl a day. Music is a really hard business guys.
Makes a lot of sense. So let me start by saying most my life is on the poetry I speak. I made a mistake when I was 14 and it forced me to live a street life. I actually am not telling you this to feel bad for me in any way. I actaully built a lot of strength character and determination from my past struggles. We all have them weather it be family work and life fulfillment goals. Life is like that. I like the fact that you expressed wanting ppl to come at you on a personal level. That's what made me want to share this with you. Like you said their are a million Yous and a million mes. The difference is the journey we took to get to that person that we are. I've been spitting rhymes and poetry for over 28 years it's what I love. I ran away from my abusive father at 14 all he cared about was Bitties. Didn't give a damn if I needed any help in school or anything. So I learned how to survive. I originally from Brooklyn but moved down south 954 DANIA in 89- and dipped back to Brooklyn in 91- Man those days was Specail to me. I did lots of Graffitti and Boosting back then. It gave me a sence of fulfillment and kept me busy. I got a name for myself and have Street stories hustling stories Police stories struggaling stories and survival stories. I met plenty of people throughout my life and knowbody knows this about me. They might know some of the stuff but not really enough to really speak on it. Anyway my inspiration in the Rap game comes from the old school my teachers was the like of Tupac Eric B and RAKIM Krs1 NWA EPMD Redalert kid Capri Wutang Redman SNOOP CNN I mean the list could go on and on but these are just some of what I was programmed on. Not to mention other Geners like Reggea and rock and all of that R&B like new edition Jodeci Keith sweat. I never been in a studio to work on my Craft on a professional level. I made connects and dappled on my computer with the reason and other programs like acid back in the Day. I did have a team I use to roll with but due to unfurtunate circumastances I haven't been able to reconnect and get that going. I still be writing and wanna get involved in cummincation and influence threw my music writing. I would like to get involved with the Right ppl and see if we could leave a visual legacy in the flesh and not have to wait until my time on earth is done. All I ever been interested in doing is giving back to those that have to me in a positive way. Pardon any errors. But future generations need me.
