It’s been a while
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009Hello Everyone,
I apoligize for my absense on this blog. It’s been a while that’s for sure. I got a slight case of pneumonia ( my second bout in 3 years ) in the middle of December , which reoccured in February, that stuff can really wear you out and zap your strength. Combine that with the fact that my mom passed on December 22, 2009, which really left me quite depressed, and between the two, I ended up in quita a funk. For several months I just lacked the strength, energy, and desire to do anything. I barely checked my main email accounts, and turned off the phone completely.
It was a very strange place to be for a while, but then a month or so ago, I was asked on one of the websites I have music on to help someone else out with their songs, and in doing so, I found a renewed vigor for working again, and it motivated me greatly. I even decided to take on another project helping other lyricists to complete their project, at an affordable price, and bring their songs to life. We started a website called, www.songwriterservices.biz, and so far it’s doing fairly well.
Anyways, lets talk about this site. The new Cd is doing better than the last one, that’s good news. “They Don’t Make Country Like they Used To” made it to #12 on the ECMA top 100 charts, “My Memories Of You” received a lot of air play world wide, and ” Hello Heartache My Old Friend”, as of last weeks report was one of the top 25 most played songs in the European market, I can’t complain about that.
I also have a song hitting the airwaves, which was written by Paul Roberts, that I helped arrange, and produce, and did the vocals on, that I expect will do real well called “Brande’s Song “. It turned out to be a great tune, and if you get a chance, take a listen, it’s a really special song.
So what’s next? Where do we go from here?
I have to tell you this little journey I have been on has taught me many things, but most of all it has taught me “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”.
It’s been almost two years now since I started out, and when I look at the songs that have charted world wide, the great Fans I have accumulated , and the number of Dj’s that now support my music, I have to say so far it’s been quite a successful journey. I don’t think in two years you can evaluate a lifetime effort, as in all business ventures, persistance really does pay.
However, in this age of the ever changing face of music, it is very difficult to turn it into dollars and cents. Free music is now the rage of the internet, and until that changes it will be very difficult for all artists to find the income it takes to keep putting out music. The cost of making a good quality, radio friendly CD, depending on how much you can do yourself, ranges from $2000 to $25,000. No new artist can’t afford to keep pumping out CD’s if he doesn’t get some financial support from the people listening to it, and thats just the cost of producing it, let alone the cost of promotion and marketing. The lesson learned here is , it still takes some real working capitol to get the job done.
Eventually this fad of “free” music will pass as people begin to realize the artists they so loved listening to aren’t around anymore. They will begin to see as in any other art form, Recording artists, and songwriters need their support too. Until then I suspect we will see many artists and songwriters go by the way side. The lesson learned here is you either adjust, or you perish.
I plan to adjust. I am way too stubborn to just lay down and die. I have worked way too hard, and come too far to quit now. So how will I adjust?
Well first I have to get out and play, I intend to start looking into the house concert arena, which is becoming quite popular now a days.
Secondly, no more full length CD’s, I will continue to record singles, which will significantly cuts recording costs, and offer them for digital download only. Periodically I will release new songs through Triplestrand’s compilation Cd, as I have done all along, for those markets that require a hard copy on the premises.
Last, but not least, keep an eye on the Albums page of the website. After much reflection and months of deciding what’s best for the fans, and myself, there will be a drastic change in our marketing plan. That’s as much as I am going to say about it at this point, but I think you will all agree when it’s launched, for now, it’s the most reasonable approach.
Once again I want to thank all of you for your continued support. Especially those DJ’s that continued to play my music in my most recent absense. It did not go unnoticed.
Not all that much has changed over the past two years, I still believe in my music, and I still believe in you all. With your continued support, together I think we can over come the obstacles of this new age of music.
Your Friend,
Billy Darnell
www.songwriterservices.biz