The way musicians make and market their music has changed remarkably in the past few years. Professional musicians used to receive most of their income from CD sales. Playing live was often just the marketing vehicle used to increase CD sales. Songwriters and musicians spent time (and money) in recording studios making demos or masters so people could hear their music.

Today it’s hard to make money selling CDs. Touring pays the bills. From songwriter demos to CD projects to film scores, musicians are composing and recording…at home! And musicians use the Internet as a major marketing tool. You can find out about cover artist Dave Navarro’s new band The Panic Channel at their website www.thepanicchannel.com long before you can purchase their CD or see them live. Indeed, a recent survey found that almost 90% of musicians felt the Internet was ‘very important’ or ‘somewhat important’ in creating and distributing their music. Some say the Internet has changed the face of retail, yet online sales account for less than 2% of all retail sales. The Internet has profoundly changed the way we musicians create and market music.

Here at Yamaha, we need to respond to these sea changes, since professional and aspiring musicians are our only customers. I want to let you know about just a few of the initiatives that we have underway to help you make and market your music.

You may have participated in the Yamaha Music Production Contest, which awards $50,000 in prizes to productions judged to be the best by industry veterans Randy Jackson, DJ Rap and others. This contest exposes the judges and other musicians to your work. If you haven’t made a submission yet, you can find out more at www.yamjams.com.

Yamaha has also formed a team that is specifically focused on the needs of the home music producer. Our Music Production department provides solutions that make it easier to record your music. The premier product of this group is our 01X MLAN music studio, which provides you freedom of choice in recording. You can join 01X users in their own web community at www.01xray.com.

Playing live now also means playing as a solo, duo or small ensemble, and in smaller venues. We’ve seen lots of portable PA systems, but none of them were up to the sonic standards you set for your music. Our new STAGEPAS 300 portable PA system is small enough that you can take it to the gig on public transportation. But it has the high power and great sonic quality that you need for your music.

I wish you success in getting your music out there. Enjoy this issue of All Access.

Sincerely,

Tom Sumner
Vice President/General Manager
Pro Audio & Combo Division
Yamaha Corporation of America