Creative Professionals: Evolve or Die
Before YouTube, WordPress, Apple/Google Podcasts, Amazon, and the expanding range of content platforms, a career in the media was often restricted to professionals who honed their craft over decades.
There was a time when photographers got paid up to $10,000 a day, building simple websites cost $5000 instead of $50, authors were revered, and actors and journalists had jobs.
Ah, the good ole days. Or were they?
The Good
In the past, creatives who dreamed of becoming writers or musicians had few opportunities as traditional publishers, and recording labels could only sign so many authors/artists a year.
In 2002, Allen & Unwin Publisher Elizabeth Weiss received over 2000 unsolicited manuscripts, and less than 2% got published.
The good news is, it’s now possible to make more money as an independent creator, achieve global reach, and be in the driver’s seat.
In 2020 merchant bank Raine Group estimated a 32% increase in indie/DIY artists’ profits, compared to 10% in the recorded-music industry. Most of these singers and musicians also earn more than signed artists.
Sources
Medium, 21 June 2019, hiphopunrapped.medium.com/why-we-need-to-leave-record-labels-behind-in-2019.
The same is true for authors. Self-publishers can earn over $7 per book vs. $1 from traditional publishers.
Professional journalists, photographers, authors, and performers, may feel their careers are diminished, but they can also take advantage of the media evolution.
The Opportunity
Everyone with:
- A smartphone is a presenter, actor, photographer, or videographer.
- A Canva login is a graphic designer.A digital platform account is a publisher.
A microphone is a broadcaster or singer.
A keyboard is a writer.
If you’ve ever had the dream or desire to share your talents with the world, the available technology and training can fast-track your passions.
Go forth and courageously, and consciously create!
If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.
Sources
Diggs, Kallen. “The Inevitable Death of Traditional Book Publishers.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffpost.com/entry/the-inevitable-death-of-t_b_11469768.
Goldberg, Justine Tal “200 Million Americans Want to Publish Books, But Can They?” Publishing Perspectives, 24 Jan. 2012, publishingperspectives.com/2011/05/200-million-americans-want-to-publish-books/.
Harris, Elizabeth A. “Surprise Ending for Publishers: In 2020, Business Was Good.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Dec. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/books/book-publishing-2020.html.
Ingham, Tim. “A New Report Says Independent Artists Could Generate More Than $2 Billion in 2020.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2020, www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/raine-group-independent-artists-2-billion-in-2020-967138/.
Leigh Shine. “Calculating the Odds of Getting A Traditional Publisher.” Medium, 23 Dec. 2016, medium.com/publishizer/calculating-the-odds-of-getting-a-traditional-publisher.
Leight, Elias. “Independent Artists Are Making More Music Than Ever.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2020, www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/independent-artists-making-more-music-tunecore-cd-baby-982708/.
Team, AskALLi. “Facts and Figures about Self Publishing: The Impact and Influence of Indie Authors.” Self, 23 June 2020, selfpublishingadvice.org/facts-and-figures-about-self-publishing-the-impact-and-influence-of-indie-authors/.