In a recent podcast episode, Marcel sat down with musician Ross Harding to delve into the ever-changing music industry landscape. Here are some of the key takeaways.
Brand New Single
The 15th of March 2024 marks the highly anticipated release of Ross's single A Thousand Snakes, which highlights the importance of darkness in the creative process.
Ross expands, ‘The metaphor of the snakes is kind of like the things in daily life that are biting at your heels and holding you down. It’s also about the necessity of darkness in order to create art and make something real as an artist. There are much deeper things in the world than the feeling of joy and happiness, even on a spiritual level.’
Studio 31
Ross also discussed his work with Merrick and Ruan, who run Studio 31, a collaboration that has allowed Ross to explore new creative avenues and push the boundaries of his artistry.
‘Merrick has been playing bass in my live band for the last 2 years, and that's how we’ve become friends. He runs Studio 31 with Ruan, and that’s where I’ve been recording the bulk of my last few projects, including A Thousand Snakes.’
An Evolving Music Industry
The music industry is constantly changing, even more so with things like DSPs and social media being vital to one’s discoverability, highlighting its ever-changing nature.
Ross elaborates, ‘The music industry as it stands today has changed almost 180 degrees and bears no resemblance to what it looked like 20–50 years ago. It’s a completely different animal, and that means the kind of music that’s being made, what’s popular, what works in the commercial realm vs. what works in an artistic realm, the monetisation of music, touring, merchandise—all of it is different and requires a different type of approach, meaning the rules of the past are all broken and new rules are being created almost daily with things like streaming platforms and so on.’
Art, Commerce, and Success
The conversation between Ross and Marcel underscored the complex relationship between art, commerce, and success in today's music industry. Niche artists like Ross face the challenge of finding their audience in a market dominated by easily consumable products.
‘The musical landscape today, in terms of popular music, requires that artists make products to be sold online to audiences. If you’re someone who wants to succeed in the music industry from a monetary perspective, it’s a very different set of skills than being a good musician. Someone who is a better businessman has the potential to become more successful than someone who’s a better artist, even though that’s not always the case.’
Conclusion
Ross Harding's insights into the evolving music industry landscape shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced by artists today. As the industry continues to evolve, artists must embrace continuous improvement, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and adapt to new platforms. Finding the delicate balance between artistry and commercial success is crucial, and Ross offers more insight on how to go about achieving this and more in the full episode.
Stay updated on Ross's music and future endeavours by visiting his website.
