New York City has some undeniably iconic music scenes.
From the Bronx-based birth of hip hop, through the leather-clad punk swagger led by the Ramones and the infinite influence of new wave, the five boroughs have proven fertile for many forms of artist.
That said, there is perhaps a problem brewing in these city streets… a saturation point that peaked many years ago and is struggling to maintain the sheer wealth of creative talent resting on its artistic support system.
On what grounds do I base this supposition?
Lumineers Leave Town
Billboard’s piece on the subsequent success of The Lumineers after leaving Brooklyn was the clincher, but the general malaise has been with me since moving to NYC in 2009.
Working as a concert promoter at small rock clubs for much of that year was an eye-opening insight into the mountain that most independent musicians must climb to achieve even the mildest attention. From 1am set times on a Tuesday morning, to paying to play on band battles that are a fast track to nowhere, it seemed like the pack is stacked against even the most savvy artist from the outset. And, yet, musicians still flock to the city to compete in this zero sum game.
Further confirmation came from a fellow musically-minded volunteer Alex, at my Musicians On Call program this week, who preferred even the schmoozy Hollywood leanings of Los Angeles to the gritty challenge of New York. His reasoning? At least musicians can afford to live and work in other creative arenas out on the West coast, where as the city I’ve come to call home has sky high rents, overpriced eating, and will force a needy musician into less creative pursuits simply to make ends meet. For all the love I have for the place, it was hard to argue with Alex on these points.
The benefits, of course, are myriad.
Everyone with whom any musician could wish to connect walks these streets, merely a connection or two away and easy to meet once you find that “in”. Venues are everywhere, be it a super star arena or a street corner, an alluring artist will almost always find some kind of crowd. Creativity flows across disciplines and you’ll never be stuck for a space to seek out other artists for mutual inspiration. Not to mention the ever present history of artists that have come before you, be it the enduring abandon of Bowery punk legends or the classic songwriters who called the Village home. All feed in to a highly concentrated artistic environment that is hard to replicate anywhere else.
And yet, the practical must really trump the poetic.
At least it must, to my mind, for any artist seriously trying to build a fan base and a career from their music.
Not a Niche
One final point to consider is that of the niche, an important concept explained thoroughly by fellow music marketer Jon Ostrow in his article on Conquering Your Music Niche.
Essentially, this is connecting with a small group of like-minded individuals who will form a solid foundation for building out your craft. A significant part of this, in my opinion, is joining forces in the spirit of common artistic community. New York City (and other cities like it) can be a tough place to establish that groundswell of support. Not to overlook shining lights of hope such as Silent Barn or ABC No Rio, but the prevailing atmosphere is more of competition than camaraderie.
All that said, there is undeniable value in the lessons an artist can learn from the struggle of “the city”. As overused a phrase as it is, if you make it here, you really can make it anywhere. But when many less populous cities and states are crying out for artistic inspiration… for a music scene to call their own… surely there’s a lot to be said for building from your own area?
Your Turn…
What do you think; harsh truth or off-the-mark trash?
I know many of you have lived in NYC as musicians or worked around the industry here, so I’d love for you to share your experiences with everyone.
And those of you making music in other locations, is it helping or hindering your growth?
The comments section is yours to use with reckless abandon!
