Do anybody actually have a chance to make it in the music industry now day?

Question:

Do anybody actually have a chance to make it in the music industry now day?

I am have been playing the piano for about 11 yrs. now and I've been a producer for the last 6. I'm starting to really question my chances to make it out there in the music industry! I mean because everyday I hear a new person on the radio, which simply lets me know that either there is a lot of talent out there or its just a lot of one hit wonders.

Where I'm from I was always told that muisc is from the heart and learn to master the craft of your instrument so that you can master the craft of music. One of my inspirations always said "your not really a musician if you can't read music..." reading music is the unknown lanagague that only a few possess. I really just asking to hear what other people in this world think of the music industry as a whole and as well as a creative aspect.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Does anyone make it in the music industry? "No" is probably closer to the truth than "yes". You've played piano for 11 years. I'll assume you're fabulous.

Here is why it is difficult: How many fabulous piano players are there in the world? Maybe 50,000? How many have you heard on the radio? I love piano music, but I couldn't name ten well known pianists. So the problem is, there is not a lot of room at the top.

Looking at performers that have "made it", it seems like the following must come together:

1. Master of your musical craft. We'll assume you have this one. But, can you hold a room full of people spell bound for an hour? If not, then keep working on your craft.

2. Originality: What do you have that I can't hear from a thousand other pianists? You can't just play or just do what everyone else does. You have to make something very much your own, and make it interesting, unique and enjoyable enough to make people want to hear it.

3. Showmanship. Example: Liberace. Basically, you need to emerge from the crowd. When people listen to you perform, it needs to be something special. They need to walk away smiling. There are many other examples. Even a kinda worn out guy like Neil Diamond (sorry Neil) still puts on a *great* show.

4. Productivity: Would anyone care about, or know about Enya if she only had one CD? How many songs did the Beatles make? Burt Bacharach? Moreover, if you have originality and productivity, you will probably get better over time.

5. Promotion: Example: Backstreet Boys, Avril Levine. This is what is needed to make it big. If you can be at the top of your art in points 1, 2, 3 and 4 for ten years or so, you will eventually find someone who is interested in promoting you. Of course, with the internet, there are a lot of ways you could promote yourself.

Perhaps, most important of all is expectations. You want to "make it" in the music industry. But what does that mean? Sell a million CDs? (or downloads)? Well, you have to be on the top of your craft, a showman, original and productive for a long time to get there. But what if your goal, what if "making it" for you is simply to bring a lot of joy to people that hear your music? That might be something you could do today. And if you can do it every day, and enjoy it, and keep doing it, and get better and better, perhaps all the other success can come eventually.

Good luck!