Canada

Ok ... now here's a topic to consider.... amateur music vs pro music. A few years ago I would reason with claims that amateur music was taking a large step in becoming more popular amongst fans. Because of the internet ... and sites such as MySpace... amateur music was not only more assessable than pro music .... but also cheaper to support. And the amateur artists not only sounded great ... but some arguablly more talented than those with major Recording Contracts.

Pro Music during this time was more so limited to networks such as Much Music and CMT.... and your local CD store. Music pirating can be blamed for stealing a large perentage of the Pro Network's income... but also.... be given a pat on the back in an offbeat way .... for keeping pro music popular. CD Store sales seemed to be decreasing anyway .. regardless of the pirating..... simply because of the rising interests in amateur music.

Over the last few years or so there has been quite the increase in Indie Labels... such as ErraRecords who now has Nicole Marie, and Triadster Records (My Company) who boasts Natalie Marie. Both relatively new companies. Visiting sites such as bebo.com you will see literally dozens upon dozens of Indie Labels.... many of which started in the last half a decade. This add to the claim that amateur music was on the rise .... and a demand for amateur artists was seeing a significant marginal increase.

Then it happened. Pro music finds a gateway to what can be considered their rebirth from a slow ailing death..... Video Streaming...... YouTube opens the door for Pro music's comeback.

Today you can visit ... again in example .... bebo.com ... and while there if you take the time to count the Pro Artist profiles vs Amateur Artist profiles you will get a startling count vs count as compared to what you would have found just 2 years ago. Today .... an amateur trying to get his/her music heard for the first time.... maybe earn a fan or two for encouragement... and while uploading his/her music on that same old site that many other amateurs have for years before him/her ... will discover something brand new. His/her profile is uploaded right next to Jennefer Lopez and Pink.... and how encouraging is that for someone just starting out?

Still .... the cries are the same. Whether pro or amateur ... artists are very open to explain that a Major Recording Contract is their ultimate goal.... and they are fast to chase the once leading, then failing, to again to be seemly making a come-back ... Major Companies.

IMO the problem in a nutshell is for the most part, pro music sucks. The reason the record companies are losing revenue due to pirating is because they are putting out a sub par product no one wants to pay for or support. Why should some one purchase a whole album of crap when they only like one tune and can easily lift it?

I am not saying there isn't some good pro music out there and I have my favs, but the vast majority is mediocre at best IMO.

Thats an excellent point Wegman. I couldn't count the times I paid $10.95 and even $12.95 and more for a CD .... and just because I was after 1 measly song I liked.

Paying $12 - $15 dollars for a single song hardly seems worth it. Yes ... your getting whole CD not just that 1 song ... but ... the rest of the CD is pretty much ... as you suggested Wegman ... a waste of money.

I have to agree with your post.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Pro" music. Pro is short for professional, and that tells me the practioners does it for their living - they get paid. Are you using "pro" to mean "slickly produced" or something else?

Yes I'm a little confused too. Do you mean comercial v non-comercial music perhaps!

Sorry ... yes I should have explained that much better. I am using the terms "pro" and "amateur" to mean .........

Professional: Licensed/Registered with CMA (in the case of a Country Artist), and being sponsored by a Major Company (such as Warner Brothers, Universal, Sony, etc.) in the amount of $250,000/plus per 2 year contract..... and being more so compared to "Red Carpet" ... "TV Syndicate" ...... "Home Brand Name" kind of career status.

Amateur: Unlicensed, independant artists maintaining and/or advancing their career on the shoestrings of small Unlicensed Independant Labels, self produced multi-media (such as CDs, Vidoes, etc.), and being dependant on/ or directed by .... self proclaimed and acquired opportunities.

The above explanations still don't explain properly the terms "Pro" and "Amateur". This is an area I have run into much controversy so i'm not surprised to see 2 posts questioning what I meant by those 2 terms. Also... the above terms are to explain the feedback of opinions I have received and/or witnessed in my travels.... and doesn't exactly fit my own personal opinions as to the meanings of "pro" and "amateur" .... as I tend to explain them a tad differently when using my own views.

I welcome your explanations of the terms.

I've heard an old saying for years, from alot of different musicians that said, "The first time you perform, Solo/Band. And get paid $ for it. Your a Professional. Im sure alot of the old timers have heard it. If I recorded my own music, It would be done by a professional, Me. I will make an intelligent guess, & suggest, Basically The amount of talent, & the rate at which a musician progress,s into the music scene, etc. will reveal if one has what it takes to be a professional or not. There are Professionals here at BandMix, That posess the talent, etc. Just as much as one of the 'Big Dawgs'. I know of very few amatures on this site, To be honest. (This is only a basic, personal opinion), on a subject that could go on, And in many different ways, etc.......Peace All.

Well strictly speaking, the first time you play for money you are a professional. But, that term also implies a regular practice of it. I consider people who regularly play for pay, whose living is at least partially reliant on music, to be a professional.

The way I see it is if you support yourself solely playing music you are a pro. If you play and make a little side cash, but have a full time day gig, you are an amateur.

Of course that is strictly IMO.

In reality Irminsul you are 100% correct. The minute you get paid you are pro.

I agree Irminsul, That the term professional, Also implies a regular practice. I agree also, That a musician that makes a worthy income at music is a professional. But I want to go a little deeper on the subject and suggest, For instance. "I've known a few great musicians through the years, Banging around with cover bands, etc. And a few of them had alot of studio time under their belt, As to say. This was back in the day before all of the home recording, computers, etc. The studio was about the best way to get a good recording. And at that time and era, Good musicians, vocalist, Were getting alot of studio work. For local bands cutting a CD., Advertisement, Radio commercials, whatever....But through the years, A few of them just fool around on the computer these days. They are older, Job & Family, Some are working 24/7 paying child support. But they dont mind." I guess you could say they are retired professionals". But in my book, These guys will always be professionals. They've earned the title, Professional. If you've paid your due's? You will always be a professional. (This is only of my personal opinion). Whats Yours?

<snipped> These guys will always be professionals. They've earned the title, Professional. If you've paid your due's? You will always be a professional. (This is only of my personal opinion). Whats Yours?

Yes, they are professionals and I'll go further - even in today's horizon of do-it-yourself recording, there is still a need for session musicians in larger studios. I know because I still get occassional calls if someone needs a harper (not that often, but if you play a more mainstream instrument you would certainly be called more). So in a nutshell, they are still employable as professional studio session musicians if they want to aggressively pursue it.

mmm I dunno in my style of music it,s completely different Oo for sure it,s not working like this but anyway...I can maybe try to show you an another kind of industries...the one we are targeting because it,s our passion(JuuSan Tsuki)

you can judge if you want I dont even care I like it and you wouldnt be able to change us

so there we go in the Visual Kei music and J-rock it,s not working about big or not big...it,s difficult to explain...every band there have something of special...why? because it,s the reason of the visual...in the visual it,s can be gay or it,s can be really cool...the look is important! your personnality as well and for sure the creativity of the Songs. I dunno why but in this style the goal of fan is...more you know about visual kei band, more you have song, more you have knowledge,pics,magazine more you are a visual guy and you are in the style... Easy you would say to enter in? yeah it,s easy if you looks good and you got the visual way to thinkXD

I dunno why but this style is really underground here...(bah I can know why but anyway) anyway to return to the topic it,s really depend in wich industries you are for visual and j-rock if the amator music is kicking ass,they are looking good and for finish they have something special they will be pro easily...

and my point is...amator are important as the pro is...why? because pro was amator at the beginning too?

anyway that my point...maybe I bring it in a difficult way(langage problem-.-)

Not being a fan of J-pop, I guess I couldn't comiserate with that one. Also, I don't know what all that has to do with being a professional or not. A professional is merely someone who regularly makes money doing something.

I think being an amateur ONLY means you're not being paid. No relection on your ability.
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I think being a professional ONLY means you ARE being paid. Again: no relection on your ability.

I'm sure you meant "ARE" getting paid on the line about professionals there, Rhythmman...and what you said about amateurs is exactly right. There are some spectacular amateurs out there in music. Also, if I recall correctly, in sports the Olympics used to be an amateur event.