Introduction

The development of technology has made possible things that two decades ago were impossible. Using a computer and software, musicians can create and record music from the comfort of their homes, hence the rise of what has been termed the ‘bedroom producer’. The internet allows them to then publish the music online and to reach audiences directly, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers, the record labels. It is true that musicians have been able to bypass the music industry for a long time, particularly since the rise of ‘DIY’ culture in the 1970s; however, the new forms of connection and distribution enhance these possibilities to an extent never reached in the past.

In this blog I will aim to explore some of the new roles of musicians in the context of the democratisation of music technology and the advent of the Internet. I will also attempt to explore some of the implications of the multi-skilling of musicians and try to find out if the amount of time spent on non-creative tasks threatens the amount of time and energy dedicated to music-making and if, in a world where everyone can make and sell music, there might be a danger that entrepreneurial and non-creative skills will influence success more so than musicianship.

All this will be exemplified on my own creative practice, as I will regularly post about about my work and creative practice as a songwriter and self-produced artist, struggling to acquire some of the new skills and tools needed for the modern musician to survive in the digital age.