On: Gary Numan: 'One of my songs got over a million st...

[spiderfarmer]

I should have added that marketing yourself as an indie is also important.

As well as timing and luck.

[Rochus → spiderfarmer]

I don't think marketing is the decisive measure; sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it's unnecessary. As a famous example I mention Billie Eilish; I read that they uploaded their first famous song only on Soundcloud so that a friend could hear it; so not exactly an (intended) marketing measure; but as luck would have it, thousands then suddenly discovered and heard the song. The rest is history. But I know far more at least equally talented musicians who upload songs to Soundcloud without anyone taking notice.

[spiderfarmer → Rochus]

Obviously marketing is not the dominant factor if you're as good and original as Billie Eilish.

[musicale → spiderfarmer]

PP's thesis was that many people on soundcloud are as good and original as Billie Eilish (or more so).

Presumably many musicians on soundclound are persistent and hard-working as well as insanely talented and original.

Marketing isn't the dominant factor for a new artist winning the pop music lottery. Luck is.

There's a lot of great music out there that will never be a hit song, and it's nice that we can still listen to it.

[Rochus → spiderfarmer]

Unfortunately beeing "good" and "original" is not enough; and even if you make it as a musician, it doesn't mean that you can make a reasonable living from it (which is also addressed by the article).