“You made a way, when our backs were against the wall, and it looked as if it was over.” The words of Travis Greene could not be any truer. God always shows up exactly when we need him. ‘Made A Way’ has touched the lives of millions. It is amazing how this work of art started out as only a melody.
Artists are often involved with their music from inception. Every stage of creation is reminiscent to the transition of a child. After all, characteristics of the artist are embedded into the DNA of their music. This DNA or metadata provides every fan, follower and music lover an opportunity to purchase the songs that speak to their heart.
The Identification
Metadata gives us the name of the artist or band. We are able to identify the creators of the song along with the genre. Without metadata, the consumer will not have the chance to find the next song that connects them to God. The excitement of the discovery of new music would be stripped away without the ability to identify it.
A woman proudly shows off an 18,000-piece puzzle that took her one year to complete. The stunning puzzle features an island at sunset with amazing detail that captures trees, flowers and birds. What is interesting about the puzzle is that a piece is missing. The good news for the individual that completed the puzzle is that the manufacturer can provide replacements.
The Revenue
For the artist, the accuracy and consistency of their metadata is everything. Every piece of the puzzle that captures metadata and music registration builds the complete picture of the artist. Sometimes there is a missing piece of the puzzle because the metadata is not accurate. Perhaps the metadata is not consistent across the platforms where the information lives. Being able to identify the gaps will ensure that the artist receives due revenues.
Rolling Stone reported that U.S. musicians only take home one-tenth of the national industry revenues. Faulty metadata is one of the reasons why artists have not received payments. There are many obstacles that can prevent an artist from getting a return on their investment. The registration of music by the artist or their representative should not be one of them.
Mainstream artists will more than likely have the luxury of a label handling all of their administration. Independent artists who may be a team of one must not only understand the importance of getting it right the first time but also where to register their music. Connected sources, such as Next Big Sound, not only provide analytics and metrics but also help companies validate metadata. Sarah Miébo Téibo, an English and Nigerian musician spoke with Keep the Faith on watching her music climb the UK Official Charts. “I worked really hard on making sure all the admin was in place …”
Discovery and recognition are important elements to Sarah as she continues to spread positive and encouraging messages through her music. At the end of each speaker, there is a listener waiting in anticipation; whether it’s the first time or the 100th time that a particular song is listened to. When the DNA of the artist is made available the effects could last a lifetime.