Why Am I Doing This?

“The music industry is not dead. It's just re-inventing itself”.....Unknown 

I would add to that by saying: “The music industry is not dead. It's just re-inventing itself…….Whether we want it to or not” 

As a kid listening to the radio, I grew up with the dream of becoming a famous musician. I dreamed of signing to a big label and becoming a big rock star.  

Then the music industry changed, and with it came the wake up call. I realized that the music industry that I dreamed of being a part of, had no real place for someone like me. 

 This wake up call made me re-evaluate. It made me ask myself “What am I really doing this for”. Am I doing this for the fame? Am I doing this for the money?

 I certainly want to make money doing this. In fact, I NEED to make money in order to keep doing this. And I certainly don’t spend hours writing and recording music so that no one will hear it. This made me realize that the best purpose that money served was to be able to create more music and that the ONLY purpose that fame could serve was so that people could know about my music. As strange as it may sound (especially as you read this and especially as I type this) the real reason for doing this is the need to create the music that I want to create. In other words: The real reason is the music. 

Sadly, too many of us forget or lose sight of this.

I know of too many musicians who are still hoping that the great record label in the sky will descend upon them and take them to recording artist nirvana. They haven't realized that there is no longer a place for them there. They don't want to realize it. 

Like I said at the beginning. When I was a kid I dreamed of being a Rock Star. I don't know if that is possible for me within the current state of the music industry, but what I have realized is that no matter what happens to the music industry, the digital world has made it possible for me to create my own place. With or without the music industry. 

And the interesting thing is, is that because I chose to create my own place in music, I have managed in the process to become a professional musician, a songwriter, and.....a recording artist. 

As a society we lost focus on what makes music worthwhile. It is not how famous you are, or how much money you can make from it (Although these things are worth striving for).  

What makes the music worthwhile is the quality of the music and it's ability to affect others.

My name is TJR and I am a recording artist......I am just simply not a famous one.