Ezine Archive - Issue 3

April 2016
-Verse 3
Welcome to the third issue of my e-zine - I hope you're enjoying them as much as I am
loving bringing them to you. Please remember that I very much want this to be a two a
way street - an e-conversation if you like! - and would love to hear from you. Who knows,
you might find something you have sent me appearing in a future issue!
As you may well have seen from my social media feeds, I am currently recording some
tracks for my next album. So far the drum tracks have gone down really well and it’s
sounding pretty sweet-if I do say so myself! I am very much looking forward to getting to
the release stage so you can all hear it and let me know what you think! I’d like to thank
those of you who have sent me messages saying you’re looking forward to hearing it. I
would also like to thank those who are spreading the word by getting involved in social
media chats and also requesting songs from my last album, ‘Evergreen’ be played on the
radio. It really does make all the difference.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it is to be an independent musician in a fast
paced, ever changing musical landscape. I should start by laying all my cards on the table
and say that I love being independent and furthermore, will always seek to support my
fellow independent musicians.
Of course, record labels represent opportunity. They will back and support those
musicians who catch their ear. When you take into account the actual cost of producing a
CD - with overheads ranging from equipment (both instruments and recording gear),
securing copyright and distribution services, not to mention the massive amount of time
invested and the less glamorous problem of living though the process, it's no wonder
musicians turn to the reassuring arms of the music industry leaders. In exchange, of
course, for one vital thing - control. The major labels decide what to release, based on
what they think will sell.
For myself, I relish artistic freedom, a gift denied other artists who exist underneath the
corporate umbrella. I am able to write, record and release music, purely for the love of the
art form. My music comes directly from me and reaches the listener exactly as I intend it to
be heard. I choose which songs to release and when. The new album on which I am
currently working is a good illustration of this process. Every drum track, guitar part and
lyric line that I record is a labour of love and although it can take longer to produce, I feel
much happier that the end result is completely under my control. It's a much more personal
transaction than one conducted merely for financial gain.
Please support independent musicians! You can do this in many ways:
-Go to shows. Seek out new artists and go to see them live. If there's a band you like, keep
an eye on when they might be playing near you and go to see them! Believe me, they will
get as much of a buzz out of you being there, as they will be getting from the opportunity to
play their music.
-Buy merchandise. If they have a stall, treat yourself to a little something and rest assured
that any money they make will be ploughed back into the music.
Get interactive. Like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter. Get involved.
-Word of mouth. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about the fantastic song you just
heard. Help to build a following that will help encourage the artist's longevity.
-Pay for music. In a world where you can listen to so much free music, this is a tricky one
for every independent artist. Streaming music is a fantastic tool and has the ability to bring
music to people who would perhaps not take the risk of listening to something 'new'. But if
you hear something you like, consider buying the single, EP or LP on CD or iTunes, so
that they can afford to keep on making the music you love and enjoy. And from my own
personal perspective, I can tell you that the sale of one CD sale means more to me than
the sale of 100 does to the likes of EMI.
Thank you to each and every one of you who have supported me and made a difference in
my musical endeavours. As ever, I'm eager to get your feedback and hear from you guys! I
hope that one advantage of being a part of the Chris Raggatt community is that I am keen
to have a two way conversation with you all. You can message me through my Facebook
page - facebook.com/chrisraggattcountry, Twitter - @ChrisRaggattUK, or directly through
my website - chrisraggatt.com. Please do get in touch!
Make sure you don’t miss an issue!
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