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By LORA NGEM
Staff Writer

Prices are rising, jobs are scarce, and it’s all about the money these days. The economy is slowly, but surely, declining, much to our despair, and it’s unknown if this is the worst to come, or just the beginning. All we know is that all businesses and industries are defiantly experiencing a set back, and are being forced to find ways to cope with the tough times.

One particular industry, however, could possibly be unfazed by this whole predicament and still go strong for many generations to come.

The entertainment industry. As long as there are people on the planet and the hunger for it, there will always be movies, tv shows, celebrities, concerts, etc. So this means the stars involved in the industry already can ensure themselves they will still have a steady job and are still desired by countless of fans.

But what about the ones that are still trying to put their name out there with their own material and hard work? Artists that don’t depend on a major label, let alone the fame associated with major labels, have their work cut out for them. Most indie artists usually depend on a second income from odd jobs, and distribute their music themselves.

And with distributing their music themselves, they usually forge their persona into an area limited to their own town/region, and their close fans, since it’s easier to maintain. Not to mention touring from place to place is too costly for most indie artists to start with. So with all that to think about, the tedious economy situation doesn’t sound like a good fortune for them now.

However, the majority of society isn’t slowing down their spending habits. To be honest,I still go out and buy more clothes, lots of make-up, and tons of junk food when I shouldn’t. But now, people are being more cautious and reasonable with their purchases. People are looking more into the quality of the products. And what better time to put out, or shop for, best quality and great originality then now?

I believe that indie artists might actually luck out with this situation that most of us would look down on. Fans and society are having shorter attention spans with the same material, so diversity keeps people looking and listening. Being honest and true to your image, and what you and/or your band stands for, matters more now than ever before. Fans might be looking for strong willed artists, that doesn’t let the limelight faze them, to look up to. Staying true with the fans can guarantee a long-lasting, loyal relationship between the artists and them.

Looking more into the business side of this, the industry is going under new economic tweaks itself. It’s becoming more accommodating with the sudden rise of technology and the internet, such as digital distribution and websites. Everyone can access the music with one click, and selling over the internet is a more convenient and sensible choice for many. Since almost everyone can access the internet, every artist can also do the same, and at little cost. Not only that, but everyone can also access each other from around the world, and that expands the artist’s range of audience.

Co-marketing, when bands come together and create new material as one, is also on the rise. This can mean that independent artists can just team up with others that are in the same boat and tour cheaper. Fans still go to concerts despite these times, and the entertainment of a live show is always worth it. Even then, lowering tickets prices has been a great blessing for many fans.

When touring isn’t always the best method for gathering fans together or financial gain, there is copyright. This protects everyone's music from being reproduced and distributed without their say. This is an actual law that enforces a contract that has been made between the artist/band and the label, and by law, the label has to pay them a “rate” per song whenever used. That ensures the artist all their rights and some money for their work.

Looking at the economic and personal aspects for independent artists now seems a little brighter and alright. Staying honest and doing what you do best isn’t such a challenge. Playing and breathing music for a living is the life that every artist would want. But not to underestimate the near future, I still believe that every artist has their work cut out for them, as their audiences are hungrier than ever for only the best!