The focus of the industry has changed so much in recent years – with album sales down massively compared to even 15 years ago, the focus of record labels has now shifted to generating sales through promotion of live performances. “Studio” bands still have a small share in the market, but labels are far more interested in signing acts who can gain exposure by selling out shows.
Live performances also allow for different arrangements of songs and to show a new audience older material, rather than just your latest work.
Due to the highly competitive nature of the music industry, it is very important to stand out from your competition. Even if you are incredibly well rehearsed, put on an amazing show and wow your audience, having a bad quality recording will impact significantly on the rest of your hard work.
How many times have you heard a recording of a concert recorded on someones phone? Did it sound good? Did you go back and listen to/watch it again? Maybe you did, but promoters, venues, labels and people who don’t know you probably won’t even listen past the first 10 seconds; they want to experience a high quality recording of the performance, rather than something recorded through a phone or cheap recorder, a long way from the stage, or done using other amateur techniques.
Using high quality audio and video of your live performances is the most important way to build your audience using social media and other online tools, such as Facebook, YouTube and Soundcloud. Giving your audience an example of what you can do and getting them to interact is far more beneficial than just inviting them to a gig. They are also more likely to share it in their network and help you reach a bigger audience.
