by John Durant

Created on: December 31, 2007

At what age should an aspiring recording artist pack up their musical dreams and toss them to the curb? That's a very easy question to answer; the second you think you're to old to succeed in the music business you should probably quit. The competition in this business is incredibly fierce, so anyone who isn't 100% committed to their music career doesn't stand a chance.

Before anyone even considers a career in music, they need to take an honest look at what they're up against. Even a major label deal doesn't guarantee success or longevity if an artist can't generate sales. If you're young and would like a nice family with economic stability, then I would suggest choosing another career. Profits have dwindled in this industry, and at the same time, the competition has risen dramatically because of the incredible surge of quality independent recordings.

The advantage right now for older experienced artists is that they usually produce higher quality recordings than younger journeyman artists, and with well-managed independent distribution they have a very good chance of generating significant income. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that determination and the commitment to succeed will often trump age limits in the new music industry.

Obviously there are certain genres that require pretty young artists. If you're an artist trying to compete in those genres, then look at the top artists in those genres to determine the realistic age that you may want to switch gears in your music career. Reaching that age doesn't necessarily mean that your career is over, it just means you need to transform yourself into a more marketable product in another genre.

People who really want to succeed in this business will always find ways to market their talent regardless of age because they're working in a career they love! I love being a recording artist, and quite honestly, I plan on working in the music industry until they bury me in a pine box.

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