Readers Respond: What Place Do Older Musicians Have in the Music Industry?

Does the music industry have an age limit? What kind of obstacles do older musicians face in the music industry? Does their genre of music matter? Share your thoughts about age and the music industry - if it matters, why it matters and how older musicians can get around music business ageism.

Are you too old to become a recording a

I was told by someone at Defense Jam records....Honey,YOU EITHER GOT IT OR YOU DON'T. NOW IT'S UP TO YOU WHAT YOU DO, HOW YOU DO IT AND WHERE YOU GO TO DO IT. So in other words NO!!!

—Guest Horrez

Age smage...

I'm a 45 yr. old guitarist vocalist for two extreme metal bands in Erie PA. I love what I do and want to take it as far as I can. Anymore I don't think labels are the way to go and in metal, (and many other genres I'm guessing) DIY is the way to go. So if your fate is in your own hands, what does age have to do with anything? You do it as long as you LOVE it! One of my bands (Requiem For Oblivion) is very fulfilling personally as I've done a majority of the recording and writing and playing myself. And, it documents my troubled past...very therapeutic for me. The other band, (Scarwork) won a local award last year, (Rock Erie Music Award...kind of the local equivalent to a Grammy) in the metal category! What a feeling of validation and proof that its not all a waste of time. I have plans to tour and keep recording etc... Fun, fun, fun, Passion, dreams, fun, fulfillment, inspiration, and more fun. Keep doing what you love!

—Guest Steve J.

Never too old

Hello all. I am 38yrs old and have been making hip hop track since 1998. I started belive it or not on PlayStation 2 with the game/CD "Music Makers". Around 2000 I got my first CPU and Fruity Loop studio 5 and have not looked back. I only have a couple of studio programs but none the less I'm getting better and would probably be in the industry if I knew the right people. Never stop making music if you love it no matter how old you are.

—Guest M. Pearson

Seppie

I've encountered a fair amount of age discrimination in the music business, but largely because I was looking for the wrong type of gigs. I lived in and attended music school in Los Angeles, and for the pop gigs it's essential you're under 30, but a lot of times for the rock gigs the same. I've been told a lot of times they don't want to pay older musicians because they have more experience and want to be paid more. In that environment, image matters more than age in ANY genre you pursue. But age is always a factor in almost any musical situation you'll find yourself in. Maturity level, experience, and many other things are considered depending on your age. However, that shouldn't stop anyone, because only YOU can know what you want for sure and should go after what you want regardless. Needless to say though, it does get old QUICKLY dealing with this all the time.

—Guest Seth Worsham

EzKAzPJsC

such as melody, ryhthm, harmony, instruments, voices, describes something, is emotional, etc. But then I use some listening examples from Bach, Allegri, Gregorian chant, Schoenberg, Cage, ethnic music, Deadmau5, Eminem, etc. and we come up with the definition of music as organised sound this leads then into a discussion about what sound is (melody, ryhthm, harmony) and then how it is organised i.e. notation/technology/performance. I've never had anyone who has totally disagreed and I think as a teacher there is a real value because they do have a definition (no matter how limiting it is), and then they have an awareness of why we talk about music constituent parts, and why we learn to notate it. By the way its possible that the student has amusia, it's very rare but certainly not unheard of, especially if you're using really basic examples and they cannot hear the beat!

—Guest TPnuSjJseJ

be the example others will point to!

Im in mid 40s school teacher and just started recording and kids love it! Experience allows me to overcome fears of youthful days! you can check out my r and b songs on youtube by typing everton marshall. Mature folk can write and sing with more truth and meaning delivering real music! writers singers and players of instruments please believe me when i say its NEVER too late!

—Guest everton marshall

Age shouldn't matter!

I am 60 and my singing voice is in the greatest shape it's ever been in!! I too am worried that no one will want to listen to me sing because of my age. I am inspired by some of our members who are around my age. Can you share specific instances of being appreciated by younger listeners, either via your recordings or live performances? Feel free to go to YouTube to hear my new EP called "Howard Bennett/Hot, Cool and Blue". Let me know what you think!

—howardbennettsings

The Truth

The FACT is that one is never too old to make it in the music business... so long as the music business wants you to make it. Therein lay the "rub": The industry veils their agenda with the bald faced lie that they "give the public what they want." Bullsh*t. In reality the industry actually TELLS all the sheep what they want and then sell it to them. Kids have the most dispensable income and are easy targets because they want instant identities and want to be unique -- to the point of total blindness to reality. Technically older people should actually be better at music. More life wisdom to share, more time to develop, more retrospect, stronger truths to impart.... but kids are easily led -- especially by other kids. Because the majority of consumers under 25 largely refuse to believe this to be the case, the industry can further market to them a false notion of uniqueness or autonomy along with the 'music' they peddle. Actually they peddle a whole lifestyle.

—Guest JayDub

I'm confused

What do these people want to happen with their music? If your goal is to be signed by a major label and have your music pushed into the pop market for mass consumption, then you have a tough road ahead at any age. It is a business. They are in business to move units. If they decide that teenagers will buy the most units, they will market music to teenagers. This includes marketing artists that teenagers will find attractive or are able to relate to. This is a business model that has proven successful since the arrival of Elvis. This is not a market that rewards the best played music, etc. It's about profit margin, as a business should be. If older people purchased as many units as younger people did, they would market to them. They go where the money is.... All that being said... what does music have to do with this market? Most appreciators of good music could care less about this whole market. They like good music and don't care whom it was played by. Find these people, play for them

—Guest TatorTot

Not too old

I'm a 19 year old singer songwriter from Saskatoon Saskatchewan (website joannadee.ca) and no it's never too late to make it in the industry, some lady made it big when she was 65! I remember that but not her name and the biggest downfall with music is the desire for fame and stuff..that all doesn't matter. people don't have to notice you for u to be able to do your music. U can still make plenty of songs and inspire many people even if u don't make it into the industry. You can still have your fans, some fan mail, shows and a lot of fun! I'm having a great time with music. Of course I'm trying to "'make it" but if I don't ill never grow out of music. No one should.

—Guest Joanna Dee

Dj Paddy - an inspiration

Hey DJ Paddy - loved your response as I'm over 40, have always loved electronic music and am about to give up a well paid job to pursue it. I don't need to be famous but I do have a young family to feed. I'm going to do it anyway, but it really helps to see comments like yours. Is there any way I can contact you to hear a bit more of your story? Thanks!

—Guest Curious

Writer

Im 42. I wrote a record that I'd actually buy if I wasn't in the band. Wasn't trying to "make it". In one year we got signed, got songs in 3 movies, walked red carpet for one movie, am making video for PTSD. I actually had to slow stuff down because we were being asked to tour and found myself doing film and tv soundtracks. Your never too old! Just make great relevant meaningfull music. Do something that adds to the music world...ie.. Be original.

—Guest Commove

Baby boomers stories untold

Born in 1960, as I understand, at the tail end of the baby boom. I feel not much different than when I was in my twenties. I think the reason that a lot of us don't listen to a lot of new music is that it simply doesn't speak to us. However, I am tired of living in the past. Listening to music that reminds me of glory days passed is no way to live. The record labels, that have not exactly shown the best business savvy over the past decade, are once again missing a major market..the fastest growing segment of the population... Us. So, let's make music about the longing for grandchildren, estranged children, loneliness in our golden years, the joy of enlightenment, the silliness of youth... If we build it, they will come.

—Joewhitemusic

Never to old

Case and Point Los DE Rios remember that song MACARENA IN 1992. It was a international SUCCESS those guys were not YOUNG Dudes. No one is too old if they ve got the goods as said in the music industry

—Guest Teddy

what really matters in everything

First off, age appropriate material for age appropriate audiences is practically mandatory. After that, the other concerns are: A) the necessary skills... B) really (really) wanting to put in the time and work necessary (or are you just excited with a dream of your self image?)... C) access to the necessary equipment and players... D) access to gigs...

—Guest Da Dood