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Beat making is becoming a less defined term as each year goes by – many of the top beat makers are also effectively becoming music producers, and a lot of artists are these days playing part in the entire process, further blurring the lines between roles in music.
With the technology of today, making music has never been easier or more affordable. From making beats to laying down vocals, the entire process can be controlled at the computer. Free programs are becoming better as time goes on, while established hosts like Sonar and Cubase sport light (cheaper!) versions to get your feet wet. With self-contained hosts/synths like Reason, many beat makers and musicians are sketching out ideas on airplanes and on buses, having all the drum samples and sounds available to them at a mouse-click.
With this offering of accessible technology comes an increase in competition. The ability to make your own beats is quickly becoming something everyone and their grandma can claim, with apps on phones the latest way to learn on the go.
Many ambitious beat makers are undertaking formal music study to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, while others simply spend more time making music than the next man. It’s said that the person who succeeds works 5 percent harder than the person who fails.
Working towards a formal certification at music technology schools and universities has one major benefit: contacts. The contacts you have can make your career, and finding like-minded people is the best way to get ahead in life. That’s not to say that contacts are a make-or-break – far from it – but having them does open doors.
Today’s beat makers are using the internet to land major placements and further their careers. Most people are familiar with Soulja Boy’s (and others’) path to fame via the internet. The truth is: they made it because their music was already there. The music was just about commercially viable, it just needed to be tweaked. Do you think a band like U2 would have trouble getting signed today? With even minimal exposure, it’d be impossible for them not to ‘make it.’
The best advice you could get is to just focus on your music, because, honestly, if it’s at the level you want, everything else will fall into place. Stop wasting time waiting for a big break if your beats (hip-hop, RnB, dance etc.) are not up to scratch, because you will not be prepared in the event something does come up.