YoubloomDublin2017
At around noon on Thursday, June 1st, Dublinâs atmosphere became a bit more community-minded. More specifically, it became a bit more nurturing towards those who possess a love of music. Sixty independent musicians based in multiple countriesâfrom Portugal to Swedenâwould play a unique gig during that weekend at the youbloomDublin Music Summit & Festival, an independent music conference and festival. Its uniqueness stems from the fact that youbloom caters specifically to unsigned artists with the intention of altering the current unsustainability of said artists. How do they accomplish this? Well, just ask the artists themselves who performed at youbloomDublin three weeks ago.
The Music Industry Exposed
The music industry is extremely skewed: a few hundred artists make 75% of the revenue. Smaller artists usually remain unseen because they simply donât have the support they need to grow their business. These music industry statistics and the monopoly effect lead artists like Oski Bravo, who performed at youbloom Dublin for the first time, to insist that the music industry is a âpigstyâ. Back to the Ocean, an alternative band who played twice at youbloomDublin, also attests to the demanding aspects of the music industry in that independent musicians basically must figure out how to get fans on their own. Theyâre âexpected to have world class recordings, [a] big fanbase, professional videos and social media profiles, and [a] business orientationâ.
A Love of Music
But for many, even though the odds seem insurmountable, the love for the craft is greater. âIt felt like a natural progression for both of usâ, CARRON stated. For the two sisters who played at youbloomDublin in Phoenix Park on Saturday and The Globe on Sunday, it began with âleading roles in shows like âAnnieâ, âThe Wizard of Ozâ, and âThe Sound of Musicââ along with violin and vocal lessons. They believe the music industry standard is quite high, particularly in Ireland with artists such as Hozier attaining success. However, they are hopeful for what it means for them in that â[they] must always be progressing too, writing new music and taking part in as many live events as [they] canâ.
