There’s No Such Thing As Demos (and that’s a good thing)
In the ever-changing landscape of music production, the conventional understanding of a "demo" has changed. It may not even exist anymore. Historically serving as a super basic representation of a song to show labels, A&R’s, managers, artists etc…, the demo nowadays could not be anything farther from this. Today’s “demo” must be - for all intents and purposes - a fully fleshed out, release ready master.
1. Digital Revolution: Rethinking the Demo
Traditional Demos:
Traditionally, demos were swift, low-fidelity recordings meant to outline a song's basic structure. They acted as a blueprint for future, more refined studio recordings. These often were made using 4 track tape recorders, dictaphones, etc.
Modern Perspective:
With the advent of accessible home recording technology and robust digital audio workstations (DAWs), modern demos have evolved to possess a level of sophistication that challenges the distinction between a demo and a final product.
2. Professional Quality at Home
It’s important to consider the reasons demos were necessary in the past. One reason was to convince a label, management, investors etc to finance an expensive stay in a recording studio with a producer and engineer. Now, much of this process - nearly all of it - can be done in a modest home studio. So, suddenly the need to create a worktape style demo is much less relevant.
In fact….
3. Global Reach: Instant Audience Access
Traditional demos had a limited reach, often shared internally with band members, producers, or label executives. Now, artists can effortlessly share their work with a global audience through streaming services, social media, and other formats - all without the help of a label.
And even if a label is involved…
4. The Objectivity of Immediacy
Worktape style demos were once the lifeblood of the major label A&R system. But now that fully fledged production is possible at home with a minimal budget, you’ve got to compete with that. If a label is presented a fully finished, release ready product vs a worktape that still needs to go through the entire production process, they are MUCH more inclined to pickup the project that is ready to get out the door and into listeners ears.
5. Collaborative Iteration: A Living Creation
Traditional demos were fixed recordings, capturing a specific version of a song at a particular moment. In today's music production landscape, demos are part of a collaborative and iterative process. I have worked on SO many records where the artist brought in their demo session, and that would end up basically being the record - wholesale - adding some production, recutting vocals, and giving it a great mix. Having that direct production from the artist can help show their intent, and steer the song into what their ultimate vision is.
Conclusion
In today's music landscape, the term "demo" no longer encapsulates a mere rough version of a song. Instead, every recording, irrespective of its origins, stands as a testament to the artist's creative journey. The democratization of music production and the vast possibilities of digital platforms have elevated every recording to the status of a work in progress - if not a release ready master.
It's crucial to acknowledge that the music industry has adapted to this new reality. Labels and industry professionals increasingly expect artists to present finished projects ready for release. This changing landscape empowers artists to master their craft, delivering a polished product that aligns with industry standards and audience expectations.
Are you prepared to craft your evolving musical narrative? Reach out to me to explore the boundless potential of your recordings. Let's celebrate the music in progress!