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Self-Funding Your Career

While label-funded budgets are disappearing, recording, promoting and touring still requires a hard cash investment. To adjust to the changing realities of today’s music industry, musicians must find other funding sources. Below we offer 3 different scenarios – musicians Eric Hsu, of the band Johnny Hi-Fi and Soul singer Melissa Young used 2 different approaches to raising the monies that they needed; and Brad Peterson, Regions Bank VP of Music & Entertainment, discusses another option – a “Royalty Advance Loan” program.

JOHNNY HI-FI

With numerous US and Asian tours under its belt, Johnny Hi-Fi's Alternative Rock sound has captured fans all over. In 2005, the bands video reached #8 on MTV Chi's top 10 video charts, and helped them land the "Artist of the Month" spot on Billboard Magazine's Underground series and a feature in the magazine. The band has appeared on CBS News, in The New York Times and World Journal, and on radio stations from Texas to Taipei.

Call it “Entrepreneur or Overachiever Rock” – Johnny Hi-Fi is successfully defying stereotypes - eschewing major label support and the starving artist lifestyle – the band members manage to fund their music careers by dint of hard work, great music and lucrative day jobs that supplement grueling weekend touring schedules and CD sales. Read our full interview here.

MELISSA YOUNG

Atlanta-based soul artist, Melissa Young, has received critical acclaim for her debut album, "Just Up the Road" self-released on SugaShack Music. Blending sweet Southern Soul with a touch of Funk & R&B grooves, the disk was hailed a "hidden gem of 2007" by Billboard magazine, which stated that Young's "spirited, raspy vocals command attention from the first cut on this sure-footed debut."

In 1999 after earning an undergrad degree from Howard University and an MFA from New York University’s Film school, Young decided to devote herself to music, supplying background vocals to several artists including Reggae singer Ky-mani Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley, during his European tour. Read the full interview here.

Brad Peterson, VP Regions Bank

Financial institutions offer a more traditional route to raising cash. Regions Bank, with 600 outlets throughout southern USA offers unique funding options for musicians at their Nashville-based branch.

VP Brad Peterson explains how their program works here.