[Berns321]

Hi! So i've been thinking about a career in the music buisness industry, weather it would be working at a record label, for a licensing or publishing company, or with bands on tour, ect.

Being an INFP though, I'm sure there are a lot of things that might bother me a lot such as living in the big city, dealing with fake or greedy people. It seems (and I'm sure you know) there is a lot that goes down in the music industry that doesn't seem entirely ethical or fair....and a lot of really talented musicians are being overlooked by dolled up divas, and just a lot of other shady stuff, plus the fast past of things....but I really love music, and the creativity involved.

I'm actually a singer/songwriter and have been performing for about 3 solid years now, but I really don't expect to be successful with it and the need to financially support myself is really starting to crush me.

so...any infps out there who work in the music industry and enjoy what they do?
or do you think an infp could thrive in that kind of music industry environment?

 

[DeritIS]

Not that I know personally, but I know a raper that I think is an infp:

Anyways, I say go for it.

 

[IAmOrangeToday]

There are plenty of INFPs in music, but they usually aren't renowned for stage commanding charisma and speaking in public, but for amazingly deep words and music, kooky fashion and a quiet intensity. You will do fine as long as you cling to who you are like a nugget of gold in a cold black torrent.

 

[Bago]

There are a lot of none shady people too. You got to keep your conviction and your personality about you. Many artistists that made it also were looked after and it is their personality that sold them. Susan Boyle is one such artistist who made it small time big. No matter which industry you go into, there is a time and place to show your skills. Do not enter the industry asap hoping to make it big. Do some research and see or find like-minded individuals who can help you or can collaborate to target a new area or market. I think even Shakira is an INFP I guess. You got to consider showing your shadow side though when you do make it big. Most artists do this. Even Beyonance used it in her songs. It's inline with this "i have a living shadow" era. I get the impression that the next phase of music is more socialist in nature and mostly about peace and authenticity of self. It's why a lot of artists have myspace accounts or any other internet way to promote themselves. Even some musicians turned to busking to bypass labels and put together and manage their own gigs. If you do not want to go alone, consider creating a band to bounce ideas etc. It probably will anchor you also.


1 - keep authencity and create deep and soulful music but work on your social anxiety. Think Eva Cassidy.
2 - Use your shadow to your advantage and must find ways to reduce anxiety for yourself. Must be disciplined though.

 

[comeasyouare]

John Frusciante

 

[comeasyouare]

I think Kurt Cobain could've been an INFP too... but i'm not sure

 

[Bago]

So was Amy Winehouse... but she made sad music though and let the sad music consume her and stayed in her shadow also too. You also got to becareful what music you release cos if you are connecting deeply into your music and lose your own self and not detach from it. It does actually and do makes you stay within that state of being soulfully.... It becomes a habit. It also brings back up memories too. You got to tap into the right mindset when you write music, and remember that you see it also as a job too. Or something of that nature. Look towards bands like U2.... They made it religious and to anchor each other and always keep happy and make it their job to sing. Build up friendships too to anchor yourself. Remember this.

 

[Mataes]

I constantly try and type the musicians I listen to. I like it when I find someone I consider an INFP

I too am considering a possibility in music, cause I've always admired people like that. I'm learning piano and it probably won't go anywhere, but at least I'll be able to play piano.


A few I suspect:
Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack)
Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five and Solo)
Neil Halstead
Aaron Barett (at times) (Reel Big Fish)
Tomas Kalnoky (Streetlight Manifesto)'
Newton Faulkner
Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)
Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) (Maybe)

Thats all I got. I wouldn't be surprised if these turned out to be ISFP instead. Its hard to tell because to write the sort of deep, emotional music INFPs would write, they would have to use Fi, which just about anyone can do if they tried hard enough.

Also

 

[DeritIS]

John Frusciante

I think he is infj

 

[IAmOrangeToday]

I think Kurt Cobain could've been an INFP too... but i'm not sure

A think a lot of the musicians who commit suicide are INFPs.

 

[ethylester]

It seems to me some of the biggest challenges an INFP may face in the music industry stem around criticism. You have to be willing to be criticized and be ok with it. You also have to have the confidence to promote yourself, especially if you are trying to do a solo career. If you don't have the drive to promote yourself, then it would be wise to find someone who you totally trust to promote you.

I have been playing solo since 1997 and my hurdles have been those I mentioned above. I got one bad review once of an album and it crushed me. I was ten years younger than I am now (22) and didn't have the confidence to not take it to heart. I started doubting myself and I stopped promoting the album. I stopped caring as much about getting it out there because if no one was going to like it, then what's the point of having them listen to it? Even though I had about 100 people tell me they loved the album, that one person's negative review made a bigger impression on me. So then the next album I made was a CD-R instead of getting it manufactured and I only handed it out to people I knew would like it. No more blind promotion. And because of this, I still have a few hundred copies of that first album that I don't know what I'm going to do with.

I eventually met two people who liked my music enough to promote it and help me get it out there, but it's been like pulling teeth for me. I teeter between not caring at all and keeping the music within myself and only for myself, or saying to people "here's my music, love it or hate it, I don't care". It's taken a lot of work for me to say that I don't care if people don't like my music. Because it's an expression of my soul, you know? When someone says they don't like your stuff, it's like saying they don't like your soul! I know logically they aren't saying that at all, but emotionally it comes across that way because I'm a sensitive person.

So anyway, I wish you the best of luck. And when someone criticizes what you do, which will inevitably happen because there will always be someone out there who thinks it sucks no matter what you do, I hope you can cope with it better than I did and not let it crush your spirit. And even though it feels really weird to put your stuff out there and try to get people to like it (it feels so fake to hype myself up, like I'm trying to brag about nothing), I hope you can find the strength to keep doing it. Dedication. That's the most important thing.

Good luck, fellow INFP musician! keep on rockin

 

[Berns321]

Thanks guys!! This is great advice...although I'm not looking to become the "face" of the music industry or an artist. I'm looking into going to music business school, and work in the background. Like management, or the person who works in the record label, A&R, or the one who places music in flim/TV, the one who runs the tour, ect. ect.

I think a lot of artists who committed suicide, has a lot to do with the buisness side of the biz....there seems to be a lot of pressure. And especially for and infp artist, there were a lot of times they felt unauthentic because of the nasyt side of that biz...

I'd love to live off of my own music, but I really don't expect that to happen.

But yeah....music BUISNESS.....you think INFPs could thrive in that setting?


oh! If you guys are interested.....
here is my facebook music page xD facebook.com/bernadetteconantmusic

 

[ethylester]

Thanks guys!! This is great advice...although I'm not looking to become the "face" of the music industry or an artist. I'm looking into going to music business school, and work in the background. Like management, or the person who works in the record label, A&R, or the one who places music in flim/TV, the one who runs the tour, ect. ect.

I think a lot of artists who committed suicide, has a lot to do with the buisness side of the biz....there seems to be a lot of pressure. And especially for and infp artist, there were a lot of times they felt unauthentic because of the nasyt side of that biz...

I'd love to live off of my own music, but I really don't expect that to happen.

But yeah....music BUISNESS.....you think INFPs could thrive in that setting?


oh! If you guys are interested.....
here is my facebook music page xD facebook.com/bernadetteconantmusic

I think the music business would benefit from having an INFP executive behind the scenes. For sure. You should do it. I'm expecting great things from you now, don't let me down. haha

 

[Berns321]

I think the music business would benefit from having an INFP executive behind the scenes. For sure. You should do it. I'm expecting great things from you now, don't let me down. haha

I do feel strongly about certain things in the music industry and where it is headed. If I can do something about it, I for sure will!!