THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED—FOR GOOD.
Hi, I’m Marilyn, and I’m the creator of HEADS on TV.
At 21, I left New York City for Los Angeles after making the decision to drop out of college in pursuit of a full-time music career. In making this move, I was swiftly introduced to the new age of the modern artist—a leveled playing field in which every creator has access to the same marketing tools as any major record label, management company and agency.
THERE’S A DIGITAL SPACE FOR EVERYONE IN THE MODERN MUSIC INDUSTRY.
I want to preface by saying I have watched many friends find their own success in the industry throughout my time in LA, signing to major labels and scoring songwriting and film placements beyond even their own wildest imaginations. I have nothing but the highest respect for the amount of dedication it takes to accomplish something of that magnitude—and it’s still something worth aspiring to for many artists. But in my quest, I also encountered something increasingly less rare—a new breed of artists who are completing their to-do lists all on their own, acting as the distributor, manager, marketing strategist, publicist, you name it—I was impressed. And intrigued.
I was fortunate enough to land a job in the music industry my first year in LA, working on social media and artist relations for music instrument retail giant Guitar Center. It was my job to seek out artists who had interesting stories to tell, both in their music and in their gear preference, allowing me to tap into an expansive network of session musicians and beyond (and some of the wildest stories you’ll ever hear in the business).
I interviewed artists who had independently secured gear sponsorships with major instrument brands like Fender and Yamaha, and learned about the very popular (and widely-utilized) culture of paying rent through sporadic sync placements and product video appearance checks. I had friends who were landing residencies and starting up independent booking agencies all on their own, one of which landed me a show of my own at the legendary Troubadour in early 2020 (pre-quarantine).
At The Troubadour in Hollywood, CA. Photo by Shion Uza
I quickly learned exactly how artists like Chance The Rapper, now a household name, built up recognition without the help of a major label. And I started to think about the kids like me, who grew up with a head full of dreams in an American suburb, believing that a move to Hollywood was the only way to uncover the magical pixie dust that can kickstart a career—a notion that is changing rapidly.
HEADS on TV was born one month after I was laid off during the coronavirus pandemic, 5+ years into my career as a professional social media strategist, and 10+ years into my journey as a working musician. Because, truthfully, I have just as much fun behind-the-scenes as I do on stage.
I wanted to create a space that could grow and evolve right alongside the shifting industry itself, featuring interviews with prominent industry professionals both actively performing and behind-the-scenes. Here, we’ll also dive into the history of music’s relationship with media, exploring the American fascination with pop culture and its decades of impact on how we consume art. 2020 has shone a light on the resilience of the modern artist—both in lifting others up and creatively transforming through chaos.
Feel free to write me anytime if you have ideas for artists/organizations we should check out, or subjects you’d like to learn more about. I aim to make this space as collaborative as possible, and I’m excited to share some of my talented friends and their stories with you as we launch. Stay tuned.
Oh, and why the name, HEADS on TV? That’s the tricky part about having an idea—you’ll spend five minutes formulating it in the shower, and another five months settling on a name.
I LIKE TO THINK OF IT THIS WAY—THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION AND BEYOND WILL BE DEFINED BY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCREEN, AND OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT QUICKLY TO NEW MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY. I THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME WE OWN IT.
Yours, digitally,
Marilyn
p.s. I’ll be popping in from time-to-time with the occasional anecdote, but you can keep up with my personal blog and socials here.
