The Business of Being David Myles
David Myles is a talented musician. Turns out he’s an equally talented entrepreneur.
The Fredericton-born singer songwriter has carved out a strong career doing what he loves, producing pop music that blends country, R&B and hip hop in constantly evolving ways. In a region that produces lots of great musicians but fewer great music careers, Myles has built a national profile as an artist.
Still, it could have gone another way. A career in music wasn’t part of his original plan. “I was going to go to law school but I started writing songs and then I got hooked.”
There are lots of talented musicians working in coffee shops and, yes, even law firms. Talent isn’t usually enough, even for an artist like Myles. Becoming a successful professional musician also calls for hustle.
“I got on the phone and started calling venues all across the country, little coffee shops and bars and started to hit the road. Wherever they would have me I would sell CDs. Basically I would travel around with a pack of CDs and sell them at each show. That’s how I started to make a living.”
LISTEN: Huddle’s interview with David Myles on the business of music, why the Top 40 doesn’t suck, and what’s next.
Now Myles puts his music out on his own record label and is filling theatres across Canada. He’s also looking to the United States, putting out a record there and touring.
Many artists turn away from the business side of the music industry, hoping their art will be enough. But it doesn’t work that way. Myles gets that, and it’s part of his success.
“A big part of it has to do with not being afraid of the business side of what I am doing. Understanding that if I’m going to survive this as an artist I kind of have to know that stuff, I need to embrace, I need to learn it,” he says. “I need to treat it like any small business.”
Running the business side of being an artist is important to Myles, but it’s not what drives him. “I see myself as an entrepreneur but day-to-day I really try to focus on the art because I know that’s what creates it.”
“There is nothing without songs for me.”
The music industry is a tough business that’s gotten tougher over the past few decades as music downloads and streaming mean artists make a lot less from selling records. Where music fans might have bought a handful of CDs every payday, now they get all the music in the world for $10 per month on Apple Music.
“The way people consume music is very different right now and you have to diversify.”
“I’ve embraced those changes even though a big part of my business model is selling CDs and doing shows, it doesn’t mean you ignore the other stuff. I have lots of social media going on, I have playlists on Spotify,” he says.
Understanding the audience is a big part of Myles’ success, even with his eclectic musical style. “You’ve got to see things as a consumer, as an audience member. When I do a show I think about the audience.”
“I might have an older business model in some ways but I want to have a very modern, contemporary business that is versatile and agile and everything else.”
“I certainly don’t shy away from the title [of entrepreneur]” he says. “Part of being a good entrepreneur is realizing that the main thing of what you do needs to stay the main thing. I need to focus on writing great songs, I need to focus on putting on great shows. That’s my responsibility in my business.”
Myles has collaborated closely with Halifax hip hop star Classified, including on the monster hit “Inner Ninja” which is heading to five times platinum status in Canada.
“It didn’t take very long to realize that it was becoming a hit. That was the coolest thing, to see the momentum behind it. It was nuts,” says Myles.
Myles continues to tour, with some upcoming Maritime stops, and he heads back to the studio in June to create a new record, promising it will have an “Elvis-type RCA style, late 50s early 60s early rock kinda country vibe.”