Professional Development Plan

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

  • Incredible proficiency inside Ableton Live and Xfer Serum.
  • I have a wide range of creative skill sets, from making websites, to music, to motion graphics.
  • Ability to create high-quality songs quickly without any guidance or reference material
  • Intermediate web design skills with proficiency inside the Revolution Slider plugin.
  • Unmatched drive to make every release better than the last.
  • Relatively strong network in the EDM and bedroom pop community.

Weaknesses

  • I am my biggest critic; I don’t release music often as I start a bigger project before the last one is completed.
  • I have no fans as of 2023 and have not put any time into building a brand or a market for myself.
  • I have low financial and material capital, making it difficult for me to create music quickly and effectively using modern hardware.
  • Difficulty working in large groups.
  • Weak theory-level musical skills.
  • Weak time management skills.

Opportunities

  • Independent record labels. Small independent record labels often have ‘unknown artist’ compilations that feature music from underground artists such as myself.
  • Sync licensing.
  • Remix competitions. Remix competitions give any artist with skills the chance to be recognized by a larger musical community and have their songs released professionally.

Threats

  • The music industry is heavily saturated, with over 100,000 new songs being uploaded to streaming services daily (Peoples, 2023). This makes it incredibly hard to compete.
  • EDM artists make very little money when compared to pop vocalists or popular band members.
  • Being a musician is not a stable job. As income is mostly gained from fan engagement, it can be difficult to maintain a revenue stream.

Five Year Plan

Skill Development

2024 marks the year I begin taking my skill development seriously and professionally.

Q1&2

  • Collaborate with artists locally and globally to maximize reach and knowledge. Working collaboratively with other artists will help me utilize a combination of our fanbases in a symbiotic relationship. During the process, we will both be able to share our knowledge & skill sets, resulting in a concise final piece of art that not only strengthens our network, but provides a shared learning experience.
  • Rebrand entire EDM artist alias “Allinator” to better reflect my style of music and signify a shift towards high-quality music. Using my graphic design skills, I will create a branding pack consisting of light & dark logos, SoundCloud, YouTube & other social media banners, album cover bases & a small asset pack to ensure consistency across future art. This rebranding will also include a website with links to updated social media sites, as well as current releases
    The goal of this rebrand is to not only further my graphic design skills, but also encourage myself to use the new assets to create art that will attract a larger audience.

Q3&4

  • Purchase and engage in mentoring sessions from industry-leading artists. Artists like Oddprophet, TRVCY, Nimda, Nasko & others offer high-quality music tutoring sessions, and specialize in specific EDM genres that I will diversify myself into (MENTORING - ODDPROPHET, 2023), (Nimda, 2016). Although these mentoring sessions contain small networking benefits, I will primarily use this time to develop my skills as an artist, alongside feedback from my mentors.
  • Enter remix competitions with my projects to gain attention and skills. Remix competitions are a great way for me to build skills as well as attention, all while working with professionally-made samples & challenging myself as an artist. If I win a competition, this will allow me to boost my audience as well as have an official release under a large record label.

Experience Development

In 2024, I will gain experience to set up future opportunities in 2025.

Q1&2

  • Expand my social network and connect with popular local artists. Attending as many shows as I can is a simple, foolproof strategy to grow my network and find new opportunities, whether these be local or regional.
  • Release first EDM single/EP under a label, and end my independent status as an artist. Label candidates include the “Half Heart Project”, “Full Flex Audio”, “Hellhound Audio” & “Echoes Collective”. I already have an opportunity to release under the “Half Heart Project” but want to explore other options.
  • Alongside my rebrand, I will also upload all previous and future releases to Spotify, a resource that I have been neglecting for the past two years in an effort to focus on developing my skills as an artist. A Spotify profile with strong analytics will prove invaluable towards gaining future label releases, as audience engagement is the number one statistic for labels.

Q3&4

  • Land the first project. Whether this be creative or code-related, my first freelance project will begin in Q3 of 2024.
    Building a website for a business comes with many options for upselling and maximizing profit. I will include SEO optimization, Google & Facebook Ad packages, as well as other social media advertising options.
  • Prepare analytics, portfolios & demos for a Warner Music deal. I have been granted the opportunity to send a demo of my music to a Warner Music A&R. To guarantee success, I must have a strong fanbase, analytics & portfolio to present myself as a substantial investment.
  • Plan a second EDM EP release under a label, continuing my push into a commercial space & solidifying a fanbase that engages with my music. This will happen in Q3-4 as I will be able to filter out ‘bad’ projects to synthesize a concise and impactful project that is not only worth my time, but also the resources of the potential record label.
  • Play a live show in a local venue as a support act. Using my current network, I will be able to confidently secure a spot in Q4 of 2024, if this hasn’t already happened previously. I do expect a small show in Q4 2023. Live shows are an incredible opportunity for EDM artists to showcase their talent as DJs and producers, expose potential fans to their music, and network with other artists.

Study Development

In 2024, I will be taking advantage of the study resources provided at QUT.

Q1&2

  • Choose KMB223 as my 2024 Q1&2 elective. Music and Media’s second assessment task will allow for me to collaborate with peers across creative disciplines. It will also provide practical experience development by allowing me to work on a project similar to potential projects in the future. I will be sure to join a group that shares similar visions for their projects in order to make the most of this experience.
  • Make an effort to attend all lectures and classes at university. This will help me to better understand my units, complete assignments effectively with tutor feedback & learn more effectively.

Q3&4

  • Study & obtain a Google UX Design Certificate (Google Grow, 2023) to further my knowledge of Web Design. Google Certificates are internationally recognized, and the course content contains transferrable skills into other areas of interest.

Skill Development

In 2025 I will refine my skills and move some of my focus towards pop music.

Q1&2

  • Shift some of my focus towards my pop alias. Unfortunately, EDM artists who are not touring do not make enough money to sustain themselves; however pop is more likely to gain streaming revenue, and is a more reliable avenue for income. I will also use this opportunity to learn more about popular music production, as 2024 will see expansion into EDM.
  • Livestream production sessions online. Livestreaming is a lucrative business opportunity with infinite content generation and opportunities to amass large audiences while receiving donations. Livestreaming will allow me to practice my craft and teach others all while getting paid.

Q3&4

  • Begin planning merchandise sales in preparation for my headline show in Q3 of 2026. As this is a preparatory stage, I will just be designing clothes at this point.
  • Review effectiveness of 2024 rebrand and rebrand again if necessary.
  • Analyze pop music & implement the musical conventions and production techniques into my new music.
  • Master advanced production skills & software and use this knowledge experiment with unconventional production techniques. Creating a unique sound is one of the most important elements in the success of any musician. Making songs that break ground in the music space creates interest in myself as an artist.

Experience Development

2025 will see a huge development in my experience, with the addition of a home studio & the beginning of sync licensing.

Q1&2

  • Release a full-length album under a label that consists of a few songs from my last EP, but mostly features new music that challenges boundaries in the EDM genre and creates a talking point for listeners in the space. Creating a unique piece of art like an album is an excellent way for me to showcase my talent and gain interest from new fans and big names in the industry.
  • Invest in a home studio setup in preparation for leaving university. After graduation, I will no longer be able to access the high-quality facilities provided by QUT. The facilities are invaluable to me, as I can create discerning musical pieces quickly and easily.
  • Begin pitching my skills and demos to sync licensing houses. I frequently create cinematic pieces that lay unreleased on my computer. Being able to monetize these unused tracks will be a great source of extra income.

Q3&4

  • Get a job at a local studio. Gaining real-world experience with an established business opens many opportunities to use the facilities as well as providing opportunities to gain social capital in the form of local artists.
  • Play more local shows (At least 2). These will serve as an opportunity to earn income as an artist, as well as get my name out to prospective fans.
  • Release a second EP containing at least one collaboration with a notable, touring artist. Having a collaboration with a larger artist will be an excellent way for me to gain more popularity and also boost my analytics to show to labels.
  • Release/develop a collaborative debut EP with Bishwajit Paul under my pop alias 'cadnxc' with the Warner Music record label. Following the success of my production for Paul, I will approach Warner for a collaborate EP that is already in the works. Depending on release scheduling & I am confident that this project will either be released in Q4 of 2025 or Q1 of 2026.

Study Development

In the final year of my university study, I will continue to collaborate with my peers and gain a high GPA.

Q1&2

  • Push for a high GPA (Above 6) for my Fine Arts degree. In order to achieve a high GPA, I will need to spend time at university outside day hours, collaborate with my peers, practice my performance skills, and increase my knowledge of music overall.
  • Become more proficient in my understanding of music theory. KMB317 offers a delivery of analysis, performance and theory skills that all contribute towards a better understanding of music. Having more advanced theory knowledge will help me in almost all aspects of my career (E.g quick songwriting, aural skills, performance and improvisation).

Q3&4

  • Become more proficient in threeJS & php. ThreeJS allows for professional 3D elements to be imported into a HTML document using JavaScript. Being able to create advanced hero sections with aesthetically pleasing visuals will be a great selling point for my web design business.
  • Learn cPanel. Currently, I am much more skilled in frontend development, and I have been neglecting the efficiency of my backend development. Being able to learn the ins and outs of the cPanel server management platform will allow me to scale my web design business and take on more clients.

Skill Development

In 2026, I will work more on developing my marketing skills, as well as continuing to expand my musicial talent.

Q1&2

  • Leverage fan support and create a marketing plan to gain more recognition and more bookings.
  • Take online vocal coaching classes to develop an experimental pop single/EP to release. YouTube and other free sites have hundreds of resources available at no cost to users worldwide.

Q2&3

  • Will update as required

Experience Development

In 2026 I want to enter into a professional space that consists of an exclusive label signing, multiple support shows, and 3-4 more EP releases.

Q1&2

  • Hire a part-time manager to explore booking opportunities and take some stress off my shoulders when marketing and releasing music.
  • Play at least another 3 support shows. Leverage local network to get time around big names/green rooms to network further.
  • Explore Ghost Production revenue streams and begin researching how profitable it is to produce for others.
  • Release 1-2 EP's that branch away from my stand 'tearout' genre and explore other new genres that will have emerged in 2026. However, taking the opportunity to be proactive about popular genres will only gain fans that are interested in that specfic genre, and not me as an artist, so most of the songs in my EP will be combinations of my signature genre and any new popular genres.
  • Scale my livestreaming model. Collaborate with popular livestreamers and give feedback to smaller artists to grow an organic fanbase

Q3&4

  • Exclusive signage to a record label for my EDM alias. An exclusive signing guarantees marketing, streams & a consistent, engaging fanbase for my music. Being able to let a label manage bookings, collaborations, marketing & fan interaction will allow me to spend less time on self-management and more time pursuing my art & other interests.
  • Release an EP
  • Explore Ghost Production revenue streams and begin researching how profitable it is to produce for others.
  • Play my first headline show. After building a strong fanbase in 2024 & 2025, I will have acquired enough attention for promoters in the area to consider booking me for a headline live event.

Study Development

In 2026 I will focus more on studying Web Development & building my marketing skills.

Q1&2

  • Build a storefront for my merchandise and digital media products. I will have to learn Magento & PHP, as well as paying for an SSL to facilitate secure online purchases.

Q2&3

  • Will update as required

Skill Development

Will update as required

Q1&2

  • Will update as required

Q3&4

  • Will update as required

Experience Development

In 2027, I will tour Australia (Potentially New Zealand) and grow my audience further
  • Tour Australia & New Zealand & monetize my music by selling tickets, merchandise & exclusive tickets.

Study Development

I am unsure of my study requirements in 2027 as I do not plan on taking any university courses, and will be mostly working on skill development
  • Will update as required

Skill Development

In 2028 I will mostly be focusing on refining my existing skills, as well as collaborating with large artists to learn their techniques.
  • Collaborate with artists locally and globally to maximize reach and knowledge. Working collaboratively with other artists will help me utilize a combination of our fanbases in a symbiotic relationship. During the process, we will both be able to share our knowledge & skill sets, resulting in a concise final piece of art that not only strengthens our network, but provides a shared learning experience.

Experience Development

In 2028, I will be exclusively signed to a label & releasing music consistently while traveling internationally.
  • Host a remix competition for one of my popular songs. Not only will a remix competition bring new eyes towards my music, but it will also encourage popular musicians with other fanbases to create a song that will combine these two sources of engagement. On top of these two very positive points, a remix competition is essentially free engagement for my music.

Study Development

I am unsure of my study requirements in 2028, as I do not plan on taking any university courses, and will be mostly working on skill development
  • Will update as required

References

Google Grow. (2023). Google User Experience (UX) Certificate - Grow with Google. Grow.google.

https://grow.google/intl/ALL_au/ux-design-certified-course/

MENTORING - ODDPROPHET STORE. (2023). Oddprophetstore.com.

https://www.oddprophetstore.com/mentor/

Mentoring | Nimda. (2016). Nimda.

https://www.nimdamusic.co.uk/mentoring

Peoples, G. (2023, February 4). How Much Music Is Added to Spotify & Other Streaming Services Daily? Billboard; Billboard.

https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-music-added-spotify-streaming-services-daily/

Nasko: Patreon Earnings + Statistics + Graphs + Rank. (2022). Graphtreon.

https://graphtreon.com/creator/Naskomusic

Horton, A. (2023, July 12). US vinyl sales up 21.7% for first half of 2023, report finds. The Guardian; The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/12/vinyl-sales-us-report