Let's Work Together: Part Four

This is a very long blog entry, in five parts, about how indie writers, musicians, and film people need to work together and support each other. (Scroll down to see Parts One, Two, and Three.)

Part Four: We’re All in the Same Lifeboat

We’re all in the same boat.

It’s a great boat to be in, people. It’s a lifesaving boat, because it takes us away from the old and rotten systems.

Who’s in this boat?

Thus far I’ve talked mostly about writers.

But rappers and hiphop artists, as well as indie filmmakers and screenwriters, are in the boat, too.

What’s happening in the music industry seems to me to be similar to what’s happening in the publishing industry.

Artists are taking control, are producing music and videos on their own, and are circumventing some of the established order as they do so.

Rappers and hiphop artists are doing a great job of getting their art produced independently rather than by the enormous music companies.

And they’re doing an even better job of using social networking media to promote themselves.

I know nothing about rap and hiphop. But last week on Twitter I got requests to view and comment on two rap/hiphop (I’m so ignorant I don’t even know the right terminology!) videos.

I’m impressed that these artists are moving beyond their target audience of rap/hiphop fans and are reaching out to me.

Every day on Facebook and Twitter I see scores, perhaps even hundreds, of music artists (mostly rappers and hiphop artists) promoting themselves.

So rappers and hiphop artists really are making the most of our E-scape.

Tomorrow: Film