Beginning to Write My Article

The text below is an attempt at the beginning of one of my articles to include in my final project. 

Update: I didn't use this as the baseline for the final article used in my magazine. I chose to start writing a new piece because I was struggling to get the article to the length I needed, whilst writing something that flowed nicely and read fluently. Despite not using it in the final project, this attempt at writing was my first and it helped me find the elements of an article I liked and wanted to include and, similarly, the aspects I wanted to avoid. For example, I believe my use of 'I' in this piece took attention away from the actual purpose of the magazine and made it seem more like an opinion piece than an informative one, so I avoided this when starting to write my final project. The piece below helped me form ideas of my writing style used in the final project, so wasn't redundant at all.

For many years, record labels have been the end-game for any aspiring musicians. It's a sign that you've made it. No longer carrying the status of an 'independent' artist, but becoming the poster child for a label they seemed to admire. Labels have been the backbone of the music industry as long as I can remember but, recently, their true necessity has come into question. Creating a career from musical talent isn't as easy as just turning up to a concert hall and playing an instrument. The complicated contracts, payslips and public promotion are all jobs that may take place behind the scenes, but are equally important to the function of a musician. Many people are paid to carry out these jobs so the stars don't have too and this empire is the objective for many musicians.

But what happens when the world outside labels evolves away from the necessity for their very function?

We very often hear about the benefits of labels themselves. They get music out there. They have the ability to organise tours, to please fans by bringing the music to their doorsteps. The experience of being a musician is portrayed as the ultimate dream. The income doesn't matter as long as this dream is fulfilled. Award shows, sold out arena tours and empty merchandise warehouses often come to mind when one thinks about reaching success in this particular industry. No one goes into the job thinking about the paycheck if they're truly dedicated to the craft. But it is central everyone's day to day lives.

Being able to build an audience is quite clearly one of the most necessary things for a musician. Record labels help with that. Their wallets open at the prospect of a new act, doing anything in their power to form a money making machine. The size of that wallet has to come from somewhere, however, and this can be a large source of controversy within the industry itself.