How many releases a year does it take to stay relevant?

[danny_scrilla]

I've been asking this myself for quite a while now and I know a lot of other artists who are asking themselves them same question.
It seems like people tend to quickly forget about artists (especially electronic music producers) if they don't have a constant output of releases.
There are various reasons for that, in my opinion mostly because of the vast amount of music that is getting released. To me it feels like a lot of producers are feeling the pressure to release more in order to keep the momentum even if the quality of their releases is constantly decaying.

so...how many are enough? do you forget about producers with a smaller amount or no releases per year?
I tried to give as many options in the poll as possible even though I realise it's a question that doesn't really call for a black and white answer.

[syrup]

2 singles a year +/- some remixes etc. sounds alright to me, not too much not too little.

ofc. you shouldn't push yourself to it just for the sake of releasing stuff

[Reese_Liar]

It all depends. Radio/podcasts/DJ shows plays a large part of it as well, the whole dubplate culture thing. If I hear a DJ play some producer's tune it'll keep me interested in that producer even if he/she hasn't released for a long time.

I chose quality > quantity in the poll, since I will still check out any new releases, how ever long they will have been in the making, by producers who I've have been feeling in the past.

[Electric_Head]

Based entirely off of how attentive I am to an artist or label.
Which directly relates to their output.
Either quantity or quality.

If I like you as an artist, I am going to expect you to release music on a constant basis to keep my interest in your current or evolving sound.
However if you made enough of an impact then I will listen to all of your music regardless of it's release date or the qty of your releases.

A group like Telafon Telaviv for example had major impact on me from the first listen.
I made an effort to listen to their music be it old or new.
With the passing of one of the members and the subsequent break-up of the group you would think I would have moved on because of lack of relases.

Fuck Buttons as well are an example of this.
I basically forgot about them because of lack of releases.
But with the announcement of their new album, I am immediately listening to fuck buttons all over again.
Without even hearing any new material.

[abs]

i often think about this, i find a lot of people i initially take an interest in come out with a sick ep or single, then the next year is just an onslaught of forgettable tunes, they can do what they want but it's nice if your c.v is smaller and tidier

[thekuku]

Snugs doesn't have a tune out which doesn't stop me from looking on the internets from time to time if he didn't try his luck with labels. I'm so stoked for him just on the basis of two radio rips on his soundcloud
Soundcloud
Soundcloud

You should add an option ''zero releases per zero years to stay relevant'' or sth like it

[ultraspatial]

quality > quantity imo. no point in releasing shitloads of forgettable tunes just for the sake of remaining relevant. take your time, but deliver good tunes (look at kode9, dusk + blackdown, martyn, mala etc - although these may be bad examples as they're all label heads as well and i guess that helps)

and regarding the podcast/radio thing; i rarely listen to shows because some djs batter a tune for months on end til everyone's over it by the time it gets a release. not saying it's good or bad or that you shouldn't buy a tune because it's old. a good tune is a good tune, but some might lose interest in it

[Electric_Head]

mala actually has a fairly large catalogue of tunes.

[ultraspatial]

mala actually has a fairly large catalogue of tunes.

well yeah, but build over what? like 9 years now? and he doesn't churn out tunes just for the sake of it

[Electric_Head]

I agree.
Just making a point off the back of ultra's statement.
Quality & qty can often go hand in hand with certain artists.

[ultraspatial]

fair enough, guess it was a bad example

[Electric_Head]

Not really.
I just realized I replied to you in the third person there.
Sorry

[kidshuffle]

i think the amount you release material is part of your artistic mystique. if you can be that kromestar kinda guy and release material all the time, go for it. if you can only release a couple projects a year, whether that singles, ep's or lp's, go for it. your following will follow you regardless

however if you pick the later i think its easier to stay "relevant" by getting on remixes in between releases.

[test_recordings]

Is this to buy, general listening, or just DJ dubs or what though? I generally don't buy music (no pirating either) and I either get freebies, go to events or just listen to the radio

[Genevieve]

Even if tunes are good I think there's such a thing as oversaturation. Current Value is dope, but he just releases too much to the point where I feel overloaded with the same ol' shit.

[jameshk]

All about a couple of really great releases over a load of half assed singles.

[chekov]

i think commodo's a good example for this

he doesn't release very often but his tunes are so fresh that people still follow him and go absolutely sick over new soundcloud previews

i think it also helps to have some kind of presence in the scene when you're not releasing stuff that often or at all, like vivek or loefah

[EliteLennon117]

tune a day keeps the doctor away. hmu if u git me

[nousd]

depends on the artist's profile
HPP seem to be able to release whenever & there is ready interest
whereas, say 7, keeps releasing regularly to maintain a presence.
For me to enjoy anticipating the releases of a particular producer,
I reckon one A/B sided single per year + an album every 2 to 5 years is just right.
Doesn't sound like much but then there are so many contenders & most excellent music takes time to get right.

[Sonika]

for me personally, an artist's relevance is simply based on how relevant their music is...if it was released 5 years ago it could still be more relevant than a lot of the shit being released now

that being said, a fairly decent flow of music would be nice. If an artist hasnt released stuff for years but I really like them, Ill definitely pay attention when they come out with something new, but it would be preferable if they had something like an EP or two and some remixes every year

there is such a thing as releasing too much music...even if its good, releasing multiple LPs during a year is just too much for me from one artist, I overload. I need time to cherish and explore what they just released before being eager for the next one.