Symphonic’s Year In Review: 2017

Every year that passes, we do a recap that displays a lot of what’s happened in the year with Symphonic.

This message will mention a little bit about what occurred but, as I started to think about what to write to highlight the year that was, I thought, the real highlight isn’t primarily Symphonic or what we’re doing to grow as a company. 

The real highlight and recap of this year and really, every year is you. You, the artist, writer, innovator, record label, and creator of a piece of art that inspires fans, other musicians, and creators all over the world each and every single day.

I started this company in 2006. I was (and sometimes still am) an artist, record label owner, and content creator just like you. I started this company because I wanted to make great tools that would help musicians like me. I started it with no financial investment or even any real money to my name but what drove me was getting my message and my art form heard and further, trying to do what I could for others in the process.

Since its inception, we’ve been able to grow to bring on great folks aboard Symphonic to help build great tools, editorial content, and to help push your releases to new heights.

But even though I founded the company, and the staff has helped to grow the company, it is you, the artist and record label, that has been instrumental in getting us there.

Knowing that you are one of the primary reasons that we are here is what gives me joy, makes me get up every morning, work late into the evening, work on weekends, and pushes me and our team to do the very best we can to help you. You are the greatest responsibility that we have.

Over the past 11 years, a lot has happened. We’ve had a lot of successes, but also a lot of failures. To me, our life as a business is very similar to what you may have experienced; it’s also the life of an artist or new record label. You bust your butt to get things going. You try, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but you continue to do it because you love it and you believe in the message and art form. 

Throughout our 11 years, we’ve been incredibly humbled by the support and patience that you’ve shown us through the years.  None of that has ever gone unnoticed and all it does is fuel us to fight harder for you and to build up the independent music scene to heights never before seen. For me, it’s amazing to see that we have individuals and brands that we can call family. I feel that the industry needs more “family” and support for each other. 

Any accomplishment we have had as a company should be seen as your accomplishment as well. You’ve helped us get here throughout 11 years, and you contributed to 2017’s accomplishments as well.

This past year, because of you, we saw:

• Streaming grow to new heights and become the leading driver of royalties for most of our clients.
• New partnerships become relevant and existing ones such as Beatport, redefine and once again find themselves as a company of which means, greater results for you.
• Many clients that we were fortunate enough to meet for the first time, and others that we were able to build a relationship with.
• New clients join through the acquisition of Houseplanet Distribution and others join because they believe in what we’re doing.
• More editorial and video content aimed at helping not only our clients but any others out there get better.
• Symphonic receive an investment of growth capital into the business aimed at helping us build greater tools for you.
• And much, much more!

As a company, we need to and want to serve creators, musicians, and others because we want to see them be successful and ensure that their message, whichever message that may be has a fair chance of being heard and seen. In 2018, we will fulfill many other promises made to you, largely from a technology perspective as we continue to enhance the tools and resources we provide to make them work better for you. Not everything works out how you originally set forth and we’ll be the first to admit that there are things that we can do that can get better. Please know that your thoughts, comments, feedback and much more will be attended to and that I personally am putting a lot of emphasis on tools, resources, and building on our relationship into the new year and beyond.

I want to close by wishing you a great, safe, and Happy New Year, and a HUGE THANK YOU.

We’ve put together a small video of our appreciation for the great talents that we are fortunate enough to work with each and every day. Enjoy.