10 Tips For Crossing Over To Contemporary Commercial Music

10 Tips for Crossing Over to Contemporary Commercial Music 

The marketplace for singers in the United States is rapidly changing. While classical music is by far the most common genre taught in the university setting, in the outside world, it is not quite as popular. In fact, only 2.7% of Americans listen to opera. While North American opera companies operate with approximately a $1.1 billion budget, only 27% of that comes from ticket sales. The rest comes from donors and grants, which means most companies are only a few lost donations/grants away from financial trouble. In contrast, Broadway and Broadway tour ticket sales for musicals come to around $2.37 billion. These are for-profit productions driven by consumer demand. When it comes to crossing over to contemporary commercial music (CCM) genres, consumers spend approximately $7.3 billion on live concerts. That figure does not include the tens of thousands of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants with live music. While church jobs used to be a stronghold for classical singers, even that world is changing with only 25% of congregations using only classical music in their services.

Most music schools still focus their curriculum on classical traditions, with only a few offering a bachelor of music degree that emphasizes contemporary music and popular music genres.

What that means is that today’s singers must be more versatile than ever to make a living. Crossing over requires stylistic, technical, and acting adjustments that are not common practice in classical singing. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of schools that teach performers the skills necessary to compete in the non-classical realm. Access to specialized facilities, industry connections, and exclusive content is limited in many programs, making it harder for students to gain practical experience. Faculty in these programs often include experienced teachers, assistant professors, and industry professionals who bring expertise in voice pedagogy, teaching, and performance across a range of styles. A comprehensive curriculum in contemporary commercial music includes courses in composition, original music creation, guitar, ensembles, and recording techniques, preparing students to perform and create in a variety of genres.

Everyone can learn to sing commercial styles, it just takes a little specialized training. Here are ten tips that address some of the most common issues I see when working with classically trained singers who want to cross-over. These are broad generalizations but will, hopefully, give you some new ideas to consider and explore on your own. Students are encouraged to seek access to faculty mentorship, participate in ensembles, and take advantage of opportunities to record and perform original music as part of their education.

1. Registration

You’ve spent years honing your mix for classical repertoire; but to cross-over to CCM styles, you are going to need to rebalance your registration. Women are expected to belt, which requires them to sing with thicker vocal folds and firmer closure into the upper part of their range. Men, frequently, carry chest register into the upper part of their voice; but for contemporary musical theater, they need to lighten up a bit and add a head voice into their mix. The good news is that everyone can learn to do this. It just takes fine coordination of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. Begin by isolating pure chest voice and head voice (in this context, I mean a breathy pop-music quality). Work on carrying chest up into the middle and head down into the middle. Then, begin gliding from chest to head while ascending, and head to chest while descending. From there, play around with transitioning earlier and later until you can comfortably use chest in your mix.

2. Breathing

Classical singers use their full lung capacity to project their voices acoustically to the back of the hall. However, in modern musical theatre, singers only need to project their voices a few inches to the microphone. Sound engineers, then, EQ and compress the voice to smooth it out; and, in some cases, they may add a little reverb to further enhance the sound. When first learning to sing CCM styles, try singing with only 50-75% of the air you normally use and see what happens. If you are someone who contracts their abdominal wall as part of the process, try relaxing it instead, and see how that changes things. There is no one size fits all approach to breathing for any genre. The sooner you begin to explore all the possibilities, the more likely you are to discover new vocal qualities.

3. Timbre

A warm vocal quality is frequently the goal in classical singing. To achieve this quality, singers must make resonance adjustments to unify the timbre of their voice from top to bottom. Adjustments that affect timbre include laryngeal height, soft palate elevation, and tongue position. When singing CCM styles, it is important not to depress the larynx, but rather, to let it float freely throughout your range. A depressed laryngeal position will not only make the voice darker, but it will also inhibit laryngeal tilt which is necessary for safely carrying “chest” into the mix. The tongue is the most frequent culprit preventing classical singers from finding a brighter timbre. To see if this might be your problem, try vocalizing on [ah] with your tongue resting on your bottom lip. If your tongue is trembling and/or struggling to stay protruded, it is a good indication your tongue is retracting when you sing.

4. Vowels

Classical singers must learn to sing in, at least, four languages. The good news is most commercial singers and musical theater singers only need to sing in one – everyday American English. Speech-like singing is the basis for all CCM styles. While this may sound intuitive and easy to accomplish, many classical singers struggle to create a truly speech-based sound. This is because most English songs in classical literature use a refined/heightened language influenced by Italian vowel shapes. While this approach is beneficial for smoothing out timbre from top to bottom and maintaining proper placement, it distorts the language in a way that is not appropriate for modern musical theater performances. When singing this rep, try to maintain your everyday speaking voice while moving into singing. First, speak the text; then, begin to inflect it as you follow the contour of the melodic line. Next, try to approximate pitches before, finally, landing on the exact pitches. If your voice defaults to your habitual classical quality, go back to speech and try again.

5. Resonance

Dr. Ingo Titze, one of the world’s leading singing voice researchers, says that instead of CCM vs. classical, what we should really be talking about is amplified vs un-amplified. This is a great point. Classical singers must constantly make adjustments to ensure that their voice will be heard in an unamplified venue; CCM singers always have a mic. Because classical singers have such a daunting task, they are almost always in search of a feeling of placement that lets them know their voice is projecting. However, when projection no longer matters, thanks to the microphone, consistent placement is no longer necessary. In fact, consistent placement can create an artificial sound in CCM styles outside of musical theatre. Instead of making resonance adjustments to hit the back of the room, try making resonance adjustments as if someone was standing one foot away from your mouth. Try this experiment: hold a book in front of your face so that it reflects the sound of your voice back to your ears and sing. Start about a foot away; and, then, bring the book closer to your mouth until it starts to sound like everyday speech. This trick alters your auditory feedback and will often help you automatically adjust your voice to a less acoustically powerful quality.

6. Onsets and Releases

Most classical repertoire requires the artist to use clean onsets and releases. These are produced by a carefully coordinated closure of the vocal folds accompanied by simultaneous initiation of airflow. CCM singers have a much larger toolbox. They use aspirate (when air begins and ends after vocal fold vibration stops), fry (when you begin in fry and move into the pitch), growl (when you use vibration of the pharyngeal wall before the pitch), cry (when you lean down into a pitch and change registration from light to heavier), and glottal attacks and releases (when you press your chords firmly together before starting or when stopping phonation). Next time you are learning a new piece, listen closely to the choices of onsets and releases the artists make and work some of them into your song.

7. Vibrato

While consistent vibrato is a requirement for classical singing, it would absolutely ruin most pop/rock and contemporary musical theatre songs. Singing straight-tone requires a reduction in airflow and volume level of the voice. If vibrato comes in on sustained notes, that’s fine. Just try to keep it minimal. If you are singing musical theatre, try to bring the vibrato in at the cadence of the accompaniment. When you begin to learn how to sing straight tone, bring your volume level down, brighten your vowels, take a smaller breath than normal, and maintain ribcage expansion while singing.

8. Rhythm

In classical music, rhythm is an important ingredient for conveying the words; but a legato line must always reign supreme. Therefore, many singers think of long, horizontal phrasing choices. In many CCM styles, rhythm is a vital component of the story and a driving force behind the music. Singers lock into the percussion of the band and use vocal rhythmic choices like anticipations and back phrasing to make the vocal line pop. To get an idea of what is possible, listen to multiple covers of the same song on YouTube, and make note of the way each singer plays with the rhythm of the song.

9. Acting

Acting techniques, until the 20th century, were mostly gesture based: meaning truthfulness and real emotion were not the primary goals of an actor’s work. That all began to change around 1897 when a man named Constantin Stanislavsky founded the Moscow Art Theatre. Stanislavski’s work was revolutionary and forever changed the way actors tell stories. Musicals performed today are all written after that time. Most are written after his theatre toured the U.S. from 1922-1924, which also changed theatre in the United States forever. Unfortunately, many of the acting techniques taught to classical performers are based on emotion and/or gesture and are not directly applicable to modern musical theatre. If that sounds like your background, sign up for a straight acting class in your area. I recommend Meisner as a great starting point because it trains you to listen and respond to your scene partner without over-thinking. Once your instinct is trained through the Meisner drills, you can add in character work to expand your toolbox.

10. Audition Technique

The expectations for musical theatre auditions are very different than for opera. To get a taste of what is different, check out the audition advice on Backstage.com and watch the documentary, “Every Little Step” (you can stream it through YouTube). The film gives you an inside look at the process for casting a Broadway show. If you are located in or near NYC, you can take audition classes offered by casting directors. These are a great way to learn what people on the other side of the table are looking for in the room.

Conclusion

All of these skills are easy to learn once you know what they are and why they matter. There is also a growing body of literature on the differences between various CCM styles. In comparing classical and CCM, it’s important to note that classical composers are typically formally trained, while CCM has more grassroots, folk-oriented origins, with artists often composing and performing their own music without formal training. CCM encompasses a wide range of other styles beyond classical, such as folk, rock, jazz, and experimental music, and understanding these traditions is essential for a well-rounded education.

Many bachelor programs require students to participate in ensembles and complete a semester-long internship or project to gain real-world experience. If this is new to you, pick up a few of the books in the NATS “So You want to Sing” series. I also highly recommend “The Vocal Athlete” by Wendy LeBorgne and Marci Rosenberg and “Popular Singing and Style” by Donna Soto-Morettini. Additionally, I have a lot of free resources available on my blog, EdwardsVoice.Wordpress.com.

The field of CCM is still being defined, and it will be interesting to see how future research and voice pedagogy continue to shape the teaching and understanding of these styles. Most importantly – have fun and explore! Audiences are always looking for something new and exciting in the CCM world. Uniqueness is king, and you are most likely to succeed in finding your authentic CCM voice by exploring every sound you can make and every story you want to tell.

Introduction to the Music Industry

The music industry is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape that brings together a diverse array of genres, styles, and professionals. Contemporary commercial music (CCM) plays a major role in this world, encompassing everything from pop and rock to jazz, hip hop, and country. Unlike the more traditional focus on classical music in many academic settings, CCM reflects the sounds and trends that dominate today’s charts and live venues.

To thrive in the music industry, it’s essential to go beyond just performance. A solid foundation in music theory helps you understand the building blocks of songs across genres, while knowledge of audio engineering allows you to shape your sound in the studio and on stage. The business side is equally important, understanding contracts, marketing, and promotion can make the difference between a hobby and a sustainable career.

Many universities now offer specialized courses and degree programs in music, including contemporary commercial music, to help students develop the practical skills needed for success. Whether you’re interested in performing, composing, producing, or managing, a well-rounded education in music theory, audio engineering, and business will prepare you to navigate the complexities of the modern music industry and stand out as a professional in your chosen field.

Commercial Music and its Genres

Commercial music refers to music created with the intention of reaching wide audiences and generating profit. This broad category includes genres like pop, rock, jazz, hip hop, and country, each with its own distinct sound, history, and audience. For musicians and industry professionals, understanding the unique characteristics of these genres is key to creating music that connects with listeners and stands out in a crowded marketplace.

Experimental music, for example, challenges conventional boundaries and often incorporates innovative sounds and structures, appealing to niche audiences and pushing the art form forward. Musical theatre, on the other hand, blends music, dance, and storytelling, requiring performers to master a range of skills. Hip hop is known for its rhythmic vocal delivery and cultural influence, while jazz emphasizes improvisation and complex harmonies. CCM singers and artists must be versatile, able to adapt their style and technique to fit the demands of different genres and audiences.

Navigating these genres successfully means not only mastering their musical elements but also understanding the expectations of the commercial music world. Whether you’re performing, composing, or producing, being able to move fluidly between styles will help you reach new audiences and expand your career opportunities.

10 Tips for Crossing Over to Contemporary Commercial Music

Crossing over to contemporary commercial music can open up exciting new opportunities for musicians and singers. Here are 10 practical tips to help you make a successful transition:

1. Develop your skills in music theory and audio engineering. A strong grasp of music theory will help you understand the structure of songs in any genre, while audio engineering skills are essential for recording and producing your own music.
2. Experiment with different vocal styles and techniques. Try out new ways of singing and performing to find what works best for you in CCM styles.
3. Learn to use amplification technology and audio editing software. Mastering microphones, sound systems, and digital audio workstations will give you more control over your sound.
4. Study the great CCM singers and artists. Listen to a wide range of performers to understand what makes their music compelling and how they connect with audiences.
5. Find your unique sound and style. Don’t be afraid to blend influences and create something original that reflects your artistic identity.
6. Collaborate with other musicians and producers. Working with others can spark creativity and help you learn new skills.
7. Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. The music industry is always changing, so keep learning about new tools, platforms, and styles.
8. Be open to feedback and criticism. Constructive input from peers and professionals can help you grow as an artist.
9. Develop a strong online presence and social media strategy. Building your brand online is crucial for reaching new fans and industry contacts.
10. Keep practicing and persevering. Success in CCM takes time, dedication, and a willingness to keep improving your craft.

Creating a Successful Music Brand

Building a successful music brand goes beyond just making great music, it’s about creating a memorable identity that resonates with audiences and stands out in the music industry. Here are some essential steps to help you develop your brand:

1. Define your unique sound and style. Identify what sets you apart as an artist and make it the foundation of your brand.
2. Develop a strong online presence and social media strategy. Use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to share your music, connect with fans, and showcase your personality.
3. Create a compelling brand identity and image. Think about your visual style, logo, and the story you want to tell through your music and visuals.
4. Build a loyal fan base and community. Engage with your audience through live shows, online interactions, and exclusive content.
5. Collaborate with other musicians and producers. Partnerships can expand your reach and introduce your music to new listeners.
6. Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies. Embrace new tools and platforms to keep your brand fresh and relevant.
7. Be open to feedback and criticism. Use input from fans and industry professionals to refine your approach.
8. Develop a strong live performance and touring strategy. Live shows are a powerful way to connect with audiences and grow your fan base.
9. Create a robust marketing and promotion plan. Invest time in promoting your music through press, playlists, and partnerships.
10. Keep innovating and evolving. The most successful artists are always looking for new ways to express themselves and engage their audience.

Measuring Success in the Music Industry

Success in the music industry can look different for every artist, depending on their goals, genre, and audience. Here are some key ways to measure your progress and achievements:

1. Album sales and streaming numbers. Track how your music is performing on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
2. Live performance and touring revenue. Monitor your income from concerts, tours, and live events.
3. Social media engagement and online presence. Pay attention to your follower growth, likes, shares, and comments across platforms.
4. Critical acclaim and reviews. Positive feedback from critics and industry professionals can boost your reputation.
5. Award nominations and wins. Recognition from industry organizations can open new doors and validate your work.
6. Fan base and community engagement. A dedicated and active fan community is a strong indicator of lasting success.
7. Collaboration and networking opportunities. Building relationships with other artists and professionals can lead to new projects and exposure.
8. Industry recognition and respect. Being known and respected by peers and professionals is a sign of your impact in the field.
9. Creative fulfillment and artistic growth. Personal satisfaction and development as an artist are important measures of success.
10. Financial stability and security. Achieving a sustainable income from your music allows you to focus on your craft and career.

By keeping these metrics in mind, you can set realistic goals, track your progress, and celebrate your achievements as you navigate the ever-changing world of music.