Ten years ago we were all wondering what would happen when ‘99 turned into ‘00. Back then, the mp3 format was still in short pants as was Daniel Radcliffe; Jedward were in nappies and Simon Cowell hadn’t yet adopted his (now famous) square-headed, egomaniacal, antichrist persona and the mad menace we call the media thought the world would end at midnight. Rational people, (myself included) just partied hard to the sound of Prince, but we woke, gingerly to the syrupy sound of Westlife – who were having some kind of dream and seasoning their sons or something – if my memory serves me well.

Anyway, it is totally feasible that many of you reading this now, were in bed (or propped up in a corner by your parents) for the passing of the last decade. It is also quite possible that music wasn’t on your radar at all then and you were still waiting for that epoch-making moment in your lives when some righteous tune hit you between the ears and you traveled (pre-oyster) and bought your first CD single (pre-iPod) in Virgin records (pre-retail meltdown)

So, jump ten years and say goodbye to the noughties and hello to the teenies (or whatever)

Now it’s over to you. You are ten years older and the music industry is going to hell in a hand basket – a Guy Hands basket even.

Music is being run by odd folk don’cha know – Syco Cowell is in the NME calling that RATM Facebook campaign cynical, Hands of EMI is in the Guardian wingeing on about bankers and the oddest of all, WAG Cole and the lesser Minogue are both in demand as music guru’s! Fuck me, you couldn’t make it up.

Maurice Oberstein must be turning in his grave.

The majors and their allies are sucking every digital start-up up, like a Dyson powered cancerous locust but this decade it’s time to get the music back. Let’s get Indie back to the Indies and I am talking about independent music. NB Florence and The Machine ain’t an indie band no matter how much Chris Moyles thinks so.

Bad news is it isn’t going to be easy, and it’s pretty much up to you to drive you. Yes you, the Musical Yoof of 2day.

Here are eight revolution resolutions to get you started in 2010 if you fancy.

1. Define your goals and map them out as step-by-step objectives.
Always under-promise and over-deliver.

2. Be realistic.
If you want a booking agent, you’ll need to do much more than want a booking agent.
After all they can have any band or artist they want, right. You need to make your own story.

3. Don’t get hung up on radio play.
There are no (or very few) tastemakers on radio anymore. Radio only wants to be connected with hits. They want to feel they are championing tomorrow’s number one tunes and not a great piece of ‘un-majored’ music, sorry. Just put yourself in a radio controllers shoes. He/she is thinking about his/her wages, advertisers, corporate sponsors and ego. I’m not sure in what order though.

4. Don’t get obsessed with being in the NME.
Again, advertisers have a huge amount of sway with the printed and online media. When there is a buzz around you they’ll all want to know and write about you. They just don’t want to stick their necks out.

5. Do get in tune with your fans at gigs…
Word of mouth is very effective and it most certainly shouldn’t be underestimated. So when you do a gig make sure the audience knows who you are. Sell CD’s, give away free music, a card or a postcard with your email address or mailing address, a connection in some way. It might sound crap, but don’t be afraid to be a traveling salesman, but do it with belief.

6. … and online.
Inform and connect through your website and your blog as well as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace.
Don’t take on too many social networks – it ain’t your data – make your choice and just do the ones you choose well, but make sure you are always driving traffic back to YOUR OWN website.

Remember, promotion and marketing is like washing, you need to do it daily and thoroughly and not sporadically.

7. Develop your songs.
Be critical. Dump the bad ones and refine the good ones and be tight on the ones in your set.

8. For fuck sake get out there.
If the furthest you travel to play and pick up fans is the Dublin Castle in Camden shame on you – unless you live in Dublin that is.

Beg, borrow or steal a car – target places you can drive back to that night – use ‘the music lover’ Rupert’s MySpace site and connect with bands who have a following in that area. Bingo.

Return the favour for those bands and arrange a gig in your area. It’s a Fuckin’ Love-in!!!!!!!!.

Have a great and successful 2010.