No one has “success” inside them. Not even prodigies.
Just watched a video so you don’t have to. It was trying to convince folks the secret to success in music was something already inside you waiting to be tapped, like a mining vein or oil. I’m here to tell you, completely bullshit. “Success” like they’re talking has little to do with what’s inside. I mean, have you heard pop lyrics lately? Not much going on in there.. More than anything, I’d like to talk to some folks who make motivational stuff for musicians who I disagree with. I’d ask them if a wealthy musician or a poor one has a better advantage.. is that because what’s inside them?
Do you like to play games?
The cards are stacked against you in the music world. Unless you have a whole lot of money and key player friends, your chances are not great at success. That’s why you have to make your own game, artist. This is very much the reality of the situation. I’m not smoke and mirrors here.
Their game is for them. Yours is yours alone. When you get people following and liking on a bunch of different streamers and social media, you’re actually doing the bad guys a favor. They sell information. You gave them a lot of it. Even other people’s data. You might even bring fans and friends to whatever service you’re advertising for. The streamers know what more folks like and can make AI music to cater to them they’ll listen to instead of you. There’s no point to their game, unless you just love rich assholes. I don’t call that “success.”
They collect data, they then use the data to make what you do with AI. Sorry, that’s what they do. Their success depends on it. It was never constructed for your success as an artist.
How about a different way?
Why not try making something you really like and showing some friends? A song is not a lottery ticket for a songwriter. It’s a trophy for thinking about something. Maybe an impromptu jam session. It doesn’t have to win the lottery. By existing, it already did. Success!
“You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.” That’s a seriously old scam. Everyone should know it.
Companies like Spotify are making AI music from dead musicians and selling it, not giving to the estate. You might think about legacy here. I don’t think on it much but I’ve met several musicians who do. They leave their music in the hands of folks like Spotify. It doesn’t make sense if you want to be heard post mortem. They’re gonna’ steal your sound and punch it in a computer, if you get lucky! Read about it from 404Media. Fun.
I often say “it’s an inside job.” What I mean by that is my goal is to feel like an artist. If I can manage that, success! It’s awfully hard to nurture that mentality when folks are ripping you off left and right. They think it’s a game. I don’t play it. I write my songs. Show my friends. Even have time to grill.
The point, kinda’.
Being an artist, more and more everyday isn’t about giving folks what they want. It’s about giving them what you need to tell them. They’re going to make a robot out of it (if you’re good) when you’re dead (if you’re lucky enough) if they wait that long. Maybe it’s worth considering to make stuff for right now, for us. Not for future generations, but for folks with a pulse.
You can’t purchase your legacy or it simply becomes a legacy of purchasing.
300 years is all it takes for a human to vanish completely. Unless you’re a pharaoh, no one will know you ever existed 300 years from now. Legacy is like most things, a day dream.
Folks sell legacy as part of a plan for musicians. You can pay extra to have songs available after you’re dead. When you’re done signing up for that, I have some oceanfront property in Arizona I need to talk to you about. How does someone sell you your own legacy? Ever think on that? Think that distributor or streamer will be around for hundreds of years? Wanna’ be successful when you’re dead? You might consider counseling. I’ve met tons of you. It’s the streamers fault, they plus sell eternity. It’s messed up. But then again, church has been doing it for ages.
Anyone who has you preparing for the next life is probably pissing all over you in this one. Tell them to f*ck off!
The Crossroads.
There’s a music story I hate about Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil. I know folks who think this is a fact. It drives me bonkers. Same way musicians give all their talent, practice, showing up, helping other musicians, and great work to god. They are literally telling young musicians who adore them to pray. It’s bullshit. I say practice. Robert Johnson never shook the devil’s hand. He practiced a lot.. also got mentorship. That’s kinda’ how it works. His success story is about a lot of work. It’s pretty easy to prove. Prove the devil exists. That’s a big hole in the story.
We do not have to give musicians and ourselves supernatural powers. A good song is as close to magic as anything that exists. Wanna’ be a hero? Make a good tune.
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If you’d ever like to talk about anything I write, or maybe you’d like to make a song with me.. email me.. I’m open to all of that. [email protected]
Phela (New Release)
This is a jam I spent the weekend making. It has some improvisation, it has some fretless bass and djembe. I think it’s a success so I released it on bandcamp. The djembe drum has taken over me. I spend a lot of time on it. Hopefully someone out there enjoys it. I do. Link to bandcamp or you can listen right here. Thanks.
