3 things that are more important than talent in the music industry

1. Resources are more important than talent

The more an artist has at their disposal means the more opportunity they have to be successful.

 

Embarking on a music career is a surprisingly expensive venture so having money to invest is typically a necessity. Big money for an artist means better production, better promotion, and more opportunity. This can put miles between undiscovered acts regardless of talent.

 

The connections or network an artist is able to build (or already has) also play a large role in how far they go. An artist blessed with the gift of gab and high charisma can talk themselves into a good situation for themselves and their music. Yes, quality music is important but in reality, people buy into people more than any product or service. That’s why the image aspect of an artist career is so important to maintain and cultivate.

 

Some artists are blessed to be born with an abundance of one or both of these things while others are not. Luckily we live in a time where certain resources can be acquired with a little discipline and effort.

Finding Resources

Crowdfunding is becoming big among indie artists! They utilize their fanbase to pay for upcoming projects by putting together a campaign where they take donations in exchange for incentives. If developing a sound crowdfunding campaign is a bit out of range for an artist, then budgeting from their current income will have to suffice. This option typically leads artists to make big short-term sacrifices!  

 

The appropriate utilization of social media will change the way an artist can network today. However, with how massive these media platforms have grown I believe some older methods of networking have been discarded. Nothing beats face to face human interaction. The artist who hits the pavement and shakes hands will be remembered before a DM.

2. Resilience is more important than talent

Social media has opened up users to scrutiny and criticism on a level that has never before been seen. In order for an artist to thrive in this climate, they will have to develop tough skin. They have to know that everyone is going to have an opinion but ultimately it will be what they do that will dictate their success.

 

An artist that does not fold on their dreams during hard times are 100% more successful than the ones that do. That is why resilience is more important than talent

Disappointments happen. An artist’s ability to dust themselves and get back out there after a disappointment will soon find themselves ahead of the pack even if they are less skilled. A person can learn just about anything if they are willing to see it through.

3. Passion

If an artist lacks a powerful passion for music, they might as well call it quits.

 

Passion is fuel, passion is armor, passion is strength. People have ascended from the bleakest of backgrounds with virtually no resources or skills with sheer willpower. Artists need to find passion from many different sources rather than solely relying on the love of the craft. Artists like Jay-z found passion in his desire to get out of the streets of Brooklyn. Drake often speaks of his mother’s medical bills which I’m sure he used to stoke the flames of his career.

In some industries, they call it your ‘why.’ The artist who is seeking their why should heed this bit of advice given to me.

 

“If it doesn’t make you cry, its not strong enough.”

 

Pain is a part of life. Artists who truly want to succeed need to turn their pain into fuel. They need to learn how to make the negativity in their pasts into positives for their future.

 

Conclusion

In reality, there are about 30 things that are more important than talent when it comes to the music industry. People would be surprised to know how little weight talent holds.

 

Don’t get me wrong, it does have meaning but not as much as a casual listener might think.

 

The business side of music controls about 80% of what we hear on the radio and streaming services. That’s partly why I wanted to work on the other side of the industry. Helping artists I believe have a chance is something that brings me undeniable joy.

 

While the fact that talent means so little might be disheartening for some, it shouldn’t be. If anything it should prove that really anyone can make it in this industry. The things discussed above are very obtainable!

 

Do you agree? Leave a comment below, thank you for reading.