“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.”
— Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter really brought the heat, huh?
Building a career in music is tough, but if it’s where your heart truly lies, if it’s the place where you feel called to share your gifts with the world, there are few things more rewarding than seeing your passion come to life.
As a full-time musician for nearly 15 years, here are 12 things I have learned along the way that will help you no matter where you are in your journey.
No one can do it for you
I can’t tell you how many artists I see that want the “secret” or the “hack”.
Do you want to know the secret? It’s this: work.
You can watch every YouTube video, buy every course, and learn every trick in the book, but no one can make you do the thing.
If you don’t show up every day, make music, make content, hit publish, and try to be 1% better than you were yesterday, it’s not going to happen.
So learn all you can, but when it comes down to it, you have to move forward on your own.
Small gains are the biggest win
Incremental progress is the name of the game, and the biggest unlock is showing up every single day for a long period of time.
And while it can seem sexy to go viral on TikTok, Instagram, or whatever, real power and longevity lie in steadily building a catalog of music, a body of content, and a devoted audience over time.
Stop worrying about the algorithm and focus on consistency instead.
It takes time
Success in music doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re lucky, it will only take a few years, but for most of us, it will take much more than that.
And even then, it will change.
I have been a full-time musician for nearly 15 years and have only just moved into this chapter of my career where I’m releasing my own music, sharing marketing tips on YouTube, and running my own agency and education platform.
Think in years and decades, not days or weeks, and embrace change.
It’s inevitable.
When in doubt, release more music
Releasing 10 songs that are 80% finished will beat one song that feels “perfect” every day of the week.
Music is content, and content is a volume game. More will always be better than perfect.
Create. Release. Repeat.
There is no “right way”
Every one of us is on a different path. You can look to other artists and creators for inspiration and guidance, but your results will vary.
The good news is that, because this is a volume game, the more you make and release, the faster you’ll learn about what works best for you.
Keep going.
You can’t control the numbers
Impatience with action, patience with results.
How many people watch your video or listen to your song isn’t up to you. You can only control how hard you work to create the best music and content you can and how much of it you put out.
After that, it’s out of your hands.
So don’t get hung up on the numbers. Instead, focus on those few factors you can control and let go of everything else.
Ads are not the whole game
Running paid ads to promote your music is a force multiplier for your output, not a replacement for doing the work altogether.
If you’re running ads but you’re not making content on a regular basis, there is going to be a natural limit to what you can achieve.
If you want to improve your results, increase your output.
Your marketing budget matters
And on the ad front, this one is probably the toughest pill to swallow: the more money you have to spend, the better your results are going to be.
I have seen decent songs with a great budget vastly outperform amazing songs with no money behind them.
If you don’t have the money to spend (you already know what I’m going to say), that’s right, make more content.
Music is only the beginning
Very few artists make all their money from music alone. If anything, making music serves as a springboard for building an audience and creating additional revenue streams.
Think about it–Jay-Z, Snoop, 50 Cent–these artists all have lucrative brand deals and businesses that have expanded their income beyond music. And it’s not limited to hip-hop. If you’ve ever been to a country show, you’ve no doubt seen partnerships with Mossy Oak, Bud Light, and more.
And if you think about all the various smaller creators you follow (👋🏻), we all have multiple revenue streams beyond our music as well—courses, products, and even services.
Stop thinking of a career in music as only making music and that’s it.
Start by selling your time
We’ve already established that a career in music is a multifaceted collection of revenue streams, so if you want to go full-time as an artist, the fastest way to do that is by selling your time.
Producing, mixing, ghostwriting, marketing, graphic design, etc.—these are all great ways to supplement your primary source of income by doing something you love within the field of music.
As you gain momentum from these services, your skillset will improve and you can start thinking about ways to disconnect your inputs from your outputs.
Build assets long-term
Selling your time is faster, but selling products is better.
Sample packs, a YouTube channel, merch, a blog, and even your catalog on Spotify are all examples of assets that earn while you sleep. And assets that earn while you sleep are the holy grail of making a living as a full-time musician.
Even when you’re just starting out, always be working on assets that can help you free up your time and earn money 24 hours a day rather than only those hours where you’re putting in the work.
And lastly, fame doesn’t equal success
If you’re here for fame, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Seriously though, don’t pursue a career in music to be famous. Fame is a trap and is no indicator of happiness or success. There are more ordinary people you’ve never heard of who have more money and more happiness than you could ever imagine.
Instead of fame, focus on joy, value, and purpose. Find the thing you love to do so much that you’d do it for free and then figure out a way to make it sustain your lifestyle.
That’s success and will make you far richer than fame ever could.
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.”
— Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter really brought the heat, huh?
Building a career in music is tough, but if it’s where your heart truly lies, if it’s the place where you feel called to share your gifts with the world, there are few things more rewarding than seeing your passion come to life.
As a full-time musician for nearly 15 years, here are 12 things I have learned along the way that will help you no matter where you are in your journey.
No one can do it for you
I can’t tell you how many artists I see that want the “secret” or the “hack”.
Do you want to know the secret? It’s this: work.
You can watch every YouTube video, buy every course, and learn every trick in the book, but no one can make you do the thing.
If you don’t show up every day, make music, make content, hit publish, and try to be 1% better than you were yesterday, it’s not going to happen.
So learn all you can, but when it comes down to it, you have to move forward on your own.
Small gains are the biggest win
Incremental progress is the name of the game, and the biggest unlock is showing up every single day for a long period of time.
And while it can seem sexy to go viral on TikTok, Instagram, or whatever, real power and longevity lie in steadily building a catalog of music, a body of content, and a devoted audience over time.
Stop worrying about the algorithm and focus on consistency instead.
It takes time
Success in music doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re lucky, it will only take a few years, but for most of us, it will take much more than that.
And even then, it will change.
I have been a full-time musician for nearly 15 years and have only just moved into this chapter of my career where I’m releasing my own music, sharing marketing tips on YouTube, and running my own agency and education platform.
Think in years and decades, not days or weeks, and embrace change.
It’s inevitable.
When in doubt, release more music
Releasing 10 songs that are 80% finished will beat one song that feels “perfect” every day of the week.
Music is content, and content is a volume game. More will always be better than perfect.
Create. Release. Repeat.
There is no “right way”
Every one of us is on a different path. You can look to other artists and creators for inspiration and guidance, but your results will vary.
The good news is that, because this is a volume game, the more you make and release, the faster you’ll learn about what works best for you.
Keep going.
You can’t control the numbers
Impatience with action, patience with results.
How many people watch your video or listen to your song isn’t up to you. You can only control how hard you work to create the best music and content you can and how much of it you put out.
After that, it’s out of your hands.
So don’t get hung up on the numbers. Instead, focus on those few factors you can control and let go of everything else.
Ads are not the whole game
Running paid ads to promote your music is a force multiplier for your output, not a replacement for doing the work altogether.
If you’re running ads but you’re not making content on a regular basis, there is going to be a natural limit to what you can achieve.
If you want to improve your results, increase your output.
Your marketing budget matters
And on the ad front, this one is probably the toughest pill to swallow: the more money you have to spend, the better your results are going to be.
I have seen decent songs with a great budget vastly outperform amazing songs with no money behind them.
If you don’t have the money to spend (you already know what I’m going to say), that’s right, make more content.
Music is only the beginning
Very few artists make all their money from music alone. If anything, making music serves as a springboard for building an audience and creating additional revenue streams.
Think about it–Jay-Z, Snoop, 50 Cent–these artists all have lucrative brand deals and businesses that have expanded their income beyond music. And it’s not limited to hip-hop. If you’ve ever been to a country show, you’ve no doubt seen partnerships with Mossy Oak, Bud Light, and more.
And if you think about all the various smaller creators you follow (👋🏻), we all have multiple revenue streams beyond our music as well—courses, products, and even services.
Stop thinking of a career in music as only making music and that’s it.
Start by selling your time
We’ve already established that a career in music is a multifaceted collection of revenue streams, so if you want to go full-time as an artist, the fastest way to do that is by selling your time.
Producing, mixing, ghostwriting, marketing, graphic design, etc.—these are all great ways to supplement your primary source of income by doing something you love within the field of music.
As you gain momentum from these services, your skillset will improve and you can start thinking about ways to disconnect your inputs from your outputs.
Build assets long-term
Selling your time is faster, but selling products is better.
Sample packs, a YouTube channel, merch, a blog, and even your catalog on Spotify are all examples of assets that earn while you sleep. And assets that earn while you sleep are the holy grail of making a living as a full-time musician.
Even when you’re just starting out, always be working on assets that can help you free up your time and earn money 24 hours a day rather than only those hours where you’re putting in the work.
And lastly, fame doesn’t equal success
If you’re here for fame, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Seriously though, don’t pursue a career in music to be famous. Fame is a trap and is no indicator of happiness or success. There are more ordinary people you’ve never heard of who have more money and more happiness than you could ever imagine.
Instead of fame, focus on joy, value, and purpose. Find the thing you love to do so much that you’d do it for free and then figure out a way to make it sustain your lifestyle.
That’s success and will make you far richer than fame ever could.
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.”
— Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter really brought the heat, huh?
Building a career in music is tough, but if it’s where your heart truly lies, if it’s the place where you feel called to share your gifts with the world, there are few things more rewarding than seeing your passion come to life.
As a full-time musician for nearly 15 years, here are 12 things I have learned along the way that will help you no matter where you are in your journey.
No one can do it for you
I can’t tell you how many artists I see that want the “secret” or the “hack”.
Do you want to know the secret? It’s this: work.
You can watch every YouTube video, buy every course, and learn every trick in the book, but no one can make you do the thing.
If you don’t show up every day, make music, make content, hit publish, and try to be 1% better than you were yesterday, it’s not going to happen.
So learn all you can, but when it comes down to it, you have to move forward on your own.
Small gains are the biggest win
Incremental progress is the name of the game, and the biggest unlock is showing up every single day for a long period of time.
And while it can seem sexy to go viral on TikTok, Instagram, or whatever, real power and longevity lie in steadily building a catalog of music, a body of content, and a devoted audience over time.
Stop worrying about the algorithm and focus on consistency instead.
It takes time
Success in music doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re lucky, it will only take a few years, but for most of us, it will take much more than that.
And even then, it will change.
I have been a full-time musician for nearly 15 years and have only just moved into this chapter of my career where I’m releasing my own music, sharing marketing tips on YouTube, and running my own agency and education platform.
Think in years and decades, not days or weeks, and embrace change.
It’s inevitable.
When in doubt, release more music
Releasing 10 songs that are 80% finished will beat one song that feels “perfect” every day of the week.
Music is content, and content is a volume game. More will always be better than perfect.
Create. Release. Repeat.
There is no “right way”
Every one of us is on a different path. You can look to other artists and creators for inspiration and guidance, but your results will vary.
The good news is that, because this is a volume game, the more you make and release, the faster you’ll learn about what works best for you.
Keep going.
You can’t control the numbers
Impatience with action, patience with results.
How many people watch your video or listen to your song isn’t up to you. You can only control how hard you work to create the best music and content you can and how much of it you put out.
After that, it’s out of your hands.
So don’t get hung up on the numbers. Instead, focus on those few factors you can control and let go of everything else.
Ads are not the whole game
Running paid ads to promote your music is a force multiplier for your output, not a replacement for doing the work altogether.
If you’re running ads but you’re not making content on a regular basis, there is going to be a natural limit to what you can achieve.
If you want to improve your results, increase your output.
Your marketing budget matters
And on the ad front, this one is probably the toughest pill to swallow: the more money you have to spend, the better your results are going to be.
I have seen decent songs with a great budget vastly outperform amazing songs with no money behind them.
If you don’t have the money to spend (you already know what I’m going to say), that’s right, make more content.
Music is only the beginning
Very few artists make all their money from music alone. If anything, making music serves as a springboard for building an audience and creating additional revenue streams.
Think about it–Jay-Z, Snoop, 50 Cent–these artists all have lucrative brand deals and businesses that have expanded their income beyond music. And it’s not limited to hip-hop. If you’ve ever been to a country show, you’ve no doubt seen partnerships with Mossy Oak, Bud Light, and more.
And if you think about all the various smaller creators you follow (👋🏻), we all have multiple revenue streams beyond our music as well—courses, products, and even services.
Stop thinking of a career in music as only making music and that’s it.
Start by selling your time
We’ve already established that a career in music is a multifaceted collection of revenue streams, so if you want to go full-time as an artist, the fastest way to do that is by selling your time.
Producing, mixing, ghostwriting, marketing, graphic design, etc.—these are all great ways to supplement your primary source of income by doing something you love within the field of music.
As you gain momentum from these services, your skillset will improve and you can start thinking about ways to disconnect your inputs from your outputs.
Build assets long-term
Selling your time is faster, but selling products is better.
Sample packs, a YouTube channel, merch, a blog, and even your catalog on Spotify are all examples of assets that earn while you sleep. And assets that earn while you sleep are the holy grail of making a living as a full-time musician.
Even when you’re just starting out, always be working on assets that can help you free up your time and earn money 24 hours a day rather than only those hours where you’re putting in the work.
And lastly, fame doesn’t equal success
If you’re here for fame, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Seriously though, don’t pursue a career in music to be famous. Fame is a trap and is no indicator of happiness or success. There are more ordinary people you’ve never heard of who have more money and more happiness than you could ever imagine.
Instead of fame, focus on joy, value, and purpose. Find the thing you love to do so much that you’d do it for free and then figure out a way to make it sustain your lifestyle.
That’s success and will make you far richer than fame ever could.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.
The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.
Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.
The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.
Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.
Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:
Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.
Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.
The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.
Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.