Is your music creating value? 

There is an odd entitlement that exists among many artists, usually because they’re only serving themselves. 

Playing the game only to get rich and famous. 

But the best music serves more than just the person making it. 

Yes, the creative process can be a cathartic, deeply personal experience. 

And that shouldn't be overlooked. 

But once a song is finished, it becomes a product. 

And if that product is to succeed, it has to serve others. 

A valuable truth 

There are two ways to approach releasing music: value extraction and value creation. 

Just as is the case in every business vertical on the planet, the music industry is rife with people seeking to enrich only themselves. 

They work to extract value from others at every possible turn with the singular goal of building wealth and notoriety. 

The problem with this pursuit (aside from the obvious, inherent selfishness) is that these people are pursuing the symptoms of success, not the root cause of it. 

Value extraction is a short term strategy, not a long-term game plan. 

There are plenty of get-rich schemes out there, some of which work quite well for a brief period of time. 

But these things tend to wither and die like a flash in the pan because they lack the underlying substance that makes a business truly valuable. 

Serving your customer. 

Music is no different. 

Work to serve 

Artists with staying power understand their audience, their fans, and their customers, and they work tirelessly to deliver completed work that will serve them for years to come. 

Realistically speaking, once an artist reaches a certain threshold of success, it is almost guaranteed that every single song they release will be at least one person on the planet’s favorite song. 

Talk about pressure. 

This means the creative process takes on a far deeper meaning and purpose. 

Or at least it should. 

Because songs shape lives. 

Music is the soundtrack to our most important moments, and as artists, we have a responsibility to deliver our very best to the world around us. 

Because you never know who’s listening. 

Rapid quality 

Now, we all know the content machine never sleeps. 

And music plays by the same rules. 

Much to my (and, I’m sure, your) chagrin, we don’t live in the world or two-year album cycles anymore. 

At least not until we reach critical mass. 

But for the 99% of artists who aren’t “blue chip” players, singles are a necessity of life. 

And so is releasing frequently. 

Fortunately, though, quantity and quality aren’t mutually exclusive. 

Odds are, the first few swings you take at releasing original music will be misses, and that’s ok. 

Quality, taste, and speed are all skills to master, just like anything else. 

The more you release, the better you get at making music. 

And the better you get at it, the faster you can move. 

It all works together. 

Putting it all together 

Creating music that serves the world around you is no easy thing. 

The only way to get there is to make a few songs that no one values to start. 

But if you can set your true north outside of yourself and use your gifts to build a better soundtrack for others, you can win. 

For a long time. 

So keep creating, keep releasing, keep improving, and do what you can to make the world a better place with your gifts. 

Because that’s a goal worth pursuing.