👉 Reframe the way you think about failed releases: /your-new-release-tanked
Every artist knows this feeling.
You spend months writing, producing, mixing, revising, teasing, posting, pitching playlists, and planning content, and then the release lands. Silence.
But sometimes the song is actually ahead of the audience. Sometimes the marketing missed. Sometimes the timing was wrong. Sometimes you simply hit the brutal reality of 1 million new songs entering the market every week.
What destroys most careers is not the failed release.
It's the story artists attach to it afterward: "This isn't working." "I suck." "Nobody cares." "How am I going to compete with that?"
I've watched incredible writers spiral because one release underperformed.
What's often missed is that the competition has already put in 5, 10, or 20 years ahead of you.
The professionals survive because they learn, adapt, improve, and keep releasing. Most listeners discover artists years after the work was released anyway. Careers are usually built through accumulation, consistency, identity, relationships, repetition, and surviving the dip long enough for momentum to compound in their favor.
If your latest release tanked, read my article "Your New Release Tanked. Now What?" It might be exactly what you need today.
#BackToTheFuture #Meme #Music #NewArtist #NewMusic
👉 Watch me play and break down one of the best riffs of all time: /watch?v=qy_jnfPxmDo
NOTICE: We're in what I call a riff-deficit economy right now.
Most songs have chords, production, and vibe, but the second melody? The copyrightable riff?
It's sadly missing these days.
And yes, this is still one of my favorite riffs ever written. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police is pure songwriting psychology disguised as simplicity.
Note: We have harmony here.
But we also have melody in the riff. The genius is the counterpoint between Sting's vocal and the melody of the riff (not chords, but outlining the chords).
The vocal and riff almost feel like two conversations happening at once, and my theory is that your brain locks into both instantly.
This is different from just one melody entertaining your listener.
That's the danger of one-person production culture. We're losing riffs, losing musical conversation, losing infectious memorability.
I think this is also because the producer or co-writer is not on stage with the artist performing the song.
Remember that Slash, David Stewart (of the Eurythmics), Bootsy Collins, Eddie Van Halen, Nile Rodgers, and The Edge are stars themselves and need the spotlight on them, doing something, as well as the lead vocalist.
In my YouTube video "Why 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police Is a Songwriting Masterclass," I go deep into riff structure and the hidden techniques that make it unforgettable. Go check it out.
#EveryBreathYouTake #Guitar #Riff #Songwriting #ThePolice
👉 Step into the version of yourself that writes hits. A big portion of the course deals with beliefs and identity, and what's possible for YOU. Here's a clip on the Dr. Joe Dispenza module, translated for songwriters. Check it out here, The Hit Songwriter Accelerator: /hit-songwriter-accelerator
A lot of you may not realize this, but over the last few years I've spent two weeks in person with Dr. Joe Dispenza, including being a coherence healer.
And it's deeply influenced how I approach getting myself to the next level in everything.
After 30-plus years working with creatives, one thing I've learned is that most artists and songwriters are not losing from lack of skills or talent; they're plateauing or staying stuck because they show up to each session with the SAME IDENTITY AND PATTERNS.
Same self-talk. Same doubts. Same limitations. Same "why isn't this working for me" energy.
(P.S. I also said it wrong in the video. Dr. Joe says your "personality shapes your personal reality," and that's why you need to read "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself," his amazing book of the same title.)
As Dr. Joe also says: "Where you place your attention is where you place your energy." It's here where artists and writers learn to shift from survival mode into possibility, coherence, confidence, and expansion.
This is why The Hit Songwriter Accelerator includes a full mindset section on identity, belief systems, and Dr. Joe Dispenza, because real growth happens in THE WORK YOU DO BETWEEN THE SESSIONS, not just inside them.
#DrJoeDispenza #JoeDispenza #Manifestation #Meditation #Songwriting
👉 Discover why it's the best time in history to be an artist: /why-its-the-best-time-to-be-a-music-artist
Of course, I had to write the counterpiece to "Why Music Sucks So Hard Right Now" (which is the top Google search result for "why music sucks"). LOL.
So here's the counterargument.
First, most artists still just don't realize how far the playing field has changed.
Technology has collapsed the cost of creation. A laptop replaces what would have been a multimillion-dollar studio in 1984, and that power is now accessible to virtually anyone. For free.
Direct digital distribution means artists no longer wait for permission. Upload once, and your music can reach a global audience nearly instantly, at scale.
Every release is a lottery ticket these days. One post can trigger viral discovery driven by listeners, not industry gatekeepers deciding outcomes.
This is why we've been seeing mid-tier artists sustain real careers faster than ever, building income without traditional label structures or schedules.
But many are still operating on old industry timelines. The opportunity is here, but belief and adaptability determine who actually moves forward.
For more, check out my article "Why Music Is So Great Right Now and Why It's the Best Time to Be an Artist."
Even though I think music generally does suck pretty bad right now.
#IndependentArtist #MusicBusiness #MusicCareer #MusicIndustry #MusicMarketing
👉 Read this if you're serious about writing songs that actually matter: /writing-your-masterpiece
"The song you've decided to write today is equivalent to the value you've decided you're worthy of receiving."
This might be a controversial statement because, of course, on the surface, we all might feel the song we wrote yesterday is worth a million dollars.
But is that true? Is that really what's happening?
If that's really the case, then why is the song you wrote yesterday not likely that million-dollar song?
Or are you happy to get just what you can?
It's an enigmatic concept that, often, we get what we think we're worthy of receiving.
So could it be that working on our own "self-worth," mindset, beliefs, and identity is as crucial as getting to the next session?
On the other hand, "masterpiece songs" go the extra mile in every area: melody, concept, emotion, production, energy, delivery, obsession. Everything matters because timeless songs demand more care, detail, intention, and craftsmanship.
So before your next session, ask yourself: Am I worthy of fluff, or am I worthy of a masterpiece?
Then write THAT one.
If this resonates, go deeper in my article "Writing Your Masterpiece: The Guide to Crafting Songs That Defy Mediocrity."
#HowToWriteASong #Songwriter #Songwriters #Songwriting #SongwritingTips
👉 The difference between a good song and a record that actually lasts is usually one thing: rewriting until nothing else can be improved. Here's what actually matters: /what-max-martin-knows-that-you-dont-and-why-you-should-adopt-the-max-martin-mindset
Nile Rodgers recently told the New York Times, as part of their Greatest Living Songwriters series, that he's not just a songwriter; he's a song rewriter.
He added: "I can have a terrific idea in my mind to start with, but by the time I finish with it, I've rewritten it three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 times."
This idea reframes everything about craft. The work isn't the first pass; it's everything that comes after it.
Most writers hit a ceiling because they treat a first draft like a finished record. They move on before the song is the best it can be.
The writers who reach the top operate differently: relentless refinement until a song can't get better.
The industry doesn't reward speed; it rewards revision. The gap between good and great is rewriting until everything clicks.
No doubt, someone legendarily known for this, for uncovering every proverbial "songwriting stone," is Max Martin. Check out the article for more.
#NileRodgers #Quote #Songwriter #Songwriters #Songwriting
👉 Explore why your craziest ideas might actually be your best. Enroll in Insider Secrets to Hit Songwriting, an on-demand course on Teachable: /insider-secrets-to-hit-songwriting
When you listen back to your "crazy" song idea and instantly think, "Burn this. This must never be heard. By anyone."
The fact that you have some of these crazy ideas means you're on the right track!
And that's the point of Crazy Song Fridays. It's a practice I keep coming back to: one day to break rules and write without your internal editor running the session.
Most of what comes out won't be usable. And again, that's great. It means you went somewhere new instead of recycling instincts or default patterns.
Not every idea deserves to survive. Some are just studies, sketches meant to be discarded so you can see more clearly what has weight.
But every so often, something cuts through: a line you can't stop thinking about, or a concept that suddenly makes everything click in a way you didn't expect.
And on Monday, when you come back to the session and listen back to those "crazy Friday song ideas," there's likely going to be something incredible that you previously wouldn't have attempted, and there's a lot of power in that.
#HowToWriteASong #Songwriter #Songwriters #Songwriting #SongwritingTips
👉 Discover the No. 1 "God Particle" of hit songwriting: why rhythm, and not melody, is what makes great songs stick. Join the on-demand Hit Songwriter Accelerator course: /hit-songwriter-accelerator
"A great hook is not a great melody. It's a great rhythm first."
What I'm talking about is melodic rhythm: the pattern of how the vocal moves through time, independent of pitch. That's the "God Particle" in hit records.
When you strip songs down, the ones that last almost always have a locked, repeatable rhythmic phrase. It's organized, intentional, and it carries the section.
That's because rhythm hits first. It's older than melody in human wiring, way older, by hundreds of thousands of years! Before harmony, before instruments, we responded to pulse, repetition, and pattern.
So when a hook works, it's usually because the melodic rhythm is undeniable. You could play it on one note, or even on a log like a caveman, and it would still connect.
A lot of songs miss here. They chase chord changes, topline runs, and ideas that never get organized. That's right. The phrasing underneath is random, not built to stick or to lodge in your brain as an earworm.
Start with the rhythmic blueprint. If the melodic rhythm isn't strong, nothing else will carry it.
#HowToWriteASong #Songwriter #Songwriters #Songwriting #SongwritingTips
👉 We don't need "better rooms." We need a better YOU. Here's what actually matters: /we-need-a-better-you
For years, I've asked songwriters one question: what do you need most right now? Almost everyone answers the same way: better rooms and bigger opportunities.
I understand that goal. After decades as a publisher, I've helped writers reach those spaces and elevate their careers.
But "the room" in itself isn't the full-stop solution. If you're not ready for those rooms, it exposes gaps quickly and makes your limitations obvious to everyone involved.
It reminds me of my days at Berklee College of Music, where each student is assigned a four-number rating system ranging from 1 to 8. This is determined each semester via a renewed audition process by a panel of judges. This number means everything. If your number is 4325, there's no way you're getting into an ensemble where the minimum rating is 5555. You either meet the level or you don't, and the room makes that clear immediately.
Songwriting works the same way, just less empirically. But this still matters.
There's an invisible standard measuring your skill, mindset, and the value you bring when opportunities appear.
And if you don't believe this exists, you're kidding yourself.
The solution?
Focus more on building yourself. Remember: we need a BETTER YOU! Then the rooms will come naturally, and when a publisher or manager opens that door and puts you at the front of the line, you're going to CRUSH IT.
Expand your craft, strengthen your identity, and become outstanding so you can earn access and actually stay there.
Read the full article for more.
#HowToWriteASong #Songwriter #Songwriters #Songwriting #SongwritingTips
👉 Download the "10X Your Songwriting Salary" free worksheet here: /10x-your-songwriting-salary
It's a new month, and this quote from Tony Robbins is a useful prompt to reset what your songwriting goals actually demand of you today.
Careers often stall not because of talent but because goals sit inside a comfortable range that never pushes past a personal ceiling of what feels realistic.
The pattern shows up in results: sessions feel productive, yet rarely turn into cuts, releases, or meaningful income growth.
That's why I created the "10X Your Songwriting Salary" free worksheet, which translates ambition into something you can measure through your actions and output.
The free worksheet asks you to do something simple but confronting: multiply your annual music income by 10, then review the last 90 days of work honestly. If there's a gap, it will help you reevaluate your collaborators, habits, and creative decisions to plan your next level with clarity and consistent forward momentum, starting right now.
#InspirationalQuote #MotivationalQuote #Quote #QuoteOfTheDay #TonyRobbins
👉 Discover how to release on your own terms here: /diy-label-release-plan
A lot of artists still approach music by trying to fit in. After 30 years working with artists, I see this pattern again and again.
The instinct is to look at what's already working and aim for the "juicy center," because it feels like success.
But by the time you copy it, that center has already shifted, and you're building in the wake of a trend that's already moved on.
So instead, we're going to aim for the "juicy octagon!"
That's the place on the fringe, maybe not popular at the moment, doing what I call "competing where there is no competition." Of course, this sound and direction must be 1,000% authentic to you.
In my experience, real success comes from this authentic fringe, where you create what feels risky, honest, and true, even if it's misunderstood at first. Focus on what you actually want to make, and write from the place that feels right.
If you're serious about turning this mindset into action, I break it down in The DIY Label Release Plan. It's my step-by-step system for releasing music independently, built from a real-world label strategy that's generated over half a billion streams.
#HowToWriteASong #Songwriter #Songwriters #Songwriting #SongwritingTips
👉 Learn how to make your songs speak their own language here: /how-to-make-your-songs-pop-aka-speaking-a-song-language-different-than-everyone-else
Here's just one way to speak a different "song language." How about no chords?
Yes, chords. Where we're going, we don't need chords.
How about keeping your harmony, a.k.a. your chords, but instead of that boring pad or strumming guitar, mute all of that and flip it.
Keep the harmony, but instead OUTLINE it with your instrument as a melody. That's right. Imply harmony instead of just saying, "bleh, here it is." That way you create instant melodic and modern counterpoint with your lead vocal.
Listen to Gary Numan's "Cars," where a synth line carries the harmonic structure without traditional chord movement. (As a matter of fact, Gary's entire album The Pleasure Principle was based on the concept and challenge of making an album that doesn't need chords!)
Harmony is implied, not strummed or "padded" out (boring).
That shift is what makes songs speak differently instead of sounding like everything else. I break this down further in my article "How to Make Your Songs Pop AKA Speaking a 'Song Language' Different Than Everyone Else."
#HowToWriteASong #Songwriting #SongwritingChallenge #SongwritingPrompts #SongwritingTips
