So, you wanna make it in this cutthroat music racket? Well, I’ve got some bad news for you – there isn’t a magic bullet, no secret sauce, no fairy godmother waiting in the wings to grant your every wish. Nope, the cold, hard reality is that building a music career that actually lasts comes down to one thing and one thing only: consistency. That’s right, I said it. Consistency, that unsexy, unglamorous, often downright tedious grind that separates the flashes-in-the-pan from the true legends.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But what about that one band that got famous off one viral TikTok?” Or “What about so-and-so who got plucked from obscurity by a big-shot A&R?” Sure, those flukes happen, but let me tell you, they are the exception, not the rule. For every overnight success, there are thousands of hardworking artists who have been slugging it out in the trenches for years, honing their craft and building a fanbase one sweaty club show at a time. That’s the real story behind most “overnight” successes. They’re usually anything but.
Key Takeaways:
- You either got consistency or you ain’t got jack in this biz
- Wanna keep your fans thirsty? Better keep that content tap flowing
- Industry bigwigs can smell a flake a mile away. Consistency shows them you’re the real deal
- Fanbases are built brick by brick, gig by gig, release by release – there are no shortcuts
So, what does this mythical “consistency” actually entail? Is it glamorous? Hell no. Is it Instagrammable? Probably not. Is it absolutely vital if you wanna carve out any kind of lasting music career? You bet your ass it is. We’re talking about dragging yourself to the studio when you’d rather be literally anywhere else. We’re talking about promoting your music like it’s your job (spoiler alert: it is)and playing to empty rooms and indifferent crowds night after night until, slowly but surely, you start to see those crowds grow. It’s the furthest thing from sexy, but it’s the price of admission if you wanna play this game for real.
Commit to Creation
Wanna know the secret to getting good at anything? Doing it over and over again. Groundbreaking, I know. But it’s true, especially when it comes to songwriting. You think those hit machines just wait around for divine inspiration to strike? Nope. They clock in and get to work, just like any other job. Set yourself a quota – a song a day, 10 songs a month, whatever works for you – and then treat it like a sacred vow. No excuses, no “I don’t feel creative today.” Plant that ass in the chair and churn out those tunes like your music career depends on it. Because it does.
And here’s the beautiful thing—not only will this hardcore regiment make you a better songwriter in the long run, but it’ll also arm you with a deep catalog of tracks to draw from. In an age where content is king and attention spans are shorter than ever, the more music you’ve got locked and loaded, the better your odds of making an impact.
Stay Top of Mind
Newsflash—the music world is a noisy, overcrowded, borderline chaotic place these days. You’re not just competing with other artists for attention—you’re competing with Netflix binges, addictive iPhone games, and the endless scroll of social media. How the hell do you cut through all that static? Two words: Consistent. Content.
When you make a habit of releasing music and other content on a steady drip, you give your fans a reason to keep you on their radar. You turn yourself into a welcome habit, a reliable source of dopamine in their otherwise hectic lives. Go AWOL for too long, though? That’s a surefire recipe for becoming the “whatever happened to…” artist. And that’s not a good look.
Demonstrate Your Dependability
The music biz is notorious for attracting all manner of flakes, prima donnas, and one-hit wonders. Sad but true. And if you wanna set yourself apart, prove you’re not just some flash in the pan, you better believe consistency is key. Every industry insider, from playlist pushers to booking agents, is on high alert for acts that can not just bring the heat but bring it on the regular.
Think of every release, every show, every scrap of promo as a promise you’re making to the powers-that-be. A promise that says “I’m in this for real. I’m a pro, not an amateur. You can set your watch by me.” Deliver on that promise consistently and trust me, people will start to take notice. They’ll start to see you as someone worth investing in.
Go Brick by Brick
I know the fantasy. You dream of blowing up overnight, of waking up to sold-out world tours, and your mug splashed across the cover of Rolling Stone. Hey, dream big, I always say. But the reality? The reality is that lasting success in music is a game of inches. It’s a long, slow, brick-by-brick affair that’s a whole lot more about the journey than the destination.
See, there’s no cheat code to “making it.” No matter how talented you are, no matter how hard you wish upon that star, you still gotta put in the unsexy groundwork. That means celebrating every small win like it’s the second coming. A new fan added to your email list? Hell yeah. A write-up on some tiny blog? Let’s GO! A playlist add with a few dozen followers? That’s what I’m TALKING about! Stack up enough of these little victories, and before you know it, that insurmountable climb to the top starts to look a whole lot more manageable.
Forget About Shortcuts
Look, I’m not gonna bullshit you. Consistency is hard. It’s grueling. Some days, it’s gonna feel like you’re shouting into the void, pissing into the wind, wondering why you ever thought this whole “music thing” was a good idea in the first place. But on those days, I need you to remember this – every artist you admire, every success story you envy, they’ve all been exactly where you are. The only difference between them and you? They kept showing up, even when it felt pointless. They put their head down and did the work, trusting that it would pay off even when they couldn’t see how. And slowly but surely, it did.
Do you want that for yourself? Then you gotta fall in love with the process, not just the endgame. You gotta treat consistency like it’s your religion, your non-negotiable, your ride-or-die. Cause at the end of the day, that’s what separates the “coulda beens” from the “holy shits” in this biz. Not talent, not luck, not some magic ticket to the big time. Just good old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone, day-after-day consistency. It might not be the sexiest thing in the world, but trust me when I say this – master the art of showing up, and anything is possible. No cap.
Consistency FAQ
How often should I be releasing music?
As often as humanly possible without sacrificing quality or your sanity. Seriously, there’s no such thing as too much in this content-hungry world. Just make sure you’re not putting out straight trash in the name of “consistency.” Find the sweet spot.
What if I don’t have any fans yet?
Then you better get real comfortable with consistency real quick cause you got a long-ass road ahead of you, my friend. Expect to be out there grinding, promoting, and releasing on the regular for a good long while before you see any real traction. But the sooner you start, the sooner that day comes.
What’s the best way to stay consistent with promotion?
Treat that shit like it’s your part-time job. Clock in, put in the hours, clock out. Schedule it, systematize it, make it a non-negotiable part of your daily to-do list. The more you can automate and streamline your promo, the easier it’ll be to stay consistent even when you’d rather be doing literally anything else.
I’m an introvert and hate promoting myself.
Get over it. No, I’m serious. I get it; putting yourself out there can be uncomfortable as hell, especially for all you shy, sensitive artist types. But if you wanna turn this music thing into a music career, suck it up, buttercup. Look at it this way – you’re not “promoting yourself,” you’re sharing your art with the world. You’re giving people access to something that could make their lives a little better, a little brighter. That’s a fucking noble act, and don’t you forget it.
How long does it take to see results from consistency?
How long is a piece of string? Fact is, there’s no set timeline for this shit. It might take months, might take years, might take a whole damn decade. The key is to detach yourself from the results and learn to love the process. Celebrate the small wins, stay focused on the day-to-day, and trust that if you keep showing up and putting in the reps, the rest will take care of itself eventually. And if it doesn’t? Fuck it, at least you spent your time doing something you love. There are worse fates, trust me.
So there you have it, kids. The dirty, unsexy, remarkably un-rock-n-roll secret to making it in this biz. Consistency, consistency, consistency. It’s the glue that holds this whole damn house of cards together. The difference between the flashes-in-the-pan and the hall-of-farmers. Is it glamorous? No. Is it a grind? You bet your sweet ass it is. But is it absolutely essential if you wanna turn this music thing from a hobby into a bona fide music career? Abso-fucking-lutely. So strap in, put your nose to the grindstone, and get ready to fall in love with the process.
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