The Stories That Hold Musicians Back: 5 Beliefs I Hear All the Time
Every week I talk to musicians who are genuinely good. Great songs, real skill, years of practice behind them. And very often, the thing stopping them isn't their music. It's a sentence they've been repeating to themselves for so long that it feels like a fact.
I've believed a few of these myself over the years. So here are the five I hear most often, and why I think it's time to let them go.
1. "I need to get into the industry"
For a long time, the industry was a building with a locked door, and the only way in was for someone inside to open it. That's just not true anymore.
You can record your own music, perform it, film it and share it, all without anyone's permission. Don't sit around waiting for an opportunity that might never come. Build your own following, and you may find you don't need the industry to validate you at all.
2. "You can't make money from music"
I always answer this one with a question: can you make money from physics without training? Nobody expects to. Yet somehow we expect that picking up a guitar a few years ago should be enough to make us professional.
It takes years of work. And yes, there are more musicians than there are opportunities. But that doesn't mean there are no opportunities. My own work spans songwriting, production and music for media. It took time to find the mix that works for me, and it'll take time to find yours. Keep looking.
3. "Only pop and dance artists can make it"
Rock and metal festivals are everywhere. Indie bands are headlining the indie charts. Electronic artists are playing clubs every single night.
Every niche has its place. You just need to know your audience, where to find them and how to reach them.
Changing your genre to chase what's popular rarely works anyway. The audience can tell. It's much more powerful to go deeper into what you actually love, and find the people who love it too.
4. "Streaming doesn't pay"
It depends on the deal. If a label or someone else owns your master, a big chunk of the income from every stream goes to them before you see a penny.
But if you're independent, own your rights and keep building a catalogue that attracts streams, that changes. Each release adds to the last. It's not easy, and it won't happen overnight, but meaningful income from streaming is possible. Just make sure you know who owns your recordings before you sign anything.
5. "I'm an introvert, I don't like promoting myself"
I really do get this one. Most of us got into music to sit in a room, write songs, make beautiful records and play some shows. Nobody dreamed of becoming a content creator.
But these days you have to build an audience, and you have to put yourself out there. Many of the artists growing fastest now post every day, sometimes several times a day.
You don't have to become a complete extrovert. You just have to let people know your music exists. For me, the trick has been to stop thinking of it as "promoting myself" and start thinking of it as sharing the work: the writing, the sessions, the small breakthroughs. Promotion is part of being a musician now, and it can feel a lot more natural than you expect.
Letting go of the old stories
None of these beliefs are stupid. Most were true at some point. But the music world has changed, and holding on to them means playing by rules that no longer apply.
Pick the one that sounds most like you, and challenge it this week. Record that song. Post that clip. Read that contract properly.
Frequently asked questions
Do musicians still need the music industry to succeed?
Not necessarily. Many artists now build audiences independently by recording, performing and sharing their work themselves, and some never need a label at all.
Is it possible to earn a living from music?
Yes, but like any profession it takes years of training and work. Income usually comes from a mix of sources, such as releases, live shows, sync, production and teaching.
How can introverted musicians promote their music?
Share the process rather than "selling" yourself: writing sessions, rehearsals and behind-the-scenes clips. You don't need to become an extrovert, just consistent.
Watch the video
I run through all five in under two minutes here:
Over to you: do you agree? And are there any beliefs that are holding you back? Let me know in the comments.
I'm Itay Kashti, a music composer and producer based in London. I write songs, make music for media and produce artists. If you'd like to write or produce together, work with me here, or get in touch. For a more practical breakdown of these five mistakes, read the Blue Room Studios guide.
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