the AMP Issue 33

"There are plenty of people that write better songs than me. There are plenty of people who can sing better than me. The only thing I have control over is that I can work harder than everyone else."
— Garth Brooks

In This Issue... [13  pages, less than 19 minutes to read] You'll Get...

• RECOMMENDS— Chartmetric: A Year in Music 

• BACKSTAGE PASS— Talent Is Overrated from SongTown and...

• the 100 GREATEST SINGER SONGWRITERS of All Time— George Harrison

• MONDEGREEN— I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles

• COACHING— Keep It Simple: Navigating the Wild West of Music from Matt Jacoby

• PS from PS— What's Beyond Your Control— and What's Not.

_____________

Here’s the playlist

_____________

• RECOMMENDS— Chartmetric: A Year in Music 

Chartmetric's inaugural Year in Music report gives you the stats and sounds of music in 2023. It's available in seven languages. This report tackles the key areas within the music industry— with a focus on artist development— and provides an overview of the social and streaming ecosystem. 

Chartmetric has been collecting data on global music since 2016 for their platform, which they use here to power these findings. Chartmetric is an all-in-one platform for artists and music industry professionals, providing comprehensive streaming, social, and audience data for everyone to create successful careers in music. 

Chartmetric collects data from top sources and turns it into beautiful visuals and powerful insights that help music industry professionals make impactful business decisions. 

Tap here to download the 35-page PDF Chartmetric A Year in Music. You can also tap the link to follow them on their Chartmetric Facebook Page. 

You can have a Basic Chartmetric Account— which includes access to 28 days of historical data, Basic data access on millions of artists, Millions of playlists and curators from most major streaming platforms, and Online Customer Support— for $0. Tap here  Chartmetric Account.

____________________

• BACKSTAGE PASS— Talent Is Overrated from SongTown and...

On this 'been there, done with that' self-reflective podcast, SongTown creators Marty Dodson and Clay Mills discuss why they both speak from experience when they say. "Talent is overrated." And why hard work, and the willingness to learn gets you closer to success as a Singer Songwriter . Hence this quote we began the AMP with...

"There are plenty of people that write better songs than me. There are plenty of people who can sing better than me. The only thing I have control over is that I can work harder than everyone else."
— Garth Brooks 

Tap the link to watch the 15:25 minute video Talent Is Overrated.

__________

AND, here's the very important and... read part two below to understand WHY Talent Is Overrated, the critical importance of Deliberate Practice, and the 5 Things Singer Songwriters Can Do to apply the principles of Deliberate Practice to create a successful career.

__________

Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else... 

... is this best-selling book, award-winning author, broadcaster, speaker, and columnist for Fortune Magazine, Geoff Colvin, explores the nature of high achievement and success. The book challenges the conventional wisdom that innate talent is the key determinant of success, instead arguing that deliberate, targeted practice plays a more critical role in achieving world-class performance in any field, including music and Songwriting. Here's a condensed summary highlighting key elements relevant to Singer Songwriters:

The Myth of Innate Talent
Colvin begins by debunking the myth of innate talent as the primary source of exceptional achievement. Through various examples from music, sports, and business, he demonstrates that the common denominator among top performers is not some inborn propensity, but rather the type and amount of practice they engage in.

Deliberate Practice: The Core of Success
The core concept introduced by Colvin is Deliberate Practice, a specific type of practice that is purposeful, systematic, and often outside one's comfort zone. Unlike regular practice, which might involve mindlessly repeating a task, deliberate practice requires focused attention, a deep understanding of the domain, and continuous feedback to correct errors and refine performance. For Singer Songwriters, this means actively working on the aspects of their craft that are most challenging, whether it's lyric writing, melody creation, vocal technique, or stage presence.

Key Characteristics of Deliberate Practice

• Purposeful and Informed— Deliberate practice involves specific goals and an understanding of what success looks like. Singer Songwriters should set clear objectives for each practice session, focusing on areas that need improvement.

• Focused— High levels of concentration are crucial. Distractions should be minimized to ensure that the practice session is as productive as possible.

• Feedback— Immediate feedback allows performers to recognize their mistakes and make necessary adjustments. For Singer Songwriters, this could come from recording sessions, mentor critiques, or audience reactions during live performances.

• Repetitive— Mastery requires repetition. However, the repetition in Deliberate Practice is mindful and aimed at specific improvement, not just rote execution.

• Comfort Zone Expansion— Deliberate practice pushes individuals beyond their current capabilities. For Singer Songwriters, this might mean experimenting with different genres, collaborating with other musicians, or performing in unfamiliar settings.

The Role of Passion and Persistence
While Deliberate Practice is demanding, Colvin emphasizes the role of intrinsic motivation and passion in sustaining the effort required for high achievement. Long-term commitment and the willingness to endure the often tedious aspects of Deliberate Practice are essential for success.

5 Things You Can Do
For Singer Songwriters, applying the principles of deliberate practice means:

1. Analyzing Great Works: Study the compositions of successful songwriters to understand the elements that contribute to their effectiveness.

2. Writing with Intention: Approach each writing session with specific goals, such as improving lyrical depth or exploring complex chord progressions.

3. Seek Feedback: Regularly share your work with peers, mentors, or a broader audience to gain insights and constructive criticism.

4. Perform Regularly: Use live performances as an opportunity to test new material, engage with audiences, and refine your stage presence based on audience feedback.

5. Understand the Business: Apply Deliberate Practice to the business side of music as well, including marketing, networking, and understanding industry trends.

Talent Is Overrated shifts the focus from innate talent to the power of deliberate practice, offering a more accessible and actionable path to success for singer-songwriters. By embracing the principles of deliberate practice, musicians can systematically improve their craft and achieve greater success in their careers.

____________________

• the 100 GREATEST SINGER SONGWRITERS of All Time—  George Harrison

The 'quiet Beatle' took his inner conflict between fame and privacy, secular and sacred, and turned it into a huge body of work. George Harrison’s rich inner life yielded a prolific oeuvre that introduced the Western world to Eastern musical and spiritual influences.
— Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2004)

George Harold Harrison. was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, on February 25, 1943. English musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his incorporation of Indian instrumentation and Hindu-aligned spirituality in the Beatles' work. Although the majority of the band's songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, most Beatles albums from 1965 onwards contained at least two Harrison compositions. His songs for the group include Taxman, Within You Without You, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes the Sun, and Something.

Harrison's earliest musical influences included George Formby and Django Reinhardt; Carl Perkins, Chet Atkins, and Chuck Berry were subsequent influences. By 1965, he had begun to lead the Beatles into folk rock through his interest in Bob Dylan and the Byrds, and towards Indian classical music through his use of the sitar on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown). Having initiated the band's embracing of Transcendental Meditation in 1967, he subsequently developed an association with the Hare Krishna movement. After the band's break-up in 1970, Harrison released the triple album All Things Must Pass, a critically acclaimed work that produced his most successful hit single, My Sweet Lord, and introduced his signature sound as a solo artist, the slide guitar. He also organized the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh with Indian musician Ravi Shankar, a precursor to later benefit concerts such as Live Aid. In his role as a music and film producer, Harrison produced acts signed to the Beatles' Apple record label before founding Dark Horse Records in 1974 and co-founding HandMade Films in 1978.

Harrison released several best-selling singles and albums as a solo performer. In 1988, he co-founded the platinum-selling supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. A prolific recording artist, he was featured as a guest guitarist on tracks by Badfinger, Ronnie Wood, and Billy Preston, and collaborated on songs and music with Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and Tom Petty, among others. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 11 in their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". He is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee— as a member of the Beatles in 1988, and posthumously for his solo career in 2004.

Harrison's first marriage, to model Pattie Boyd in 1966, ended in divorce in 1977. The following year he married Olivia Arias, with whom he had a son, Dhani. Harrison died from lung cancer in 2001 at the age of 58, two years after surviving a knife attack by an intruder at his Friar Park home. His remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered according to Hindu tradition in a private ceremony in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India. He left an estate of almost £100 million (which would have been £137,651,914 or $176,290,804 in 2024).

in partnership with the Eleven Music Career Center and Matt Jacoby

• MONDEGREEN— from I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles

A mondegreen is a misheard or misunderstood phrase, most typically in a song or poem, that gives it a new meaning.

Original
"I want to hold your hand"

Mondegreen
"I want to hold your ham"

Blame it on the British accents, but the first Beatles song to catch on in America also has one of the group's most frequently misheard lyrics. According to industry lore, Bob Dylan also misunderstood a line in the song. He allegedly thought that "I can't hide" was "I get high." After finding out that the group was not, in fact, marijuana smokers, he introduced them to the recreational practice and cemented himself a spot in Beatle history.

____________________

• COACHING— Keep It Simple: Navigating the Wild West of Music from Matt Jacoby

We borrowed this rant from Matt Jacoby's, aka Eleven's, newsletter. It's okay. Matt likes us. What's more important is we like him and his. Read this and learn why.
__________
 
Traditionally I save any personal opinions or thought-provoking discussion points on the 5th Thursday of the month.
 
And since that only happens every few months, I don't get a chance to do this often (which is probably ok!).
 
My Rant Today: Protect yourself and keep your music career as simple as possible. The music industry is a necessary plague and full of unnecessary competition.
 
The Music Industry Horror Show
Over the past couple of months alone, the music industry headlines have looked like this:

• X is suing Y over everything
• Spotify executives are selling stock; should we worry?
• Taylor Swift joins a football team to help TV ratings
• The big 3 have posted record-breaking profits
• Company A has acquired and/or merged with Company B
• Industry funding is high but not as high as last year
• Social media giants fight to the death by stealing each other's features
• Big name X is still waiting for music streaming payments

Honestly, most days it resembles the apocalypse...
Or U.S. politics... 
Or a daycare full of 4-year-olds...
 
While it's important to be aware of the things happening, don't let it deter you, cloud your vision, or scare you away from sharing and living your passion.
 
Care For Yourself & Your Art. Please!
I don't preach about owning a business for your music because I want you to be boring, do unnecessary work, or quit and go work at Costco.
 
I preach about owning a business because...

• You need the proper armor to take care of yourself in the music industry jungle (GnR issued a "Welcome to the Jungle" warning years ago)

• You need the credibility and legitimacy to network, enter into proper deals, and ensure your music is cared for by the right people

• You need to be the master of your domain and have the power to make your own decisions

• You need to learn how to avoid bad deals, unfair payments and splits, and other shady situations
 
Keep It Simple and Love Your Life
This list could go on, but it's important to remember these things to keep you on track (10 is a lot but hopefully clear and manageable):

1. Make music for yourself, from the heart, for the right reasons
2. Build an audience organically with word-of-mouth sharing and patience
3. Diversify your revenue streams and don't spend everything you make
4. You are valuable and only take gigs that pay you want you're worth
5. It's ok to say no to opportunities that drain or undervalue you
6. Listen to your gut: it's usually the right decision
7. Music isn't a competitive sport; there's plenty of room for everyone
8. Enjoy the journey of learning and growing
9. Break big ideas into smaller steps
10. Get help when you need it

I'm reminded daily by these statements within The Holstee Manifesto poster on my wall:
 
"This is YOUR life. Do what you love, and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV."
 
If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful.
 
Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating.
 
Life is short. Live your dream and share your passion."
 
I'm always here for you!
— Matt Jacoby (Eleven)

__________

To learn more about Matt Jacoby and Eleven, scroll up and read what’s in the partnership box. 

____________________

Help us spread the word about the AMP. 

There's one BIG reason we give it away Free. No strings. 

Because... Our Mission & Purpose is to 'Put Success In Your Singer Songwriter Career.' We know cost can be a barrier for aspiring creative artists to get the knowledge, resources, and inspiration they need to succeed. So... the AMP is free. 

If you're a TrueFan... You enjoy the AMP... ✭✭✭✭✭...  Benefit from what's in each issue... And you're willing and able to spread the word with and for us... PLEASE. And THANK YOU! 

Send your friends, family, band members, roadies, and complete strangers this link: New Music Lives FREE. They'll get the AMP. the Book. the Group. No charge. No strings. 

We're a word-of-mouth-movement because: It's Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time. We're asking you to help us make that happen. 

Or copy and paste this link to others:
https://newmusiclives.beehiiv.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

• PS from PS— What's Beyond Your Control— and What's Not.

Matt Jacoby made some powerful points in his piece in this issue, Keep It Simple: Navigating the Wild West of Music. 

First, from the Music Industry Horror Show, he listed 3 key issues that highlight what's wrong with the music business today.

• The big 3 have posted record-breaking profits
• Company A has acquired and/or merged with Company B
• Big name X is still waiting for music streaming payments

These three statements combined point to even less choice, and even less money, for Singer Songwriters. Worst of all, if even big-name artists are struggling to get paid what they deserve by the streaming companies, the business of the music business is in real trouble. And worse than worst, these are things you cannot control.

As I say, It's Time... for a change. Big Time. Past Time.

Time to look at what you can control. And that's developing TrueFans. Building those Relationships and Friendships and Partnerships. That's the way you can create a solid, sustaining, and satisfying career and NOT be dependent on what the industry's big dogs may or may not do.

From Matt's second list, there are some key— and hopeful— points you need to focus on.

• Make music for yourself, from the heart, for the right reasons
• Build an audience organically with word-of-mouth sharing and patience
• It's ok to say no to opportunities that drain or undervalue you
• Music isn't a competitive sport; there's plenty of room for everyone
• Get help when you need it

These are the key 5 points for me for you. They speak to being focused on your own intentions not seeking to be what the industry wants you to be. Taking your own path, listening to and communicating with your fans— especially your TrueFans. That's the key as they are the ones who are affected emotionally by you and your music. 

And please don't forget that last bit. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Just be careful who you ask. There are some false folks in this business. Seek out the 'Good Guys' (they're the ones in the white hats) that truly come from the point of view of 'What serves the artist.' New Music Lives™ is entirely committed to helping you. 

Until we speak again...

Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback.

And PLEASE, if you've got any Singer Songwriter friends, pass the AMP on, because... It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time...