219 – What to do with Your Music in 2021 Part 1 Creativity Excitement Emotion

2021 is here. Are you ready to crush it? Are you aware of all the opportunities available?

That’s what we’re going to be looking at in this episode of The New Music Industry Podcast.
Podcast Highlights:

00:26 – David’s new Twitter thread
00:59 – No live music in 2021?
01:29 – No more holding back
02:41 – Get into the publishing habit
04:30 – Grow your online presence
06:06 – Episode summary
06:46 – Closing thoughts

Transcription:
Hey, it’s David Andrew Wiebe.

Happy New Year!

So, I wanted to get into what to do with your music in 2021. I even posted a thread on Twitter detailing some of my thoughts on this.

I had 13 some odd points in that thread, and the truth is, I probably have more to share.

So, I thought I would break this up into a multi-part series. That way, you can listen to each episode and action a few steps before you listen to the next in the series.

I’ve got at least a dozen tips, probably more. So, this will likely be a four- to five-part series. We’ll see how it comes together.

But let’s get into this because there’s a lot to cover.
Preface
I wanted to preface all this by saying that, while I don’t have a crystal ball, I’m starting to get the sense that live music may not be making much of a return in 2021.

Now, anything can happen. So, I’m not writing off the possibility that things will get better soon.

Trust me when I say I miss live music as much as you do right now. I would love just to go to a concert, never mind playing my own.

But we’ve also got to be realistic. Which is why I’ve identified multiple things you can do with your music this year, even if you’re stuck inside.
1. Don’t Hold Back
My number one tip for music makers in 2021 is to stop holding back.

If there’s something you’ve always wanted to say with your music, but have never gotten around to saying, now’s the time to bring your ideas to life.

Whether it’s declaring love, protesting current events, sharing your innermost beliefs with your fans, whatever you feel you need to say, get it off your chest as soon as possible.

Just pretend like you’re on borrowed time and you’ll be in the right spirit.

Also, don’t hold back in your marketing, networking, outreach, or any other area of your career.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how amazing we all have it here in the digital age. You can interact with high level executives on Twitter. You can read the stories of successful musicians on blogs. You can take advantage of the latest apps and tools to share your music.

Now’s the time to get back in the game and leverage all the connections, resources, and tools at your fingertips.

Don’t cower in fear. Don’t bury your head in the sand. Don’t give up on your dreams.

Get up, get going, and don’t hold back!

For more inspiration in this regard, have a listen to:

Episode 73 of the podcast with DeCarlos Garrison
Episode 108 with Jules Schroeder
Episode 122 with Richard “Younglord” Frierson
Episode 135 with Matt Starr

2.  Make More Music
Let go of perfectionism. Learn to identify when your music is “good enough” and get comfortable publishing it as is.

As artists, it’s easy to obsess over every little detail. And I get that many experts out there are saying there’s no excuse for bad quality production.

But when we think like that, we end up handcuffing ourselves to limitations, because we think we’re going to have to spend a fortune on every new release.

It’s never been easier or cheaper to set up a home studio and put together a quality recording. And even if that doesn’t interest you, there are so many other ways to get your project off the ground.

You can find a friend who’s looking to bolster their portfolio and pay them in beer and pizza. You can start a crowdfunding campaign. And maybe, if you just asked your parents nicely, they’d be willing to fund your next release as well.

But if production were all that m