The Right Audience

It’s been a minute. Hope you’ve all been well.

After 40 straight weeks of writing this newsletter, I started to feel like I was forcing it, even if I really didn’t have anything useful to offer. So I decided I’m no longer going to to that. I started this newsletter to share some of my lessons in the music business, so if there’s no lesson to share, there’s nothing to write.

That being said, despite my understanding of the importance of consistency, I will no longer be delivering weekly newsletters, but instead will write when inspiration strikes. I hope that’s ok with y’all, but it’s what I’ve gotta do to feel ok with what I’m offering you.

After all there’s enough noise and pollution out there. I don’t need to add to it.

So, let’s get into a lesson…

I got in my head this week. All because I shared a project with the wrong audience.

I’m talking about a huge undertaking that I’ve been working on for 6 years, and has dominated a good portion of my time over the past couple years. It’s a work in progress, but I’m proud of the strides we’ve been making. And when I showed it to someone I love who’s known for being brutally honest, they ripped it apart, even going so far as to say “who would actually care about this?”

Ooof. Like a dagger to my heart.

But I know better. I know everything isn’t for everyone, and I should have reminded myself of that fact, and let the criticism roll right off of me.

Instead, I held onto the insult tighter than Christian McCaffrey gripping onto the ball at the bottom of a pile on.

I let it ruin my day. And part of the next day, before finally acknowledging the blessings in my life, and focusing on the many things I’m appreciative of. That transformation helped me move on.

So, there are a few takeaways.

1. Hold your work close to the chest until you’re ready for public consumption.

2. When you do show your work, make sure you’re showing it to the right audience. Not necessarily those who are unrealistically positive, but those who will give you constructive criticism from a good place.

3. Don’t get consumed by criticism. Take what’s helpful and leave what’s damaging behind.

4. The best way to get out of a rut is to shift your focus to the things you’re grateful for.

Speaking of things I’m grateful for, I wanted to share something that’s near and dear to my heart this week. My son, who just turned 16 years old, is an incredibly talented producer, who released his first album. It’s only 19 minutes long, but it’s filled with Dilla-esque soulful beats and seamless transitions that warm the heart. I’m so proud of my kid that I had to share. But don’t listen as a favor to me. Check it out, because he’s actually really dope and is on his way to doing great things.

Here are a few links to jahdoe “No News is Good News”.

Apple Music

Spotify

TikTok

Thanks again for reading this. I truly appreciate all of you. I’m going to keep it going, so don’t give up on me. Just know, from now on, I’ll be writing you when I have something to say. Not just to fill space and time.

Til next time.