I recently had lunch with a friend who's just started releasing music as part of her DJ career. As we chatted about outreach, promotion, and marketing, she shared something profound. Her biggest reason for putting out music is to create a legacy for her family and to honor her father’s name. Her dad, an excellent drummer, never had the chance to publish his music before he passed. Now, she’s driven by the desire to make their family name known through her music. This is her WHY. It’s not just about DJing or getting better at her craft—it’s about creating something bigger, a legacy for her family.
This conversation made me reflect on the people I mentor. So many come to me with reasons like, "I want to be famous" or "I just love playing music." While there's nothing wrong with loving music for the sake of it, and fame may be a goal for some, the deeper reason—the WHY—is what will sustain you in the long run. If your WHY is more than just surface-level, it becomes the fuel that powers your journey.
After over 25 years as a professional musician, I, too, have a new WHY: to help retire my mom. This purpose has given me a renewed drive, pushing my music and business further than I imagined possible. This WHY drives me like never before.
So, what is your WHY? What’s driving you to pursue music and build your music career every day?
If you’re content making music in your bedroom without sharing it, that’s perfectly fine! But most of the artists I work with want people to hear their music—they want fans. And if you want to build a fanbase that can support your career and even create a legacy, you need a strategy. Ask yourself: Why am I doing this? What’s my deeper purpose?
If you’re struggling to finish songs or grow your fanbase, it might be time to reflect on your WHY.
Exercise: Defining Your Brand and Purpose
Before diving into content creation, take a moment to reflect on the purpose of your social media presence. Use these questions as a guide:
- Who: Who are you? Are you a solo artist, a band, or a business? What do you represent?
- What: What is your brand? Are you showcasing your music, art, products, or services?
- Why: What’s your purpose? Are you here to entertain, educate, or grow your audience?
- When: Do you have clear goals? Set milestones for 3, 6, and 12 months.
- How: Once you define the above, focus on the strategy—how you’ll create and share the right content to connect with your audience.
Understanding your WHY will keep you focused and motivated, guiding you as you build a fanbase and create a lasting legacy.