Yesterday we were talking about why that label wanted to sign me for $50k (and why I said no).
They can get good beats anywhere because they're a commodity.
What they can't find anywhere else is ME, and that's why they wanted 50% of anything created from my likeness (including beat leases, merch, kit sales, and publishing/ad rev) - that's the main reason I said no.
🔐 De-commodifying yourself is simple.
It’s about understanding and leveraging what you control (inputs).
You’ll get lost in the sauce trying to force things that are out of your control (outputs).
You need to ignore outputs and focus on consistent inputs instead.
High-quality inputs are the “$1,000 secret.”
Things like;
- Consistent daily action.
- Making music (consistently).
- Networking.
- Posting.
- Learning.
Most producers fail because they only think about the outputs;
- How many views they’re getting.
- Their placements.
- How many followers they have.
- How much money they’ve made.
The trick is that good, consistent inputs lead to successful outputs.
But you only get the outputs you desire by taking consistent action with your inputs.
It’s like that one scene from Bojack Horseman 👇
There are many ways to approach your inputs, but here are three that will help you get started in the right direction;
- Make beats consistently.
- Document and share your story (content creation).
- List building.
Beats are a commodity, but you still need them to run this business.
The same way gas is a commodity, but without it there is no gas station.
Make sure your station never runs out of fuel 🧠.
From there, you begin to de-commodify your “gas” by documenting and sharing your journey.
Give people a look into what makes you and your music different by making content about;
- Things you’re learning,
- Things that entertain you, and
- Things that inspire you.
There are so many benefits to doing this;
- You’ll learn and grow more by teaching others.
- Creating content teaches you even more useful skills (editing, SEO, etc.).
- Fans will connect with the person behind your music.
- Your brand will receive more visibility than if you were just posting the music alone.
And you can 10x these benefits by implementing list building mechanisms wherever your music and content are consumed.
I talked a lot about this in the most recent lesson in my mentorship group.
But the short of it is that you need a way to capture traffic on the internet because you never know if you’ll get in front of the same person twice.
Things like email lists, discord servers, and Telegram groups are good examples of list building mechanisms that give you more control over communication with your audience.
Working simple inputs like these daily over the course of years is how I’ve been able to build a brand and music catalog worth way more than a $50,000 label offer.
You can really do the same.
Just remember, the hardest part is doing it consistently.
If you ever want any help staying on track, go here.
Blessings,
Chu - 140k Total YT Subs, RiSA Multi-Platinum Record Producer (Produced for Yanga Chief, Boity, RikyRick, Khantrast, DizzyEight, Errol Allen, Cam Meekins, Matt Corman, Dee Koala, Bhut Legend, ElgrandeToto, Westside Boogie, Bernard Jabs, Ariaa, MTV, CBS, BET, BET Africa).
#dopecontentonly
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