NHT Blog

Amidst my landslide of Happy New Year text messages exchanged two days ago with countless folks in the Contacts in my phone, a couple of those acknowledged how strange it is to be writing ‘2022.’  I must say that it feels a little odd to compile for you the top ten most read blogs of 2021 because it’s like trying on a shirt you got for Christmas and not being entirely sure that it fits exactly right. 

While singers, dancers, actors, and others in entertainment unfortunately get used to hearing the word ‘No,’ there are actually instances where those same people might be the ones issuing the rejection.  Regardless of who it is, however, it’s important to be careful with your No.

It’s less than a week until Christmas now, and at this point there are plenty of people either ready to put it on cruise control or they already have.  In other words, regardless of whether they’re in a cold climate or not, they’re ready to go into hibernation, so to speak, as it relates to putting a priority on rest and relaxation as opposed to keeping things going in their professional lives.

Everyone is always looking for more business and/or new business.  Whether you’re a songwriter, recording artist, publicist (ahem), content creator, or, well, the list goes on, you’ve got targets and opportunities.  One of the tough questions to answer is, when to make “the ask.”

Spotify Wrapped is out and all the artists and musicians are able to see the totals we have collected over the last 365 days. How many listeners, countries, playlists, and fans have we collected?

Do you hear that?  It’s the sound of people telling you what they want and/or need.  Some are expressing their pain points while others are merely stating their likes, their desires, what makes them happy.  I like the expression, “God gave you two ears and one mouth.  Which do you think He intended you to use more?”

Just over a week ago I put on a “Promoting Your Music Career” seminar (accompanying photo) at the 37th Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Something that I alluded to during that 90-minute session was showing people that you’re busy.

In the world of memes and GIFs and other imagery on today’s social media landscape, there is a post that I see frequently and have come to like.  It simply states that “It costs nothing to be nice to people.”  In fact, it almost reminds me of something I heard years and years ago and to this day have still held onto. 

As much as I really like the expression, “Be yourself because everyone else is taken,” that doesn’t mean you have to be one-dimensional.  Especially in the music world where, by its nature, the business is already tough enough, you have to be able to find and get work.  This, of course, has been further complicated over the last 18 months by the pandemic.

Here we are at the start of yet another new month and what’s new with you?  It’s the eleventh month of 2021 and if you look back over the first ten, what have you done differently?  Are there new initiatives that you put in place to advance your career in music or as a content creator?  If not, what are you waiting