A large part of my frustration with the industry today comes from the lack of time devoted to developing artists. What used to happen—before social media and streaming services took over—was that an artist would be discovered, nurtured, and developed under the wings of a label, management, or publisher for years, sometimes even a decade. There was an understanding that when potential was seen in someone, that person needed to be supported, protected, and guided because their talent was something fragile, not meant to be exposed to the harshness of the world too soon.

This approach is now nearly extinct. Labels, as their role diminishes, are increasingly relying on social media engagement as a proof of concept. They’re looking at the numbers and engagement an artist has online to gauge whether they’re ready for the big leagues.

Read on, and share your story, through An Artist’s Blog on Substack.