1. Record Labels Are Like Trumpets

Here’s an analogy I love so much…

If the average person picks up a trumpet and tries to play it, they’ll probably blow hard, mash a few buttons, maybe pucker their lips… and still barely get out a squeak. Does that mean trumpets don’t work? Does that mean trumpets are a scam?

Of course not. Trumpets take time, patience, and technique. It can be months — even years — before you make beautiful music.

Record labels (and the music business in general) work the same way. If you start a label today expecting to make a living or attract a huge audience right away, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you approach it with the patience and persistence of someone learning the trumpet, the payoff will come.

This business isn’t broken — it’s just not for everyone. It’s for people who are willing to figure it out, stick with it, and keep going when it’s hard.

2. The Power of Yet

There’s a viral Meghan Markle clip floating around where they just keep saying… “yet” over and over. And while it’s definitely funny, it’s also kind of true.

“I can’t do this… yet.”

We’ve taught our kids this mindset. If my son says, “I can’t do a wrist shot” (hockey reference), I make him say, “I can’t do a wrist shot… yet.”

You may feel like you’re failing in the music business because you haven’t carved out your niche or built your audience. But maybe you just haven’t found your path… yet.

A great music career is built on constant experimentation — new ideas, new revenue streams, new ways of connecting with people. One day, something clicks, and you’re off to the races.

People overestimate what they can do in a year, but underestimate what they can do in a decade. If I told you that you’d have a sustainable music career in five years — if you just stuck with it — would you keep going? Most of us would.

3. Hiatuses Are Healthy

If you really want to quit, consider taking a hiatus instead. That’s closing up shop, but leaving the door unlocked for when you’re ready to return.

Life moves in seasons. When you have kids, you might release music less often. When you’re between jobs or have more free time, you might get prolific again.

I’ve had my own label in “cryogenic freeze” (like Walt Disney?) for a while now because of my work with the podcast and Other Record Labels. But I still release my own music, and I know that when the time’s right, I’ll come back to putting out other artists’ records.

Don’t worry — nobody’s paying close enough attention to notice if you slow down. But when you reappear with new music, they’ll notice, and they’ll be glad you’re back.

4. The Music Industry Has Always Been Hard

Despite how great I look on the podcast, I’m actually quite old. I’ve been in this industry for decades. And here’s what I’ve learned: it’s always been hard.

Selling records, building a fanbase, getting people to shows — none of this has ever been easy. Yes, there are new challenges now, but there are also new advantages. Affordable home recording, global distribution in hours, access to fans on the other side of the world — these are things artists 20 years ago couldn’t dream of.

The golden age of certain things is gone, sure. But future musicians might look back at our time and think we had it easy.

5. You Probably Won’t Quit

Here’s the thing: even if you “quit,” you probably won’t stop for good. Music has a way of pulling you back in.

I’m not in this industry because I choose to be every day. I’m in it because it’s part of who I am. I’ll be jotting down song ideas on my deathbed, showing my record collection to my bored grandkids, and hunting for vintage studio gear online until the end.

This work — whether it’s running a label, making records, or just being part of the scene — is in our DNA. And that’s a hard thing to walk away from.