11 Brutal Music Industry Truths I’d Tell My Younger Self

Back in the day, as an 18 year old musician desperate for success in the music industry, I remember thinking that I would do whatever it takes to be successful.

The problem is, no one ever tells you how to do this.

So here is my best advice that I wish someone had told me back in the day.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments 👇

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00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Find the Treasure
04:37 - Image
07:21 - Exposure
11:16 - Reverse-Engineering
13:59 - Improvement
17:44 - Think Long-Term
21:37 - Motivation
22:51 - Friends and Family
25:04 - Talent v Hard Work
26:00 - Overthinking
27:17 - Over-Saturation
29:07 - Conclusion

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Serious? Let’s go.

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📲 Instagram: @damiankeyes1
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👇 ABOUT ME:
Hey! I’m Damian Keyes and I've worked with musicians every day of my life for the past 20 years. The internet is de ply untrusting understandably and here is my background so you can have the full picture.

When I was 18, I was signed to a major label and at 23 I co-founded a Music University in Europe called BIMM (valued at $300M). I’m also a bass player, I’ve played for a number of artists including Eric Clapton, Alanis Morrisette and Billy Cobham. I initially retired at 30, but realised that life gets boring if you’re not building!

I have always been in-between the music industry and education which is how I ended up building my YouTube channel - I’ve been teaching artists how to release music long before it was a ‘niche’! I now educate artists around the world with my Academy, YouTube channel and Social Agency.

It’s great to meet you and looking forward to working together on your music!

[CINEMARTYR]

Advice I wish I'd heard: "Stop trying to win over EVERY type of audience member." As in, if you are making experimental metal music but want the cool indie kids AND the crowd-killing hardcore kids AND the hiphop kids to like you, don't be surprised if they don't even notice you. And don't forget the actual audience your music is aimed at.

[officialWWM]

Best advice I got as a 16 year old, about to do my first on air radio shift at 12am. Some people are going to love you, some are going to hate you…most don’t give a shit, they have their own problems!

[TomBretonOfficial]

Please try and offend me more often. There was so much gold in this video but I'll focus on my fav 3:

1. I finally moved to where the treasure is and I went from 1-2 gigs a month to 2-3 per week.

2. Although I also dislike fashion, I set aside 3 days last year and redid my entire wardrobe. Now I never have to wonder "if I looked more put-together, would I be more successful?" All that overthinking is gone and I have freed some bandwidth for more songwriting and performing. And it only took 3 days!

3. I also reverse engineered what I really wanted out of music and it's been 3 months of being back to a full time musician for the first time since 2020.

I can't think of something you didn't include but I'll let you know if I do.

[nashsevenofficial]

the quality talk is real, i see a lot people posting bad songs every week, bad post everyday that only makes me never come back to the channel.

[DazzleRebel]

Even I ran 100m in a smidge over 12 seconds in high school. That's why I was put on the wing in rugby. It'd take me about 12 minutes and two pit stops these days!

The advice I'd give my younger self is:
• 27 is not too old. Don't give up, or you'll be 40 and nearly 15 years behind where you could have been.
• don't smoke that, you'll not give it up for another 20 years.
• while we're there, getting pissed 2-3 times a week will catch up with you. You can have fun without alcohol. Drink more soda and lime!
• give way less fucks about what other people think, it really doesn't matter if they think you're a fool or uncool.
• say yes to more experiences that push you out your comfort zone in life affirming ways. Say no to street drugs!

[A.Gringo-hswf]

thank you for your experience. I would also add this. You can choose only two properties out of three possible ones: speed, quality, price. That is, if you want fast and high-quality - it will be expensive, if you want fast and cheap - it will be low-quality, if you want high-quality and cheap - it will take a long time

[bsandm]

Full time career musician here. All of these points are spot on. My bible early on was a book a college professor recommended called Positioning by Al Ries. Yeah, it's a dated 80's book but so relevant today and supports many of your points. I still refer to it today.

[melaniepenelope_]

“‘Know your worth, know your worth…’ You don’t have any worth yet” 😂😂 so true

[Turtlpwr]

The only advice I wish I listened to was “do something else”. As much as music was my passion my whole life, I’ve given up and failed so many times that I regret ever pursuing in the first place. Did nothing but got me behind my whole life and now I’m almost 40 and feel more trapped than ever before and am ready to just sell all my gear and finally quit for real this time. Now, with all the extra skills you need to have just to get your music out there it feels infinitely more impossible than ever before.

[imlskr]

Find the treasure really really resonates with me being from Europe and thinking about moving to the US for the opportunities, I think this was the push I needed to start devising a plan!

[mrparisp]

You're absolutely the best music mentor out there. You truly understand the industry and the world. Great stuff

[nigel]

I've got Welsh blood and am a musician in Memphis and watching this was like hanging out with family. You're a kindred spirit. 🍻

[MattLeFaitMusic]

I really appreciate this video. It’s all advice I need right now. The industry has changed in the 15 years I’ve been in it. I’m GLAD it’s changed. It really isn’t saturated, it’s just pushing the best creators to the top. Thanks man!

[timhinton]

I just discovered your content recently. I am finding your videos incredibly helpful for developing a strategy. Thank you

[Ejizynwamama]

I think this video makes me to go back to drawing sheet, because improving in “what you wear” is what I rep most, thanks man

[theirishlassies]

Thank you for the great quality videos and even better advice.

[sararubicubi]

1. Go live where the money is.
2. Dress accordingly to what you represent.
3. Exposure is important
4. Pick where you wanna go and create the road towards it
5.
6. Thinking long term
7. Relying on plans, not motivation
8. This one doesn't really apply to me lol
9. Hard work
10. Stop overthinking
11. Learning to compete in the current climate

[Cosmicfish]

I'm not a musician and somehow this got recommended to me. Thank god it did, these advices can apply to any area of life. The part about motivation was hilarious and on point too. Thanks for doing this but maybe change the title to "11 Brutal truths about life i'd tell my younger self"

[SpencerBandyMusic]

My names Spencer Bandy, I’m a singer/ songwriter out of New Baltimore Michigan, I’m 18, just graduated highschool last year (2023) and I’m thinking of going to Nashville to expand my musical journey❤️

[stevemorano]

100% Spot on! Don’t play for free unless it’s really really worth it in the long game 👍