After 35 Years in Music, I’m a Beginner Again

On Wednesday, I talked about starting over at 56.

That phrase sounds dramatic, but the reality is a lot simpler.

For me, starting over means being willing to become a student again.

I’ve spent 35 years in the music business. My career has taken me through radio, Z100 New York, Tommy Boy Records, clubs, remixes, live events, and several different eras of the industry.

I’ve watched the way people discover music completely change.

There was a time when getting a record played on the radio could introduce an artist to thousands of people almost overnight. Radio programmers, record labels, DJs, record pools, and clubs had enormous influence over what people heard and what records broke.

Today, the landscape looks completely different.

Now I’m watching Spotify analytics.

I’m running Meta advertising campaigns.

I’m testing audiences in different countries.

I’m studying TikTok and Instagram.

I’m experimenting with hooks, videos, captions, and creative.

And instead of simply wondering who is listening, I can actually watch an audience develop in real time.

Learning From “I Surrender”

My latest release, “I Surrender,” has become a real-world experiment in how music discovery works today.

As I’ve promoted the song, I’ve been able to see listeners connecting with it in places like the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, and other parts of the world.

That fascinates me.

Thirty years ago, reaching listeners in another country often required a label, radio promotion, distribution relationships, or someone physically working the record in that market.

Today, an independent artist can launch a campaign from a laptop and begin discovering where their audience exists.

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

You still have to learn what works.

You have to test.

You have to pay attention to the data.

And sometimes you have to admit that something you thought would work…didn’t.

Experience Can Become a Trap

One of the biggest challenges of doing anything for a long time is believing that experience means you already know the answers.

I could easily say:

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years. I know how the music business works.”

But the truth is, the music business I learned doesn’t really exist anymore.

The fundamentals are still there.

A great song matters.

Connecting with people matters.

Building relationships matters.

Creating something that makes someone feel something will always matter.

But the tools have changed.

The platforms have changed.

The gatekeepers have changed.

And the speed at which everything changes has accelerated.

So instead of fighting that, I’m trying to learn from it.

Being a Veteran and a Student

That might be the part of this journey I’m enjoying the most.

I’m discovering that experience and curiosity don’t have to compete with each other.

My experience gives me perspective.

But being willing to learn keeps me moving forward.

At 56, I can look back at 35 years in the music industry and appreciate everything that happened.

But I’m much more interested in what happens next.

I’m releasing new music.

I’m experimenting with new ways of reaching people.

I’m learning new technology.

And I’m documenting the process along the way.

Some things will work.

Some things won’t.

That’s part of it.

Because maybe reinvention isn’t really about starting over.

Maybe it’s about taking everything you’ve learned and being willing to become a beginner again.

At 56, I’m a veteran and a student at the exact same time.

And I think I’m finally realizing that’s the whole point.