In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m reading an email from a 27-year-old artist who’s torn between two completely different paths.
On one side, he’s creating moody R&B that performs well, with his songs hitting 40–60k streams, around 9k monthly listeners, and a sound that fits perfectly into what Spotify tends to push.
On the other side, he’s writing raw singer-songwriter music that feels honest and personal… but doesn’t pull the same numbers.
Now he’s stuck in the middle, trying to decide:
Do I lean into what’s “working,” even if it doesn’t feel like me?
Or do I risk losing momentum and rebuild around what I actually love?
In this episode, I break down:
-Why artists feel split between two identities
-How to shift your sound without throwing everything away
-What matters more: consistency or authenticity
-How to choose a direction without wrecking your momentum
-And how to blend or transition styles strategically
If you’ve ever questioned who you are as an artist or felt like your numbers and your heart are pointing in different directions this episode will help you breathe again.
Do you have a question you'd like me to answer?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com and send it in with as much detail as you can. Your story might help someone else too.
#IndependentMusician #IndieArtist #MusicTips #ArtistDevelopment #SongwriterLife #MusicProducer #ArtistJourney #CreativeStruggle #MusicAdvice #GrowingAsAnArtist


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