Things Have To Change

🥁 For 7% Off Your First Year of DistroKid (Affiliate Link)
distrokid.com/vip/maryspender
🎸 MY TOUR DATES
bit.ly/MarySpenderTour
🥁 SUPPORT PATREON
/ maryspender
MY COURSES
🎤 How To Write Songs
bit.ly/thecraftofsongwriting
🎸 Learn Fingerstyle Guitar
bit.ly/3vfo7mz
📷 How I Built My KZbin Channel
bit.ly/41JTSk2
🎛️ Learn Ableton
- How To Produce bit.ly/3Qs0rCl
- How To Perform bit.ly/3QolLIZ
✍️ MY NEWSLETTER
bit.ly/21stCenturyMusician
🎵 MY BACKING TRACKS
Apple Music apple.co/3Al6df3
Spotify spoti.fi/2VX2nu2
Bandcamp bit.ly/2UYP4Ja
📖 MY REFERENCES
bit.ly/maryspender_bibliography
00:00 Being a Musician in 2024
01:16 Advice to Live By
02:50 A New Way of Doing Things

[@MarySpender]

🥁 For 7% Off Your First Year of DistroKid (Affiliate Link) - distrokid.com/vip/maryspender ✍ My Free Newsletter - 21st Century Musician bit.ly/21stCenturyMusician 🎸 Tickets For My Live Tour! bit.ly/MarySpenderTour 24th Sep 2024 - The Cavern, Liverpool 25th Sep 2024 - St George's, Bristol 27th Sep 2024 - Bush Hall, London 28th Sep 2024 - The Castle and Falcon, Birmingham 30th Sep 2024 - St Luke’s, Glasgow 2nd Oct 2024 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 3rd Oct 2024 - The Portland Arms, Cambridge 4th Oct 2024 - The Joiners, Southampton

[@TroyNaumu808]

Thank you for all the hard work you are doing and sharing it with us. Thank you for paving the way.

[@TomPolifka]

I'm not a musician but your insights go way beyond just musicians. Thanks for being you and sharing the process Mary!

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

I'm signing up for this newsletter just because I want more awesome content from Mary. Love your videos!!!

[@trentpeterson1354]

You are so calm and well spoken. I truly enjoy your content, not just music, but videos like this as well.

[@robertcallander6772]

I run a small, independent business as a self-employed guy. Your advice and world-view resonates with me - way beyond music. Thanks for being awesome!

[@jorgeh.fernandes1681]

Such a peaceful statement with mellifluous words. Thanks for sharing.

[@ML98837bob]

You have such a calming speaking voice. I could listen to you talk all day. It is no wonder you sing so well. You should do audio books and alternate between speaking and singing each chapter.

[@michaelbyrd7883]

You need to be the person who sells all the pick axes, shovels and tools for gold panning and not one of the fools suffering and toiling to make barely minimum wage a day in the gold mines.

[@markshepardsongs]

Thanks for giving me hope. I've been writing songs since 1976. Getting the songs out into the world sometimes seems hopeless. But you give me hope. thank you.

[@rmatson]

Helping us keep it real. Thanks Mary!

[@chuckeelhart1746]

Always informative. Thanks

[@mathilda_monique]

thnx for your encouragements Mary :- *

[@ClaireHoldich]

Spot on Mary! I am grateful to have grown a wonderful community right here on KZbin who enjoy each others company and insights at my weekly livestreams. I’m not on Spotify and I don’t chase the social media numbers but enjoy real connection with real people and I love it! Ps. The 21st century musician is highly recommended 😃🎶

[@pierrebroccoli.9396]

Been thinking of going digital myself with music after years of live performing. Had an idea of more release music but have patreon and monetization via donations etc rather than regular means of income. Still keeping up the live work as in this age of Digital everything, it is nice to connect with people face to face. At least I believe they are people, we haven't got to them becoming artificial yet, have we?😇

[@ChrisWoodGuitarist]

Love the jumper Mary. Great video as usual. Thank you.

[@jakebeaudrie]

For what it's worth I sure hope all the work you do is paying off for you. You manage to consistently put positive content into the world and you deserve all the success in the world!

[@davidphilpott1509]

You're on the right side of this Mary.....keep doing what you do so well... 👍

[@Guitars-Repairs-Winkler]

Well spoken 👏‼️ thanks for sharing this

[@ZarekSilberschmidt]

This is the first time i've come across your channel, score! This video is bang on with my personal experience as a full time free lance musician and solo performer. Thanks Mary.

[@rogerblunt2271]

Thanks Mary, wishing you well.

[@miahconnell23]

Music, visual art, the humanities -- our minds and souls require these things ❤️🎼🥁🎸🪘🎹🎨🖼🗝

[@junglecat7263]

Not anymore. Kids are perfectly happy playing video games and scrolling through social media instead

[@miahconnell23]

@@junglecat7263 I’m a teacher: I TOTALLY feel what you wrote there. Don’t despair or stop trying though: it’s really honestly great when you introduce a youngling to some music or books that you consider “classic,” and they wind up liking it as much as you do: it feels like a total win 🙌

[@jrnmadsen2710]

Great project, This can become the ground where many ideas, projects, collaborations and new visions grow.

[@yorky7557]

Your approach is the right one Mary - get shining the light - thank you

[@gregmccoy5948]

Thanks Mary

[@dalgguitars]

Smart. Great advice. Great video. Good luck all!

[@ivorjones9961]

Just keep doing the music you do and feel, be you. You know the streets here and Nashville are lined with extremely talented musicians doing this and that to fit an expectation that does nothing for them. Keep making music. Love your sweater.

[@davidbrown5595]

I have the feeling that real music will never go away. As long as there are musicians, there will be music.

[@SimplyAubs]

You are so RIGHT...things HAVE to change!!! Also, thanks for the affiliate link to DistroKid!!! Cheers!!!

[@TroyNaumu808]

I love your 21st century musician newsletter. Thank you.

[@noi5emaker]

I just signed up. Just love your videos : ) I've been writing and recording for so long I just want other people to hear it, somehow. Time to get serious!

[@OzzIRIS]

I've been reading Your blog and you mention this kind of topics quite frequently... and I love your point of view! specially the "the $99 album", "tiktok vs UMG" and "Let's get physical".. I absolutely loved it!

[@benwu7980]

it's rare that i take a side with a label, but UMG against TikTok is a no-brainer

[@GeoffreyMays]

As always Mary, honest, soulful, informative and beautiful! You are a gem!

[@tobytoxd]

1:30 is such a powerful message especially for nowadays! Thank you so much for this! 🙏

[@williamsmith9561]

I always naively believed the philosophy that talent will out. I was an amateur drummer in the UK and I moved to Brazil in 2006. I have come to the conclusion living here that celebrity carries more kudos than talent. There are so many fantastic young musicians here who will never make a living because there is no appreciation of talent anymore among the masses. Today, people want success without work. Hopefully, this is a cycle, and in the future, great musicians will again be appreciated for their dedication to their craft and their talent. I feel blessed that I am still blown away by musical talent. To all all you musicians out there. Thank you for making my life richer.

[@ikestoddard2458]

Permanently amateur as a musician, but still playing guitar after 50+ years. You make excellent points. I sent off my sub.

[@macsarcule]

So impressed with your planning and execution. You’re an inspiration! So so glad you ignore the trolls. Obsessing over obstacles isn’t where it’s at. (I know obstacles are real, I’m talking about an obsession with obstacles). Creating is where it’s at. Connection is where it’s at. 1000 true fans is where it’s at. ✌️😌🎸

[@bearbait49]

Thank you for your thoughts in insight

[@Realma]

The world of independent music has been tough to navigate - so many scams out there tbh. But this channel amongst others has been really helpful. Thank you and just subscribed to the newsletter

[@JimGramze]

More power to anyone who strives to or actually does make their living through their music. Personally, I very much prefer to work alone producing my music for an audience of one - me. I’m retired at the age of 66 and am so relieved to not have to answer to or humor anyone else. I dearly love what I do as I have for 60 years. I’ve done the grind of performing for appreciative audiences with a band but it became tiresome after 10 or so years. Solo, just for me. I’m much better as an amateur than I ever was as a pro. Always learning and making something new.

[@stephenhannafon4206]

Thanks!

[@MySynthDungeon]

Full Steam Ahead! Cheers!;-)!!

[@TheTobesOfHades]

It's funny because I'm not sure if we're going back to way things used to be or if they're come full circle. Quite a few years ago I remember thinking it was funny to still see people using notepads to collect email addresses at venues and shows, think that now we have all these new and exiting ways to connect, who needs email? And I watched a vid the other night over at Wings of Pegasus and he talked about how you can use keyboards to mimic human voices and it reminded me of the Mellotron in the 70s. As I've gotten older I can still appreciate a grand show in an arena but prefer smaller venues where it feels more intimate and connected with the artist. Sometimes you can meet them, say hi and talk, get an autograph. It's a different experience.

[@jessesowell8996]

Thank you.

[@lancemiller4647]

I so miss how we listened to / gained access to & bought music 20 years ago.. Great to see you wanting to make a change, for the better.!!!!

[@jec0435]

Napster? Just kidding. ;)

[@MissingMars]

very well put Mary!

[@1KGB]

Thanks

[@NicolaLarosa]

Shout out (heh) to the subliminal background music. It’s so soft, and high in reverb, that it seemed to be coming from my own environment. Well done. 👍🏼

[@mark.guitar]

Community - A group of people with a single overall purpose who communicate to bring that purpose to fruition.

[@williamlewis8773]

That definition of the word "community" is new to me but it explains much and it fits well with my life so far . Thanks for the clarity .

[@keysnhorns5150]

Nice. I also enjoyed your interview at NAMM...I'll check into that newsletter.

[@ScottRandall31]

Well said!

[@matejajezdic]

Mary, you could make some sort of an online club where independent musicians can interact, ask questions and share stuff amongst themselves. Like Rick Beato has with his Beato club. Also, a few weeks ago I sent you a reply email to the newsletter, looking forward to your reply.

[@7hillspoet]

That’s precisely what she’s advertising with this video

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

A pint of beer cost me £8 at the weekend which is a fleeting pleasure compared to the lasting joy of purchasing a CD or vinyl record. While music and physical formats may seem like luxury items, they are, in fact, essential to our mental and emotional well-being. Music connects us, transcends boundaries, and enriches our lives in immeasurable ways. Phil Aston

[@EddieLeeFunn]

Hello, Mary! The first thing that pops into my noggin is this: Underground radio. I'm not sure where or how that may fit, but, everybody has some type of way to receive radio transmissions. Hmmm.

[@garmisra7841]

Very insightful!

[@troutfishinggermany9186]

Awesome video and great idea! I will subscribe to your newsletter immediately!

[@MotifMusicStudios]

Great insights and an important voice for modern musicians!

[@_left_eye]

We all have to feel some gratitude, you are literally breathing some fresh air in the very concept of community

[@justinwilliams6429]

Great video, as always 😀❤️

[@caramanico1]

With all due respect Mary (and all other DIYers), keep in mind how Zeppelin got to their legendary status. First, Jimmy, Robert, John and John Paul had the expertise to create a fabulous catalog of songs. Second, they had a supporting cast that had the marketing/administrative/managerial/legal expertise to support them - Peter Grant (Band Manager), Richard Cole (Tour Manager), Steve Weiss (Attorney), BP Fallon (Marketing Director), Eddie Kramer (veteran Assistant Producer - Page was the producer but new to the game) and a few notable others I can't remember. In other words, it took a team of diverse talents. Even a very musically talented, super smart, hard working and truly motivated individual (such as yourself) ain't gonna be able to do what a whole organization of experts can do. Grant told the band to just focus on the music, he would take care of everything else.

[@35milesoflead]

2006 - KZbin arrived, and a year later, so did the UK smoking ban. These things aren't connected directly, but I think they feed into a grander issue, which is the death of local venues. KZbin gave anyone and everyone a chance to put their stuff online. At the same time, venues started closing due to the smoking ban, which had its effect on the nighttime economy. Half of the number of nightclubs that were open before the smoking ban were closed a decade later. Nearly 7000 pubs closed between 2007 and 2015 alone. This harmed the music industry at grass roots irreparably. Fewer venues, fewer opportunities to make a band a nice side-hustle. Fewer opportunities for bands to play and work the circuit.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

👍🏻 1992 poker machines were introduced to local pubs in my state, 2002-2012 large corporations bought up all the local pubs.. now we have mcpubs 🙈

[@Frustratedfool]

My son is currently doing a HND in music performance and he cited your newsletter in the latest module of his coursework regarding the TikTok issue. ❤

[@DanPerezSax]

Wow that de Montaigne quote sums up my approach to life for the past few years brilliantly.

[@dangamber5707]

Such a great video!

[@jerryhughes5380]

When my father wanted to achieve a goal he would start by saying "Things are gonna change." Then things would change. It all starts with declaring it.

[@Project851]

I took the ultimate shortcut and just bought your album. I can just quote ABBA: Thank you for the music Mary ❤

[@robertthegreek]

Godspeed!

[@stonebrakerstudio8238]

LOVE IT

[@universal144K]

Beautifully said 🪽🎀💞🌷👐🏼🙌👏🫶🏼

[@maxwellbowden9961]

Times is tough all over. Good luck

[@donaldcook3112]

. . . ‘That’s as may be’ as the expression say’s … it alway’s IS for so very many . In my reading(s) the ‘best’ or should that read the ‘true’?.. Have ALL ‘struggled’ - read ‘almost starved’ … in the toughest of cases. What ‘they’ never did was … ‘ give in ‘.

[@deanwolfechannel]

I like your newsletters. Recommend it for all musicians

[@user-hx8zj8vj6b]

Well said.

[@philipbgardner]

great advice, fundamental life advice...

[@alanclayton9277]

I know from watching that your reading means that you engage with the latest ideas on creativity and understanding our motivation: then there's always Montaigne! Whatever the problematic nature of a modern career in music is at this time I love the fact that you and only you can say Church Bell is out now.

[@user-ur4us2bt1w]

There would be a place for music, driven by a musiclover like you Mary. I think you would do it great

[@starlight27277]

Not everyone is destine to become a number one. You have control over action alone, never over its fruits. Live not for the fruits of action, nor attach yourself to inaction. Our action should have 2 goals, 1. development of our consciousness, skills and talents 2.material gain. Our main focus should be on the development of our consciousness. You have control over action alone, never over its fruits.

[@tez1651]

Excellent comment.

[@Bigscott4130]

"Your not gonna find the new Gods in the old places..." I've been telling people this for years.

[@rrhorner79]

Good video! Is there anything out there that is like the university radio stations? Back in the day, it was the university radio stations that really created the buzz that up-and-coming artists and bands needed to get noticed.

[@rthib1960]

Wow, what harsh comments! I enjoy your music Mary. I enjoy your commentaries also. My gut feeling is that the glory days of musicians "making it big" are over, with a couple of Taylor made exemptions. However, musicians who love to play live will always have work. They may not get rich, but being rich is not the key to happiness anyways as we see endless examples of. All the best to you!!!

[@ADEker]

There you go !

[@RandyGiven]

Nice video! Thanks!

[@josehereter4062]

Really enjoy your fast car versión With Leo.

[@mikmik2ification]

1:02 you should totally make these videos with conflicting ideas, then release them all at once on April Fools! In all seriousness though, this advice is great in all aspects of life if you want to achieve your goals. It's hard, but it's really the only way.

[@JohnPaulMusicUK]

Mary, LOVE THIS! To add my humble opinion. If we are to keep the same format of streaming music, then the ONLY way it will be sustainable for musicians is when a platform (obvs not Spotify 🙄) changes its pricing to be music centric - a.k.a if I pay £14.99 a month and only listen to to Mary Spender, Radiohead and JohnPaul 😉 then that money (minus the fee the service take to keep their business afloat), goes to JUST these artists, instead of the money going to the artists I don’t listen to. I would much rather listen to independent and new music to give those artists a chance of making money and getting their career off the ground, knowing that the money I pay to a streaming service was going to them. With new reports saying that in 2023 only 19% of artists on Spotify reached over 1000 streams on their music to be paid in the new 2024 model. Something HAS to change. I’m saying it now. Spotify will not survive the next decade.

[@Hoppenoffer]

Write well, play well and tour. That’s it. ✌️❤️

[@BlurredOutBoy]

you ain t no Bob Ross. But you do possess a very soothing voice. And I like your material. I also like how you respect your audience's intelligence. Keep it up.

[@corybarnes2341]

The worst thing of all, is the death of the regional music scene. Small clubs with up and coming bands who could distribute independently through local music stores. That is what killed the corporate 80's garbage and gave us a very vibrant early 90's music scene. By the end of the 90's the douches with frosted hair and taken over again and it was "Closing Time". if you'll forgive the reference.

[@johnmeeks9308]

i REALLY LIKE THE INFO SHE BRING'S IN THESES VID'S

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

Well stated... I've seen the radio side of things and am rather thankful to be out of that venue since 2002, for the changes that came to that industry were more than I could put up with anymore. Your thoughts apply to a lot of different forms of arts, be it performing or visual, like my photography work these days. There's sooooo much "noise" in "social" (antisocial lol) media these days that it's truly a challenge to filter out the good from the bad. You're right, one simply must focus on their audience and forget the noise, not to mention the "latest/greatest fashionable trends"... There are so many "knee/jerk" reactions these days and if one isn't true to their craft and chases the rabbit down the trendy holes, then it's all rather pointless in the end. :)

[@DadofScience]

I couldn't agree more. We lack community in all aspects of society these days. I will sign up.

[@michaelvandenheuvel317]

Yes please.

[@christopherorr1018]

Mary. I’m an 80’s/90’s kid. AC/DC, Dave Mathew’s, foo fighters, Billy Joel, Billy idol, the police, so on and so forth. I play guitar for fun. Sometimes I get to gig in my friends band. You are an accomplished musician / guitar player. I always enjoy your Mary trio pieces, and when you buddy up with others. Some of your solo stuff is cool, but not necessarily my cup of tea (my nanas from England), I say this not to degrade your ability, quite the opposite. You’re the total package. Story teller, comedian, philosopher, psychologist, and yes, an entertainer. I watch week after week. Not because I’m so into your music, but because of who and what you are, and how you do what you do. You’re a brand, a genuine brand that works. There are others too, but with the busy life I have, and limited time on my trusty iPad, you’re one of the precious few who get my consistent clicks. Just thought I’d share. Keep up the good work. Hope to catch you when you gig in the LA socal area again. Godspeed

[@robertthurman9866]

There was/is a label United Artists. Originally this was set up by artists in many fields who felt they were getting lost in the machine. Perhaps it is time to kickstart a new version of this. With the internet being the primary source of all things entertainment such an undertaking has a better chance of succeeding now than in the past.

[@robertdonnell8114]

As far as putting one foot in front of the other, yes of course do so, but do keep in mind your ultimate goal and walk in that direction only.

[@MichaelSchuerig]

I understand Mary's suggestion in such a way, that musicians ought to become entrepreneurs managing their own brand. It may work out for Mary, for Adam, for a few others. I'm very skeptical that it will work in general. For the time being, the music industry still depends on artists, but almost every one of them is expendable. Individual artists have no bargaining power, which makes it easy to screw them over. Look no further than streaming royalties. Labels have sold out "their" artists much too cheaply. While the labels still make a pretty profit, providing a sustainable income for artists wasn't a consideration at all. The only way forward that I can imagine is that artists _collectively_ exact better conditions from labels and streaming services. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to do that.

[@solkvist8668]

If it’s any comfort, music unions have actually existed before. In fact, it has made a noticeable impact. In 1942, the American Federation of musicians went on strike for a total of two years. All musicians who played an instrument simply stopped playing for commercial recordings. This actually led to the vocal quartet sound that we are familiar with today. These companies simply employed singers to do the whole thing, so for those two years basically everything was acapella. The results of these strikes ended with massively improved royalties for musicians, despite the president specifically asking the union to step down about a year in. We have actually seen this happen before, but what needs to happen first is that musicians join the union. Once you get enough musicians on board the leverage available to force these companies’ hands is effectively infinite.

[@jhunlimited_llc]

You are a Beacon in the Night my friend. ❤👌💯🎼🎵🎶

[@CharlesHess]

Montaigne? Essayist? He INVENTED THE ESSAY.

[@11calman]

Mary Spender,, Hi there from New Zealand (Gib & Ann) I am 86yrs an is slightly younger, We have been on the cusp of greatness, but are happy were we are. Played all over the world met lots of people, played with some huge superstars, but never really wanted to hit the big time, (So are happy) I have to say that being 86 I have seen a lot, some of the artists are Brilliant (Much like Anns voice which has kept us in work for yonks) But to my mind (& this is not a put down because you are rather classy), But you have not Quit got that "Star" Quality that you need to get on in this business, No doubt you are doing extremily well But not the little nudge you need, Ann & i have done TV, records, Gigs with big names but we also have not got "IT" xxxx Gib

[@carlcann9119]

Brilliant as usual Mary, but you do believe in culminative effect, so do not ignore that. Great creativity always comes from community discussions. In Toronto it started at the Riverboat, went to Grossman's, and then to The Cameron House. I am no longer there so I do not know where the essential dialogue is happening now. But I assure you dialogue is essential. In visual art, the cafes in Paris produced Impressionism, post impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism and Surrealism.

[@nixus69]

i think the most important thing is to make never been there before music...lyrics, sounds, songs, art.

[@pcread]

It's the old Circle of Concern, Circle of Influence, (Circle of Control). The secret to peace of mind is to minimise the difference between the two outer circles. As increasing influence is hard, just minimise worrying about stuff you can't do anything about.

[@er5406]

❤Hang in there