It’s that time of year again when everyone sets goals for the next 365 days. At 19th & 7th, we speak to artists all the time about their goals and aspirations, and we see a lot of overlap. We thought it would be useful to try and condense these into a list that can help you figure out what’s important to you, and offer some thoughts on how to achieve some of these things so that you can manage it all effectively. Right now is the perfect time for artists to strategize refocus their creative energies, so here’s a list of resolutions designed to help you thrive both creatively and professionally in the year ahead:
Write Out Goals and Review Often
Start the year by outlining clear and achievable goals for your music career. Break them into short-term and long-term objectives. Write them on a whiteboard, set it at your computer’s wallpaper, or make it a mantra. As the months go on, visit them regularly to track your progress. We recommend doing this on the last day of the month. That way, you can start the next month ready to go.
Commit to Regular Practice
Whether it’s perfecting your instrument, improving your vocal range, or honing your production skills, consistent practice is key. Set aside dedicated time each week to refine your craft. If you have a tight schedule, plan smaller sessions in between things, or place your instrument near your bed so you can play a little when you wake up or go to sleep.
Routinely Explore New Territory
Step out of your comfort zone by experimenting with new genres, styles, or instruments. Challenge yourself creatively and see how it influences your overall sound. You might not like a given genre, but emulating it as an exercise may reveal a technique that you like, or a tool that’s missing from your workflow.
Write and Release More
Keep the momentum going by writing and releasing music consistently. Even if it’s a single or a demo, putting your work out there keeps you visible and connected to your audience. Try creating simple deadlines for tracking, and focus less of “perfection” — a lot of times, nitpicking is just us getting in our own way.
Collaborate with New People
Collaborations can open doors to fresh ideas and new audiences. Seek out other musicians, producers, or songwriters to create something unique together. Beyond the music itself, new people bring more relationships, more knowledge, and more potential opportunities for growth.
Try New Tools
Stay ahead of the curve by experimenting with the latest music tools and technologies. From AI-powered plugins to advanced production software, these tools can elevate your sound and streamline your workflow. Try planning days to do research, and start following blogs or social media accounts that highlight these things so your feed is less about distraction and more about information.
Learn New DIY Workflows
Take the time to master DIY recording, mixing, or even marketing strategies. The more you can handle on your own, the more control you have over your creative process. Make it an exercise, and see if the sounds you get from one method click with you!
Improve Your Online Presence
Your online presence is your storefront in today’s music industry. Ensure your social media, website, and streaming profiles are up-to-date and visually appealing. Which leads us directly to…
Create a Content Schedule
Plan and schedule your content and updates in advance to maintain consistency. Whether it’s posts, videos, or live streams, regular updates keep your audience engaged.
Develop Branding
Think about your visuals, messaging, and the story you want to tell, and align everything to create a cohesive image. Dedicate time once in a while to just looking around at artists you like, both big and small, and evaluating what they’re doing. Take notes, compare, contrast, and see if there are common threads that pop out at you.
Try New Platforms
Don’t be afraid to explore emerging platforms like new social apps or sites. You might find a niche audience or innovative ways to share your music. There are communities everywhere, and sometimes the smaller, niche platforms have a more active audience with less clutter to fight through.
Research Current Industry Practices
Stay informed about trends in the music industry. Understanding changes in streaming, licensing, or management practices can help you establish reasonable expectations of what these business relationships really mean, and give you the baseline information to make smarter decisions when the opportunity arises.
Find Parallel Income Opportunities
Diversify your income by exploring areas like sync licensing, teaching, or creating merchandise. These can provide financial stability while you focus on your art. Some are easier than others, and some are more focused on your passion project while others may be less glamorous. However, teaching lesson or playing in a wedding band is a lot better than a desk job that drains your soul, and it keeps you in close proximity to people that are also passionate about music.
Build a Reliable Team
No one succeeds alone. Surround yourself with a team of people who believe in your vision and can help you grow. It can be organizing band members to carry out specific tasks, recruiting friends and family to help with things, or hiring an agency (like us here at 19th & 7th!) but trust us: no man is an island.
Look at Audience Data
Use analytics tools to better understand your audience. From demographics to listening habits, this data can guide your creative and promotional strategies. Maybe you’re finding people of a certain demographic is hanging around more than other. Try using that to your advantage and work towards strengthening that relationship.
Attend Industry Events
Networking is invaluable. Attend conferences, showcases, and workshops to meet people who can help advance your career. Try periodically searching to something like “music networking events near me” periodically. (Set a reminder every two weeks or so, there’s no shortage of events happening!)
Go to More Local Shows
Support your local music scene by attending shows. For anyone who’s ever been part of a music scene, they’ll tell you that it’s definitely not sustainable to only take. Giving support is huge, and the relationships you foster are essential when your next big show or release comes around. If you can’t go out every gig, that’s fine. Try and make it a goals to attend two shows a month and adjust accordingly.
Back Up Everything Regularly
Lastly, but probably most importantly: Set a schedule for backups. You can do it manually or find tools that will do it for you. It’s something we push off a lot because it’s “not important” until it is. Losing your work can be devastating. Make it a habit to back up your music, projects, and important files in multiple locations.
By committing to these resolutions, you’ll set yourself up for a productive, creative, and successful 2025. Which of these will you tackle first?