About balancing the creative and commercial aspects of music production

I’ve realized that my spirit feels drained when I make beats that seem like they would sell on services like BeatStars. On the other hand, I get excited when making beats that don’t seem like they would sell. I do want to make money from music, but I’ve started to think that maybe I should prioritize how my heart feels. What do you think I should do?

Balancing the creative and commercial aspects of music production can indeed be a challenging dilemma. Here are some points to consider:

Understand Yourself

Firstly, it’s essential to understand what you’re looking for and what makes you happy. If you are aiming for commercial success, creating market-driven beats might be a necessity. However, if that approach leads to emotional burnout, it’s not sustainable in the long term.

Find a Middle Ground

Is there a middle ground between creating beats that will sell and the beats that excite you? Perhaps you could inject elements that the market wants into the kinds of beats that make you feel excited. This way, you might find a solution that satisfies both needs.

Separate the Two

One approach is to make some music geared toward commercial success and other music purely as an artistic expression. This way, you can pursue both the commercial aspect of your work and maintain your artistic integrity.

Time Factor

Sometimes success takes time. Even if the beats that excite you aren’t selling well initially, as your skills improve and your fan base grows, there’s the possibility that your work will gain more commercial acceptance.

Connect with a Community

It might be useful to talk to other producers or musicians facing the same dilemma to see how they are handling it. Learning from others in the same boat could provide valuable insights.

Ultimately, it boils down to what you value most. Music holds worth not just as a commercial enterprise but also as a form of expression. Which aspect you prioritize depends on your personal values and goals.