Tag: Beatmaker Mindset

To succeed as a beatmaker, it’s not just about creating fantastic beats, but also understanding the business perspective. Particularly, it is essential to overcome the ‘resistance to earning money’ and to end the ‘need for approval.’ Let’s focus on these two points in this article.

The emergence of AI-made music presents a compelling question to the creative human spirit: What should we do when artificial intelligence becomes an active participant in the world of music production? The answer, like most things in life, is not as simple as it may seem. This article explores the potential impact of AI-made music on the human experience, and how we can best adapt and thrive in this new musical landscape.

In the field of beatmaking, a creative endeavor, there’s often a mental hurdle that surfaces, “Is it okay to get paid for this?”

If you’re receiving critical comments on your YouTube channel or blog as a beatmaker, whether or not to delete those comments can depend on a variety of factors.

1. Don’t Delete Your Work – Make content private instead of erasing it. Rest before deciding.
2. Value Your Growth – Archive old projects; they show progress and may inspire later.
3. Pause, Don’t Quit Social Media – Log out or announce a break instead of deleting accounts.
4. Back Up, Don’t Erase – Store old files securely for future use.
5. Delay Big Decisions – Avoid quitting or drastic changes; reflect first.
6. Protect Relationships – Step away if frustrated to avoid damaging connections.
7. Be Kind to Yourself – Burnout signals the need for rest, not failure.
8. Don’t Abandon Music – Take a break, but don’t quit; passion often returns.
9. Maintain Financial Stability – Avoid selling gear or cutting income streams.

Bottom Line

Burnout is temporary—rest, reflect, and avoid irreversible decisions. Your creativity will bounce back.

As beatmakers, it’s easy to collect plugins, apps, and gear in hopes of improving. But unused tools can clutter your space and stifle creativity.

I once felt weighed down by VSTs and apps I never used. Decluttering transformed my process, freeing me from guilt and distraction. I stopped collecting and refocused on making music, using only tools that truly served my goals.

Simplifying your setup sharpens focus and enhances creativity. Letting go of what you don’t need isn’t just organization—it’s a path back to your passion.

Success for beatmakers once meant maximizing reach through YouTube views and AdSense revenue. Today, saturated markets and diverse audiences have shifted the focus to building genuine connections with dedicated fans.

Meaningful Over Mass Appeal

Modern listeners value authenticity. Beatmakers now thrive by resonating with smaller, loyal communities, fostering deeper bonds that surpass the fleeting rewards of mass popularity.

Fulfillment Through Connection

True success lies in creating music that resonates deeply, building lasting relationships, and finding joy in shared appreciation—not in chasing metrics.

In the age of AI, just doing something because it’s profitable isn’t enough—AI can outperform humans in almost every area when it comes to efficiency and profit.

That’s why if you don’t have that genuine, illogical love—when you just like something “for no reason”—it’s hard to keep going. If you’re truly passionate, whether or not it’s profitable doesn’t matter. That pure enjoyment and drive are what set people apart from AI, and it’s what sustains creative work even if there’s no guarantee of success or reward.

When you do something because you simply like it, not because it makes sense or earns money, you create value and meaning that AI can’t replicate. Your unique perspective and passion become your greatest assets.

Lately, I’ve been having a blast messing around with AI music tools. They’re wild—you toss in an idea and, boom, a track appears like magic. But after that rush, I catch myself going back to my old setup, opening Koala or Ableton Note, and cooking up beats by hand. And honestly? I appreciate my own, non-AI beats more than ever.

Why?

Because every little sound is actually mine. The timing might be slightly off, or a hi-hat might hit a little crooked, but that’s what makes it real. When I sample something goofy or add a random sample chop just for fun, there’s a weird joy in hearing it back—like saying “this is me” without using words.

There’s something missing in AI-generated stuff. Sure, it sounds cool and sometimes sparks ideas I wouldn’t have thought of, but there’s no story behind it—no late night struggling with a melody, no weeks stuck trying to get a mix right. That struggle and messiness is half the fun for me.

And then there’s sharing. When I post my own tracks on Bandcamp or somewhere else, it feels like I’m actually putting myself out there, not just uploading something a bot spit out. The feedback means so much more, too. When someone gets what I’m aiming for (or doesn’t, but still vibes with it), that’s a feeling no algorithm can copy.

In the end, AI is a cool tool—but it’ll never replace the rush I get from making something from scratch. My own beats have my sweat in them. That means everything.