In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the most honest and heartbreaking emails I’ve received in a while.
A 26-year-old songwriter from Portland reached out because he feels like the industry is leaving him behind.
He loves writing music. He loves the craft. He’s spent years building his sound.
But he absolutely shuts down the second a camera turns on.
He hates filming himself.
He hates watching himself back.
And the constant pressure to become a full-time “content creator” is making him feel like he doesn’t have a future in music at all.
He asked me:
• Can someone who hates being on camera still build a career?
• Does the music even matter anymore?
• Is there a realistic path for introverted artists in 2025?
• Or is he wasting his time because he can’t become what the algorithm wants?
This is a very real fear for many artists right now, and in this episode, I break down what’s actually true and what isn’t.
We talk about:
-Why introverts feel this pressure so deeply
-What the algorithm really cares about
-How to grow without turning into a personality you don’t recognise
-And how to build a career even if you never want to be a “face-forward” creator
If you’ve ever felt burnt out, discouraged, or invisible online, this episode is for you.
Have your own music industry question?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com the more real and detailed it is, the better the advice I can give.
#musicbusiness #musicindustry #artistdevelopment #music #matthewrix


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