Does Business Ruin Art?

An anonymous musician just posted this comment regarding my latest podcast episode:

"Business ruins art. It's unfortunate that most people are reshaping their musical goals to fit their financial ones. All this just makes me want to keep music a hobby instead of a profession so I don't feel like I have to make crappy, watered-down poop music."

Here's my response:

I understand the frustration that mingling art and commerce can create, especially when it comes to music and "big business" -- where quick results and bottom lines rule.

But let me ask you something ...

Does holding a general belief that "business ruins art" empower you? Only you can answer that, but there's no denying a belief like that colors how you feel about music and how you interact with the world.


All mental beliefs -- whether positive, negative, or in between -- are simply perceptions that an individual has chosen to buy into. None of them exist as objective truths in the real world. They only exist in the thoughts of each person who decides to let certain beliefs take up permanent residence in their minds.

Here's the belief I have chosen to give free lifetime room and board in my brain: There's nothing wrong with wanting to be compensated for the value that your music delivers to fans. It's healthy and natural to want to grow and prosper.

But if you can't get over your hang-ups about music and business and money, then do yourself (and the rest of us) a favor ... and play music as a hobby for the best reason of all: the love of it.

That's what I believe. How about you?

-Bob


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