In diverse ways, talent has been proven never to be the only anchoring factor to success in any field, and the music industry is no exemption.

No matter how talented you are, you cannot achieve much if you have scanty adherence to other key areas essential to your success in the music industry.

While talent undoubtedly plays a crucial role in an artist’s journey, there are several reasons why it is not enough on its own.
Talent can set you into doors of opportunities and breakthroughs but your knowledge, sense of purpose, and character are what will sustain and test the endurance of your talent.

Beyond talent, here are a few essentials that music and creative artists must graft for extraordinary achievements:

Diligence : Proverbs 22.29 profoundly describes the result of a diligent person by telling us who his audience will be, through a character of diligence, and it reads:
” Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
Cultivating diligence through practice and continuous learning will greatly contribute to your rise in the industry. Diligence encapsulates persistence, constant practice, commitment, and a whole lot more.

Knowledge of the Music Business:
Often, the ecstasy of possessing a skill can slightly lure its possessor into the place of a novice and this is scary. To have music ambitions without a firm resolve to go in for what it takes to be an artist and all the other functions that embody your dealings with the music world might result in very scanty progress in your music journey and make you susceptible to being cheated for your ignorance.
Knowledge of your audience, your craft, and the music business will facilitate your growth and success. Go for knowledge!

Networking :
It is of a truth about the scripture that reads: “Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth his friend.” [Proverbs 27:17]
As a music or creative artist, your growth or expansion also lies in strategic alliance formation with people in the industry. This will build on your knowledge of the industry and will also present you with the avenue to make relevant contributions in your field. As you connect with other music artists and music savvy, you are presented with the opportunity to learn and unlearn many things that will contribute to your success.

Skill Mastery & Dynamism:
I like the way Robert Greene puts it, that: “Mastery is not a function of genius or talent. It’s a function of time and intense focus applied to a particular field or knowledge.”
This denotes that, music and creative artists must awaken to the realization of owning their craft in their journey. Skill mastery should lead artists to have a clear identity of the skill they possess, how to use it effectively, how to connect with their audience, stagecraft, and many more. Inclusively, they must ensure to be creative and abreast with changes that come with human interactions and the systems that control the music industry as well as how music is consumed.

Adaptation to Technological Advancement:
With technology being one of the ever-evolving systems, and the advent of digital platforms and streaming services, the music industry has undergone significant technological shifts. This is why artists must stay abreast of these changes, embrace the evolution that technology brings, and leverage digital tools for promotion, distribution, and audience engagement.

In summary, talent alone cannot produce an extraordinary artist in this competitive music and creative industry. Essentially, an amalgamation of talent and knowledge, character, sense of purpose, and ethics will make a ‘lethal combo’ in the career of any artist.

By: Majorie Lamptey Mensah