Why Musicians Fail, and How to Avoid Failing as a Musician

The thought of committing to a major goal only to fail is terrifying, even more so when the goal is a non-traditional and risky one that requires significant commitments and sacrifices. Musicians embarking on a journey into the creative industry are usually aware of the fact that many artists do not achieve success, while some underestimate the challenges and obstacles that come with pursuing their dreams.

There is no single reason why musicians fail, and it is not always their fault that things do not work out. Truth is, part of life is accepting that you cannot always get what you want, and sometimes, life unexpectedly takes us down paths we did not expect to end up on. That said, this harsh aspect of reality should not be a reason to not at least try, and do so genuinely. In other words, if you don’t try, you’ve already failed. But if you give your best and still fail, at least you know you’ve tried.

The good news is that there are things you can do to minimize the risk of failing as an artist. They might not guarantee success, but they can save you from pitfalls, stagnation, and faulty approaches. So, if you believe you're doing everything right but don't see the fruits of your labor, the reason may lie in one of the eight we’ve listed below.

Art, music, and creativity are often associated with a laid-back, do-as-you-please lifestyle. Outsiders tend to believe that the ‘life of an artist’ is an effortless one with no strict routines. Even artists themselves sometimes reinforce this idea, especially once they’ve reached significant milestones in their careers. But the truth is, we often only get to see the success and results of hard work, not the failures, struggles, or effort that went into getting there.

This is where professionalism in the form of routine and consistency comes in. To avoid failing as a musician, you need to take your craft seriously and commit to it consistently. That means setting aside dedicated time for creating, practicing, promoting your music, networking, and expanding your industry knowledge. And you need to do so in a structured way to make sure you don't neglect any important aspects. Without these factors, your music career is unlikely to take off.

Professionalism in this context also means prioritizing quality, effort, and intentionality (without falling into the trap of perfectionism, but that’s a topic for another day). For example, a new producer posting beats on social media without engaging visuals will likely get overshadowed by those who put more effort into their content. Similarly, releasing poorly mixed and mastered projects (where one track is louder than the other) can throw listeners off and push them toward a different album.

Another dimension of professionalism is how you treat others. Artists and bands who disrespect managers, engineers, fans, the media, or fellow musicians can’t expect to make a breakthrough. Respect in this context ranges from punctuality and politeness to reliability—traits that build trust and likability. In other words, don’t be rude, don’t make empty promises to fans and peers, and don’t reject criticism or accountability when someone points out an issue. A simple rule of thumb: treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Another reason musicians fail is that the goals they set are too vague or unrealistic. Common examples of unclear goals include "becoming famous," "being successful," or "living off my music." In contrast, specific goals like "producing and releasing an album within the next four months" or "playing four shows within the next six months" provide a clear direction, helping you make tangible progress in your career.

While dreaming big is admirable, your goals also need to be realistic. For instance, if you’ve only played one small show for friends and acquaintances at a local bar, you can’t expect your next gig to attract 5,000 people. This might seem like an exaggerated example, but applied to less obvious situations, it highlights why setting unrealistic goals can lead to disappointment and disillusionment.

Once you’ve set a time-sensitive, achievable goal that genuinely motivates you, break it down into smaller, actionable steps. Together with a solid routine, this approach will help you stay on track and make a major difference in your progress.

As much as we’re tired of hearing it, you absolutely need to maximize your online presence, and do so strategically. Social media can be time-consuming and exhausting, but with so much music discovery happening online, avoiding it entirely isn’t an option.

That said, you also need to be intentional about where you focus your efforts. When it comes to streaming platforms, the general rule is the more, the better. This is because different people use different services, so making sure your music is available on numerous platforms is crucial. Need a suggestion? With iMusician's music distribution services, you can get your releases on 200+ platforms and shops worldwide with the guarantee of your music staying online forever.

When it comes to social media, you need to focus on those platforms that your fans use. This also means that you need to understand what kind of people could like your music and gravitate towards you as an artist. Think about what kind of content they would enjoy, and which platforms work best for it. For instance, both IG and TikTok are great for entertaining content like memes, so if your artist brand incorporates humor, they would be a solid choice. Those platforms are also more popular among younger people, so if that’s your audience, they’re the best choice.

Another aspect that matters a lot is consistency across all platforms and providing easy access to your music and other important links. Without it, people might not be able to recognize you, memorize you, or even find you where they are looking.

Are you an introverted musician struggling with maintaining a social media presence? Read our article on music marketing for introverted artists.

Your artist persona/brand, or how you present yourself to the world, matters. On one hand, it shapes how fans perceive you and what they associate you with. On the other, it provides you with direction, both artistically and in terms of communication.

That said, how you present yourself shouldn’t be too far removed from who you are as a person. What we mean by that is simple: if you’re an extroverted, humorous person who loves fun and entertainment, trying to portray yourself as a mysterious, introverted, and secretive artist might not work out in the long run.

That is because you will have to maintain that persona and avoid breaking character, which can become exhausting, feel unnatural, and ultimately become a burden. Over time, this could lead to a loss of motivation or even burnout from constantly acting like someone you’re not. So, build your brand mindfully and intentionally, but also authentically.

However, if you have concrete reasons to separate your artistic persona from your regular, everyday self and know this would work better for you than merging the two, feel free to disregard our advice. We understand that some artists prefer the freedom to explore different roles and identities beyond who they are in real life, while others may simply want to keep their personal lives separate from their public persona for the sake of privacy. In this case, there’s no need to strictly follow our suggestion. Just make sure you approach this aspect of your music career thoughtfully and intentionally.

Our world is changing faster than ever, with new technologies, platforms, and trends constantly emerging and reshaping the industry. It can be difficult to keep up with these innovations and developments, but not doing so can be detrimental to your career.

Think about all the artists who were working toward their goals but decided to reject social media when it became essential for promoting music. By refusing to incorporate it into their strategies, they essentially set themselves up to be replaced by those who adapted and made use of it.

Of course, you don’t need to jump on every major trend or adopt every new technology, but you should at least stay informed and adapt when necessary. For instance, with the rise of AI and its growing impact on the music industry, it is important to stay aware of how it could affect you in the long run.

When working toward a major goal, we often reach out to others to ask for advice, feedback, or reassurance. While this can be helpful and important, it can also be detrimental if you're asking the wrong people. For instance, your family member who discouraged you from pursuing music because “it’s too risky and unrealistic” might not be the best person to turn to when you’re experiencing uncertainty. Similarly, non-musician friends won’t be able to give you technical feedback on a track.

Their input can still be valuable if you want to know whether they enjoy your new song. But when it comes to questions about techniques or navigating the music industry, make sure to seek out those with the right expertise. Those can be people who work in the music industry and can offer insight into specific aspects of it (like PR or social media) or other, more successful artists who have been in your position before.

Read more about when and how to ask for feedback on your music and career.

Success often depends on who you surround yourself with and how you can support each other—despite society’s obsession with being ‘self-made’ and hyper-independent. In fact, only a handful of highly successful artists got to where they are entirely on their own, while most received support from others in one way or another.

For some, it was growing up with well-connected parents (a classic case of nepotism). For others, it was spending years in the right environment, such as a city with a thriving music scene, to build a strong network. But for most, these advantages don’t just fall into their laps. That’s why making an effort to meet people and network matters just as much as collaborating with others, being willing to ask for help, and to offer help to others.

At the end of the day, you never know who you’ll meet and how you might end up helping each other.

Mistakes, whether small or large, are part of the human experience. All too often, we can spend days preparing, but that alone doesn’t guarantee that everything will go according to plan. Much of life is a trial-and-error process, and this also applies to music careers.

We’re aware that making a mistake, whether it’s a forgotten appointment, a missed opportunity, or an embarrassing blunder, can have a strong impact on one's self-esteem, especially when it comes with uncomfortable consequences. But, while we can’t always control everything around us (including how we feel or how others perceive us), we do have the power to decide how to respond to our emotions or a situation.

So, if you make a mistake, one thing you shouldn't do is dwell on it forever. Of course, it’s okay to feel upset, sad, or even mad at yourself for a while. Those are natural emotions. However, by dwelling on it and beating yourself up, you risk getting stuck in a spiral of negativity that can further damage your self-esteem and hold you back from moving forward.

At the same time, you also shouldn’t avoid dealing with the uncomfortable feelings that follow a mistake. While it might be easier to ignore them (because let’s be honest, it's not enjoyable to feel bad about oneself), not reflecting on the mistake makes you more prone to repeating it. Thus, instead of avoiding the situation, use it as a learning opportunity.

Here’s an example: Let’s say you’re an aspiring producer and engineer who decided to attend a music conference to network with industry professionals. During the conference, you get to speak with a few important people, but don’t manage to grab their interest enough to continue the conversations. A week goes by, and none of the people you spoke with reached out or responded to your follow-up in a meaningful way. A month later, you realize that all your efforts 'went to waste.' You feel disappointed and start questioning whether you’re good enough, interesting enough, or competent enough to be seen as someone with potential.

But here’s the catch: It was your first time attending a music conference, and on top of that, you didn’t prepare enough for the conversations you could end up having. At the event, you didn’t always understand all music terms and industry jargon people used, which made it difficult to confidently engage with other, more experienced individuals. Additionally, you didn’t spend enough time considering who you wanted to connect with, why you wanted to connect with them, and how to pitch yourself in a way that would make others aware of what you bring to the table.

What you don’t want to do is dwell on feelings of disappointment and think of yourself as fundamentally incompetent. Instead, take a moment to reflect on the interactions you had and the challenges you faced. Think about why the people you spoke with didn’t see a reason to continue connecting with you. Maybe you spoke to someone from a completely different genre, who might simply not have a concrete reason and the time to stay in touch with you. Then, think about how you can prepare for the next conference: What will you say about yourself? What questions will you ask? And how can you communicate the benefits of working with you?

This approach will help you avoid repeating the same mistakes, allowing you to do better next time. However, if you avoid facing these challenges with self-compassion and responsibility, the lack of initiative could ultimately lead to failure as a musician. This might happen due to a lack of growth and learning, or because you stop believing in yourself, and more often than not, it’s both at the same time.