Is it just me, or do a lot of music producers who can’t get listeners eventually turn to making tutorials?
Let’s be real: building an audience is one of the hardest parts of being an artist. Getting regular listeners, people who truly follow you, takes time. A lot of it. And just like music itself, there are no shortcuts. The more you learn, the more your music improves — and with that, yes, eventually your streams might follow.
But it takes commitment. It’s like the 10,000-hour rule — the idea that mastery in any field comes after thousands of hours of dedicated work. That means showing up daily: composing, mixing, singing, tweaking. Every day, you become a little bit better. And if, behind that, you’re also putting effort into promotion, your audience will grow.
But nothing is magic. Dropping a track and expecting thousands or millions of streams instantly? That’s like playing the lottery. Why would you get streams without any promo, with no one even knowing you exist? Thousands of tracks are released every day. There’s no reason you’ll stand out unless you do the work.
So back to the question — why do so many producers end up making tutorials?
Honestly, I don’t get the logic. Just because you’re making tutorials doesn’t mean people will listen to your music. Even if the content is high quality, tutorials mostly attract other musicians. And here’s the risk: musicians can be ruthless listeners.
You’re making EQ tutorials but your own tracks sound harsh? Your panning tutorial is cool, but your mix gives people a headache? That’s not just ironic — it’s damaging. You’re opening yourself up to critique from people who actually know the technical side.
And here’s the most important part: your target audience as a musician is not other producers. It’s the everyday listener — the one who plays your music while driving, working, chilling. The one who shares your songs and adds them to playlists. That’s who you should be speaking to.
So yeah, make tutorials if that’s what you love. Share your knowledge, help others. But don’t forget what really matters.
Make music. Keep improving. Promote it smart. That’s what gets you heard.
