If you wanted people to hear your music back in the day, you had to physically put it into their hands. You burned CDs, pressed vinyl, or dubbed tapes one by one. You hit the streets, handed them to DJs, and hoped they’d actually listen. Or you’d head over to someone’s office or house and play your music for them in person. The process was slow, frustrating, and full of rejection—but it was also very real. You could see the moment someone’s face lit up hearing your song for the first time. You could feel the energy in a room when your music resonated.
Today, everything is digital. No one is handing out tapes—but everyone is still fighting to be heard. The tools have changed, but the principles remain the same.
The real question is: Are you showing up for your music in the right way?
Back in the Day:
✔ If you wanted people to hear your music, you had to physically hand them a copy.
✔ You had to show up—at radio stations, record stores, underground shows.
✔ Gatekeepers were real. College radio DJs, tastemakers, and promoters decided what got played, and when.
✔ “Going viral” meant people copied your tape, passed it around, and packed your shows.
Today:
✔ You don’t have to be physically present, but you do have to be intentional.
✔ Showing up now means consistent content, meaningful engagement, and genuine networking.
✔ The new gatekeepers? Playlist curators, bloggers, and social media influencers. And just like before, you need respect, value, and a great story to break through.
✔ “Going viral” isn’t about luck—it’s about sustained visibility in a world where people scroll past thousands of artists daily.
The tools are different. The energy is the same.
And at the center of it all? You.
The external world of music marketing—whether it’s passing out tapes in the ‘90s or pitching your music to playlists today—is just the outer reflection of an inner state.
Vadim Zeland, in Reality Transurfing, teaches that we don’t chase opportunities; we align ourselves so that opportunities come to us.
That’s what showing up truly means.
🔹 Back then, showing up meant literally being there—at the venue, at the radio station, at the record shop. You had to be physically present.
🔹 Today, showing up means energetic and strategic presence. Are you engaging? Are you building relationships? Are you putting your energy into the right places?
Showing up in today’s world of music marketing doesn’t just mean posting. It means being in the right mindset, operating from alignment, and moving with purpose.
Too many artists today chase visibility without realizing they should be attracting it.
🎯 Back then, a desperate artist was the one handing out CDs to people who weren’t interested.
🎯 Today, a desperate artist is the one spamming DMs, begging for playlist placements, or posting aimlessly just to stay “active.”
The secret isn’t more effort—it’s aligned effort.
🔹 Instead of “How do I get more followers?” ask “How do I create something so real that people naturally want to share it?”
🔹 Instead of “How do I go viral?” ask “How do I make my music so undeniable that people feel like they discovered something?”
When you create from intention, not desperation, the right people show up.
And when you operate from a place of clarity and purpose, the marketing feels effortless.
How To Apply This Today:
✅ Be Intentional with Your Presence
•If you’re online, be truly present. Engage, build, connect—not just with “industry people,” but with real fans.
•Don’t just post. Be part of the conversation.
✅ Respect the New Gatekeepers
•Bloggers, playlist curators, and influencers hold power now—just like radio DJs and record store buyers did before.
•Treat them with respect. Don’t spam. Build relationships. Provide value.
✅ Understand That Virality Isn’t the Goal—Longevity Is
•A viral moment can be fleeting. But a steady, engaged fanbase will sustain a career.
•Focus on depth over reach. A thousand real fans are worth much more than a million passive views.
✅ Align First, Then Act
•If you’re feeling desperate, drained, or doubtful, pause.
•Ask yourself: Am I creating from a place of alignment or a place of fear?
•Every move should come from clarity, not from panic.
Whether you’re pressing up vinyl in 1998 or dropping a new single on Spotify in 2025, the core principle remains the same:
Music is about connection. Success is about alignment.
If you master how to show up in the right way, success isn’t something you chase—it’s something that naturally unfolds.
Create with intent. Move with purpose.