I read this great article today called Everyone’s a Sellout Now by Rebecca Jennings. It’s a deep-dive about how the modern Internet and creator economy has forced all artists and creative professionals into becoming entrepreneurs and self-promoters on social media in order to find an audience and make a living.
She referenced a few thoughtful TikTok videos where the artists describe the soul-sucking content treadmill they have to be on if they want to sustain any kind of income or success. One jokes about imagining Thom Yorke having to do TikToks to promote his music.
It’s such a well-written article, I don’t have much else to add.
Well, I do. It’s just too much to go into right now.
I will be sharing more of my story and personal experience with this on my upcoming podcast project we’re calling We Should Be Working. We start recording next week.
On the same note, I’ve been bingeing the following podcasts:
I’m glad more people are talking about this.
What Else I’ve Been Up To:
- Making a new song. I was watching Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story on Netflix and was kinda digging the 80s pop soundtrack. It inspired me to get back into FL Studio and make something. Can’t share yet, but I’m liking how it’s turning out.
- Mindful walks. I’m doing this fun “Pathfinder” challenge with my local metro parks. Finding and exploring new trails has been a fun way to get me out of the house.
- Using habit apps less. I was gung-ho about changing my habits this summer and tracking everything I was doing. But I found myself forgetting to tick off my habits and eventually just stopped using them. I was also very high on the journal app Rosebud, but the initial wow-factor of the AI assistant has worn off. I haven’t been in a wordy mood this week, more of a listening and being mood.
- Doing nothing. That’s it. The best advice I’ve been given in the last few weeks. Don’t meditate. Don’t try to heal or fix anything. Don’t try to “progress” toward anything. Just be. Sit with yourself. What’s it like?
I’m curious what your thoughts are on the creator economy today. Do you have any experience as a creator or consumer? Have you taken courses or attended webinars and other life-coachy stuff? If so, how did you feel about it? If you’re an artist or musician, what has your experience been in the 20 years or so that we’ve had social media? Are you still doing it as you get older? Has it changed you?
Interested to hear what you have to say.
That’s all for now. Have a good weekend.
✌️
Jeff
(Featured Image by Eleni Kalorkoti for Vox)
