Debunking Myths About the Country Music Industry (Part 2 out of 3)

Next up, Myth 2.

Image: Rolling Stone

To my great surprise and devastation, within the first couple months of visiting Nashville I found out that talent doesn’t necessarily matter in the music industry. To some degree, maybe it does, like having a unique voice or unmatched guitar skills. But when it comes down to it, talent does not guarantee success. Neither does work ethic. Or being pretty. They’re all just little pieces of sweet candy that give you temporary hope, coaxing you, like having all the right cards lined up. But that still doesn’t mean you’ll win the game.

In fact the game could be rigged. A game like the music industry, most certainly could be rigged. And talent, in some way or another, can be bought. Success can be bought. Followers, listeners, a record deal, can all be purchased. Which makes us fair players feel completely helpless in the smoky bar on a Tuesday night.

But when I say that talent can be bought, what I really mean to say is the facade of talent. And I do not mean to insinuate that the leading artists of the country music industry are not talented– because they really are. I also acknowledge that not every artist starts their journey in the same place, skillswise. But someone– all it takes is someone– took a chance on them, decided to invest, developed this artist’s talent and abilities, and the past is something that we chalk up to as history.