Podcast Summary
Embracing Disruption as an Entrepreneur: Entrepreneurs like Aston Merrygold challenge the status quo, take risks, and face challenges to create new opportunities, even in the face of unexpected costs and obstacles.
Being disruptive as an entrepreneur means challenging the status quo, thinking outside the box, and embracing new ways to solve problems, even if it means taking risks and facing challenges. Aston Merrygold, a former member of the successful boy band JLS, exemplifies this mindset as he transitions into his solo career and opens a new dance studio, despite the numerous obstacles and unexpected costs. The interview, conducted at his studio, delves into topics such as social media, dealing with celebrity, and the business side of fame. The podcast also features a new experiment where the microphone is left on before and after the official interview, providing listeners with a more authentic and unfiltered experience.
From idea to reality: Creating a recording studio: Stay true to oneself and fully express art, whether in a group or alone, for the rewarding journey of creating something new.
Creating something from scratch, whether it's a business or an art project, comes with its unique challenges and rewards. Aston, a musician, shared his experience of starting a new recording studio. He described the initial excitement of transforming a small idea into a reality, but also the uncertainty and noise levels that came with the location. Aston reflected on the difference between working alone and in a band, noting that while the social aspect was missing, the creative freedom was invigorating. Ultimately, he emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself and fully expressing one's art, whether that means contributing 25% to a group or 100% on one's own. The journey of creating something new may be filled with blood, sweat, and tears, but the end result can be worth it.
Navigating the Entertainment Industry: A Journey of Adaptation and Collaboration: To succeed in the entertainment industry, adapt, collaborate, and communicate effectively with professionals and team members while maintaining creative control.
Success in the entertainment industry, whether it's music, dance, or a fusion of both, is about being open to new experiences and collaborations. The speaker shares that they aspire to have a piece of the success and legacy of artists like Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. They believe that entertainment is a broad industry that encompasses various aspects, including music, performance, singing, dance, acting, and business. When it comes to being in a band, the speaker mentions that they and their band learned to navigate conflicts by focusing on what's best for the collective rather than individual desires. They didn't have a formal learning process but instead relied on open communication and compromise. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of trusting professionals, such as managers and labels, while maintaining creative control. Overall, the key takeaway is that success in the entertainment industry requires a willingness to adapt, collaborate, and communicate effectively.
Navigating the unpredictability of music careers: Music careers can be unpredictable, with unexpected hits and misses. Trusting management and labels can be a challenge, but valuable experience is gained.
The success of a music career can be unpredictable, and sometimes the songs or projects that are expected to be major hits may not pan out as planned. JLS, a successful British boy band, experienced this firsthand. They found that some of their less anticipated songs ended up being bigger than expected, while others didn't meet their expectations. This unpredictability required them to trust their management and label, which was a significant challenge. After several years and multiple albums, the band members felt they had achieved all they wanted in their music careers and were ready to explore new opportunities. They saw it as a natural progression, having spent the majority of their young adulthood in the industry. Leaving the band was a mix of fear and excitement for them, as they transitioned from a highly structured and managed life to one of independence and self-direction. The experience and knowledge they gained during their time in JLS provided them with a strong foundation to build upon as they pursued new ventures.
Embracing uncertainty and having faith in oneself: Trusting oneself and accepting industry realities can lead to unexpected success, even without a clear plan. Acknowledge and confront fears, like jumping with a parachute versus without one, and believe in personal growth and resilience.
Embracing uncertainty and having faith in oneself can lead to unexpected success. The speaker shares how they went with the flow in their career, trusting that things would work out despite not having a clear plan. They also emphasized the importance of acknowledging and confronting fears, likening it to jumping out of a plane with a parachute versus without one. The speaker believes that having confidence, belief in oneself, and acceptance of one's industry are crucial in navigating a career in a cutthroat industry like music. They also mention how their experiences have changed them, making them more resilient and less focused on external validation. Overall, the speaker encourages a mindset of embracing the unknown and trusting oneself to thrive in uncertain situations.
Perspective shapes our experiences: Believe in yourself and take control of your career, even in a fast-paced industry like music
Perspective plays a significant role in how we view others and our own experiences. The speaker shared his experience of living with all his university friends in his flat during his early twenties, which some might perceive as showing off or partying excessively. However, from his perspective, it was a unique and valuable time where he was thrust into an industry and learned to work hard and smash through glass ceilings. Now, he's looking forward to the next stage of his career as a solo artist, believing in himself and his music, and putting it out there authentically. The speaker emphasized the importance of believing in oneself and taking control of one's career, especially in the fast-paced world of music where everything is online and constantly changing.
Embracing the shift to digital content creation: In the digital age, creating authentic, unfiltered content for phones and social media is key to reaching audiences directly and resonating with them.
In today's digital age, people want authentic, unfiltered content. The podcast host, with nearly 2 million subscribers, is a testament to this trend. People no longer want to be told what to watch or listen to, but rather, they want to decide for themselves. The industry is no longer about physical CDs or big speakers; it's about creating content for phones and social media platforms. The host emphasizes the importance of being aware of this shift and embracing it, rather than holding back. Additionally, people are increasingly seeking to express their own truths through podcasts, social media, and YouTube. While some may be hesitant to deviate from what fans or the industry expect, ultimately, the power lies in creating content that resonates with you and reaching your audience directly.
Embracing authenticity and honesty in art: Artists should focus on creating work that resonates with them, not seeking external validation. Embrace vulnerability and authenticity for a true-to-oneself legacy.
Authenticity and honesty are crucial in the creative industry, even if it means not pleasing everyone. The speaker admires artists who remain true to themselves, despite potential criticism or lack of immediate success. However, the pressure to please others and avoid harsh judgement can be a challenge. It's important to remember that it's impossible to please everyone and focusing on negative comments can be detrimental. Instead, it's essential to focus on creating work that resonates with the artist and not get bogged down by external validation. The speaker encourages embracing vulnerability when it leads to honesty and creating great art. In the end, leaving a true-to-oneself legacy is more important than pleasing the masses.
Choosing positivity and self-improvement: Recognize happiness is a choice, interrupt negative thoughts, focus on positivity, set goals, and work towards them to improve outlook and make the most of life.
Our mindset plays a significant role in how we perceive and respond to situations. Negative thoughts and hate can bring us down, but focusing on the positive and practicing self-motivation can help us feel better about ourselves and improve our overall outlook on life. It's important to recognize that happiness is a choice and that we have the power to interrupt negative thought patterns and focus on what we have instead of what we lack. Additionally, setting goals and working towards them can help us achieve the extraordinary and make the most of the time we have. As the speaker mentioned, it takes hard work and dedication, but the effort is worth it. Overall, the key is to choose positivity, focus on self-improvement, and make the most of each day.
Choosing Happiness with Intentionality: Prioritize happiness, eliminate negativity, understand business side of career, adapt to technological changes, and take control of career and personal life.
Happiness is a choice, but it requires effort and intentionality. The speaker shares how she prioritized her happiness and eliminated negative influences, including gossip and bad news, especially while raising a child. She also emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side of a career, especially in the entertainment industry, and how the industry's rapid technological changes have altered the traditional business cycle. The speaker encourages staying adaptable and being present on various digital platforms to engage with fans and release music at any time. Ultimately, she encourages taking control of one's career and personal life to achieve happiness and success.
Embracing Change and Continuous Learning in the Digital Age: In the digital age, businesses and individuals must adapt quickly to new trends and be willing to continuously learn and improve to succeed.
We are living in an era of unprecedented opportunities for business and creativity, thanks to the power of social media and digital platforms. The business landscape is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging every day, and individuals can now reach vast audiences with minimal resources. This is a double-edged sword, as while it offers incredible potential, it also requires artists and entrepreneurs to adapt quickly and constantly learn. The old model of building a business or career over years is being replaced by a more agile approach, where failure is a learning opportunity and the next idea is always just around the corner. However, this also means that expectations are high, and those who are not prepared to put in the work and hone their craft may struggle to meet them. Overall, it's an exciting time, full of possibilities, but also challenges, and it requires a willingness to embrace change and continuously learn and adapt.
Leveraging Social Media for Career and Business Growth: Artists and pros can engage audience, receive feedback, and build income streams on social media. Be comfortable with self and potential negatives. Explore multiple income sources.
Artists and professionals in today's world can leverage social media to build their careers and businesses in meaningful ways. They can engage with their audience, receive feedback, and even build multiple income streams. Social media platforms like Twitter offer real-time conversations, while others like Instagram and Facebook require more effort to connect. It's essential to be comfortable with oneself and the potential negative feedback that comes with public engagement. Building multiple income streams and making the most of opportunities when they arise are crucial for long-term success. Artists and professionals should embrace social media as a tool to connect with their audience, expand their reach, and grow their businesses. Additionally, they should not rely on a single source of income and instead, explore various avenues to increase their earning potential.
The importance of a trusted business partner: Finding a business partner who shares your vision and values can lead to great success, even if the partnership began as a friendship. Trust and personal connection can lead to a successful business venture.
Having a business partner who shares your vision and values can lead to great success, even if the partnership began as a friendship. The speaker in this conversation emphasizes the importance of having a trusted business partner, especially when he's away from the business. He found his partner through a chance encounter and believes that the best ideas can come from the smallest of starts. The speaker also mentions that going into business with friends can be rewarding and enjoyable, contrary to popular belief. He stresses that the personal connection and trust between partners can lead to a successful business venture. The speaker's perspective is that the roof over his business and personal life is always there, and he's always able to find a way forward, no matter the circumstances. This mindset allows him to focus on growth and investment, rather than just spending money as he once did.
Understanding People and Adapting to Change: Building genuine relationships requires long-term knowledge and flexibility to adapt to people's evolving intentions. In business, staying responsive to market trends while staying true to artistic vision is crucial.
Building and maintaining genuine relationships is crucial in both personal and business contexts. Harry emphasized the importance of knowing people over a long period and understanding their true intentions. He also mentioned the significance of being aware of potential changes in people and being open to evolving with them. Furthermore, Harry shared his experience with rebranding and adapting to the changing music industry, where consumers now prefer individual tracks over full albums. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the importance of staying flexible and responsive to market trends while remaining true to one's artistic vision.
Evolution of the music industry and its impact on artists: The shift towards singles in the music industry allows artists to evolve faster and potentially create hits, but it's crucial to enjoy the process and not rush the experience.
The music industry has evolved significantly, allowing artists to be more reactive to market demands and quicker in releasing new material. This shift has led to a focus on singles rather than full albums, enabling artists to evolve faster and potentially create their own hits. However, it's essential to remember Seal's advice - to enjoy the process, regardless of the scale, and not rush the experience. Despite the potential for bad advice, always trusting your gut can lead to the best outcomes. A surprising fact about being a celebrity or someone in the media is that when you receive a £1,000,000, you actually get £1,000,000, unlike the assumption that taxes take a significant portion of it.
Understanding the Complexities of Earning Money and Creativity: Earning money involves expenses and taxes, requiring hard work to achieve financial goals. Social media has positive and negative aspects, with better filtering options needed. Create and spread positivity, and embrace disruption to challenge norms and create new genres.
Earning money involves various expenses and taxes, leaving only a fraction for the earner. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding this reality and working hard to achieve financial goals. Regarding social media, the speaker believes it has a dual nature, with both positive and negative aspects. They wish for better filtering options to help users navigate through the content. The speaker also encourages people to create and spread positivity, rather than just consuming content. The concept of "disruptive" resonates with the speaker as a means of challenging established norms and creating new genres in music. They enjoy breaking rules and proving that there aren't any set in stone. Overall, the interview highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of earning money and the power of creativity in disrupting the status quo.
Engaging with fans on social media: Artists use social media to share music and updates, encouraging fans to follow and explore various channels for new content.
The artist values connection with their audience and uses social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to engage and share their music and updates. They encourage fans to search for them using their name and to explore their various online channels for new releases and content. The artist's industry experience has taught them the importance of being present and accessible to their fans, and they aim to provide a personal connection through their online presence. So, if you're interested in staying updated on this artist's music, be sure to follow them on Instagram (@astomericold) and keep an eye out for new releases on their other social media channels.
