Hey everyone, Happy Friday! Drop a quick photo or write a short paragraph about what you’ve been working on this week, or what you’re planning to knock out this weekend. And one more thing: What is your TOP goal for this month that’s going to set you up to crush 2026 right out of the gate? Let’s lock it in, stay accountable, and keep pushing forward.

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Hey ya'll Production Session is today Tuesday, December 9th, 2 pm PST, 10 pm GMT https://www.skool.com/elevate-your-craft/calendar?eid=233dcec8f4fa4ec59430570fa5d9fe68 If you need help or have any questions, let me know It's a 2 pm class PST 10 pm GMT - 60-minute class * Music Production advancement * How to start a tune, how to finish a tune * Arrangement protocols: Taking the listener from the beginning to the end * Drum Programming and Design * Working with Samples and Loops * Sound Design * Bassline Focus * Creating Melodies * Chords, Scales, Progressions * Vocal Processing * Mixing Techniques * Mastering Sessions

December Lesson: Why This Month Is Your Secret Weapon as an Artist (Don’t Wait for January) Most musicians slow down in December. They tell themselves: “I’ll start fresh in January.”“I’ll get serious next year.” But here’s what top artists, producers, and music entrepreneurs really do: They use December as leverage because this month is the quietest, clearest, and most strategically powerful month of the entire year. Let’s break it down so you can hit January at full speed. Why December Is a Power Month for Musicians A pattern shows up every year: January is one of the biggest months for growth. Streams go up. Content views go up. Course sign-ups go up. Fans engage more. People set goals, get motivated, and look for new music, new artists, new creators to follow. Not because your music magically gets better, but because listeners get hit with the “fresh start” energy. Last year, I pushed hard in December, content, marketing, release planning, tightening my offers, and January exploded. And I noticed two more unexpected benefits from not “checking out” early… #1: Fewer Distractions → More Creative Flow December is quiet. People stop emailing. Everyone slows down. Industry folks stop scheduling meetings. Which means: You get long, uninterrupted stretches to produce, write, organize, and build momentum. Deep work becomes easier. Creative output feels smoother. Focus becomes effortless. #2: January Becomes the Easiest Month of Your Year While most artists scramble in January to: - reconnect with fans, - finish the songs they put off, - get artwork done, - plan releases, - restart content… You will already have everything ready. You’ll “turn everything on”… and watch it run. January becomes calm, productive, and even fun, because the hard part is already done. (And yes, you can still take holiday downtime. This isn’t about grinding through Christmas, it’s about being intentional.) So What Should You Actually Work On in December? Here’s where most musicians fall off:

LESSON: Why You Should Post Your Spotify Wrapped (Even If You Have Mixed Feelings About Streaming) Every year, Spotify Wrapped brings a wave of emotions for artists: excitement, frustration, pride, comparison, confusion… all of it. And I get it. Streaming can feel like a necessary evil. The payouts aren’t great, the system isn’t perfect, and it’s easy to feel discouraged if your numbers aren’t where you want them to be. Streaming services are one of the most powerful promotional tools we have in today’s music industry. Not because of the royalties… but because of the reach. My Personal Goal This Year I set out to get my annual streams back over the 1 million mark.I didn’t quite hit it, but I came close. And here’s what matters more than the number itself: Streaming has pushed my music into the ears of millions of new listeners who never would’ve found me otherwise. Even though album royalties have dropped dramatically for many artists (myself included), streaming has opened doors in every other area of my business: - More fans discovering my solo project - More support at shows - More opportunities - More visibility across platforms - More momentum for every new release That’s the real win. Why Your Wrapped Matters (Even If You Don’t Love Spotify) Think of Spotify Wrapped as: - A snapshot of your growth - A marketing asset - A fan engagement tool - A confidence booster - A milestone worth celebrating You don’t need millions of streams to show off your achievements. Even 1 listener in a random country across the world is incredible. That’s someone who chose your music out of 100 million songs. That’s real impact. Why You Should Post Yours Posting your Wrapped isn’t bragging. It’s storytelling. It shows: - Your consistency - Your dedication - Your global reach - Your progress - Your resilience - Your authenticity as an artist Fans love seeing behind the curtain. They love rooting for you. And every year you post your Wrapped, you build your narrative. You show growth. You show commitment. You show that you’re in this for the long game.