Hey There!

This week I'm talking about a topic I've seen quite a bit lately -aging out of the music industry. It's an older mindset based on how the music industry used to function that isn't really true anymore. So today, we're diving in and looking at how it happened and why you shouldn't feel that invisible "time crunch" anymore.

xo,
​JONATHAN MILLER📕

People have been making fun of me for the sound of my voice since I first started talking. If you think you’re the first one to tell me I should quit music, you’re not (and you’d be quite pretentious thinking so.)

From the time I was little, whether I’m speaking or singing, someone has always deemed it their responsibility to keep my voice silenced; to reinforce the notion that my thoughts, feelings, and opinions are not “good enough.”

That was until recently when I realized they don’t actually hate my voice: they fear it.

Being a self-taught songwriter and musician has often filled my head with self-doubt. I’m no stranger to the “am I really an artist” dilemma that plagues creatives. When recounting experiences in my past, too often I say, “that was a dark time for me.” Yet, while explaining these anecdotes, I always feel the need to list out qualifier after qualifier for why I feel, think, say, or do anything about my own life experiences. Do you ever feel like that?

The constant need to explain myself I’ve learned is actually the long-term effects of other people repeatedly silencing my voice; the consequences of other people’s actions. It’s not our fault that people like me feel we must qualify our existence, but it turns out “no” is complete sentence.

These prickly barbs manifested within me as anxiety; depression; self-hatred; frustration; self-harm; suicidal thoughts; and more: all because I have never once felt that anyone really cared about what I had to say. In other words, there were too many thorns distracting from the beauty of the rose.

Every artist has a story to tell. Every artist has had people try to silence their art; who “had their best interests in mind.” Every songwriter carries the pen that will lead them through the words, phrases, sentences, lyrics, and chapters that paint the story of their own life.

This song is for anyone who has been silenced. Whether you are LGBTQIA or not, if you’ve been made fun for the sound of your voice or people have spoken over you repeatedly drowning you out, I hope this song empowers you to reclaim what’s rightfully yours.

Every writer is an artist.

So since I happen to be a writer and a re-introduction is in order, why not start this story with the very first thing that made me insecure all those years ago?

📕BOOK ONE: I Heard You Hate My Voice🌹
Jonathan Miller

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO + STREAM THE SONG NOW

Letter From Jonathan:
People have been making fun of me for the sound of my voice since I first started talking. If you think you’re the first one to tell me I should quit music, you’re not (and you’d be quite pretentious thinking so.)

From the time I was little, whether I’m speaking or singing, someone has always deemed it their responsibility to keep my voice silenced; to reinforce the notion that my thoughts, feelings, and opinions are not “good enough.”

That was until recently when I realized they don’t actually hate my voice: they fear it.

Being a self-taught songwriter and musician has often filled my head with self-doubt. I’m no stranger to the “am I really an artist” dilemma that plagues creatives. When recounting experiences in my past, too often I say, “that was a dark time for me.” Yet, while explaining these anecdotes, I always feel the need to list out qualifier after qualifier for why I feel, think, say, or do anything about my own life experiences. Do you ever feel like that?

The constant need to explain myself I’ve learned is actually the long-term effects of other people repeatedly silencing my voice; the consequences of other people’s actions. It’s not our fault that people like me feel we must qualify our existence, but it turns out “no” is complete sentence.

These prickly barbs manifested within me as anxiety; depression; self-hatred; frustration; self-harm; suicidal thoughts; and more: all because I have never once felt that anyone really cared about what I had to say. In other words, there were too many thorns distracting from the beauty of the rose.

Every artist has a story to tell. Every artist has had people try to silence their art; who “had their best interests in mind.” Every songwriter carries the pen that will lead them through the words, phrases, sentences, lyrics, and chapters that paint the story of their own life.

This song is for anyone who has been silenced. Whether you are LGBTQIA or not, if you’ve been made fun for the sound of your voice or people have spoken over you repeatedly drowning you out, I hope this song empowers you to reclaim what’s rightfully yours.

Every writer is an artist.

So since I happen to be a writer and a re-introduction is in order, why not start this story with the very first thing that made me insecure all those years ago?

📕BOOK ONE: I Heard You Hate My Voice🌹
"I Heard You Hate My Voice" is now available on all platforms.
​Show your support for Jonathan by buying this song on iTunes, streaming it, watching the music video (and share it with your friends.)

Hey There!

Before dropping a new single, a lot of artists wonder when the best time to actually release it is. Does the time of year matter? Should it be Friday or does the day even matter? Well, to help set you up for success, let's dive in and find out! 

xo,
JONATHAN MILLER📕

Being an independent artist who also makes consistent high quality video content is a balance that I think I'm still figuring out how to do properly. 

It's like I wear 3 separate hats that I constantly have to change between depending on what I'm doing; like changing your work attire at 3 different jobs. They all might fall under the same umbrella of music but they all require different qualifications to pull off smoothly. I'm a one-man show most of the time so it gets a little tricky. 

Honestly, sometimes I'm not really even sure how I do it because I still struggle financially.🏦

I've invested everything I own into what I do. Music is my passion but I'm not also releasing a new song every 5 minutes. I'd love to but I'm independent which means I don't always have the time and resources to. Which is where the video hat comes into play. Ad revenue on YouTube is much smaller than people think especially for a growing channel like mine. 

I get comments all the time about how I should have more followers, streams, and views and it's a very nice compliment, but I'll admit I'm not entirely sure why I don't either. I work hard at what I do and I really love doing it but my bank account would also like to smile occasionally. 😭

So here's what my goals are:
🌹 I want to hit 10,000 Subscribers on Youtube by the end of the year.
🌹 I want to hit 50,000 followers on TikTok
🌹 I want to hit 500 followers on Spotify.

Following, subscribing, and sharing my content really helps the ol' algorithm send it out to more people. It helps me grow and keep producing music, videos, and other types of content as well. I don't like asking people for these things (you'd think I'd be used to it by now!) but I work really hard so I think I should stop being shy and be more confident in myself.

It's funny, when you make content online (regardless of your field) it always seems like everyone knows your biggest insecurities: your low budget, that acne scar, your camera, your fingernail color, your hair, the sound of your voice. Trolls love to bring up that stuff all the time which makes us hate ourselves and get self-conscious. 

But if there's anything I've learned in my time as an online creator and musician it's that owning your biggest insecurities is the most powerful thing you can do.

And luckily as a musician, my favorite way of owning my insecurities is writing a song about it.

xo,
JONATHAN MILLER📕

Hey!

A few years ago I did a video on common song structures in pop music. Well today, I'm finally making an update as popular music has changed quite a bit and new song constructions and formats have arisen. So, for my advanced songwriters who are ready to take their music to level 2, this one's for you! 

xo,
JONATHAN MILLER🌙

Hey There!

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, the music industry has changed a LOT! There are things happening right now that could stick around for the long-haul. So, today we're looking at 3 trends specifically so that you can set your next single up to be a smash! Check it out and SUBSCRIBE!

xo,
JONATHAN MILLER🌙

Hey!

Covering a song, Sampling a song, and Interpolating a song are all very different things. They happen so often that many people get confused by them! So today we're diving into each one and talking about how you can do them LEGALLY! (Just FYI: one of these things is verrrrrrrry expensive!) Check it out!

xo,
​JONATHAN MILLER🌙

Hey There!

Releasing new music is exciting and there's a lot to remember! So today I'm sharing 3 mistakes you want to make sure you AVOID MAKING before dropping a new song! Check it out!

xo,
​JONATHAN MILLER🌙

It's hard to believe I've just recently passed my 14th Anniversary in music.

In a world of artists that have millions of views, followers, streams people forget that not everyone has been lucky enough to attain those things. There are numerous hard working artists out there right now who are still struggling to find their footing, find their audience and become the stars they were destined to be.

In my 14 years, I've learned some hard lessons about the way people treat others. Comment sections have replaced the tabloids and if you don't say everything 100% perfectly, your intent will be skewed, rumors will fly and you'll be left wondering how to (and if you can) make a comeback.

My audience growth has been a slow one. I got lucky that my videos began to do well on TikTok but that luck doesn't negate the 14 years of experience and constant grinding either. I still have a very long way to go to accomplish my dreams but my roadmap has taught me to appreciate growth if, and when, it occurs.

Numbers don't make you better than other people.
They make you luckier than other people. 🍀

Even as I'm writing this right now, my music still shows "<1000 streams" of all my songs on Spotify. I passed 30,000 followers and my music plays haven't seen a gigantic upturn yet. That alone should tell you that numbers on social media don't always represent the truth.

The truth, though, is something only you know; only you can tell it. 

You are the author of your own story even though everyone thinks they have a right to tell you how to write it. Sometimes they'll even try to write it for you! Other times you'll have to try different things and different ways to get your voice heard -even if people hate it.

There's power in your voice and your story; only you have seen and experienced the world through your eyes.

I used to be afraid of that power.

But I'm not afraid anymore.

xo,
JONATHAN MILLER📕