1. Musical satisfaction: I have hundreds of CD's in every musical style, including jazz, classical, and every style of rock. Nothing that I can create could ever compete with this library. I can't create something that sounds better than Dark Side of the Moon, or Abbey Road. — TheQuestioner
2. If the only reason to create music is to listen to it yourself, — TheQuestioner
I have enough good music on my shelf to listen to until the day I die (including all 9 Radiohead CD's), so why should I spend time creating anything new? — TheQuestioner
Pink Floyd and the Beatles became successful after years of touring. If they posted the same music today, without touring they would receive very few listens. — TheQuestioner
I have no aspirations for it to provide any monetary compensation or recognition whatsoever. I just enjoy doing it. — TheQuestioner
Unfortunately, I don't fall into that category. If I spend weeks creating music that will not receive any recognition, then I feel like I am wasting my time. — TheQuestioner
To each his own.
If I am given the following three choices of how I will spend my time, I will select #2 and #3 over #1.
1. Create music that few people will hear.
2. Win an online poker tournament.
3. Create a website that is used by thousands of people.
It has nothing to do with the monetary compensation. It is the feeling of accomplishment (and ecstasy, when I win an online poker tournament) that each choice provides, in return for the work that was necessary to perform that choice.
I am not trying to discourage budding composers. If you choose to spend your time creating music, knowing that you will probably never achieve any success or recognition, then go for it. — TheQuestioner
Based upon their replies, I am now considering the possibility of continuing to create music just for the music's sake, and not for the need of recognition. This is a difficult adjustment for me to make, because I respect and economize my time enormously.
To quote Muhammad Ali: "Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right." — TheQuestioner
I have been a musician for more than 50 years. — TheQuestioner
You're a more experienced musician than me, so I shouldn't have to remind you that this mindset is the antithesis to the creative urge itself. Do you think Pink Floyd started the recording sessions for Dark Side thinking "we have to make a record that's better than Abbey Road"? — Noble Dust
Unfortunately, the following comment is false: "There will always be an audience for an honest song".
On Soundcloud and Youtube, there are thousands of "honest songs" that millions of hours were spent creating, and there is very little audience for 99.99% of them. — TheQuestioner
I've felt very discouraged in a similar vein to this from people on this forum regarding the creation of philosophy, not music. Like an attitude of "how dare you be so arrogant to think you could ever possibly come up with anything better than what others have already come up with before you." Okay, so I guess everybody ought to just give up at everything forever starting yesterday, because the odds of anyone ever improving on anything are so low, and it's unforgivable arrogance to even act like it might be possible, by trying. — Pfhorrest
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