Lessons I Have Learned From The Music Business
The music business teaches you quickly that talent can only take you so far. After eight years of performing, writing, producing, and teaching, I have learned that building a career depends just as much on resilience, relationships, consistency, and perspective as it does on what happens in the rehearsal room or studio. Since I was 14, I have watched opportunities come and go, learned what happens behind the scenes, and discovered which people genuinely support me along the way. Mentors, teachers, family, friends, and professional musicians have shown me that the most important lessons are often about how to keep going. There is a lot about this career that people don’t see from the outside. Here are some lessons eight years in music have taught me.
The music business is extremely volatile. There are incredible highs and discouraging lows, sometimes within the same week. One day, you feel like everything is finally starting to click, and the next, something you were counting on falls through. A gig gets cancelled, an opportunity disappears, someone doesn't respond, or something you worked months on doesn't get the reaction you hoped it would. You can’t let either the highs or the lows define you. You have to keep working, and remember why you chose to do this in the first place.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that not everyone understands what being a musician actually means. From the outside, people see the shows, the recordings, the posts, and maybe the applause. What they don’t see are the rehearsals, writing sessions, lessons, emails, meetings, promotion, networking, preparation, rejection, and countless hours that happen when nobody is watching.
Sometimes, friends see music as your hobby because they don’t understand everything that goes into trying to make it your career. I used to find that frustrating. Now, I realize that not everyone has to understand it, but the people closest to you should respect it.
Over time, you start noticing who shows up to support versus who promises too, but when the time comes, the excuses start flooding in. I’ve been through this multiple times, and it can get discouraging seeing the same people do this over and over again. Unfortunately, it might just show you who your real friends are.
Nobody builds a career completely alone. I’ve been fortunate to have family, mentors, teachers, musicians, collaborators, and friends who have encouraged me, challenged me, and sometimes told me things I didn’t necessarily want to hear. After ten years, I’ve learned that talent matters, but so do resilience, consistency, relationships, and the people you surround yourself with. The music business can be unpredictable. The one thing you can control is how hard you work, how you treat people, and whether you keep going.
Noah Kosta is a 22 year old jazz/pop artist, captivating audiences across Canada with his mesmerizing and unique voice. Fresh off an engaging appearance on “Canada’s Got Talent,” Noah’s musical journey is a testament to his deep-rooted passion for entertaining, solidifying his place as one of the most promising emerging talents in the industry.
Website - noahkosta.com