The start of a new year is a good time to look ahead, but also to identify what things are holding back the musical project without the artist realising it. Many mistakes are repeated year after year and end up generating a sense of stagnation.
Starting the year by letting go of certain dynamics can make more of a difference than setting new goals without reviewing old ones.
RELEASING MUSIC WITHOUT A CLEAR DIRECTION
One of the most common mistakes is to release songs without an overall project idea. Releasing on impulse, without context or continuity, makes it difficult for the public to understand who the artist is and what to expect.
Leaving this mistake behind means thinking of the project as a whole and not as a sum of individual songs. Having a clear direction makes it easier for each release to contribute to growth.
CONFUSING ACTIVITY WITH PROGRESS
Being busy does not always mean moving forward. Many artists fill their year with actions, publications and releases without stopping to assess whether they are really adding value to the project.
Starting the year by leaving behind the constant urgency allows to focus on more coherent actions, even if fewer, but better thought through.
MEASURING SUCCESS BY SUPERFICIAL NUMBERS ALONE
Another common mistake is to base the perception of success solely on visible figures such as monthly listeners or one-off plays. These numbers do not always reflect the real growth of the project.
Moving away from this approach means learning to better interpret data and understand listener behaviour, not just listening volume.
NOT LEARNING FROM LAST YEAR'S MISTAKES
Many artists start the year as if the previous one had never existed. They don't analyse what worked, what didn't and why. Without that learning, it is easy to repeat the same mistakes.
Closing stages does not mean forgetting, but using the accumulated experience to make better decisions from now on.
WANTING TO DO IT ALL ALONE ALL THE TIME
Extreme self-reliance often leads to burnout. Trying to control all areas of the project without support and structure limits growth and increases frustration.
Leaving this mistake behind does not mean delegating everything, but understanding which parts of the process need professional accompaniment in order to move forward with more clarity.
START THE YEAR WITHOUT CHANGING ANYTHING
The biggest mistake of all is to start the year with the intention of growing without changing habits, processes or decisions. If everything stays the same, so do the results.
Starting the year by leaving behind repeated mistakes opens up space for new, more coherent and sustainable dynamics in the medium term.
Leaving these mistakes behind does not guarantee immediate results, but it does create a more solid foundation for the music project to move forward with greater clarity in the new year.
