Spotify Wrapped for Artists : Numbers do not necessarily indicate the quality of your work.

It's that time of year again. Artists publish their Spotify Wrapped compilations, synthesizing and summarizing  their streaming stats. It's an exciting season for some artists and it's fun to celebrate with  fans. But for many artists, it has a "dark night of the soul" atmosphere. It's complicated.

Here's why and  how to access it (this year or the years to come). In comparison   Comparison is the biggest obstacle for many independent artists, regardless of their level of success.  It's natural to be interested in industry metrics and how other artists are doing. But it is so important to approach it with a healthy perspective.  

Comparing your stats to other musicians is dangerous for several reasons. This is bad for your mental health and  artistic growth.  If you're tempted to compare your stats to someone else's, remember these things…  Success looks different for everyone   Every musician's path to success is unique. Success in the music industry does not follow a one-size-fits-all formula.

What works for one artist may not work for another. Comparing statistics leads to unrealistic expectations of yourself and disappointment when your trajectory doesn't mirror someone else's. We all have different starting points   We all start with different skills and natural abilities. We have different backgrounds, financial support, connections and resources. So comparing statistics without considering these factors is misleading and demoralizing.  Quality vs quantity  

Streaming stats do not equal success. Numbers do not necessarily indicate the quality of your work. So thinking about the number of Spotify subscribers, streams, saves, playlists and likes will only distract you from creating meaningful and authentic music.

Quality and artistic integrity should be your primary goals, not just dedication. Impact on mental health    Constantly comparing yourself to others will lead you down a dark path.

It can make you feel inadequate, jealous or a fraud. That's why it's important to prioritize your mental health and focus on  personal growth rather than external benchmarks. Variable metrics   Spotify statistics can vary for a number of reasons, such as algorithm changes  or the effectiveness of  marketing efforts.

Judging your success by these metrics will lead to disappointment. Long-term development of the artist    Building a sustainable and rewarding music career requires long-term commitment and growth. Comparing your short-term streaming stats to others probably doesn't accurately reflect your potential for long-term success and growth as an artist. Think long term.

Different artists have different audiences   Your music may not be generic pop that appeals to most passive music listeners. My sad folk music doesn't speak to as many people as Olivia Rodrigo's heartbreaking rock-pop songs.

So  focus on your unique audience instead of trying to please everyone. 

Now we have to talk about Spotify's toxic relationship  with artists. Namely, how they value  music based on what and how they pay for streams.   First,  the average profit is $0.003 per stream. The initially low profits were due to the boycott of the streaming platform by some artists such as Taylor Swift, The Beatles, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. As an artist, it seems insulting.   Another more recent issue is that Spotify will not pay artists for songs that receive less than 1,000 streams in a 12-month period. This increases the stream rate for songs that  get at least 1,000 streams, but  only alienates smaller artists.  That said, even if you have a streaming tactic you're happy with, releasing a Wrapped edition might feel weird. You're basically giving Spotify free advertising, but they're not paying you fairly. Although I usually post my Wrapped, I can understand why some artists don't want to.  How to approach Spotify   

Here's how you approach Spotify Wrapped every year. This is how you should approach your creative output and your entire musical career.  Compare yourself only to yourself.  Measure your growth only against yourself  last month, last year, 5 years ago. Just focus on how far you've come and how much better your music is now than before. Don't pay attention to the streaming numbers of other artists. It's easy to say, but hard to do. So I recommend writing down your goals and objectives as a musician. Then just focus on  that.

BW