Cleaning Up Spotify
I love clicking around on Spotify but as artists have released more music over the years in different formats, it’s getting a little messy.
The song is released as a single, then it’s on the EP, then on the album, then re-released as a single with acoustic versions and remixes, then on the deluxe album…Each one of these releases getting it’s own heading and time stamp.
And since it’s the biggest song for the artist it appears at the top of the page in the Popular section.
Underneath the Popular section are the artist full length albums from newest to oldest and then underneath that, the time line starts over again with EPs and singles from newest to oldest.
Confusing? Yeah, it’s a bit of a scrolling/information nightmare.
The most common information I want to have quick access to is…when did an artists most popular songs get released and what’s the corresponding single/ep/album?
So a few suggestions to clean and clear things up…
-a button next to each track that pops up the artwork for all the places the song appears (I know you can click the three buttons and select ‘go to album’ but that doesn’t solve the problem)
-put all releases into one overall timeline AND/OR give artists control panel where they get to decide what their timeline looks like
-when an artist releases a single and it also appears on a subsequent ep or album, the artist has the ability to remove it as a single from the timeline
-if the the song is listed in the artists Popular songs, the artist can choose which artwork (the single art, ep art or album art) is shown next to the song title at the top of the page.
»» The better line which should have concluded yesterday's post: This time is next time's last time.
I thought of it today. Too good not to include.
Next Time's Last Time
Getting asked back is one of the highest compliments.
But getting asked back doesn’t happen by being really good bothering the promoter eight weeks after your last gig there.
It doesn’t happen by focusing on getting asked back.
It happens by putting on a show that isn’t concerned with next time but rather lighting the full stick of dynamite, pulling the pin and letting it fly, turning it up and tearing off the knob, shakin the lakes and rockin the docks. (I grew up in Minnesota, I heard someone say the lakes bit when I was a kid.)
Getting asked back means you were incredible last time.
This time is next time’s last time. Make it incredible.
Daily Loops
If you take a few minutes to think about the things that are new to your daily loop over the last year or two (or ten), it will remind you that you can add or remove things to/from your daily loop.
Here’s a few to get you going…
Fifty pushups
Writing a two sentence note to your spouse
Flossing
Taking a deep, thankful breath as you walk out the door to work
House shoes
Music while making dinner
Lighting a candle after dinner
Writing down a good idea
No more fried food
Phones stay out of the bedroom
Speaking with a friend on the phone
Moisturizing
Our days are fairly predictable. It’s why the most common answer to “what’s new” is “not much”. We do a lot of the same stuff over and over. So pick some stuff you like. Pick some stuff that makes a change.
You’ve added stuff before. You’ve dropped stuff before.
You can do it again.
Garbage Time
Digging in your garbage isn’t fun and it’s definitely not something you want to do all the time.
But sometimes you threw away something six months ago that, now, is really useful.
Metaphorically speaking.
Your old ideas for taking over the world, your old demos, voice memos, journals, lyric notes on your phone…all that you threw in the metaphorical trash months and years ago. It’s probably still a lot of trash, but there’s no way you have a perfect track record of only discarding the exact things that need to be discarded. Odds are you threw away some good stuff too.
If you haven’t in a while, maybe it’s garbage time.
When It's Easier To Like The Music
It’s funny how when I know the artist it’s easier to like their music.
It’s why meetings work.
It’s why Instagram and SnapChat work.
It’s why media tours work.
It’s why Behind The Music and behind the scenes works.
It’s why playing live and meet and greets work.
It’s why your mom and dad like your music so much.
But remember, like the opening line says, it only makes it easier. And easier is great…but it’s certainly not for sure.
So where do you prioritize your focus?
Perhaps the best option (as the artist) is to simply make better music.