Jon K.T

“Awards don’t pay your bills—your audience does.”

I find it interesting how many independent artists complain about not making money…

but will spend money entering every self-nominated award show they can find.

At some point, you have to ask yourself—

are you building a career, or are you collecting titles?

There’s nothing wrong with recognition.

But recognition without revenue is just expensive validation.

If your goal is to make money in music, shift your focus:

Build a real fanbase.

Create music people actually connect with.

Learn how to monetize your audience—not impress other artists.

Because fans don’t stream you more because you won an award…

they support you because they feel something.

Stop chasing the look of success.

Start building something that pays you back.

A gentle reminder to my fellow artists

When you go live on social media, remember… that space is your stage.

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It doesn’t have to be expensive.

But it should feel intentional.

Take a little time to:

• Choose a backdrop that fits your vibe

• Set the mood with lighting

• Practice the song until it lives in you

• Lift your eyes from the lyrics and connect

Your audience can feel the difference between “trying it out” and “prepared to share.”

If you were booked for a show, you’d rehearse. You’d think about presentation. You’d step into performance mode.

Social media deserves that same care — because the people watching you deserve that same care.

Every live video is an opportunity to build trust, presence, and confidence. Growth doesn’t happen by accident — it happens with intention.

Keep showing up. Just show up ready. ✨

Not everyone is your fan — and that’s okay.

Artists should focus more on networking with other artists, not assuming every follow equals support. Following another artist doesn’t mean they’ll buy your music, stream your songs, or even connect with your sound.

And the same goes the other way.

Too many artists want followers but don’t follow back. Most platforms already notify people when you follow or subscribe — there’s no need to tag your entire friends list. That’s not how most people discover music… it’s just noise.

Build real connections, support genuinely, and let the music find the right audience.

🎶 Growth comes from relationships, not ego.

It’s official — Escaping the Silence: The Jon KT Story is now available on Apple Books.

This book is my journey through identity, faith, music, heartbreak, love, loss, and rebirth.

It’s about learning to speak when life teaches you to be quiet… and finding purpose in the noise.

If my story can help even one person feel seen, heard, or understood — then every page was worth writing.

📖 Available now on Apple Books

🔗 Search: “Escaping the Silence Jon KT”

💭 Understanding Strength in Ourselves and Others

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. Some things come naturally, while others take time, patience, and effort to learn. Too often, this difference becomes a source of criticism rather than compassion.

But what if we shifted our mindset?

What if, instead of judging others for what they lack, we helped them reach their full potential?

Not one of us is perfect at everything — and that’s okay. True strength isn’t found in perfection; it’s found in empathy, collaboration, and the willingness to help others avoid the same pitfalls we’ve faced on our own journey to success.

“No matter where you are in life, act like you belong.”

Confidence opens doors that doubt keeps closed. Whether you’re walking into a boardroom, stepping on stage, or starting something new — carry yourself with the belief that you deserve to be there. Growth begins when you show up like you already belong in the space you’re aiming for.

— Jon KT

Industry Insight:

In today’s music landscape, many individuals are eager to claim a place within the industry. Unfortunately, this often leads to the rise of self-proclaimed music promoters, academies, and educators who lack real industry knowledge or experience.

They create platforms under the guise of helping artists “network” or “grow,” but their true intent is often to capitalize on artists’ lack of understanding about how the business really works. A brief conversation is usually enough to reveal their limited grasp of the industry — yet they continue to sell services that don’t actually exist or provide no real value.

Artists should always research, ask questions, and verify credentials before investing time or money into anyone claiming to offer guidance or opportunity. Real professionals will have both the experience and the transparency to back up their claims.

— Jon KT

Navigating Criticism and Building Your Audience as an Artist

As songwriters, musicians, and performers, it’s important to recognize that creativity comes from our individual experiences, knowledge, and passion. External criticism will always exist, but learning to filter it constructively rather than emotionally is key to longevity in this industry.

When developing your audience, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Avoid declaring that you’ve created a hit. Allow your audience to determine what resonates with them.

• Refrain from self-promotion that centers on how great you are at your craft. Let your consistency, work ethic, and artistry speak for you.

• Do not engage in public arguments over subjective opinions about your work. Everyone hears and feels art differently — responding defensively can discourage potential supporters.

In this industry, you can either focus on building a genuine audience through your craft or find yourself caught in a cycle of competition and comparison by chasing accolades. The most sustainable path forward is always through authenticity and growth.

— Jon KT

What does success mean to you?

I was looking back over my journey — the music, the milestones, the moments that shaped me — and realized something powerful: I’ve overlooked many of my successes while chasing the idea of success.

During a conversation yesterday, someone asked me, “What does success look like to you?”

Without thinking, I said, “I woke up this morning, so that’s a success.”

It hit me later — that simple truth answered the very question I’ve been asking myself for years. I’ve been successful in my life, in my art, and in my purpose. So what am I really in pursuit of?

Success isn’t just awards, numbers, or recognition — it’s waking up with passion, purpose, and the drive to keep going. It’s growing through challenges, creating from the heart, and helping others do the same.

Now it’s time to use that mindset to inspire and empower others to define success on their own terms.

This may be difficult for some artists to hear, but it’s worth considering…

Many artists spend more time and money promoting award shows than investing in their own music and career. The truth is, many of these awards are influenced by money and politics rather than pure talent.

Ask yourself: what real, lasting opportunities have come directly from winning or being nominated? Has it advanced your career, or mainly benefitted those running the shows?

Instead of chasing recognition, focus on what truly matters:

🎵 Creating and refining your work

📣 Building genuine connections with your audience

🌍 Making sure people can actually find, hear, and engage with your music

Recognition is valuable, but your greatest return will always come from investing in yourself, your craft, and your audience. That’s where sustainable success begins.

🎶 Stop competing against AI and start learning how to use it.

AI isn’t replacing musicians—it’s just another tool in the creative toolbox. If someone creates an impactful song with AI, that doesn’t erase your talent or your ability to create something just as powerful.

History shows us that every new technology in music—from multitrack recording to digital instruments—was first resisted, then embraced. The time you spend protesting could be spent writing, producing, and connecting with your audience.

AI is moving forward with or without us. The real question is: will you resist the change, or will you use it to elevate your art?

What they are not supposed to do is charge artists for simply sharing posts on social media. If someone is asking you to pay them just to repost or share your music without offering a real return on investment (placement, growth, tangible exposure, or royalties), they’re charging you for what you’re already doing yourself.

Artists, your craft has value. Protect it. Don’t pay for empty promises.

📌 Cover Songs

✅ Require a license — even on social media.

💡 Use a distribution platform to get proper licensing for your versions.

📌 Karaoke Videos

🚫 Don’t post them using someone else’s instrumental.

🎤 These are meant for live venues where licenses are already paid for.

❗ Why it matters:

Ignoring these steps can get your posts flagged, muted, or even removed.

📚 Respect the music. Protect your content.

Paying for bot promotion just to boost numbers.

You get an email or DM promising playlist adds and “real” followers—for a price. You pay, your numbers go up, and you think you’re winning. Wrong.

You’ve been added to bot accounts, and your distributor gets flagged by platforms like Spotify or Apple Music.

Result? Your music gets taken down. No questions asked.

✅ If you want legit playlist placement, take time to learn how to pitch to real curators—many are accessible directly through your distribution platform.

Here’s the secret:

Stop just asking people to follow and share your music.

Start by following and sharing others.

Supporting fellow artists not only builds real connections—it often inspires them to return the favor and share your work with their network.

Constantly posting your own links without engaging with others can come off as spammy and disconnected.

But building genuine relationships? That’s how you grow a community, not just a follower count.

#MusicTips #IndieArtistSupport #NetworkOverNumbers #BuildTheCommunity #JonKT

Let’s clear something up for all the indie artists, producers, and creators out there.

Many artists are confused (and frustrated) when their original music gets flagged for copyright or ownership violations on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. The truth? You might be unknowingly triggering these flags yourself.

Here’s what’s going on:

📌 You’re using a distributor to release your music, but not linking it properly.

If you’ve released music via a distribution platform (like DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.) and you post that same music in your content without selecting it from the platform’s music library — it can get flagged. Why? Because the platform doesn’t see it as yours — it sees it as licensed third-party content.

📌 You registered with a PRO as a songwriter — but not as a publisher.

This is a common mistake. Registering as just a songwriter with BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC means you’re only covered halfway. Without a publisher account or owning your own publishing, your music is vulnerable to platform takedowns, because no one is officially claiming the content for usage and royalties across digital/social platforms.

📌 Social platforms don’t have time to dig into your ownership claim.

They’re not checking if you’re the creator — they’re checking the licensing and metadata tied to the post. If your music isn’t officially listed in their system, it gets flagged or muted.

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✅ Tips to Avoid Getting Flagged:

1. Distribute to social platforms directly.

Make sure your distributor pushes your music to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels, etc.

2. Claim your artist pages.

Platforms like TikTok and Spotify allow you to claim your official artist profile — do it! This adds another layer of verification.

3. Use your music from the platform’s library.

When creating content, select your music from the official platform catalog (not by playing it from your phone or dropping it into your video editor).

4. Register as both songwriter AND publisher.

If you want to collect all your royalties and avoid confusion, make sure your publishing is sorted. You can create your own publishing entity or register with a service that helps with both.

⸻

💡 Example:

When I create content for TikTok using my own music, I make sure my distributor sends my music directly to TikTok. Then, I select that track from TikTok’s official library. I’ve claimed my artist page, and I collect revenue through both distribution and publishing — no flags, no takedowns, no confusion.

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🎤 Questions? Confused? Drop them in the comments!

Let’s help each other grow smarter in this music game.

#IndieArtistTips #MusicBusiness101 #CopyrightClarity #ContentCreation #MusicDistribution #JonKT #ProtectYourWork