This week, I found myself reflecting on how far I had come since starting this business side of the music business journey. Last week had been all about refining my merchandise ideas and focusing on marketing, but this week brought a shift toward longer-term vision, playlist growth, and developing strategies to make my music business more sustainable in the future. I had already started building a solid foundation, but now I needed to think about how to take it all to the next level. I am seeking to build a legacy in jazz music.
The first area I focused on was growing my playlists on Spotify and Tidal. In the past couple of weeks, I’d worked on creating a few key playlists that featured both my original tracks and the jazz classics that inspired me. These playlists weren’t just a way to organize my music—they were a way to build a deeper connection with my audience and introduce them to the sounds that had shaped my artistic identity. My hope was that listeners would not only discover my music but also dive deeper into the genre I loved.
I spent time curating my playlists, making sure that they weren’t just a random collection of songs. Each playlist had its own theme and flow. For instance, the one focused on jazz standards was a carefully chosen selection of songs that have stood the test of time, mixed with my own renditions and original works. I envisioned it as a space where my audience could immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of jazz while discovering new, modern interpretations. Similarly, the playlist featuring my blues and Latin influences was designed to showcase the full range of my musical style. These playlists were designed to feel like an experience—like taking a musical journey from one song to the next, connecting the dots between the old and the new.
As I worked on curating the playlists, I also thought about how I could get more people to listen. Playlists are such a powerful tool in the music industry because they expose artists to new listeners, and I knew I had to make sure mine reached the right people. At the same time, I continued to develop my vision for the future of my music career. I began thinking more seriously about the long-term direction I wanted to take. I had always set small, achievable goals, but now I was looking ahead to bigger milestones. I had already committed to releasing at least one or two songs every year, but I wanted to push myself further. I began thinking about releasing a full album of original music—something that could capture my growth as an artist and showcase the depth of my creative abilities. An album would allow me to share a cohesive narrative with my listeners, something that went beyond individual songs. It would tell a story, both musically and lyrically, and give my audience a chance to experience my journey from start to finish. I arranged a trip to visit my friend and music partner, Curtis Edwards who was living in El Paso. We had produced an entire CD of acoustic songs that had a limited release back in 2011. I could easily go back into the studio and revamp all of those songs. In addition, I was sitting on quite a pile of unpublished musical work I'd written since then.
I also started considering the idea of creating an album - a vinyl LP, that paid tribute to jazz standards. I’ve always been deeply inspired by the greats—artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra—and I had already recorded a body of work in this genre that I had released as digital singles. This album wouldn’t just be about nostalgia; it would be a way to honor the past while injecting my own modern style into the mix. I had recorded these classics in a way that felt fresh, bringing my own flair and energy to the timeless tracks. Putting all of these works onto a vinyl LP seemed to be the natural next step.
Thinking about these long-term projects made me realize how important it was to structure my work in a way that allowed me to continue building momentum while balancing the demands of my music career. I began planning how I could release the album of original music alongside the standards album, perhaps using one as a way to promote the other. This would allow me to stay active as an artist, creating new work while keeping my audience engaged with the music I loved. The idea of releasing both an original album and a tribute album in the future filled me with excitement and anticipation.
I realized that building my career as an independent artist wasn’t just about creating music—it was about creating a brand and a legacy. I looked into trademarking my artist name and formally copywriting the material beyond ASCAP. I had already taken steps to establish my identity with Cinco Verde Publishing LLC, but now it was time to think about how I could make a lasting impact on the music world. I wanted my brand to be a reflection of my artistic vision, and that vision went far beyond just music. I wanted to create a world where my fans could immerse themselves in my sound, my story, and my journey. It wasn’t just about the songs—it was about everything that surrounded the music.
One of the things I knew I had to focus on moving forward was maintaining a consistent presence. This has been the biggest challenge for me honestly. I am by nature a very private person. I had started building my social media following, but I needed to continue engaging with my audience in more meaningful ways. This meant creating content that felt authentic, whether it was behind-the-scenes videos, stories about the inspiration behind my songs, or simple posts that allowed my fans to see who I was outside of my music. I wanted my followers to feel like they were a part of something bigger—something they could connect with on a deeper level.
By the end of the week, I had made progress on many fronts. My playlists were growing, my long-term vision for my music career was beginning to take shape, and I felt more excited than ever about the projects I wanted to pursue in the future. I had a clear sense of direction, and I was starting to see how all of the elements of my music business would fit together to create something sustainable. I wasn’t just building a career—I was building a legacy, one step at a time.