The Past
I never thought I'd become someone who compromised their entire artistic vision for a paycheck. Back then, in a small coastal community, my music was everything. Every chord, every lyric represented a piece of my soul. I played in underground venues, small clubs where the walls seemed to breathe with raw emotion.
My band, we were different. We weren't chasing fame or mainstream success. We wanted to create something meaningful, something that would resonate with people who felt disconnected from the glossy, manufactured sounds dominating the airwaves.
The Turning Point
Then came the opportunity that seemed too good to be true. A streaming platform offered us a contract that promised exposure, financial stability, and a chance to reach audiences we'd never imagined. The catch? We'd have to adjust our sound, make it more 'algorithmic friendly'. At first, it felt like a compromise I could live with.
But compromises have a way of growing. Slowly, imperceptibly, our music changed. The raw edges were smoothed out. The uncomfortable truths we used to scream became whispers. And somewhere along the way, I realized we weren't creating art anymore - we were creating content.
Looking Back Now
The day I discovered where the platform's money truly came from - funding technologies that contradicted everything we believed in - was a moment of profound clarity. Our music, our passion, was indirectly supporting systems of violence and control. The very platforms that promised democratization of art were actually just another mechanism of power.
We made a choice. We pulled our music. We walked away. Was it financial suicide? Perhaps. But some things are more valuable than money.
The Lesson
Art is not a product. It's a statement. It's a form of resistance. When we allow our creativity to be commodified, we lose more than potential earnings - we lose our voice, our integrity, our ability to truly challenge the systems that oppress us.
Every artist faces this crossroads: compromise or stay true. The easy path is rarely the right one.