Let’s be honest—2025 was loud.
Loud opinions. Loud platforms. Loud exits. Loud wins.
But beneath the noise, there were real questions being asked.
About strategy. Ownership. Monetization. Storytelling.
And lucky for me, I got to write about (and work on) a lot of them.
The Blogs That Mattered
This year, my blog turned into something more than just an outlet. It became a signal. For artists, founders, and operators looking to move with clarity through an industry that isn’t waiting for anyone.
Here are some of the important topics we covered—and why they resonated:
- “What’s the Plan, Actually?” – Strategy isn’t just about vision. It’s about structure, decisions, stamina. This piece became a favorite among founders trying to course-correct, not just market themselves.
- “Where’s the Money, Actually?” – The real talk around artist monetization. No myths, just mechanisms. We broke down revenue streams, value chains, and what actually makes a music career financially viable in 2025.
- “Post Malone’s Side Quests: Brand Strategy or Burnout?” – A look at what happens when artists build more than music. Spoiler: it’s not burnout. It’s business.
- “YouTube Is Bigger Than You Think” – The sleeper hit of the year. A blog that started as a rant about video strategy turned into a breakdown of why YouTube is infrastructure, not just content.
- “I Still Love a Good Album” – Part love letter, part industry reflection. The long-play still has a place—just ask anyone who got goosebumps listening to LUX front to back.
The Business Moves
2025 was also the year that blurred every line. Artist or founder? Brand or person? Creative or operator?
What I saw across clients and partnerships:
- A shift from audience-building to asset-building
- A rise in video not as promotion—but as IP proof
- Independence, not as isolation—but as infrastructure
- And most of all, a hunger for clarity. Strategy isn’t sexy, but it’s how you grow.
Whether it was working with artists, helping startups reposition, or speaking at events like A2IM Indie Week and ADE, I kept coming back to one truth:
We’re not just building art—we’re building systems that sustain it.
The Backstage
Some of the best conversations didn’t make it to the blog.
We talked backstage, in DMs, on walk-and-talks, in strategy calls that doubled as therapy. About how to price yourself. About whether a pivot is giving up. About what it means to actually own something in an ecosystem that wants to rent you out.
Those convos shaped everything I wrote—and everything I’ll keep building in 2026.
Best Holiday Albums (Don’t Fight Me)
Because yes, I’m still a romantic. And yes, I believe music should move you.
- Handel – Messiah
Timeless. Grand. Emotionally overwhelming in the best way. This is still my personal favorite—proof that composition, not trend, is what lasts. - Elvis Presley – Elvis’ Christmas Album
The best‑selling Christmas album of all time in the U.S. Elvis turned the holidays into something intimate, warm, and unmistakably human. - Mariah Carey – Merry Christmas
Nearly 30 years later, this album is still a commercial force. It’s not just a song—it’s a seasonal economy. - Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
A masterclass in restraint and elegance. This record practically is December. - Mannheim Steamroller – Christmas / A Fresh Aire Christmas
Instrumental, atmospheric, and quietly massive. Proof that holiday music doesn’t need vocals to dominate living rooms.
Holiday music might be the clearest example we have that when an album truly works, it doesn’t just chart—it becomes tradition.
What’s Next?
2026 kicks off fast—I’ll be speaking at NAMM in January:
- Saturday, Jan 24, 2026
- 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Pacific Time
- Hilton Anaheim, 4th Floor, Palos Verdes Room
A3E Workshop 12: These A3E sessions are some of my favorites—less panel, more practical. If you’re curious about how AI and IP intersect, or just want to talk shop, come say hi.
Final Thought
The industry will keep changing. Algorithms will keep shifting. The backstage will keep talking.
But the artists (and founders) who last?
They’re the ones who know what they’re building—and who they’re building it for.
See you in 2026.
