Inside the Playbook: Mike Caren on Why Most Artists Fail Before They Ever Become Great

Mike Caren breaks down what actually creates longevity in the music business.

This clip is about building a career the right way: bringing value instead of extracting it, thinking long term, preparing before chasing opportunity, and developing the habits that lead to real greatness. Mike also touches on confidence, artist development, smart collaboration, and the importance of understanding music publishing and songwriting royalties.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

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Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UnV1d2ltTCO1rfjqhTKc4?si=seltDGQ-RvWE9fwshY-f3w

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Timestamps:

00:00 Value First Mindset
00:34 Longevity Over Hype
02:58 Preparation Beats Opportunity
04:02 Superstar Myth Reality
04:29 Publishing Royalties Break
05:20 Cosign Win Win Model
07:35 Traits of Long Term Thinkers
09:39 Mentorship Asking Questions
11:49 A&R Practice and Confidence
15:36 Habits of Elite Artists
17:04 Chasing More vs Mastery
19:09 Yin Yang Collaborations
19:50 Staying Fresh Closing