Being an independent musician is a constant challenge, you must set goals to keep moving forward and not get stuck. They must be realistic goals, which are possible to achieve in the future.

But... Many times finding goals is not so easy. Precisely because choosing them is a process that takes time, and in these cases, it’s advisable to seek help from people who can guide you.

If you want to boost your indie music career, stay and read this article! Learn about the main goals you should follow. It doesn't matter if you are just starting out or if you don't have much experience in the music industry. Goals don't only exist to achieve success, but to achieve peace with yourself. They are simpler than you think, so don't worry.

Before we list them, let's start talking about the importance of setting goals. First, it allows you to organize your thoughts and to know what you want in the future. Second, if you have realistic goals, it will help you to keep your feet on the ground.

Remember: having established goals makes it much easier to focus on them.

On the other hand, beware of your ego. Often it becomes the first enemy of indie artists.

Ego has been the reason why many artists have ruined their musical careers. And please, don’t confuse ego with self-esteem.

Self-esteem is necessary and positive for artists. Without self-esteem, you can't be able to achieve your goals. But ego is the opposite. An artist with an ego ends up losing her/his perception of reality and becomes dishonest with themselves.

But... Why does this happen?

As you probably know, artists struggle with being heard on any platform, festival, or concert, as the music industry grows every day and it’s very difficult to be the focus of attention in many cases.

Few artists manage to be known worldwide or even be signed by a music label. So, as in any artistic field, it’s possible to meet dishonest and self-centered people who will only want success for themselves.

But most of the time you will meet wonderful people who will be willing to help you with whatever you need, and that's exactly what working with other artists is all about. So if you have the opportunity to make friends in the industry, don't hesitate! Having friends in the workplace is always good for any kind of emergency.

Goals in the music industry work the same as anywhere else. An architect has goals, a doctor has goals, an astronaut has goals and of course, a musician has goals too!

Now that you know why it's important to have goals as an indie artist, let's talk about the most important... and realistic ones.

Strategic planning is important for the careers of any indie artist looking to find success at a consistent pace.

1. Write as many songs as possible

One of the main goals you should set for yourself as an independent artist is to write songs constantly. You should make it a routine. You can start by dedicating 10 to 15 minutes a day, and then increase it. The goal is that you should be able to dedicate at least an hour a day to write a song.

The important thing is not to write a good song, it's to try! It's all about practice.

Writing songs allows you to express feelings that you may not know how to communicate in any other way. It’s a way to escape the monotony, allowing others to identify with your music. Also, lyrics are extremely important because through them you can tell all kinds of stories, whether they are real or invented.

2. Learn music theory

Music theory is the fundamental basis for understanding music, if you are an indie artist make sure to have this into account. Learning music theory allows you to understand music from another point of view, and is also the best way to communicate with other musicians.

Writing songs and knowing music theory go hand in hand because through both you can make music. So the more you learn, the better!

Some indie artists don't have much knowledge of music theory, so don't worry if that's the case for you. It's never too late to learn. The important thing is to be constant and never give up!

3. Get new fans

Fans are the main reason why music is supported and valued, so they can help an indie artist succeed. Without a fan community (even if it's small) you can't get ahead in the music industry. So focus on having a small community of people who support your music. They can share your music with friends, family, and their environment in general. This way your music can reach a bigger audience.

So remember, an artist can't fulfill his dreams without his fans!

4. Collaborate with other artists

Collaborating with other artists is one of the main goals you should have in the future. But, why is it important to work with other artists?

Well, the short answer is…for a variety of reasons. But, the most important is that you can achieve one of your dreams, which may be to make a song with an artist you admire a lot. Also, collaborating allows you to make yourself known to another type of audience that may be into your music… and that is going to give you new fans!

For example, these collaborations managed to capture the attention of people who were not familiar with other types of music genres:

• "I've Seen it All" - Thom Yorke & Björk.
• "Winter Wonderland" - Ozzy Osborne & Jessica Simpson
• "This is a Life" - David Byrne & Mitski
• "Exile" - Taylor Swift & Bon Iver
• "See You Again" - Tyler, The Creator & Kali Uchis
• "Medellín" - Madonna & Maluma
• "Can't Remember to Forget You" - Rihanna & Shakira

In conclusion, having goals as an indie artist is one of the best things you can do. You’re not only going to benefit yourself, but you will feel proud as you achieve all of these goals. A good musician is not made overnight, so trust the process. If you have a band, we recommend you follow the same goals.

So, If you found this article helpful and you already know what your main goals are, share it with other musicians! The idea is that we all help each other.