The (Music) Industry
The music industry is always searching for the hot commodity. Year in and year out, a select amount of artists make their way to the forefront of the public eye and either become a staple of their respective genre or flame out quickly as the public loses interest.
For many, the music is the only thing that matters. Whether or not the fame comes with the discography invites an entirely different aspect to those within the music industry. It is a safe assumption, however, that an artist wants to be heard.
The following artists undoubtedly have the ability and the talent to achieve that goal and are well on their way already.
Artist #1
Morgan Nagler - 32,500 Monthly Listeners
After reading up on everything Morgan Nagler, it would seem she has the expertise and talent to step into the spotlight, if she so chooses. Per her official Spotify, Nagler has helped write Grammy-nominated music for Phoebe Bridgers, along with bands such as The Breeders, HAIM, and singer-songwriter Madi Diaz.
Credit: Genius, IMDb, Pinterest - Phoebe Bridgers, The Breeders, and HAIM
Nagler's latest release is Cradle The Pain, to which she states in her Spotify biography was originally written as letter of sorts to a dear friend. Since its inception, Nagler feels differently:
“It’s funny how it’s often easier to cut to the core of truth when the message is disguised as being for somebody else. It has since taken on many new and personal meanings to me, currently serving as more of a mantra. - Nagler, on her debut single Cradle The Pain
Nagler also leads the group Whispertown (formerly Whispertown 2000), an indie rock band that rotates a list of members. Nagler has also written for the band Misterwives as well as bedroom pop artist mxmtoon.
From the sound of it, the 46-year-old LA-based singer-songwriter is ready to create music of her own and potentially launch herself even further into the public eye. For now, enjoy Morgan Nagler's recent release Cradle The Pain, her debut single that in all likelihood will find its way onto a debut EP sooner or later. Be sure to listen to the music she has helped other talented artists (several listed above) create as well.
Our next artist resides across the country, an East Coast musician out of Brooklyn, NY.
Artist #2
Camille Schmidt - 161.6K Monthly Listeners
Camille Schmidt doesn't have the experience under her belt that Nagler possesses, but she does lead the previous artist in monthly listeners. Schmidt has been creating music for years, but it was only in May of 2023 that her and other members of her group recorded their music live under producer Phil Weinrobe, according to BloodMakesNoise.net.
In the site's interview with the Brooklyn-based songwriter, it is claimed Weinrobe recorded the group's music without pre-planning from the band and did not allow them to listen to the playback to capture an authentic, unfiltered recording.
Fitting, as Schmidt later in the article gives an interesting perspective on what it takes to grab attention in music in this day and age:
"I can speak for what grabs my attention. And that is music that is honest and authentic. Music that, to use a Kendrick-ism, is like hey, “watch my soul speak....."
"We’ve been fed so much propaganda through different forms of media that I think we, as a culture, are just starting to unpack. And it’s deeply disturbing and also amazing to see how easy it is to just regurgitate that propaganda via our arts."
It is no secret that societal comments are prevalent not only in the alternative/indie genre, but across music. Schmidt is among those who use their sound as a tool to speak their truth to the world. Schmidt's latest release from January 10th of this year Nude #9 , as well as all of her music, can be streamed everywhere you listen.
The final artist to watch in 2025 has the largest following of the three and is based near Toronto, Canada.
Artist #3
Charlie Houston - 479,000 Monthly Listeners
"I make music. Listen if you want."
Charlie Houston's Spotify bio is as blunt as blunt can be for a musician. Truthfully, her music is created with more than that in mind. Per an article from Killbeat Music, Houston's sound is "rife with nostalgia: the ghosts of people and places far gone but still fresh with emotional impact."
Credit: Audiofemme, Bandcamp - Charlie Houston and her upcoming album Big After I Die
The Toronto indie product has an upcoming album, Big After I Die, set for release on January 31st later this month. Themes of the track list include anxiety, attachment and abandonment issues, and is overall a comment on Houston's own mental health struggles.
The aforementioned article also states the album relates to “this desire that I (Houston) feel(s) to keep developing and growing after the ending,” whether the end of a specific relationship or a period of time in her life. You can find that album upon release and all of her music in the link above as well as everywhere you listen.
Don't Judge A Song By It's (Album) Cover
The music industry is constantly churning in and out artists of different caliber, but it's important to remember that your new favorite artist might have 10 listeners or 10 million. Do not just assume that viewership equals talent. Be sure to branch out every now and then.
You might just find the next big thing.
(And if you do, give me a call so I can put it into the station.)
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