How Mike Posner built a music empire from his dorm room
Oct 25, 2024
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In a captivating conversation, Mike Posner, renowned musician and creator of the hit "Cooler Than Me," shares his journey of fame, loss, and reinvention. He reflects on his unique hustle while balancing college life and using platforms like iTunes U to launch his music career. Mike emphasizes the importance of authenticity in his creative process, diving deep into the struggles of fame versus personal happiness. He also discusses transformative experiences, including his walk across America and embracing challenges to cultivate a fulfilling life.
Mike Posner’s journey underscores the three-act narrative of fame: rise, crash, and eventual rebirth, revealing the fragility of success.
Utilizing innovative platforms like iTunes U allowed Mike Posner to reach a young audience, demonstrating the importance of resourcefulness in overcoming industry challenges.
True artistry comes from authenticity and personal expression, emphasizing the need for artists to prioritize their unique narratives over standard success metrics.
Deep dives
The Three-Act Life Story
Life is often framed as a narrative with three acts: rise, crash, and rebirth. The first act features the ascent to fame, illustrating the thrills that accompany success, adoration, and monetary gains. This initial peak brings with it a false sense of invincibility, where one feels capable of achieving anything. However, the subsequent crash introduces the sobering realities of fame, showcasing the fragility of success and the emotional toll it can take.
The Growth Hack of iTunes U
Innovative thinking and resourcefulness played a critical role in the rise to popularity. During the era of piracy, reaching audiences became challenging, yet leveraging iTunes U provided a unique advantage. By placing music in an educational space, it became readily available and free to a young audience without complicated downloads. This strategic move allowed the artist to gain traction among college students and create early fan engagement before finally breaking into mainstream awareness.
Learning from Experience: The Writing Craft
Crafting songs involves a blend of innate talent and continuous honing of skills. The journey of combining hip-hop rhythm with melodic elements led to the development of a unique sound that resonated with listeners. Despite initial successes, the artist recognized the need for growth and took the initiative to enroll in music classes for formal training, exemplifying a commitment to bettering his craft. This highlights the importance of humility and the dedication required to evolve as an artist even after achieving fame.
Transformative Challenges: Hardship as Growth
Enduring hardships like climbing Everest or walking across America serves as a transformative challenge for personal growth. Facing physical and emotional obstacles unveils inner strength previously unknown, where the focus shifts from comfort-seeking to resilience-building. Such experiences reflect a desire for deeper meaning in life beyond external accolades and success. The lesson learned is that true strength emerges through adversity, cultivating a profound impact on one’s identity and outlook.
The Essence of Authenticity in Art
Artistry thrives on authenticity; creating from a place of genuine self-expression resonates deeply with audiences. The journey towards producing meaningful work shifts focus from chasing hits to prioritizing personal truth, fostering a stronger connection with listeners. The reinforcement of a personal narrative, maintained through trials and triumphs, fuels creativity and enriches the artistic output. Ultimately, the lesson reinforces that the pursuit of personal authenticity in art yields the most enduring and impactful connections with others.
Episode 640: Shaan Puri ( https://x.com/ShaanVP )sits down with Mike Posner ( https://x.com/MikePosner ) about his insane hustle, fame, loss and reinvention.
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Show Notes:
(0:00) iTunesU Story
(14:41) Going back to school, famous
(21:40) Getting on the radio
(26:40) “I just do what's cool to me and sometimes the whole world agrees”
(30:06) One true sentence / Writing Process
(39:50) Money, fame and Survivor
(46:52) Advice to my younger self
(48:10) Missed flight story
(58:00) The making of a hit song
(1:04:31) Walking Across America
(1:11:09) "How cheap is your happiness?"
(1:14:17) Beautiful States v Suffering States
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Links:
• Mike Posner - https://mikeposner.com/
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Check Out Shaan's Stuff:
Need to hire? You should use the same service Shaan uses to hire developers, designers, & Virtual Assistants → it’s called Shepherd (tell ‘em Shaan sent you): https://bit.ly/SupportShepherd
My First Million is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by The HubSpot Podcast Network // Production by Arie Desormeaux // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano
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