There is a quiet war raging in the music industry — one that doesn’t make headlines, but slowly drains the spirit, value, and unity of artists. It is an invisible war, fought mostly in the mind, where many creatives believe the entire industry is against them. The tragic twist? In trying to defend themselves, they turn on each other.
This mindset breeds competition where collaboration should exist, suspicion where solidarity is needed, and bitterness where growth could flourish. Artists begin to see fellow artists not as allies, but as threats — someone who might “take the booking,” “steal the shine,” or “undercut the price.”
And that’s where the real damage begins.
Undervaluing Self by Undermining Others
When an artist accepts a booking for far less than its worth — not out of strategy, but desperation — it doesn’t just hurt them. It hurts the entire ecosystem. Promoters, watching closely, begin to reset their expectations.
“If one artist will do it for this price, why pay another more?”
By undermining another artist over a booking, creatives unknowingly train promoters to undervalue the art itself. The result is a race to the bottom, where talent is abundant, but respect is scarce.
Self-worth is not just personal; it is collective. When artists don’t value themselves, no one else will do it for them.
The Hustle Culture Clash
On the other side of the battlefield are producers — many of whom are also trapped in survival mode. Some operate with a constant hustling mentality, focused solely on selling beats, rather than building meaningful creative partnerships.
At the same time, artists — often struggling financially — want everything for free: free riddims, free production, free mixing, free marketing.
But here’s the hard truth:
Free riddim + free production + free marketing = a substandard project.
Quality costs. Time costs. Skill costs.
Music is not just passion; it is a business. And businesses that refuse to invest in themselves rarely grow.
Let Your Price Be Your Guide
Price is not just about money — it is a statement of value. When you set your price with intention, you communicate confidence, professionalism, and self-respect. Whether you are an artist, producer, or promoter, your price tells the world how seriously you take your craft.
Cheap shortcuts may bring quick visibility, but they rarely lead to longevity.
The artists who last are not always the most talented — they are the ones who understand that it takes money to make money, and even more importantly, it takes belief to build value.
Ending the War Starts with Unity
The industry is not the enemy. Lack of structure, poor communication, and internal division are. When artists fight each other, the system wins. When creatives collaborate, respect boundaries, and invest in quality, the culture rises.
The invisible war ends when artists stop seeing each other as competition and start seeing each other as currency.
Because the truth is simple:
Your craft is important.
Your time is valuable.
And unity will always be more powerful than survival mode.
By La Moja
Host of Up Close and Personal with La Moja