In 2008, I walked into the music business.
It was a factory.
A machine stamping out cookie-cutter artists - same shape, same size, same flavor.
Find one artist who works, manufacture a dozen more just like them.
And if you didn't fit the mold?
The machine would spit you out.
Over the years I’ve watched artists with authentic voices get rejected for being "too different."
Too alternative for pop radio.
Too experimental for the mainstream.
Too human for the machine.
Too old to be duped into the con of the major label deal.
But while gatekeepers mass-produced mediocrity, the world changed.
The internet democratized everything.
Suddenly, being different wasn't a liability.
It was a superpower.
Kevin Kelly wrote about "1000 True Fans" - artists building sustainable careers by cultivating 1000 devoted people.
In 2008, most thought this was fantasy.
The traditional model needed millions of casual listeners, not thousands of devoted fans.
You needed radio play, not direct connection.
You needed the machine's approval, not the audience's love.
Today, Kelly's prediction is reality.
Artists build movements with their first 100 fans.
Sustainable businesses with their first 1000.
If you can get to 1000 true fans, you can get to 10,000 and so on.
While the machine manufactured cookie cutters, misfits learned direct relationships.
While the industry focused on mass appeal, outsiders mastered deep connection.
Those rebels are winning.
I've seen it - taking an unknown UK band from obscurity to selling 10,000 London tickets in 18 months from their first show.
Not because they fit the formula.
Because we broke it.
The traditional music business favors conformity because it's easier to predict and control.
But the world rewards authenticity.
Artists now have tools to build direct relationships without asking permission.
No A&R executive needs to believe in your vision.
No radio programmer needs to understand your message.
You can start building your 1000 true fans today.
This is why I'm standing on a stage in Mexico City on September 10th, 2025.
To unveil an ecosystem designed for misfits, rebels, artists who refuse to be molded.
Where being different isn't just accepted - it's celebrated.
Where your authentic voice is your greatest asset.
The cookie cutter factory is dying.
The age of authenticity is beginning.
If you've ever felt like you don't fit the mold, if you've been told you're "too different"...
September 10th is your answer.
It's time to ‘Escape The Machine’.
Register now for the live stream keynote showcase that will be taking place on September 10th.
101 artists can also be there in person for the live event, the afterparty and three days of masterminding with myself and my team.
Here is the link:
Once you register, you’ll get details on how you can attend in person on the thank you page.
The time to do is now!
Kind Regards
-The Baker
Solving The World's Problems Through Art | #thetimetodoisnow