Why It’s So Hard to Change with the Times in Music (And Why That’s Totally Okay)

Let’s be honest: trying to keep up with music in 2025 feels like trying to meditate in a wind tunnel. Trends shift in weeks, platforms mutate overnight, and suddenly, you’re being told your art doesn’t matter unless it’s in vertical video format.

For Gen X, Millennials, and Boomers—those of us who remember life before phones were glued to our palms—this era can feel alienating. Like being asked to sing with a language you never chose to learn.

But if you feel that friction? That resistance? You’re not failing. You’re feeling.

And that’s a good thing.

 Why It’s So Hard to Change

The truth is, music used to be about presence. Tapes, vinyl, CDs—you had to be there. At the store. At the show. With the radio on. There was a kind of ritual to discovering sound.

Now, music is everywhere… and somehow, also nowhere.

It streams past us in seconds. It’s tied to memes, to algorithms, to 3-second attention spans.

And when someone tells you that your song should be a “content funnel,” it can feel like your soul is being traded for metrics.

But here’s the paradox:

You can stay rooted in depth, while still showing up in the moment.

You don’t need to become an influencer. You need to reframe how you see the world around you.

10 Motivational Shifts for Embracing the Digital Era (Without Selling Out)

1. Social media isn’t about you—it’s about making someone feel less alone.

You’re not posting to prove you exist. You’re leaving lighthouses for people drifting.

2. Your phone is your stage.

If Jimi Hendrix had a portable amp in 1967, he would’ve used it. Think of your device as a portal, not a prison.

3. Every post is a small billboard.

Even one sentence, one image, one clip—it’s a sign someone could pass by and say, “That’s what I needed today.”

4. You’re not “too old”—you’re seasoned.

The industry is full of noise. What cuts through? Someone who’s lived. Who has weight. You have that.

5. Algorithms are tools—not gods.

If you don’t go viral, that doesn’t mean you failed. You just didn’t shout where the wind was blowing. So what? Shout anyway.

6. Time on a screen ≠ wasted time.

Creating a connection through a comment, a DM, or a lyric is still real human contact. Don’t let purists tell you it’s fake.

7. You don’t need to be perfect—just present.

People aren’t watching for polished idols. They want to feel like someone out there is real. Show your realness. It’s rare now.

8. Think of your feed as an art gallery.

Even if it’s messy. Even if no one’s visiting today. The walls are yours to fill. And someday, someone will walk in and stay.

9. You’re not starting late—you’re starting with awareness.

You’ve seen fads come and go. That makes your voice steadier, sharper, less likely to get lost in the chaos.

10. Social media isn’t replacing real life—it’s echoing it.

But the live moments still matter most. That’s where we close the loop. That’s where music goes from sound to impact.

The Real World Still Matters (More Than Ever)

Here’s the most important thing:

You can be online, yes—but music was born in rooms. In basements, clubs, garages, sidewalks. Word of mouth still has magic. Eye contact still builds trust.

That’s why at East Indigo, we’re recommitting to the offline side of music.

Flyers. Listening parties. Street teams. Conversations.

We’re bringing the pulse back to the pavement.

Want to Join Us?

We’re looking for volunteers—street-level thinkers, doers, and dreamers—who want to help us spread sound in their cities.

No experience necessary. Just bring your ears, your hands, and your belief that music still matters in real life.

If you feel the call, reach out.

Let’s remind the world that music didn’t start on a screen—and it won’t end there, either.

East Indigo Media: Where the future meets the fire.