This inability to predict a “winner” reminds me so much of my songwriting life. The songs I personally love rarely end up being the commercial favorites, while the ones I feel more neutral about often end up resonating most with listeners. Don’t get me wrong—of the 500+ songs I’ve written, published, and recorded, there are none I truly dislike (though a few I’d re-write if given the chance). But naturally, some I cherish more than others, and those are the ones I sing more often. Yet fans tend to request… the other songs. Go figure.

The truth is, once a creative work is released into the wild, it takes on a life of its own. We songwriters have little control over the journey of a song or project. Other people decide what connects. And while that can be unnerving, it’s also wonderful.

So should the success—or lack of success—shape the way we create our new songs, videos, stories, concerts, or anything else?

That’s the tension. Should I change the way I write to satisfy what the audience wants?

My answer is no… but.