By MUBUTV Staff
Thinking Like an Entrepreneur: Lessons for Artists from Amani Roberts
Trying to make it in music these days? Thinking Like an Entrepreneur: Lessons for Artists from Amani Roberts shines a spotlight on what musicians really need to know—not just to survive but to thrive.
You don’t need only great melodies or lyrics.
You need a way to make your songs heard, your stories known, and—yep!—your business brain switched ON.
Because here’s the tricky part:
Being an artist in today’s music world is not just about being super talented.
It’s about understanding how to run yourself like a business: from who your audience is, to how you’ll reach them, to what you’ll own, sell, or share.
And sometimes, that means shifting how you think completely.
From “I just want to create” to “I’d better learn how to do this… and do it well.”
Whether you love numbers, or hate meetings, or just want your music to reach real people—this episode is packed with advice to help you lead your career, not just follow the crowd.
🎙️ Curious how to stop leaving money on the table and start building your career with confidence? Let’s dive in.
Key Takeaways: Entrepreneurial Mindset for Musicians
- Ownership is Everything: As Ritch Esra and Amani Roberts discuss, artists today need to keep as much ownership of their work as possible. That means knowing the value of your songs, copyrights, and publishing—and not selling out for quick cash.
- Continuous Learning: The best artists are always students. Eric Knight and Ritch Esra point out that staying on top means never stopping your education. Read, watch, learn, and study why some careers soar and others stall.
- Think Like a Business: Don’t just release music—monetize it! Merch, touring, fan platforms, and using data to spot your audience are all tools you should learn. As Amani Roberts says, if you’re only creative and not business-focused, you’ll get stuck fast.
- Data Drives Decisions: Tools like Chartmetric and Shazam dashboards can help you see where your fans are—and what they’re loving. Use this info to plan your tour spots, marketing strategies, and even what song to remix or make a video for next!
- Mindset Shift Matters: Artists who move from a “fixed” to a “growth” mindset will unlock way more opportunities. Anxiety around meetings, numbers, and planning is normal—but learning about your own business puts you in the driver’s seat.
Best Moments: Entrepreneurial Insights from Amani Roberts
- 01:08 – 💬 “Amani Roberts: The ones that succeed are always curious. They study, learn, and investigate new opportunities. They know music history and case studies. They’re always finding ways to grow.”
- 09:52 – 💬 “Amani Roberts: You are a business. You have to monetize your music and understand exactly what’s going on, so you’re not depending on someone else to control your future.”
- 17:00 – 💬 “Amani Roberts: The disappearance of R&B groups was a combination of cultural and technological changes—including the loss of earned media and local radio, plus the rise of streaming and shifting value systems.”
- 35:02 – 💬 “Amani Roberts: Always invest in yourself, learn from industry trends, watch what smart artists do, and try to keep as much of your publishing and copyright as possible.”
Timestamped Overview
- 00:00 Why Artists Need Entrepreneurial Thinking
- 04:47 The Critical Importance of Ownership
- 11:19 Shifting from Creative Talent to Creative Entrepreneur
- 15:07 Using Tech and Data to Know Your Audience
- 16:32 Why Knowing Your Fans Changes Your Career
- 17:00 The Disappearance of R&B Groups Explained
- 24:18 How Hip-Hop Changed the Industry
- 29:33 What K-Pop Groups Can Teach the World
- 33:35 The Attention Economy: Why Getting Heard Is Tough
- 35:02 Real-World Advice for Artists Building Careers Today
Valuable Resources for Your Music Journey
- Books: All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald Passman; The autobiographies of Luther Vandross and Charlie Wilson
- Tech Tools to Check Out: Chartmetric, Shazam dashboard
- Cool Documentaries and Films: Purple Rain, The Five Heartbeats, Ray (with Jamie Foxx), Luther Vandross’s and Dionne Warwick’s documentaries
Want tailored advice? Both Ritch Esra and Eric Knight offer personal coaching at MUBUTV—just like Amani Roberts’s own mentoring calls.
Real Talk: Why Mindset and Strategy Matter
You might feel nervous about mixing music with business.
That’s super normal.
But as Thinking Like an Entrepreneur: Lessons for Artists from Amani Roberts reminds us, no one else will care for your career as much as YOU.
Whether you’re just getting started or already have fans, ask yourself:
- Who is my audience, really?
- What do I stand for—and how do I share that?
- What part of the business do I really need to learn next?
Because in a world filled with endless choices—and streaming platforms!—what counts is getting (and keeping) people’s attention. You can’t buy it. You have to earn it.
And you’ll earn way more by being a forever student, taking ownership of your art, and switching from “I just make music” to “I run my own music business.”
Connect & Keep Learning
Listen to the full episode for even more insights from Amani Roberts, Ritch Esra, and Eric Knight.
Want to reach out?
Book a free discovery call with MUBUTV or connect with Amani Roberts at amaniexperience.com/call.
Keep learning, keep growing, keep leading your music journey!
