Where does your compass point?

Most forget that selling out was a big deal in the 1990s. Punk had become radio-friendly. It had perhaps never been easier for any band to sell out under the guise of the next Nirvana. Here’s a contract to sign for anyone who could play three cords.

I have always admired how the legendary punk band Fugazi handled their business. Selling tickets for five bucks. Turning down major headline festivals. Not signing the million-dollar contract.

Fugazi simply chose what kind of band they wanted to be instead of letting the market dictate. They could have made a more poppy record, but we probably wouldn’t remember them. At least not in the way we see them today. Because the metric they chose to care about wasn’t money or fame. They decided to make a difference in their music.

What you are aiming for will change the direction to go.