When I Realized Music Streaming Wasn’t the Answer

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When I first started releasing music in 2018, I wasn’t thinking about money.

Like most independent artists at the time, I believed streaming was simply the way music worked now. Upload your songs to DSPs, let people discover them over time, and eventually the numbers would grow.

At least, that’s what I thought.

But looking back, those early years were less about monetization and more about development. I was still figuring out who I was as an artist. I was learning how to write better songs, record stronger vocals, and refine my sound.

And during that time, streaming felt like the natural path.

The Early Years of Streaming

When I first started uploading music to digital streaming platforms, I assumed the listeners would slowly accumulate.

Maybe people I met in real life would listen.
Maybe people online would discover the music organically.

To be honest, I didn’t spend much time thinking about the mechanics behind it.

Streaming was simply the environment every artist existed in.

But I was also building everything myself.

I didn’t have a label team.
I didn’t have a full marketing infrastructure.
Most of the time, it was just me and a handful of creatives helping when they could.

And while that independence helped me grow as an artist, it also meant I had to learn certain lessons the hard way.

The Moment It Stopped Making Sense

In 2022, something clicked.

One of my songs had picked up some plays overseas in France. On paper, that sounded exciting. Seeing activity from another country felt like progress.

But when I looked deeper, something didn’t add up.

I had no real fan data.
No messages.
No followers.
No evidence that an actual listener in France had connected with the music.

It could have been a bot.

And that realization forced me to confront something I had been ignoring.

Streaming numbers don’t always represent real listeners.

More importantly, they don’t automatically translate into meaningful support for an independent artist.

That moment changed the way I approached my career.

A Shift Toward Ownership

In 2022, I made a decision.

I removed all of my music from streaming platforms.

That decision wasn’t emotional — it was strategic. I began focusing on a direct-to-consumer approach instead. Instead of relying on algorithms and unclear metrics, I wanted to build a direct relationship with listeners who genuinely supported the music.

Ownership became the priority.

Ownership of the music.
Ownership of the audience.
Ownership of the entire creative ecosystem.

That shift changed the way I thought about distribution, marketing, and the long-term vision of LegendofLinc.

Where Things Stand Now

Today, the strategy has evolved even further.

My newest release, LegendofLinc Vol. II, is out now.

You can stream the project on all digital streaming platforms. But if you want to support the music directly, there’s another option.

When you purchase the Classic LoL T-Shirt, you’ll receive a free digital download of LegendofLinc Vol. II.

It’s a way to connect the music with the brand and reward the people who support the movement directly.

Because at the end of the day, this journey has never been about chasing numbers.

It’s about building something real.

And the people who choose to support that vision are the ones who truly move the story forward.