Should I focus on new technology and platforms, or should I focus on fundamental business practices?

Focus on fundamental business practices. Artists constantly chase new platforms, new technology, new marketplaces, and shiny objects, but nothing in the business fundamentally changes as a result. Meanwhile, the core bread-and-butter activities that actually move the needle—like customer acquisition, email marketing, proper pricing, and consistent promotional campaigns—never get worked on. Every year brings something new that people claim is a ‘game changer,’ but the rules of business remain the same. Put your energy into mastering and consistently executing the fundamentals rather than chasing the latest trend.

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Asked by synthesized from teaching · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2026-04-16