Overcome Genre Bias in Music: Insights from Jack Righteous - Jack Righteous

Overcome Genre Bias in Music: Insights from Jack Righteous

They Hate My Music: Don’t Let Bias Get You Down

When someone dislikes or criticizes your song, it’s easy to take it personally. But often, their reaction has less to do with the quality of your music and more to do with genre bias. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “genre prejudice,” “stereotyping,” or “gatekeeping,” occurs when people judge music based on its label rather than its content.

Genre bias is rooted in tradition, familiarity, and narrow perspectives on what “good” music should sound like. Some listeners cling to specific genres and dismiss others without truly engaging with the music. While this mindset can be frustrating, it’s important to remember that music is about feeling, not about fitting into a box.

My Journey as Jack Righteous

Since starting my AI music journey as Jack Righteous in March 2024, I’ve learned a lot about how people connect with music—and how they don’t. Here are a few insights from my experience:

  1. Family and Friends Are Supporters, Not Superfans Your family and friends may cheer you on and support you emotionally, but they are unlikely to become your true superfans. Their encouragement is invaluable, but your true audience—those who deeply connect with your music—will come from beyond your immediate circle.

  2. True Fans Engage with Your Content A true fan, especially one who has the potential to become a superfan, does more than offer general support. They actually listen to your content, engage with it, and provide meaningful feedback. These are the people who share your music, comment on your posts, and follow your creative journey with enthusiasm.

  3. Stand by the Courage of Your Convictions One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to be honest with myself: Do I truly love the music I’ve created, or did I rush through it because of credits, time constraints, or lack of expertise? Quality is always better than quantity. Instead of constantly releasing new songs, I’ve found it rewarding to revisit my existing tracks, improving and remastering them to make them the best they can be. For example, I’ve focused on remastering older songs with better tools and releasing improved versions more frequently.

  4. Critiques: Technical vs. Creative/Artistic As a creator, it’s important to differentiate between technical critiques and creative or artistic feedback. Supporters, especially family and friends, may provide useful insights if they have some understanding of what you’re trying to achieve. For instance, during the Suno V3 days, my wife often told me she couldn’t understand the vocals I was creating and needed a lyric sheet to follow along. That was excellent technical feedback, and it pushed me to refine my vocal clarity. On the other hand, she also disliked what is now my most popular song, which received 3,000 plays in three weeks on Spotify. If I had listened to her creative critique, I would never have released it. Knowing when to embrace or dismiss feedback is crucial to growing as an artist.

  5. Engage with Potential Superfans Think about how you’re interacting with your audience on each platform. Every post, comment, or release is an opportunity to connect with potential superfans. Whether it’s sharing behind-the-scenes content, discussing your creative process, or simply responding to comments, these interactions help build a deeper relationship with your listeners.

The Rise of Hybrid Genres

The world of music is evolving rapidly, and so are its audiences. Hybrid genres are on the rise, creating exciting opportunities for niche audiences who crave fresh, innovative blends. By experimenting and breaking traditional genre boundaries, artists can craft something truly unique and authentic. Off-genre creations keep the music landscape dynamic and vibrant, fostering creativity and diversity.

Handling Criticism

If you’ve ever faced genre bias, don’t take it to heart. Instead, recognize it as a reflection of someone else’s limited perspective on music. Every artist has the power to carve their own path and create something new and meaningful. By staying true to your artistic vision, you’re not only breaking boundaries but also paving the way for others who resonate with your sound.

Criticism, when viewed constructively, can be a valuable tool for growth. However, when it stems from genre bias, it’s more about the critic’s preferences than your work. Remember, you don’t have to please everyone. Music is deeply personal, and your audience—the people who truly connect with your work—is out there waiting to discover you.

Why Authenticity Matters

Authenticity is the heart of great music. It’s what allows your work to stand out and resonate with listeners. By embracing your unique style and perspective, you’re contributing to the rich tapestry of modern music. You’re also inspiring others to break free from conventional molds and explore their own creativity.

The Bottom Line

If you truly believe in what you’re working on, and you’ve developed something that you would pay for yourself, don’t let negative feedback prevent you from pursuing your goals. Be open to thinking critically about what you can do better, and allow yourself the time and space to see what feels right for you. Maybe even the direction you’ve taken—whether it’s pushing your content as a single or an album—isn’t the best approach. Perhaps it’s about a theme, a concept, a discussion, or even a product. Consider offering free downloads to potential fans to draw them in. With so many ideas to explore—and the limitless possibilities AI provides—you have endless opportunities to connect with your audience. Keep creating, stay true to yourself, and trust that your music will find its way to the right ears. In doing so, you’ll not only grow as an artist but also help shape the future of music.

Finally, I’d love to hear from you. What has your journey been like? What challenges are you facing in your music, channel, or brand? Share your story, express your concerns, or even ask for feedback on your work. Let’s keep the conversation going and grow together.

GenreBias #HybridGenres #BeAuthentic #CreateYourPath

For more insights on navigating the music industry and embracing AI in music creation, you might find these articles helpful:


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