Join Charlotte and Jasmin (p.k.a TĀLĀ) of Ellevate as they dive into another episode of Agony Art, answering real questions from Ellevate clients and breaking down what it really takes to build an artist's career today.

In this episode, they discuss the slow, steady growth of early-stage artists and question whether signing a record deal is the only way to accelerate that momentum. Charlotte breaks down the importance of finding a label partner that shares your exact niche and community ethos, while Jasmin highlights alternative routes like publishing and distribution deals.

Finally, they tackle the age-old question: "What is success?"—moving past arbitrary streaming numbers to focus on creative freedom and consistency.

In this episode, Charlotte and Jasmin discuss:

• The "Fast-Track" Trap: Why you should be careful about using paid campaigns to inflate your numbers, and the value of organic growth over quick fixes.
• Choosing the Right Partner: What artists should look for in a label (using historic indies like XL Recordings and Warp as examples of strong community ethos).
• Measuring Success: How defining what success looks like on a personal level is far more valuable than chasing major-label validation.
• The Myth of Arbitrary Numbers: Why labels don't just sign artists based on a magical "monthly listener" threshold, and why consistency in your overall career matters.

Listen now to explore:

• How to analyze what your business and creative team actually need right now.
• When it makes sense to seek a label deal versus exploring other financial avenues like a bank loan or publishing deal.
• Why signing a label deal is never the final goal—it's just a tool to help you achieve long-term sustainability.

Find out more about ellevate: https://ellevate.studio/

ellevate TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellevate.studios

ellevate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellevate.studios

Jasmin's Socials https://www.tiktok.com/@talatheduchess https://www.instagram.com/tala_official/?hl=en

Charlotte's Socials https://www.instagram.com/charli_caleb/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-caleb/

Join Charlotte and Jasmin (p.k.a TĀLĀ) of Ellevate as they follow up on last week's Spotify discussion and tackle one of the industry's most pressing questions: Can the modern music business still produce global megastars, or are the current systems stifling the development of the next generation?

In this episode, Charlotte and Jasmin dive into how streaming algorithms, label strategies, and the attention economy are changing artist development.

In this episode, Charlotte and Jasmin discuss:

• The Megastar Dilemma: Is the current industry landscape actually conducive to creating the next Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber?
• Early-Stage Investment: Why it's harder for real, developing artists to find the backing they need as industry priorities shift.
• Algorithm vs. Individuality: How pushing artists to conform to trends makes it incredibly difficult for unique, trendsetting superstars to emerge.
• Authentic Fan Connections: Why building consistency and a deep, loyal audience is the real engine for building a sustainable, long-term career.

Listen now to explore:

• How the lack of real human development is affecting the longevity of new artists.
• The pressure to "game" the algorithm versus building a true artist brand.
• Why patience and organic growth matter more than ever in a fast-paced market.

Find out more about ellevate: https://ellevate.studio/

ellevate TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellevate.studios

ellevate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellevate.studios

Jasmin's Socials https://www.tiktok.com/@talatheduchess https://www.instagram.com/tala_official/?hl=en

Charlotte's Socials https://www.instagram.com/charli_caleb/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-caleb/

Join Charlotte and Jasmin (p.k.a TĀLĀ) of Ellevate as they answer your questions!

We put a call out to the community for questions we could answer on the pod and you didn't disappoint.

In this episode we answer the questions:

• I'm relaunching my career after being a vocalist on dance tracks and I want to be a pop artist with my own project. Should I create a whole different persona?
• How do you feel about seeing Pink Pantheress being the youngest and first female winner of Producer of the Year at the Brit Awards?

We share our opinions and personal experiences to answer your questions!

To submit questions for future episodes please email community@ellevate.studio with the subject line POD Q&A

Find out more about ellevate: https://ellevate.studio/ ellevate TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellevate.studios ellevate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellevate.studios

Jasmin's Socials https://www.tiktok.com/@talatheduchess https://www.instagram.com/tala_official/?hl=en Find her on all streaming platforms by searching TĀLĀ

Charlotte's Socials https://www.instagram.com/charli_caleb/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-caleb/