We recently connected with John Ryder and have shared our conversation below.
Hi John, thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the unexpected problems that I’ve faced in the music business has been that record companies won’t take even a moment to listen to new music unless you have millions of followers on social media platforms.
The backstory to this is when I was in Nashville, TN for a week, literally pounding the pavement and knocking on doors of record labels. Well, I could not get past the receptionist, that’s if the doors weren’t locked, or even leave a calling card. They are totally locked down and will not see you or listen to your song. It was very disappointing and left me feeling (almost) hopeless. The music industry today is not anywhere near what it used to be in the days of Elvis Presley or Loretta Lynn or Randy Travis. Today, the music business is not so much about finding new talented artists, but about finding an artist that has an already established massive social media following.
There was no resolve to this issue.
John, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For folks that don’t know or haven’t read about me before, my name is John Ryder and I’m a singer-songwriter from Fort Worth, Texas. Currently, I have several country songs streaming on all music platforms, as well as on my website that feature music videos. I’m very proud of my music and hope that it will resonate with people. I also love connecting with my fans in person and through social media. I find that their support, and feedback, when a new song drops is one of the most rewarding experiences about making music. Because music really does have the power to connect people from all walks of life and throughout the world. So, after you’ve listened to a song or two, follow me on Instagram and say hello! I’d love to hear from you!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My resilience to the dead end in Nashville with record labels, was to find a friendly place where I could perform. After a lot of searching, I found a wonderful place, The Vinyl Lounge, that was not only friendly, but also open to my coming down and performing during one of their Open Mic nights. That particular evening, they featured four speakers who shared their journey in the music business and gave aspiring musicians tips on how to navigate the music business. It was a very informative and beneficial talk and I appreciate The Vinyl Lounge for featuring it. After the talk, I performed one of my latest songs as the house band accompanied me. It was wonderful to meet the other performing singers and songwriters.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a songwriter is creating a song that people enjoy listening to and find relatable. The actual creating process of a song — from writing the lyrics and music to producing it in the studio is a very rewarding aspect of being a musician.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.johnrydermusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejohnryder/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/thejohnryder/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejohnryder
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thejohnryder-376514543?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=0&si=60810D65F3224278B1688A5A094628BC&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0LkAgmOE1J0fq5ZgX2z4wG?si=OtghVT8jQpGH8ptg3-TkeQ&nd=1
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/john-ryder/1665791322
Image Credits
The three photos of me with the cowboy hat were taken by: Sandy Clark
The three photos of me during a performance were taken by: Mike Jeffries