Being Quote by Ahmet Ertegun
“The songwriters whom we think of being the greatest songwriters usually write one hit and six or seven flops. That includes the Irving Berlins and the Hoagy Carmichaels, the Harold Arlens, Cole Porter.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1970s interview, Rolling Stone, 1975
He notes that even famed songwriters often produce many failures, highlighting the unpredictable nature of creative success.
In simple terms: Great writers have many flops before hits.
Key Takeaway
Embrace failure as part of the creative process.
Themes
creativity
failure
persistence
Mood
realistic
encouraging
Type
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- songwriting
- film scoring
- novel writing
Key Concepts
artistic output
statistical variance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle creative setbacks?
- What can you learn from a flop?
A Different Perspective
Success is not guaranteed by reputation alone.
