--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started playing music, people…" description: "\"When I started playing music, people weren't selling 5 million records. That was not the standard; that was not the focus.\" — Prince" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/prince-1626_focus_when-i-started-playing-music-people-were_2133389.jpg" --- # When I started playing music, people weren't selling 5… ![“When I started playing music, people weren't selling 5 million records. That was not the standard; that was not the focus.” quote by Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/prince-1626_focus_when-i-started-playing-music-people-were_2133389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/prince-1626_focus_when-i-started-playing-music-people-were_2133389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/prince-1626_focus_when-i-started-playing-music-people-were_2133389.jpg) > “When I started playing music, people weren't selling 5 million records. That was not the standard; that was not the focus.” [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The music industry once prioritized sales volume over artistic focus, but standards shifted away from that metric. **In simple terms:** Music used once measured by sales, not artistic focus. Key Takeaway Recognize changing industry values. Themes music industry artistic focus commercial metrics Mood reflective analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - career planning - music production - marketing strategy - artist development Key Concepts cultural shift industry standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success beyond sales? - What metrics matter now? A Different Perspective High sales don’t guarantee artistic success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million/) [Million Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-records-368528/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Weren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-weren/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Weren Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weren-selling-4408316/) ## Related quotes > [We weren't selling anything. We were just having a good time. And that feeling - there are people who say, 'I wish my kids,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-clark/we-weren-t-selling-anything-we-were-just-having-a-good-time-and-that/) [Roy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-clark/) > [Pantera is a marquee band, with the most diehard fans. We sold over 20 million records without MTV or radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/pantera-is-a-marquee-band-with-the-most-diehard-fans-we-sold-over-20/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) > [I have sold 120 million records. Half of those could be in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-whitman/i-have-sold-120-million-records-half-of-those-could-be-in-europe/) [Slim Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-whitman/) > [There is no one like Toto in history in that we were both successful as session musicians and also had a band that sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/there-is-no-one-like-toto-in-history-in-that-we-were-both-successful/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [We always sold 4 or 5 million records no matter what we did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/we-always-sold-4-or-5-million-records-no-matter-what-we-did/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [Leave it at the facts. I sold two million records in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morrison/leave-it-at-the-facts-i-sold-two-million-records-in-america/) [Mark Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morrison/) > [We sold over 80 million records throughout the world, and there are going to be people who want a new product, or a reissue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carpenter/we-sold-over-80-million-records-throughout-the-world-and-there-are/) [Richard Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carpenter/) > [I sold 2 million records on Loud, which was one-tenth of the size of Sony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xzibit/i-sold-2-million-records-on-loud-which-was-one-tenth-of-the-size-of/) [Xzibit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xzibit/) > [I really enjoy touring and playing music to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-really-enjoy-touring-and-playing-music-to-people/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [I listen mostly to live music, and mostly my musical experience was playing music with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-ronstadt/i-listen-mostly-to-live-music-and-mostly-my-musical-experience-was/) [Linda Ronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-ronstadt/) > [I really love playing music with other people. It's more fun to be on the road with others. It's kind of lonely out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-really-love-playing-music-with-other-people-it-s-more-fun-to-be-on/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I do like playing music with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-elverum/i-do-like-playing-music-with-other-people/) [Phil Elverum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-elverum/) > [We played a lot of live shows, we just kept plugging away and playing music and people kept coming back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howard/we-played-a-lot-of-live-shows-we-just-kept-plugging-away-and-playing/) [Ben Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howard/) > [I was 21, and I was like, "Man, am I really gonna start over and try this whole thing over again? Do I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-goldsmith/i-was-21-and-i-was-like-man-am-i-really-gonna-start-over-and-try-this/) [Taylor Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-goldsmith/) > [“People are dying and you’re playing music?” Several people came into the hallway behind his mother, including his aunt, uncle, and father. Michele said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/people-are-dying-and-you-re-playing-music-several-people-came-into/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) ## More by Prince > [Record contracts are just like - I'm gonna say the word, slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/record-contracts-are-just-like-i-m-gonna-say-the-word-slavery/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [Music is music, ultimately. If it makes you feel good, cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/music-is-music-ultimately-if-it-makes-you-feel-good-cool/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [To create something from nothing is one of the greatest feelings, and I would - I don't know, I wish it upon everybody. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/to-create-something-from-nothing-is-one-of-the-greatest-feelings-and/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [Ownership, that's what you give your kids. That's your legacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/ownership-that-s-what-you-give-your-kids-that-s-your-legacy/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [The music industry is a matrix that is counter to what is natural and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/the-music-industry-is-a-matrix-that-is-counter-to-what-is-natural-and/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [Hip-hop is very diverse, but if you only focus on one aspect of it, then what you get is this image of Black America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/hip-hop-is-very-diverse-but-if-you-only-focus-on-one-aspect-of-it/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [It gets embarrassing to say something untrue because you put it online and everyone knows about it, so it's better to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/it-gets-embarrassing-to-say-something-untrue-because-you-put-it/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [Tell me a musician who's got rich off digital sales. Apple's doing pretty good though, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/tell-me-a-musician-who-s-got-rich-off-digital-sales-apple-s-doing/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [If you lend your consciousness to someone else, you're a robot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/if-you-lend-your-consciousness-to-someone-else-you-re-a-robot/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [I don't live in the past. I don't play my old records for that reason. I make a statement, then move on to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/i-don-t-live-in-the-past-i-don-t-play-my-old-records-for-that-reason/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [ Sometimes it \[music in my head\] is a curse, but it's also a blessing. It is a gift that I am completely grateful for.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/sometimes-it-music-in-my-head-is-a-curse-but-it-s-also-a-blessing-it/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [It's a hurtful place, the world, in and of itself. We don't need to add to it. And we're in a place now where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/it-s-a-hurtful-place-the-world-in-and-of-itself-we-don-t-need-to-add/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [If you really want to be a star, we can do it in your Mama's car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-star-we-can-do-it-in-your-mama-s-car/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [ Our \[generation\] people have the worst diet of anybody. I'm ready to put a farmer on my payroll. We've got to get back to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/our-generation-people-have-the-worst-diet-of-anybody-i-m-ready-to-put/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [We're living in a system that the devil designed, and suffering from this devil's most heinous crime. He's tried to keep us from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/we-re-living-in-a-system-that-the-devil-designed-and-suffering-from/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) [Explore all 221 Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) ## More Focus quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [All I'm focused on is playing my game. Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) [Browse all 11,734 Focus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started playing music, people weren't selling 5 million records. 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