--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really believe that if I make records…" description: "\"I really believe that if I make records that are indispensable to my audience, they'll go out and spend money to buy them, even if they've already down..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/steve-earle-2893_able_i-really-believe-that-if-i-make-records_1809674.png" --- # I really believe that if I make records that are… ![“I really believe that if I make records that are indispensable to my audience, they'll go out and spend money to buy them, even if they've already downloaded them. If they can afford it. If they can't, I'd rather they be able to download it than not get it at all.” quote by Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/steve-earle-2893_able_i-really-believe-that-if-i-make-records_1809674.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/steve-earle-2893_able_i-really-believe-that-if-i-make-records_1809674.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c07/steve-earle-2893_able_i-really-believe-that-if-i-make-records_1809674.png) > “I really believe that if I make records that are indispensable to my audience, they'll go out and spend money to buy them, even if they've already downloaded them. If they can afford it. If they can't, I'd rather they be able to download it than not get it at all.” [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating essential music drives fans to purchase even after free download, valuing access over profit. **In simple terms:** Valuable music leads to sales despite free copies. Key Takeaway Make music indispensable. Themes art business value access consumer behavior Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice observational When to use this quote - album release - digital distribution - fan engagement - pricing strategy Key Concepts economics psychology music industry Questions to Reflect On - How can artists increase perceived indispensability? - What pricing models balance access and revenue? A Different Perspective Fans may still resist paying if they perceive low added value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-download-2103616/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Downloads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downloads/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable/) [Indispensable Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indispensable-audience-2103615/) [Make Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-records/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Records Indispensable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records-indispensable-2103614/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Spend money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-money/) ## Related quotes > [It's not completely inconceivable that someday you'll be able to download your own memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-enriquez/it-s-not-completely-inconceivable-that-someday-you-ll-be-able-to/) [Juan Enriquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-enriquez/) > [In the Federal Government, electronic records are as indispensable as their paper counterparts for documenting citizens' rights, the actions for which officials are accountable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-weinstein/in-the-federal-government-electronic-records-are-as-indispensable-as/) [Allen Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-weinstein/) > [I've often asked myself, how much information can the brain actually hold? There'll probably come a day when you're able to download it; that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-campbell/i-ve-often-asked-myself-how-much-information-can-the-brain-actually/) [Glen Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-campbell/) > [ When you play the bars, you pay your dues. It does matter that you know those things \[songs\]. And the great thing for me,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-church/when-you-play-the-bars-you-pay-your-dues-it-does-matter-that-you-know/) [Eric Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-church/) > [I plan to make records as long as people wanna keep listening to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-plan-to-make-records-as-long-as-people-wanna-keep-listening-to-them/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [We love to make records, and we love to tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/we-love-to-make-records-and-we-love-to-tour/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [I don't make records just for the ladies. 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Whatever I do, I have to concentrate on and put everything in, because if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lillywhite/i-can-t-make-two-records-at-the-same-time-whatever-i-do-i-have-to/) [Steve Lillywhite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lillywhite/) > [When I make records I have full control of everything and I know how it sounds before it comes out, with films it's outta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/when-i-make-records-i-have-full-control-of-everything-and-i-know-how/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [I just don't think you can make records easily and have them be great. It's a process. You've got to get really lucky all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-daniel/i-just-don-t-think-you-can-make-records-easily-and-have-them-be-great/) [Britt Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-daniel/) > [I've found that in now having experienced what it's like to make records and just through growing up in general that you should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-kreviazuk/i-ve-found-that-in-now-having-experienced-what-it-s-like-to-make/) [Chantal Kreviazuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-kreviazuk/) > [So you know, my plan was that I was going to make records, and be a rock star. And that's really what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey-sagal/so-you-know-my-plan-was-that-i-was-going-to-make-records-and-be-a/) [Katey Sagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey-sagal/) > [I like to make records sound good. I'm more like a reducer than a producer. If an artist cannot produce themselves, what's the point?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branford-marsalis/i-like-to-make-records-sound-good-i-m-more-like-a-reducer-than-a/) [Branford Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branford-marsalis/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) ## More by Steve Earle > [When you're really bummed out, the last thing you want to hear is up-tempo and positive. And it lets you know that you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/when-you-re-really-bummed-out-the-last-thing-you-want-to-hear-is-up/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/america-s-criminal-justice-system-isn-t-known-for-rehabilitation-i-m/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I love theater. I go all the time. It's one of the reasons I moved to New York. 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They needed Kristofferson and Roger Miller ..It was the tail end of something...the last Tin Pan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/back-then-the-business-depended-on-bohemians-they-needed/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I think the singer/songwriter genre is going to be like bluegrass and jazz. You can make a living at it, but it's not part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-think-the-singer-songwriter-genre-is-going-to-be-like-bluegrass-and/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I've been a serial husband, and I've done it badly every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-ve-been-a-serial-husband-and-i-ve-done-it-badly-every-time/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [Every day on Earth is another chance to get it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/every-day-on-earth-is-another-chance-to-get-it-right/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [The singer-songwriter has always played music that was stylistically rooted in the '30s and the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. But the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/the-singer-songwriter-has-always-played-music-that-was-stylistically/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [Sonnets are guys writing in English, imitating an Italian song form. It was a form definitely sung as often as it was recited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/sonnets-are-guys-writing-in-english-imitating-an-italian-song-form-it/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [When I write something simple I'm always really proud of it. When you write something that simple with that much air in it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/when-i-write-something-simple-i-m-always-really-proud-of-it-when-you/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [My spiritual system is 12-step programs. That's the only one I've ever had. I didn't have one before that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/my-spiritual-system-is-12-step-programs-that-s-the-only-one-i-ve-ever/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [“As he left room 817, Nguyen turned for one final look before he allowed the soldiers to enter and remove the body. 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If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [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/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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