--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes being a musician has little to…" description: "\"Sometimes being a musician has little to do with viability and everything to do with survivability. Many musicians start out great, and they wind up ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/todd-rundgren-3427_being_sometimes-being-a-musician-has-little-to_3150363.jpg" --- # Sometimes being a musician has little to do with viability… ![“Sometimes being a musician has little to do with viability and everything to do with survivability. Many musicians start out great, and they wind up out of the business in 10 years.” quote by Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/todd-rundgren-3427_being_sometimes-being-a-musician-has-little-to_3150363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/todd-rundgren-3427_being_sometimes-being-a-musician-has-little-to_3150363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/967/todd-rundgren-3427_being_sometimes-being-a-musician-has-little-to_3150363.jpg) > “Sometimes being a musician has little to do with viability and everything to do with survivability. Many musicians start out great, and they wind up out of the business in 10 years.” [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in music depends more on staying alive in the market than on artistic skill alone. **In simple terms:** Survival matters more than talent. Key Takeaway Focus on adaptability and business sense. Themes music industry career longevity market dynamics Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice observational When to use this quote - tour planning - financial planning - networking - skill development Key Concepts sustainability economic pressure artist branding Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance art and commerce? - What strategies improve long‑term viability? A Different Perspective Talent alone cannot guarantee a lasting career. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little Viability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-viability-5652705/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) [Musicians Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians-start-3136817/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Survivability Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivability-musicians-5652704/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Viability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viability/) [Viability Survivability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viability-survivability-5652703/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [When you see the same familiar faces, it's nice when you get a chance to play with the same musicians. You start to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/when-you-see-the-same-familiar-faces-it-s-nice-when-you-get-a-chance/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [It is our action that determines the viability of our dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-is-our-action-that-determines-the-viability-of-our-dream/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [I do believe in the viability of Indian spiritualism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-welch/i-do-believe-in-the-viability-of-indian-spiritualism/) [James Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-welch/) > [One corpse in a well destroys the viability of the well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reeves/one-corpse-in-a-well-destroys-the-viability-of-the-well/) [Eric Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reeves/) > [I have worked with big actors, but honestly, I don't judge the viability of a project on the basis of the star value attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/i-have-worked-with-big-actors-but-honestly-i-don-t-judge-the/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [“using money as a “neutral indicator of value”—a way of determining whether or not you have enough career capital to succeed with a pursuit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/using-money-as-a-neutral-indicator-of-value-a-way-of-determining/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [I do films once in a while. There should be some viability when I come on screen otherwise all the years of good work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohnish-bahl/i-do-films-once-in-a-while-there-should-be-some-viability-when-i-come/) [Mohnish Bahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohnish-bahl/) > [Good design successfully manages the tensions between user needs, technology feasibility, and business viability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/good-design-successfully-manages-the-tensions-between-user-needs/) [Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/) > [“At most unsuspected moments, we may all be victims of life's mishaps and realize we must ask ourselves how to run up the hill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/at-most-unsuspected-moments-we-may-all-be-victims-of-life-s-mishaps/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“You can keep going on much less attention than you crave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/you-can-keep-going-on-much-less-attention-than-you-crave/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [“It is not only the viability and variety of the seed that makes the harvest look plumpy. Sometimes, the soil must value the value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-not-only-the-viability-and-variety-of-the-seed-that-makes-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Someone tells me: this kind of love is not viable. But how can you evaluate viability? Why is the viable a Good Thing? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/someone-tells-me-this-kind-of-love-is-not-viable-but-how-can-you/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [The first record I made, when I listen to it, I understand. I understand perfectly well why certain musicians were unhappy with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/the-first-record-i-made-when-i-listen-to-it-i-understand-i-understand/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) ## More by Todd Rundgren > [I suppose people also have to be a little more careful or circumspect if they're going to leverage their celebrity to promote their political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-suppose-people-also-have-to-be-a-little-more-careful-or-circumspect/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [It's the only way that YOUR life is gonna have any value to you. If you're just living the same life that everybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/it-s-the-only-way-that-your-life-is-gonna-have-any-value-to-you-if/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [Once I go on stage, the atmosphere is totally theatrical. The greater the illusion, the greater the intensity of the excitement it creates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/once-i-go-on-stage-the-atmosphere-is-totally-theatrical-the-greater/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I know that I could make this world peaceful and calm, if I only could get my hands on a hydrogen bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-know-that-i-could-make-this-world-peaceful-and-calm-if-i-only-could/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [The Toddstock thing is the closest thing, I have to say, a Grateful Dead sort of thing where it all lapses over from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/the-toddstock-thing-is-the-closest-thing-i-have-to-say-a-grateful/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [By the time my first solo record came out, I was making a handsome living as a record producer. I had worked with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/by-the-time-my-first-solo-record-came-out-i-was-making-a-handsome/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [Music gets recorded usually in one format, and when you have to take it out and perform it there are other applications and things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/music-gets-recorded-usually-in-one-format-and-when-you-have-to-take/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [Singles needed to come back. And what I tried to do in my online experiment was to change the rules for myself and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/singles-needed-to-come-back-and-what-i-tried-to-do-in-my-online/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [As much as I'd like to be listening to other things, I can't do that until I get all of this sort of put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/as-much-as-i-d-like-to-be-listening-to-other-things-i-can-t-do-that/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [It may not necessarily reflect my current frame of mind. Sometimes I have to put myself at the point in time of the voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/it-may-not-necessarily-reflect-my-current-frame-of-mind-sometimes-i/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [When the Beatles first came out, you had to go to a certain amount of trouble to have long hair. You just couldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/when-the-beatles-first-came-out-you-had-to-go-to-a-certain-amount-of/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [People have always said that I could have been a highly successful pop artist, if only that were my intention. It never was. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/people-have-always-said-that-i-could-have-been-a-highly-successful/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [When I got out of high school, I joined a local blues band in Philadelphia - Woody's Truck Stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/when-i-got-out-of-high-school-i-joined-a-local-blues-band-in/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I'm a guitar player, really - I mean, first and foremost - I grew up with all that great 1960s music, in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-m-a-guitar-player-really-i-mean-first-and-foremost-i-grew-up-with/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [The ultimate crime is not to care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/the-ultimate-crime-is-not-to-care/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) [Explore all 131 Todd Rundgren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [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/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes being a musician has little to do with viability and everything to do with survivability. 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