December Lesson: Why This Month Is Your Secret Weapon as an Artist (Don’t Wait for January)

Most musicians slow down in December. They tell themselves:

“I’ll start fresh in January.”“I’ll get serious next year.”

But here’s what top artists, producers, and music entrepreneurs really do:

They use December as leverage because this month is the quietest, clearest, and most strategically powerful month of the entire year.

Let’s break it down so you can hit January at full speed.

Why December Is a Power Month for Musicians

A pattern shows up every year:

January is one of the biggest months for growth. Streams go up. Content views go up. Course sign-ups go up. Fans engage more. People set goals, get motivated, and look for new music, new artists, new creators to follow.

Not because your music magically gets better, but because listeners get hit with the “fresh start” energy.

Last year, I pushed hard in December, content, marketing, release planning, tightening my offers, and January exploded.

And I noticed two more unexpected benefits from not “checking out” early…

#1: Fewer Distractions → More Creative Flow

December is quiet.

People stop emailing. Everyone slows down. Industry folks stop scheduling meetings.

Which means:

You get long, uninterrupted stretches to produce, write, organize, and build momentum.

Deep work becomes easier. Creative output feels smoother. Focus becomes effortless.

#2: January Becomes the Easiest Month of Your Year

While most artists scramble in January to:

reconnect with fans,
finish the songs they put off,
get artwork done,
plan releases,
restart content…

You will already have everything ready.

You’ll “turn everything on”… and watch it run.

January becomes calm, productive, and even fun, because the hard part is already done.

(And yes, you can still take holiday downtime. This isn’t about grinding through Christmas, it’s about being intentional.)

So What Should You Actually Work On in December?

Here’s where most musicians fall off:

They try to do 12 things at once. They make slow progress across everything… and finish nothing.

Let’s fix that with the same system top creators use.

1. Brain Dump Everything

Write out EVERY task, idea, project, release, collaboration, or fix you think you need to do.

Examples for musicians:

Finish 1–3 songs for January/February
Prep the next release
Build an email list funnel
Clean up project files
Update press photos
Build TikTok/IG content bank
Finish Ableton templates
Prep drum practice routines
Organize sample library
Write out your 2025 release plan

Empty your head. Put it all on paper.

2. Delete Everything That Isn’t a “10x Artist Task”

There are two types of tasks:

10x tasks (drive your career forward fast)

Finishing a song
Creating content that grows your fanbase
Preparing a release
Writing a pitch for Spotify
Setting up a live show set
Building your email list
Collaborating strategically
Mastering your core craft

2x tasks (feel productive, but don’t move the needle)

Reorganizing your sample folders
Redesigning your logo
Tweaking your website for the 20th time
Buying new plugins
Color-coding everything
Endless “planning” with no action

Delete the 2x tasks from your December plan.

If it doesn’t significantly grow your music career → it doesn’t make the cut.

3. Decide What Comes First With One Question:

“Which thing needs to be done first because it’s what needs to be released or shown first?”

Examples:

If you’re releasing a track in January → finishing the track is Task #1.
If you’re shooting a new content series → scripting is Task #1.
If you’re pitching to Spotify → metadata and pitch draft is Task #1.
If your next collab is due in February → production is Task #2.

A simple prioritization for a producer might look like:

January/February release (must be done first)
Content system for January (second priority)
Long-term EP or album (third priority)
Branding upgrades (fourth priority)

Stop trying to build everything at once. Put one thing at the top of the line.

4. Give Yourself Protected Creative Time

Block 3–4 hours per day (or 1–2 hours if life is busy).

This time is:

non-negotiable
free from DM replies
free from mixing rabbit holes
free from meetings
free from “quick errands”

This is your December focus time.

No fancy apps required, no complex planning systems.Just clarity and consistency.

Your December Challenge

Pick ONE 10x task, work on it daily. Finish it before January.

Walk into January ahead of everyone else, not scrambling to catch up.

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