Join Charlotte and Jasmin (p.k.a TĀLĀ) of Ellevate as they dive into another episode of Agony Art, answering real questions from Ellevate clients and breaking down what it really takes to build an artist’s career today.

In this episode, they discuss the slow, steady growth of early-stage artists and question whether signing a record deal is the only way to accelerate that momentum. Charlotte breaks down the importance of finding a label partner that shares your exact niche and community ethos, while Jasmin highlights alternative routes like publishing and distribution deals.

Finally, they tackle the age-old question: “What is success?”—moving past arbitrary streaming numbers to focus on creative freedom and consistency.

In this episode, Charlotte and Jasmin discuss:

• The “Fast-Track” Trap: Why you should be careful about using paid campaigns to inflate your numbers, and the value of organic growth over quick fixes.
• Choosing the Right Partner: What artists should look for in a label (using historic indies like XL Recordings and Warp as examples of strong community ethos).
• Measuring Success: How defining what success looks like on a personal level is far more valuable than chasing major-label validation.
• The Myth of Arbitrary Numbers: Why labels don’t just sign artists based on a magical “monthly listener” threshold, and why consistency in your overall career matters.

Listen now to explore:

• How to analyze what your business and creative team actually need right now.
• When it makes sense to seek a label deal versus exploring other financial avenues like a bank loan or publishing deal.
• Why signing a label deal is never the final goal—it’s just a tool to help you achieve long-term sustainability.

Find out more about ellevate:https://ellevate.studio/

ellevate TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@ellevate.studios

ellevate Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ellevate.studios

Jasmin’s Socialshttps://www.tiktok.com/@talatheduchesshttps://www.instagram.com/tala_official/?hl=en

Charlotte’s Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/charli_caleb/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-caleb/