When the Soul of Music Fights to Be Heard

By SuMomo | www.SumomoDojo.com

In 2024, the U.S. music industry generated $17.7 billion. Streaming alone brought in $14.9 billion. Vinyl—once declared dead—surged again to $1.4 billion, outselling CDs for the third year in a row. According to the RIAA, paid streaming subscriptions have surpassed 100 million.

On the surface, that looks like success. But if you’re an artist—especially one committed to craftsmanship, musicianship, and soul—you might be asking yourself: If music is thriving, why aren’t the musicians?

As an independent artist, CEO of Thoth Studio Publishing, and the creator of Thoth Music, I’ve lived through both sides of this evolution. I’ve built a studio, mastered my own recordings, performed across stages, and invested decades into art that channels spirituality, philosophy, and the ancient sciences. Yet today, being an artist requires wearing more hats than ever: producer, marketer, editor, content creator, influencer, strategist—and somewhere in that long list, musician.

We’re told that the market is oversaturated. That there’s too much music, and it’s harder to stand out. But I ask: If it’s oversaturated, who’s really profiting?

It’s no secret—platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and others are thriving from this flood. The more content they host, the more subscriptions they sell. But while they make billions, most artists make less than the cost of a cup of coffee per stream. This imbalance is not just economic—it’s spiritual.

True art takes time. It requires stillness. It requires life experience. Yet in the age of short attention spans, algorithms favor the quick, the trendy, the copyable. It rewards imitation over originality. Meanwhile, creators with deeper purpose are told: Post more. Show your personal life. Make content every day.

But if I’m performing every day for social media, when do I get to live? When do I meditate, write, reflect, and grow into the kind of artist I was born to be?

That’s why I created Thoth Music. Inspired by ancient Egyptian wisdom, the Emerald Tablet, martial arts, and Eastern philosophy—this music is a vehicle for inner evolution. It’s more than entertainment. It’s a call back to the soul. It doesn’t trend—it transcends.

Today, I’m grateful to have aligned my work with a broader vision. Through my partnership with AIMS, ALMS International, and Madison Gate Records/Sony, my music is now positioned for sync licensing and global visibility. I’ve transferred songs like “Life is a Miracle,” “Say Something,” and “What’s the Purpose of Life?”—songs that are meant to be heard in the right moment, not just the right algorithm.

But I still face the same challenges as any independent creator: the high cost of touring, the pressure to market myself daily, and the hope that somewhere out there, someone will feel what I’ve made.

I don’t believe music has lost its soul—I believe its soul is being ignored. Buried under noise. But it’s still there, beating in rhythm with every artist who creates not for clicks, but for communion. Every artist who views their work as an offering, not a product.

If that’s you—know that you’re not alone.

We are the future. Not just because we make music, but because we remember why music matters.

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SuMomo

Artist, Martial Artist, Visionary

Spotify: SuMomo

SumomoDojo.com