I got a call today from my father and my brother. They both live in New York and are probably moving down to Florida in November. It looks like they have two offers on my dad’s house.
We lost my mom in the summer of 2024 to cancer. They called to tell me about the offers on the house. And to tell me they’d just gotten back from the Walmart in Geneseo, and they’d heard my song “The First Time” there.
“The First Time” was released in 2004 on my first album, Florida Songs. Years ago it was licensed for use by some big chains to join their collection of in-store background music. I know it’s been played in Walgreens and Krogers. I didn’t know Walmart had it. And I was very surprised that it’s still being used.
I couldn’t tell you how much money I was paid to have my song join the rotation of mediocre background music in Walgreens, Krogers, and Walmart, because I don’t remember. But it would have been a very small amount of money.
I’m a professional web developer. That’s my day job. I’ve also been recording and releasing music since 2004. And I try very hard to NOT spend money on advertising and promoting my own music. If I had, more people would have heard one of my songs, but at my age, it’s not like I can have a career as a musical artist. I mean, in less than a year I’ll be 60. And I never wanted money that should have been spent on groceries and house payments be used to buy some favorable reviews or something.
I’ve performed on radio and live TV in the Tampa area. I make money from my 6 albums, but not much. I make more money from my budgetguitarist YouTube channel than from my music.
So why brag about making the lame Walmart in-store playlist with a song I wrote and recorded in 2004? I’m bragging about it so that others can see it’s possible. There’s no real money in it, but it can be done.
One of the biggest questions I hear people ask is “How do I know my music is good?” And the answer is simple – when complete strangers really like your music, it’s good. We’re all biased when it comes to our own music, and you can’t always trust relatives or friends to be honest. But if other people like it, you’ve got something.