Artist Spotlight

Exclusive Interview with Christian Taelor

Today we’re going to introduce Christian Taelor, a singer-songwriter from Indianapolis, IN. He is a member of Popular Outcast/OCG and is also the founder of 1800++.

We had the opportunity to talk with Christian Taelor on Instagram about his career path, background, and many more.

Hi Christian Taelor, Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Christian Taelor – Actually, I’ve always been somewhat musically inclined. Growing up, I would be able to learn a song on the radio in a few listens. Once I got to high school, I would freestyle at lunch with friends just because it was something to bring attention to myself. I didn’t even think of actually making music as a career until years after that when I decided to drop out of college in the middle of a class.

I booked a studio session that same day.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

Christian Taelor – I make ALOT of songs by accident. That being said, I was showing up to my studio session with my artist (Bella Blanca) & just playing a beat that I had written a completely different song for. Actually, it was supposed to be her song. We were just sitting in the car playing around with the beat & freestyling, then we looked at each other and immediately knew that it was going to be something special. That’s how the song Darko was made.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Christian Taelor – I thought autotune was going to make me sound like I could sing. With that mindset, after my session, I had texted my engineer (Freddie Bunz) & asked him “can you turn the autotune up? It still sounds like I can’t sing.” He told me directly “you have to sing better.” As mad as I was, it showed me that nothing was going to make me talented, so I had to develop that talent if I wanted to do anything that I attempted. That will always stick with me.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

Christian Taelor – My album. Easily the most exciting thing that’s in the works. It’s called “BAD4U”. Honestly, it’s a fucking train wreck. That’s the best way to explain it. I love how wild and unpredictable it is. I don’t even know how it’s going to turn out. I love it.

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

Christian Taelor – I haven’t really interacted with many people that I find interesting. As conceited as that sounds, I stay to myself. Of course, there are people that I interact with & they’re my world. But at the same time, as an artist, I exist alone in my own world.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Christian Taelor – Just live life, man. This doesn’t work if you don’t experience anything. Try things out. Live dangerously. Fall in love. Get your heartbroken. SOMETHING.

You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

Christian Taelor – Don’t let the thought of failing to enter your mind. You lose the moment you choose to let doubt enter your reality. I’m the greatest at what I do and no one can ever tell me differently. I’ll not believe that.

Can you share with our readers any self-care routines, practices, or treatments that you do to help your body, mind, or heart to thrive? Kindly share a story or an example for each.

Christian Taelor – I’m honestly the worst possible person to advise in self-care. I have no type of “healthy” coping mechanism. I would just say to live however you want & deal with the consequences as they come.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

autotune won’t make you a better singer. I told that story earlier.
Don’t lie in verses. People will be able to tell & you’ll look stupid. I used to make music that wasn’t my real life & people could tell. The moment my music became my truth, the fans came in.
Artists are in it for themselves. Be aware. I’d rather not speak on that in full, but there’s a reason I’m a solo artist.
People will try to use you once you become relevant. SO many old acquaintances try to come around now that I’m actually being recognized… but they laughed at me at one point. Now they work at a gas station. Sucks to suck.
You’re going to realize a lot of shit about yourself that you didn’t think would ever surface. I didn’t realize how much I was holding before music. Now I’m self-aware.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

Christian Taelor – “You get money & go crazy. I go crazy & I get money”. Wayne said that. Money & notoriety should make you more of what you already are. So if you’re lame & get a bag, you’re lame with a bag. That’s not changing. I guess that’s what I took from it. Don’t be lame.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Christian Taelor – There are a few people on a daily basis that help me as an artist and as a person. Freddie, Bella, Montario, Brendon, Jake, Siouyari, Crissy, & Naomi. They’re my lifeline in this shit. I would lose my mind if they didn’t keep me balanced.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Christian Taelor – I would buy a venue for upcoming artists to perform at. One that books artists based on talent and grind. None of that pay-to-play shit. I would wanna pay the artists. Keep them motivated to achieve more.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might see this.

Christian Taelor – Elliot Grainge. That’s the head of 10k Projects.

We have ALOT to discuss before I drop my album.

How can our readers follow you online?

I can be found on Twitter and Instagram @christiantaelor. Or on any streaming platform by the same name. I’m usually leaking songs on my social media, so I would suggest checking those out.

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Artist Spotlight

Who’s Making the Most Money on Spotify in 2025?

In 2025, Spotify conquers the music streaming world, with 500+ million monthly paying subscribers globally. Considering the platform paid out $10 billion in royalties, a record high, during 2024, it’s evident that streaming is now a revenue stream for artists. Yet only a few musicians are making good money from it.

At the top of the list is Drake, whose 21.5 billion streams yield around $52.5 million. Next up is J Balvin, with $37.9 million this year, a clean-up job from his massive streaming numbers. Other artists who earned significant amounts included Post Malone, Ariana Grande, and Bad Bunny, each featured among the platform’s top earners.

In electronic music, the Chainsmokers had 7.2 billion streams and made $17.7 million, and Calvin Harris made $14 million. The first-place finisher among the grossers is Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” which earned $6.6 million from 2.7 billion streams.

Although these numbers are impressive, most artists on Spotify receive a much lower payday. In its 2024 Loud & Clear report, Spotify found that only 4.4% of artists make at least $131,000 annually. On average, an artist in the bottom 98.6% of earners makes just $12 monthly. This difference underscores the difficulties many musicians face in the streaming age.

Dead artists are still having a real impact on Spotify. Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, and Aim for the Moon have 8.51 billion streams, £29.29m, 6.79 billion streams, and £23.37 million in earnings with Juice WRLD’s “Legends Never Die.” Lil Peep and The Notorious B.I.G. are also proving influential, with their music still raking in significant amounts of money.

Spotify’s global platform has allowed artists to perform in front of audiences beyond their home countries. In 2024, most artists who earned at least $1,000 in royalties made most of their revenue through international listeners, at over 50%. Since 2017, the number of female artists grossing over $1 million per year has quadrupled, signaling greater diversity and representation in the music industry.

The few artists who do make millions from Spotify streams get 1 %, while the 1% of artists get funds. Only a handful of artists are financially rewarded through it, even as the platform’s continued global reach and growing diversity create opportunities for emergent practitioners.

Let me know what you thought of this post in the comments if you found this article interesting!

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Artist Spotlight

Kayla Marque lights a fire with “Slow Burn”

Kayla Marque has returned with a new single, “Slow Burn,” a simmering, soul-passionate affair that holds you well past when the last notes die out. True to her endlessly evolving artistry, Marque serves up something future-facing and thoughtful, stitching together a grunge-adjacent bassline with ethereal melodies and haunting vocal dynamics.

Right from the outset, “Slow Burn” sucks you into its smoky milieu. The measured bassline sounds plucked from the ‘90s alt-rock golden age and dunked in modern, velvety skin. But Marque’s voice brings center stage, fluent, forceful, and emotionally detailed. She doesn’t only sing; she tells stories, whispers, and wails, and her approach lends the music an astonishing contrast between restraint and release.

As the song progresses, there’s something undeniably mesmerizing about how the instrumentation interacts with the vocals. The melodies shimmer like heat off the pavement, entrapping listeners in a hypnotic haze that feels at once intimate and cinematic. Marque displays not only her vocal range but also her emotional depth. Every note feels deliberate, and every word feels lived-in.

What’s so exciting about “Slow Burn” is how it feels like another chapter in a broader story. Kayla Marque has consistently refused to settle into a single groove, and this track demonstrates that she’s continuing to push limits and defy expectations. There’s a rawness here, an audacity that doesn’t plead for attention but commands it regardless. It’s a song that reveals more textures and emotions after every listen. “Slow Burn” is a vibe, a feeling, a statement. It’s another step in Kayla Marque’s evolution as an artist, and if this is what’s to come, we’re in for something special.

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