The music industry doesn't play fair, but that doesn't mean you can't win. Every year, thousands of independent artists drop music, hoping for their big break. Most of them never make it-not because they're not talented, but because they don't understand how the business really works. They think all they need is one viral song, a label deal, or "the right person" to put them on. But the truth is, the industry rewards strategy, not just talent. In The Art of the Music Hustle: A Playbook for Independent Success, Albert M. Carter-a music entrepreneur with 12 platinum projects, 5 gold projects, and over 3 billion streams-breaks down exactly what it takes to build a career in music without waiting on a co-sign, a label deal, or luck. This isn't a book about chasing clout. It's a step-by-step guide to: