The goal-setting mistake most musicians don't even realize they're making


PROFITABLE MUSICIAN:

FEM FRIDAY EDITION

January 23, 2026

Happy FEM Music Friday!

We’re just far enough into January that the shine of “New Year, new you” has started to wear off.

And if your calendar is already feeling crowded, or your energy is already stretched thin, you might be wondering:

Did I already mess up the goals I had?

Here’s the truth:

You didn’t. And I'm not suggesting that you start over.

It’s more like starting fresh, with more clarity this time.

A lot of musicians I work with begin the year full of intention. They know they want to share more music, reach more people, take their career seriously.

But there’s a difference between an aspiration and a goal...

In this issue

🥽The goal-setting mistake most musicians don't even realize they're making


🛠️Your New Music Career SMART Goals Strategist


🎧Why Releasing Music Online Isn't Enough: Strategies To Grow Income & Fans


📻Add These Songs To Your Playlist

Aspirations are beautiful. They are like a compass giving you a general direction to head in.

But clearly-defined goals are what help you finish what you start.

And most of the time, what’s missing isn’t motivation. It’s definition.

What exactly can you realistically accomplish in a 90-day sprint?

What does "done" mean and how do you know you've reached it?

And is it even possible to reach that "done" point while also trying to do the same on the 4 other goals you've committed to?

That’s where Goaldie comes in.

She’s a custom GPT I created, trained on the same SMART Goals framework I’ve used for years to help artists clarify their vision and build doable 90-day plans.

She helps you choose the right 3 to 5 goals for this season of your life (motherhood, balancing music with a full-time job or school, increased family responsibilities, retirement, etc.).

Then she walks you through shaping them into clear, specific, achievable milestones, not abstract dreams you chase endlessly, but grounded steps you can actually complete.

And when things shift, as they always do, she adjusts. No guilt. Just progress.

Last week I introduced this to my clients inside the Female Musician Accelerator, and after working with Goaldie for just a few minutes, Wendy told me:

“I thought I had a plan, but it was really just a hope. Once I typed it into Goaldie, she gave me a real schedule I could follow. When my timeline or priorities changed, she just adapted. No stress.”

You don’t need to throw away your vision for the year. You just need to revise it. Refine it. And start fresh, with structure.

Goaldie makes that possible. And she does it for the intro price of just $19.

She works with the free version of ChatGPT, and she’ll save you hours of spinning in circles.

If your January didn’t go as planned, that’s okay. This can still be your real beginning.

Try Goaldie now →

Always in your corner,
<3 Bree

P.S. There is still plenty of time to make this your most meaningful year yet. You don’t need a big overhaul. You just need a better roadmap. Goaldie’s ready to do that with you right now (and you can use her every 90 days forever). But you need to grab access now for just $19 cause she won't be available for long at this intro price.

P.S.S : If you prefer to read FEM Music Friday on Substack, you can Subscribe Here

You're reading the Profitable Musician Newsletter, FEM Friday Edition. This Friday newsletter is created for Female Artists & Advocates, and focuses on our mission to amplify quality music by Female Artists & Female-Fronted Bands in all genres and help them build a thriving music career and solid business. If you'd like to unsubscribe from FEM Fridays but still receive our regular Wednesday Profitable Musician Newsletter, click here and we'll note your preference.

Wanna Get Goaldie For FREE?

🎯 Join the Female Musician Accelerator this month and Goaldie’s yours — no extra charge.

💝 PLUS you’ll get access to our next Get It Done Week (Feb 9–13) where we’ll plan, create, and finally post your Instagram 9-Grid together, start to finish.

📱 If you're wondering what a 9 Grid is, check out the Top 9 squares of my Instagram Grid and you'll see my posts that have gotten 1,000s of interactions.

You can join the Female Musician Accelerator here for just one month to try it out. Use Goaldie. Join the upcoming 9-Grid Get It Done Week.

And decide later if you want to stay for the full year (get a discount and unlock all the bonuses — including 1:1 coaching with me).

👉 Click here to join Female Musician Accelerator now

ON THE PODCAST

In this episode, Tara Brueske and I tackle the common misconception that simply releasing music online guarantees success. We break down what it really takes to build a sustainable music career today.

  • Why creating music alone isn’t enough to launch your career
  • How changes in social media and streaming have impacted musicians
  • The importance of building a fan base before releasing music online
  • Effective ways to connect with audiences through live performances and thoughtful release strategies
  • Additional income opportunities for musicians beyond streaming, including merch, touring, and online session work

WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE FEATURED TRACKS

Susie Maddocks - Still Here


Susie Maddocks is a prolific musician with 28 releases since 2023, including two produced by mentor Angela Parrish. Her music connects, heals, and inspires listeners worldwide. Raised in a musically immersed family, Susie has made music her voice since age five. She holds a piano performance degree from the Eastman School of Music and tours with her duo, duo970, alongside flutist James Hall. Their latest release, the *SONGBIRD* double LP (2023/2024), features works by Stephanie Ann Boyd. Susie’s original music has also been featured in films shown at the Vail Film Festival and North Hollywood CineFest, with a new double LP of 25 original songs coming soon.

artist
Still Here
Susie Maddocks
PREVIEW
Spotify Logo
 

Laura Suarez - My Land Too


Laura Suarez is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer with over 20 years in the LA music scene. A trained vocalist influenced by blues, Motown, and R&B, she has performed widely in clubs, festivals, and coffee houses, both solo and with bands. She has released seven CDs across multiple genres, won two Global Music Awards and the American Tracks Music Awards, and recently released the singles *Another Once Upon a Time* and *Angels in Battle*.

artist
My Land Too
Laura Suarez
PREVIEW
Spotify Logo
 

Michelle McIntosh - This Is My God


Michelle McIntosh had never written a song before her son passed away. After losing him to mental health struggles and suicide, she found herself inspired to pour her grief and pain into music. Guided by her faith and her son’s memory, she hopes her songs can help other parents and those touched by suicide find healing.

artist
This Is My God
Michelle McIntosh
PREVIEW
Spotify Logo
 

Bree Noble

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