Jun 22, 2026 · 13 min · 8 segments
Singer-songwriter Hope Tala answers listener questions in this Q&A episode of the podcast. Listeners ask Hope what she wouldn't change about the music industry, who her dream collaborator is — her…
Hope TalaGuest
Freya BromleyHost
[laughs] Okay, one thing I wouldn't change about the music industry right now is that I feel like it's gotten to a point where it's a lot more democratic in some ways than it ever has been with the advent of, um, as much as I'm always complaining about having to promote myself on TikTok and stuff, having access to social media means that anyone can put up a clip of them singing, and it can get traction.
Even, like, 20 years ago, even maybe 10 years ago, there was such a lot more gatekeeping from industry people and, like, tastemakers.
Even if it's what, you know, I'll be the first person to, to complain about the industry and [laughs] talk about how it's not perfect.
I do think that is really amazing that people can kind of have a very untraditional path to getting into the music industry now.
I mean, the flip side of, of what I was just saying is that the onus is now so much on artists to promote themselves, and I think a lot of labels are really absolving themselves from the responsibility of, of promotion and kind of just say, "You know, you're the artist.
Go and make TikToks." But I think sometimes posting as much on social media to the extent that you're kind of expected to as an emerging artist in this day and age, it's kind of like another full-time job.
You know, on top of the other obligations that you have of making the music and, and performing live and doing a rollout process of making the artwork and things like that.
I think it's just-- I think I'm just trying to find a balance that feels healthy for me because I also...
There are times that I really enjoy, like, posting online and sharing things and, and sharing s- parts of my life and stuff.
But sometimes that balance is not in line with, you know, what the higher-ups are asking for, if that makes sense.
Being inquisitive about the tension I think is really important because sometimes it is fun, and I like to think, "Oh, well, I'm gaining a new skill if I'm learning-
... how to use the Instagram edits app." And then sometimes an hour and a half's gone by, and I'm thinking-
[laughs] Okay, one thing I wouldn't change about the music industry right now is that I feel like it's gotten to a point where it's a lot more democratic in some ways than it ever has been with the advent of, um, as much as I'm always complaining about having to promote myself on TikTok and stuff, having access to social media means that anyone can put up a clip of them singing, and it can get traction.
Even, like, 20 years ago, even maybe 10 years ago, there was such a lot more gatekeeping from industry people and, like, tastemakers.
Even if it's what, you know, I'll be the first person to, to complain about the industry and [laughs] talk about how it's not perfect.
I do think that is really amazing that people can kind of have a very untraditional path to getting into the music industry now.
I mean, the flip side of, of what I was just saying is that the onus is now so much on artists to promote themselves, and I think a lot of labels are really absolving themselves from the responsibility of, of promotion and kind of just say, "You know, you're the artist.
Go and make TikToks." But I think sometimes posting as much on social media to the extent that you're kind of expected to as an emerging artist in this day and age, it's kind of like another full-time job.
You know, on top of the other obligations that you have of making the music and, and performing live and doing a rollout process of making the artwork and things like that.
I think it's just-- I think I'm just trying to find a balance that feels healthy for me because I also...
There are times that I really enjoy, like, posting online and sharing things and, and sharing s- parts of my life and stuff.
But sometimes that balance is not in line with, you know, what the higher-ups are asking for, if that makes sense.
Being inquisitive about the tension I think is really important because sometimes it is fun, and I like to think, "Oh, well, I'm gaining a new skill if I'm learning-
... how to use the Instagram edits app." And then sometimes an hour and a half's gone by, and I'm thinking-
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