It’s impressive enough that Madison Beer’s current single, “Hurts Like Hell,” is at the top of the charts. The fact that it’s her second single on the charts this year is pretty amazing. Add into the mix that she is just 19 years old and she’s creating all of her music independently, without the backing of a major label, well, that’s pretty extraordinary.
The old-school narrative, of course, is that a beautiful and talented young woman with a great voice is helpless without a team of seasoned industry executives to help groom and guide her into the perfect mold they have in mind. This is a formula that does not work for Madison Beer. What’s different here is that she already knows perfectly well who she is and what she wants to say.
With the help of her family and a group of carefully chosen creative collaborators, she is running virtually every aspect of her career and business on her own. “I feel really grateful that everyone I work with is a part of my family, and that I get to I write songs with some people who I truly love.” Of course, the creative growth process doesn’t always go smoothly. “Sometimes I think they can get a bit messy when you have so many cooks in the kitchen and you don’t have as much control,” Beer admits. “I like being the captain of my own ship!”
Digital expert
As child of the digital age, Beer also knows better than some stuffy executive how to use technology to connect with her fans. “I started when I was only 12 years old, so I’ve really grown up with these people. Their opinions and feedback drive a lot of my thought processes on how I write and release the music I’m making.”
Given her rapidly rising profile, Beer is also well-aware that she has an opportunity to serve as an inspiration and influence other ambitious young women. “I want to continuously inspire people to pave their own path and realize they can do anything they put their mind to. If you would’ve told me a few years ago I’d be the first-ever independent female artist to crack the Top 20 of the Billboard U.S. Pop Songs chart, I wouldn’t have believed you!”
To the uninformed, Madison Beer may seem like an overnight sensation, but she has been working toward this moment for years. So, what advice does she have for all her young fans? “Don’t ever compare yourself to someone else’s career path. It might take somebody 10 years to find success while it takes others 10 months. Just keep your head up, stay focused and never stray away from your dreams.”