Ryan Svendsen’s Post

Can someone help me understand? Beyoncé is undeniably one of the most musically gifted and successful artists of our time. Yet, when the Cowboy Carter tour was announced, much of the media coverage was surprisingly negative. Headlines focused on unsold seats and discounted tickets as if that somehow diminished her artistry. But here’s the reality: one of the greatest to ever do it is offering accessible ticket prices so more fans can experience her brilliance. Shouldn’t the narrative have been: Run, don’t walk, to witness greatness at an affordable price? Instead, the media tried to diminish a legend. Now, her tour is an overwhelming success. Let it be known: you never bet against Queen Bey. This isn’t just about Beyoncé. The music industry and the media that covers it has long had a habit of tearing people down instead of lifting them up. Just ask any music major in college how early they encounter this mindset. We’re constantly asked to defend our career choices rather than being encouraged for our passions. The dreaded question looms: “What are you going to do with that?” So, how do we change the conversation? How do we shift from: a) “Prove your worth to me” to: b) “That’s amazing, how can I support your journey and one day attend your concert or hear your score?” Let’s start by sharing real-world examples and educating others with positivity and purpose. Did you watch the Academy Awards this year and see the pit orchestra playing the entire show? I did and I saw Byron Sleugh, Jr performing. Did you just finish a Netflix series and wonder how the music was created? That was Satya Fuentes and Vince Villanueva. Did you catch the highest opening biblical animated film of all time in theaters this year with The King of Kings? It was an honor of music supervising that one. Curious about the powerful orchestrations in Captain America: Brave New World? That’s Jeff Kryka’s genius. These aren’t just names, they’re proud members of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music alumni board. We may not be able to change how everyone thinks, but we can change how we respond. We can educate. We can uplift. We can lead with kindness. To all musicians… this path isn’t easy. It’s important to celebrate the wins both big and small. Empower. Encourage. Repeat. Do your thing. Our generation needs to be inspired. Lead with honor and show them why you are doing this. This is mine. Thank you to the recording academy for this recognition and congrats to Beyoncé on your wins! 🎺❤️ huge thanks to Brandon Phelps for the intro that led to this song 16 Carriages!