Attending ARIA events seems to have been a running theme these past two weeks. The latest instalment was last night’s ARIA Talk session with Tommy Brown, as a side mission to his involvement in the ARIA Collab sessions. Tommy is a GRAMMY-winning American producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. His catalogue spans multiple genres—most famously with songs by Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and Victoria Monét, to name-drop for cred. Sosefina Fuamoli hosted the session.I’m not gonna lie—hearing Tommy speak made me miss my days in full-time songwriter mode. More than anything, it was insightful to hear about Tommy’s journey and some of the truth bombs he had to drop about the industry. I think the themes were universal, not just relatable as a songwriter or producer, but also applicable to those navigating as entrepreneurs. I’m here for all the dialogue on comparisons that founders and entrepreneurs think no differently than artists.Here are some of my takeaways from the chat and the things that resonated:1. “The same money people spend on clothes is the same price as a flight. The same money people spend on shoes is the same price as a hotel. You gotta reinvest in yourself.”Self-explanatory, really. Invest in yourself. That might mean sacrificing a dinner to save up for a plane ticket to another city—or even another country—to meet collaborators or attend music events.2. “If he shows up at 11am, I’m gonna show up at 10 and help him with his bags. If he leaves at 11, I leave at 1. As long as I outwork him, I’ll find myself somewhere in that spectrum.” [on working with super-producer Darkchild at the start of his career]It’s a simple formula: be the hardest worker in the room, I can’t stress this enough. Over time, you simply can’t be ignored. I used to try to lead by example when I ran the studio. My only addition, from my point of view, is: don’t be invisible when doing it.3. “I learned the value of working with the people who’re around me, building that platform so it lasts forever.”A major part of Tommy’s success came from collaborating with up-and-coming artists who weren’t famous at the time—like his relationship with Ariana Grande (the ‘Nickelodeon girl’ he got paired with) and Travis Scott (who was just sleeping on the studio couch). Talent can be right next to you: don’t overlook it. Build a community of all the people you’ve met along the way.4. “For me, when everybody goes right, I go left.”In a saturated music industry, being different often sets you apart. After Tommy spoke, I grabbed dinner with some friends and kept chatting about navigating the industry. My version of this was: be weird, do the things you do that make you different, especially in groupthink situations that, as an ‘industry person’, you can find yourself in. I’m convinced sometimes that people spend most of their time finding ways to fit in. Maybe figure out the best way to ‘go left’.5. No GatekeepingAs part of the interview, Sosefina brought up her thoughts on how gatekeeping is an issue in the Australian music scene, and people are sometimes reluctant to collaborate or share resources. As someone who’s always tried to do the opposite, maybe this is a question for anyone reading.Do we have a gatekeeper problem in Australia?My take is that it comes down to how many spots people in Australia have to share, how many are fighting for a small piece of the Australian pie, and a scarcity mindset.6. “How does my little cousin use social media more than you, and they’re not doin’ nothin’ but stupid stuff? Don’t be too cool to do things. Expand and do whatever you need to.”He’s not wrong. What I liked most about this talk was that Tommy constantly broke down excuses and showed his incredible work ethic and desire to do the most at all times. He used the example of flying to Korea without a single session booked—just hustling to get into studios once he arrived. It reminded me of the beginning of my own journey as a songwriter/artist: booking flights to Malaysia without one single session booked because my songwriting partner and I heard there was an ‘opportunity’ there. It would be the catalyst for everything after, starting with a #1 song in KL. Step outside your bubble, your comfort zone. That’s where the real opportunities are.7. “There’s two hours a day that are the most important—usually the hours people spend scrolling social media or watching TV. Those are the hours that change your career.”Carving out time for consistent, focused work—every single day—can alter the trajectory of your music and your career. Cut the shit, basically.8. “Treat the music like your partner. If you only see them once a week, you’re not in a real relationship.”Have a relationship with what you’re building - an absolute obsession, immersion and love of what you do. It’s so great to hear someone say this. I used to tell any bright-eyed kids who asked me (through Abbey Road Institute) about the best way to make it in the industry: you have to show up consistently. As a constant theme throughout the talk, Tommy’s not a fan of “one-post-a-week” mentalities. I would extend this to any pursuit in music or as an entrepreneur. If you’re not investing time in your craft, it’s like trying to date someone you only see every few weeks—it doesn’t really work.9. “When It Doesn’t Align, It Doesn’t Align—Sometimes ‘no’ Is a Powerful Weapon.”Again, this one is hitting a bit close to home for me at the moment. Saying “no” to a project, collaboration, investor, or potential business partner might be exactly what you need to protect your time, energy and integrity. Not every opportunity is the right one. “I was in the studio once, and it just wasn’t a fit. Even if it’s a big artist, if you’re not vibing, ‘no’ is a powerful weapon.”Final ThoughtsTommy’s take on the absolute dedication, obsession, and immersion in his craft is refreshing. Simple notes, articulated by someone who is walking a successful, sustainable pathway always inspires. (That sounds like a great idea for a business model btw.)Work harder than everyone else, invest in genuine relationships and community and never be afraid to carve your own path. Above all, once you find a way in that door, leave it open for the next wave coming behind you.If you were there and this resonates—or otherwise—I’m keen to hear your take.Shout out to the <a target="_blank" class="RFNOFVQEFZPHaKoCyqsqedOluNQlOEMFjaDeg " href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ariaofficial/">ARIA - Australian Recording Industry Association</a> team, <a target="_blank" class="RFNOFVQEFZPHaKoCyqsqedOluNQlOEMFjaDeg " href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/musicaustralia/">Music Australia</a> and <a target="_blank" class="ember-view" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-petriella-oam-b1b99071/">Milly Petriella OAM</a> for this. Hope ARIA Collab is killing it.

Key takeaways from Tommy Brown at the second ARIA Collab session talks in 2025, interviewed by Sosefina Fuamoli.

ARIA Collab Talks : Tommy Brown & Sosefina Fuamoli

Across multiple different short form content streams, our Founders and Industry Leaders explore their key takeaways from industry events, challenges that creatives face, and everything in-between.

ARIA Collab Talks : Tommy Brown & Sosefina Fuamoli

ARIA Collab Talks : Tommy Brown & Sosefina Fuamoli

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