Meet Jonnie Macson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jonnie Macson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jonnie below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jonnie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

It’s something of a cliché to talk about work ethic being influenced by the role models in our lives, but you know what they say about clichés…

I take pride in being totally committed to my career, as well as to those who I work with, and for. I’m known for going above and beyond in the roles I’ve held throughout my career in Music Publishing, whether that be making myself available to others at their convenience, working collaboratively with team members, or just putting in hours beyond expectation. I am very conscious that my work ethic has contributed significantly in getting me where I am today.

My parents showed me the way, as is the case for many of us. Being the oldest of three children, I witnessed firsthand the challenges that came from raising a family, trying to make the best of every situation, but without having significant wealth. Both of my parents spent their entire careers in education, which I have always found inspiring and impressive. To be able to dedicate oneself to shaping the future of others – and work extremely hard doing it – is something I will always be in awe of.

I was too young to understand at first, but the way my parents partnered to ensure my siblings and I had the best life we could shaped a lot about my work ethic. They would often have to miss out on evenings, dinners or events to ensure that we still had a roof over our heads and food on the table. When I started to become more aware of the world around me, I realised the commitment and dedication they put in to raising a young family.

The people I have worked with, for, and on behalf of have also hugely impacted my work ethic. As I started my career, each position and company I worked for showed me the importance of not just putting in hours, but how meaningful results played such a big part in success and progression. My line managers have always been hard working, diligent individuals with a passion and energy that inspires people. My ambition has been to – at the very least – match this as I move forward.

My work ethic is one of the trademarks of my professional character. I am consistently putting forward the message that improvements can always be made, processes can be refined, and that success is paramount to me and my teams. I am lucky to be able to work in an industry that I care about, with individuals who inspire and motivate me. My duty to them is to bring the kind of commitment that will hopefully inspire and motivate them in the same way.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am currently working as Vice President of Global Royalties for Concord Music Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a position and company that I am immensely proud of and excited by. I’ve spoken about this before, but the great thing about doing something you enjoy as a job is that it never gets boring, so I am always happy to discuss it when the opportunity arises.

Working in Music Publishing Administration means you are always trying to explain a highly nuanced and specialised role, whilst talking about familiar subject matter. I’ve said in a previous interview that my very shortest version is “making sure songwriters get paid”, which is true, but it often takes a while to get there. A typical conversation with someone usually goes like this…

“So you’re in music, huh? You a singer?”

“No, I’m not a singer.”

“So you’re like a musician?”

“No, not a musician either. I’m more behind the scenes.”

“Oh, like a producer or a studio guy?”

“No, I work in the offices.”

“Right, so like in management…”

“No, even more behind the scenes than that – I do the kind of job nobody thinks about.”

… And then we get to the line about making sure songwriters get paid for their work. It’s always interesting to see where things go next. It tends to be one of “ah, got it” (and that’s the end of the conversation), or “right, I have a buddy who wrote some songs for this guy…”, and then the conversation evolves from there. What I love about what I do – and the city in which I get to do it – is the respect for the industry, the understanding of the craft that goes into songwriting and the sheer passion for the art that fulfils us.

If nobody got paid to write songs, nobody would write songs. If nobody wrote songs, the world would be a far sadder place. My position in the world of music – like so many others who do the kind of job I do – is quiet, hidden from view, but essential. The next time you stream a song, think about how those (micro)pennies from playing the track make their way to the people who wrote it. The labyrinth that takes us from the ear of the listener to the pocket of the writer is long and full of pitfalls, but we do everything we can to make it work.

If you’d told a young me that one day, I’d get to work in the music industry as a career, I’d have bitten your hand off. If you’d told me that I would be working more with spreadsheets and contracts than lyrics and artists, I’d still have jumped at the chance. I am consistently proud and privileged to do this, since music means everything.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

This is a great question, since I am often reflecting on my journey as I talk to more people about it. Of the numerous things I’ve learned, experienced and taken with me, I think the following three are the ones that come to mind as the most important.

Learn as you go. At the start of every new role, company, challenge or project, you will realise that you don’t know everything that you think you should. Or, even more jarring, you don’t know something that somebody else thinks you should. This is okay. So much of our growth comes from on-the-job learning, working with others and just asking questions. Admitting you don’t know or can’t recall something is far easier than pretending you do. Of course, there are caveats with this approach, but the acceptance that there is always more to learn – and the desire to learn it – pays dividends.

Be aware of the people you work with, and for. It truly is critical to keep in mind your position amongst your peers throughout your career. It’s almost unheard of for someone to achieve success entirely on their own; it most commonly takes the support, co-operation or leadership of others. Being part of a thriving team or a well-managed operation is something we should all strive to achieve. Some of the greatest satisfaction I’ve had as a professional has come from being sensitive to the needs of my superiors, my teams or my colleagues. Making a difference to someone’s career in a positive way comes from that awareness and willingness to offer your best – in the way that they need it – to those you work with.

Keep your passion strong. I’ve spoken before about how caring for what you do every day makes such a huge impact, and it’s still true for me as I reflect on twenty years in the business. I’m not saying that when you feel a hint of inertia or listlessness, you should pack it in and make a drastic change, but my strategy here is always to go back to what makes you excited, what made you care in the first place. We all have those days where it can be hard to keep going – I know I do – but that reminder of the passion that inspires me is what reignites me, and makes me an asset who can always add value in my chosen career.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

This is a tough question to answer, but one I hope I am up to. I also think it’s a remarkably important question to answer, because it feels as though life overwhelms many of us more and more as the years go by. This is something I’ve thought about a lot in the last five or six years, since managing the feelings of being overwhelmed or anxious is something I’ve worked hard at.

The first thing I encourage is to acknowledge two vital truths: that you will feel overwhelmed at some points, but that feeling overwhelmed is okay. Accepting that we all get overwhelmed takes some courage, and acceptance often comes after the fact. It takes work to acknowledge our feelings during times of stress and strife, but knowing that this is both normal and okay takes work. There is nothing more crippling than thinking to yourself “what’s wrong with me?” whilst undergoing something totally normal.

So much of today’s world is overwhelming. The way we consume content and public opinion. The expectation that our jobs place on us. The pressure to balance our life with our jobs. The expectation that weighs on all of us, whether self-imposed or externally applied. The nagging feeling of “I could be doing more”. The list goes on. It’s no wonder we all get overwhelmed pretty regularly. It should also be noted that feeling overwhelmed can come from seemingly innocuous situations or moments in the day. Things that others might not even notice can live in our brains and drag us into a whirlpool of distraction.

My personal advice is to start with the acknowledgement of the two truths I started with, then try to compartmentalise whatever it is that is weighing on you. Something burdensome and seemingly insurmountable feels more manageable once we break it down into its constituent parts. I’ve had various moments in my life where I’ve initially felt like I was overwhelmed to the point of total distraction, but by taking a problem apart methodically, within a short space of time, I began to feel more in control again.

Asking for help is another big part of this. Making someone aware that there is a problem, or that you are struggling, can buy you the time and space which can make all the difference. This obviously relies on having an understanding and empathetic confidant or supporter, and that can be hard to come by, but you don’t always have to go into intimate detail about what’s causing you to feel overwhelmed.

The other thing to remember in amongst the emotional turmoil of feeling overwhelmed is that you are capable. You are able to get things done. You know what you are doing. Never lose sight of this, because it can be hardest to see when you need to remember it most. You can do this. You will do this. And, suddenly, you’ll find that you are doing this. And you’ve gotten past it. It will happen again, but you will manage it again and you will keep succeeding.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnie-m/