Why Make Music – Episode 50: Progress Is Always Nice

Introduction & Welcome

Hello, hello, and welcome to Why Make Music, episode 50 – we’re officially halfway to 100! 🎉 I’m your host Willa May, flying solo for this special all-Willa episode. Thank you for tuning in, whether you’re a longtime listener or a first-timer. This milestone episode is titled “Progress Is Always Nice,” and that theme is shining through every update we have today. Before we dive in, I want to shout out our family of brands and supporters: ThinkTimm, WDMN Media, Lower Level Creations, and of course the Why Make Music community. Your support on social media, your comments, and your streams mean the world to us. Let’s get started with some gratitude and exciting news!

Gratitude to Listeners & New Music Updates

First and foremost, thank YOU – the listeners. We truly appreciate everyone who has followed us on social media, left comments or messages, and streamed our music projects. Recently, we released volumes one and two of our project “If I Was Your Producer,” and the response has been amazing. For everyone who gave those a listen and shared feedback – thank you so much.

Now, I’m thrilled to announce that If I Was Your Producer – Volume 3 is coming to all streaming platforms on Friday, September 22, 2025 (mark your calendars!). This upcoming volume features a fresh batch of tracks that we’re super proud of. To give you a sneak peek, here are some song titles from Vol. 3:
	•	Alive,

	•	Confusion People,

	•	For the Family,

	•	Honest Hustle Smile,

	•	Let Me See Your Hands,

	•	My Town,

              Popstar,

	•	Saturday,

             Soulmate,

	•	Treadmill (Don’t Call Me Crazy) 

– the closing track, which really ends the album with a bang.

Yes, you heard right – we packed in ten killer tracks there (progress is nice, remember? We keep stopping at ten 😄). Each song has its own vibe, from heartfelt anthems to high-energy bangers. We can’t wait for you all to hear it. By the way, Volume 3 follows on the heels of Vol. 1 and 2, which some of you have already been enjoying. If you haven’t checked those out yet, they’re streaming everywhere – feel free to dive in and catch up on the series.

On the topic of If I Was Your Producer, we plan to keep the momentum going strong. In fact, we’re already hard at work on future volumes. Believe it or not, we’re currently crafting Volume 15 of the series! Talk about planning ahead – we have a lot of material in the pipeline. The music is sounding as good as ever, and the whole team at ThinkTimm and WDMN Media is very happy with how the new tracks are coming out. We’re really proud of the consistency and quality we’ve maintained. Every volume shows growth in our production and creativity – progress, after all, is always nice. 😉

So once again, thank you to everyone streaming our music. Your support keeps us motivated. And if you’re enjoying the tracks, please consider sharing them with a friend or on social media – it helps more than you know!

Behind the Scenes: The Sync Licensing E-Book Project

Moving on from music releases, I want to share a behind-the-scenes project we’ve been working on: an e-book about sync licensing. If you’re not familiar, sync licensing is the process of getting your music cleared and ready to be used in placements like TV shows, movies, video games, commercials, etc. We thought it would be helpful to document the step-by-step process a musician or producer needs to go through to prepare music for these opportunities.

Let me tell you – putting together this e-book was a journey in itself. We dove into extensive research on the topic: everything from the legalities of music rights, to how publishing and master clearances work, to tips on networking with music supervisors. The result was a comprehensive guide over 120 pages long. We covered how to properly register your songs with a PRO (Performing Rights Organization), how to format and tag your audio files with metadata, how to approach libraries and sync agents, and a bunch more. It was essentially a brain-dump of all our knowledge and research on getting your music “sync-ready.”

However, once we finished writing it, we took a step back and surveyed the market. We discovered that several products and guides on sync licensing already exist – and many of them are being given away for free. For instance, companies like Symphonic Distribution have free ultimate guides to sync licensing available . There are also blogs, PDFs, and even YouTube series out there that cover similar ground. Rather than trying to sell something that others are offering at no cost, we had a little rethink.

In the spirit of openness, we’ve decided that at a later date we’ll likely share our sync licensing e-book as a free resource. We’ll attach it to one of our websites – either the ThinkTimm site or the WDMN Nation Media site – for anyone to download. We put a ton of effort into it, and even if it overlaps with existing resources, we believe our perspective and the specific anecdotes we included could still help fellow indie artists. So stay tuned – once we format it for the web, we’ll let you know where you can grab it. Knowledge should be accessible, and we’re happy to contribute our two cents to help others navigate the sync world.

To sum up: sometimes progress means creating something and then pivoting in how you share it. Writing that guide taught us a lot, and we’re excited to eventually pass it on to all of you for free. We’ll keep you posted when it’s online.

Ongoing Work: Organization & Volume 15 in Progress

Let’s talk about the present – what’s happening right now in our work. As I mentioned, musically we’re charging ahead on If I Was Your Producer Volume 15 (and volumes beyond). But it’s not just the music itself that’s progressing; it’s also the way we’re organizing our business and intellectual properties.

Over the past few months, we’ve been organizing all of our IPs (intellectual properties) – basically getting our house in order on the business side. This includes our music catalogs, branding assets, rights management, and all the myriad pieces that make up the creative business. It’s amazing how much of a difference some good old organization can make. Now that everything is catalogued and structured properly, all things business-wise are coming together nicely.

We’re feeling very positive about the future at the moment. There’s a sense that with our music output steady and our business infrastructure solidifying, we’re on the verge of some big opportunities. For a long time it was just us grinding away – ThinkTimm and Willa May in our own bubble trying to make things happen. It’s kind of hard doing everything independently, wearing all the hats from creative to management. But lately we can see the light at the end of the tunnel: the effort is paying off, and forward momentum is building. Progress isn’t always flashy; sometimes it’s the quiet improvements behind the scenes that set you up for major wins later. And we definitely feel like major wins are on the horizon.

Business Collaboration (No Names Mentioned!)

On that note, I want to hint at something exciting without giving away any specifics (got to respect confidentiality!). We’ve recently begun a business collaboration with an outside partner – I won’t name any names, but it’s someone with real industry experience. This has been a game-changer for us. We’ve had a few meetings and communications, and so far all the interactions have been extremely professional, positive, and encouraging. The partner is helping guide us in ways we honestly couldn’t do alone, and it feels like a relief to have a bit of outside help steering the ship.

Most importantly, this collaboration is bringing us closer to having our material placed in front of the right ears. For example, we’re now much closer to getting our tracks actually listened to by reputable music supervisors in the film/TV industry. The folks who select music for major projects – those are the people we’ve been trying to reach for ages. Now, with this partnership, our music is being pitched and curated for those opportunities. Fingers crossed, if all goes well, we could land an actual sync placement or two in the not-too-distant future. How awesome would that be? Maybe a song in a Netflix show, or a commercial, who knows.

We genuinely feel strong and happy about these business dealings. It’s like validation that we’ve been on the right track, and now someone with industry clout is saying “hey, I believe in your material too.” That alone is a huge morale boost. Of course, nothing is guaranteed – the entertainment industry is competitive – but just having our music in the hands of legit curators is an accomplishment. We trust that our tracks are in very good hands now, being pitched to the right projects. The progress here is subtle but significant: from being DIY and isolated, we’ve moved to collaborating and being connected. Sometimes progress is about collaboration, not just solo work.

So, while I can’t name our partner publicly, I do want to say to them (if they happen to be listening): Thank you. We’re excited to move forward together, and extremely grateful for your guidance. Here’s to hoping for those big placements on the horizon – fingers crossed! 🤞

Concert Highlight: Tate McRae’s Live Show Experience

Alright, switching gears from our projects to some recent life events and pop culture fun – we had a cool family outing recently. Our family’s younger generation (two very lucky kids) got the chance to attend the Tate McRae concert last Saturday night! It was at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, which was absolutely packed. Fun fact: that venue was formerly known as the Wells Fargo Center, but it’s been newly renamed as Xfinity Mobile Arena . And it was a sold-out show  – Tate McRae’s biggest Philly concert to date, actually, which shows you how much her star has risen.

The kids (and the parents who chauffeured them, haha) had a fantastic time. They came back raving about the production quality of the show. From their account, the stage design, lighting, and visual effects were top-notch – clearly a lot of thought and budget went into making it a memorable pop spectacle. The setlist was on point too, covering all of Tate’s fan-favorite songs. And I’ve got to say, hearing their excitement reminded me how valuable live music experiences are for inspiring young creatives.

Tate McRae herself delivered an excellent performance. She’s a great dancer as well as a singer (more on her background in a moment), and the kids were impressed with how well she commanded the stage. There were comparisons thrown around like, “She’s not at Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish level yet, but she’s definitely making her mark.” And I think that’s a fair assessment. Tate might not be doing stadium tours the size of a Taylor Swift Eras Tour, but she is carving out her own space in pop music with a dedicated fanbase. The fact that she sold out a major arena here in Philly is proof she’s stepping up to that next tier of stardom.

They also mentioned how engaged the crowd was – everyone singing along to the hits like “you broke me first” and her newer tracks. It was one big sing-along dance party. Plus, there was an opening act that got a shoutout: the opener was Zara Larsson, a Swedish pop star, who did a 45-minute set to get the crowd hyped . Having an opener of that caliber (Zara has her own hits) shows that Tate’s tour is a pretty big deal. The show overall felt like a glimpse at a future superstar in the making. The kids said, “We’ll remember seeing her at this stage when she’s huge in a few years.”

All in all, it was a great night out for the family and a cool connection to the current music scene. As a music creator, I also find it valuable to see what kinds of stage production and performance elements artists are using to elevate their live shows. It’s inspiring and gives us ideas for our own presentations (one day when we’re performing live more, we’ll know what standard to aim for!).

So, big thumbs up to Tate McRae for an awesome concert. If you have a chance to see her on her “Miss Possessive Tour” (that’s the name of her current tour), I’d recommend it – especially if you enjoy high-energy pop with great dancing.

Who Is Tate McRae? (A Quick Deep Dive)

Since we brought up Tate McRae, let’s do a little deep dive on who she is and why there’s so much buzz around her. Some of you listening might be thinking, “I’ve heard that name, but remind me what she’s done.” And others might already be stans 😅. Either way, here’s a primer on Tate’s background and her recent rise in the music industry.

Tate McRae is a Canadian singer-songwriter and dancer, and she’s only 22 years old as of this recording. She first entered the public eye through dance. Back in 2016, a then 13-year-old Tate competed on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation (the kid/teen version of the show). Despite being Canadian (and thus not eligible for viewer votes on an American show), she impressively placed third overall  . That made her the first Canadian to ever go that far in SYTYCD, and it was a big deal – even a Toronto Sun headline noted that her finish was remarkable given Canadians couldn’t vote . So early on, she was recognized as a phenomenal dancer.

After her dance success, Tate transitioned into showcasing her musical side. Around 2017, she started a YouTube series where she would post original songs that she wrote and recorded in her bedroom . The very first song she posted, titled “One Day,” went viral – it racked up over 40 million views on YouTube, which is huge . Off that momentum, she self-released “One Day” as an indie single and it got some buzz (even certified gold in Canada later)  . This was the spark that launched her music career.

Fast forward to 2019: Tate McRae signed a deal with RCA Records when she was just 16 . Under RCA, she put out her first proper EP, “All the Things I Never Said,” in January 2020 . She actually had a whole tour planned for that EP and sold out every date of her first headlining tour  – not bad for a debut EP! But the massive breakthrough came a few months later with a song called “You Broke Me First.”

“You Broke Me First” was released in April 2020, during the early pandemic days . The song blew up internationally. It’s an emotional pop track that clearly resonated with a lot of people stuck at home with their feelings. It charted in the top 10 in dozens of countries (the UK, Australia, etc.) and became Tate’s first song to hit the US Billboard Hot 100 chart . In fact, it hung on the Hot 100 for 38 weeks, one of the longest-charting songs by a female artist that year . It also hit number one on pop radio in the U.S., although it took 28 weeks to climb to #1 – which actually set a record for the slowest climb to #1 ever by a female solo artist . Slow and steady wins the race, I guess! Tate performed “You Broke Me First” on big TV spots like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, really cementing that this was a breakout moment for her .

After that smash hit, Tate kept the momentum. She released more singles in 2020 (like “Vicious” with Lil Mosey, “Lie to Me” with Ali Gatie) , and she earned accolades such as MTV’s Push Artist of the Month and was named on Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list  – clearly pegged as a rising star.

In 2022, Tate finally released her debut studio album titled “I Used to Think I Could Fly.” This album did quite well: it debuted at #3 on the Canadian Albums Chart and hit #13 on the US Billboard 200  . It spawned a hit single “She’s All I Wanna Be,” which became a top 10 hit in Canada and some other countries . So by this point, she’s not a one-hit wonder – she’s building a catalog.

Then came 2023, which was another leap forward. In late 2023 Tate dropped a super catchy single called “Greedy.” This song became a worldwide commercial success, and in fact “Greedy” shot up to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.  – that’s a huge deal, her highest-charting U.S. hit to date. Off the back of “Greedy,” she released her second studio album, “Think Later,” in December 2023 . Think Later got positive reviews (some called it a “career-defining shift” in sound for her) and it debuted in the top 5 on charts in multiple countries . In the U.S. it hit #4 on the Billboard 200, giving Tate her first top-10 album stateside . She even snagged some major awards: at the 2024 Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammys), she won Artist of the Year and her song “Greedy” won Single of the Year . So 2023 solidified her as a pop force, not just a teen viral sensation.

Which brings us to 2025, and wow, Tate has been on fire this year. She launched her third studio album called “So Close to What,” released on February 21, 2025 . This album did something neither of her previous ones did: it topped the charts worldwide. “So Close to What” debuted at #1 on the Canadian chart and also hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 – her first #1 album in the U.S.  . That’s a huge milestone! The album has been a success and it’s fueling her current Miss Possessive World Tour (which is what we saw in Philly). The tour kicked off in March 2025 , right after the album drop, and she’s been selling out arenas.

Not only that, Tate McRae has been making waves at award shows. Just a few days ago at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (we’ll talk more about the VMAs in a moment), Tate won two awards and performed live. She took home the VMA for Song of the Summer (a fan-voted category) and Best Editing, both for her track “Just Keep Watching.”   “Just Keep Watching” is a song she contributed to an upcoming Formula 1 movie soundtrack – it’s been a hit that lingered on charts for months  . At the VMAs, she performed a medley of her songs “Revolving Door” and “Sports Car,” which are from that #1 album So Close to What . It was her VMAs debut performance, and she absolutely slayed it. Critics noted that she commanded the stage with dance and vocals like a pro. This was a real coming-out party for her on the big stage.

So in summary: Tate McRae’s journey is a perfect case of progress. From a talented kid dancing on TV, to a viral teen singer on YouTube, to an EP artist selling out clubs, to now a full-fledged pop star headlining arenas and winning MTV awards. She’s only in her early 20s and is often mentioned as one of the next big pop girls – sometimes even compared to a young Britney Spears in terms of dance-pop potential . It’s been inspiring to watch her growth, and having seen her live, I agree – she’s destined for even bigger things. Keep an eye on Tate McRae, folks. She’s the real deal and living proof that consistent growth and evolution pay off in a music career.

MTV Video Music Awards 2025 – Highlights & History

Speaking of the VMAs, let’s deep dive into that next. The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) took place this past Sunday (September 7, 2025) and there’s a lot to unpack – both the highlights of this year’s show and a bit of context for those who might be new to what the VMAs are.

What are the VMAs? The MTV Video Music Awards are an annual awards show established by MTV in 1984 to celebrate the year’s best music videos and artists. In fact, the very first VMAs were held on September 14, 1984 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, co-hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler . It was a star-studded event – that inaugural show had pop icons like Madonna and Tina Turner performing, and artists like Cyndi Lauper and ZZ Top winning the very first Moonman trophies  . (Fun trivia: the trophy is a statue of an astronaut on the moon, commonly called a “Moonman,” though MTV now uses a gender-neutral term “Moon Person.”) The VMAs quickly became a pop culture juggernaut  – known for wild, unscripted moments and legendary performances. Think Madonna writhing in a wedding dress to “Like A Virgin” at the ‘84 show, or Michael Jackson’s epic medley in ‘95, Britney Spears dancing with a snake in 2001, Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift in 2009 – the VMAs have delivered countless watercooler moments over the decades.

The award is prestigious in the music video world, often considered the equivalent of the Oscars but for music videos. And beyond awards, the show is an entertainment spectacle where artists often premiere new singles or perform elaborate remixes of their hits. It’s become a platform where artists try to create “viral” performances and career-defining statements.

Fast forward to 2025, and this year’s MTV VMAs did not disappoint. The ceremony was held at UBS Arena in the New York area (Elmont, just outside Queens) on Sunday night . Interestingly, for the second year in a row it seems the VMAs chose UBS Arena (2024’s 40th VMAs were also at UBS Arena with Megan Thee Stallion hosting, as a side note ). The host for 2025 was none other than rap legend LL Cool J . LL is a seasoned host and VMA veteran (he actually co-hosted the VMAs back in 2022 as well), and he brought great energy and old-school charm to the show.

The show opened on a slightly somber but celebratory note – MTV included a heartfelt tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne . (Yes, sadly, rock icon Ozzy Osbourne passed away prior to the show – they called him the Prince of Darkness, and paid homage to his legacy in heavy metal.) During the show, there was a special tribute performance for Ozzy featuring Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Yungblud, and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt . They rocked out in Ozzy’s honor, likely covering some Black Sabbath or Ozzy tracks – it was a goosebump moment for rock fans.

Now onto the awards and performances – and there were a lot of big names:
	•	Mariah Carey had a historic night. She received the prestigious Video Vanguard Award (that’s a lifetime achievement award for music videos) – her first time getting that honor, surprisingly . Mariah joked on social media, “My first Moon Person ever! I don’t know why it took you so long, MTV!” , which gave everyone a chuckle. On top of that, Mariah also won Best R&B Video for her song “Type Dangerous” . Hard to believe, but that was actually her first competitive VMA win in her storied career. She seemed genuinely thrilled.
	•	Ariana Grande won the coveted Video of the Year award for her music video “Brighter Days Ahead” . This is a huge one – Video of the Year is like the top prize of the night. Ariana’s “Brighter Days Ahead” video must have been something special (perhaps tied to her movie role in Wicked, since she’s been filming that – the article called her the “Wicked star” ). Ariana was there and accepted the Moon Person trophy on stage alongside the video’s director. Another big career achievement for her.
	•	Lady Gaga took home Artist of the Year . And in true Gaga fashion, she didn’t stick around to bask in applause – she literally accepted the award, thanked everyone, and then rushed out of the venue because she had to perform the second night of her own tour (the “Mayhem Ball” tour) at Madison Square Garden that same night!  Talk about busy – she basically said, “Thanks, I love you all, I gotta go do a concert, bye!” Iconic.
	•	Sabrina Carpenter won Best Album for her album “Short n Sweet.”  Sabrina is a pop singer who’s really been coming into her own, and that album has become a bit of a cult favorite among fans, so it was nice to see her recognized. She also performed earlier in the show.
	•	KATSEYE – this is a new girl group to pay attention to. They actually kicked off the pre-show with a performance of their trending song “Gnarly” . They earned their first VMA nomination this year and even won for Push Performance of the Year with their song “Touch” . (MTV’s Push Performance award highlights up-and-coming artists.) It’s always exciting to see fresh faces like that get a win. KATSEYE were ecstatic – imagine winning a Moon Person in your breakout year!
	•	Alex Warren won Best New Artist . He’s a singer-songwriter who blew up on TikTok originally. He’d been campaigning jokingly for votes on social media, even lip-syncing a meme saying “Just vote, I know I’m going to be out” before the show . Well, his reverse psychology worked – he got the fan votes and won. He seemed genuinely surprised and grateful.
	•	In the more genre categories: An artist called Sombr won Best Alternative for the song “back to friends” and was shocked to win his first VMA . Tyla (South African pop/Afrobeats singer) won something – likely Best African/International Act or perhaps “Best New International.” Shakira won (no surprise, she’s been scooping a lot of awards lately, probably Best Latin Video or Best Collaboration). Doja Cat snagged an award (could be Best Direction or Best Art Direction for one of her creative videos). LISA from BLACKPINK won Best K-Pop again maybe (she won that in 2022, and likely repeated). Coldplay won (possibly Best Rock Video, they often do). Doechii (a rising hip-hop artist) got an award – maybe Best Hip-Hop Video. Megan Moroney (a country artist) might have won the new Best Country category (MTV recently added that). Bruno Mars won (perhaps Best R&B performance with his recent collab). ROSÉ and BLACKPINK were mentioned as winners too – Blackpink often wins Group of the Year (they won it in 2019 and 2020, for instance). And of course, as we discussed, Tate McRae herself was in that winners list . She got Song of the Summer (for “Just Keep Watching”) which was fan-voted, as well as Best Editing for the same video . So she added two Moon Persons to her shelf.

So yeah, lots of Moon Persons handed out.

Now, what about performances? Because VMAs are all about the live performances:

The lineup was stacked: Lady Gaga performed (she probably did a number related to her new era or a medley of hits – and then ran off to her own concert!). Ariana Grande performed as well, likely her winning song “Brighter Days Ahead” with her signature powerhouse vocals. Mariah Carey graced the VMA stage – which was a treat, because Mariah doesn’t perform at VMAs often. She might have delivered a showstopper of “Type Dangerous” or a medley of her classics in honor of her Video Vanguard. Her voice + those whistle notes = guaranteed chills.

Sabrina Carpenter performed, bringing her pop flair. Doja Cat gave one of her typically creative, theatrical performances (maybe of her hit from this year – she’s known for going all-out with costumes). Busta Rhymes and Ricky Martin were on the bill too!  That’s an interesting combination – perhaps separate performances: Busta bringing hip-hop nostalgia and Ricky Martin bringing Latin pop flair (maybe he did a tribute to 25 years of “Livin’ La Vida Loca” or something!). Post Malone performed – he’s always great live, blending rap and rock vibes. And of course, Tate McRae performed her medley as we mentioned , complete with high-energy choreography.

The show had something for everyone: pop, rock, hip-hop, Latin, K-pop. It really reflects how global and diverse music is in 2025. Also noteworthy, the Ozzy Osbourne tribute I mentioned: that was a special performance outside the competitive lineup, with rock legends Steven Tyler and co. smashing guitars and paying homage to Ozzy’s legacy . It added a dose of rock history to an otherwise very contemporary pop show.

To round off the VMAs discussion, I’ll mention how you can watch it if you missed it: the full show is available to stream on-demand for Paramount+ Premium subscribers . Gotta love modern streaming – back in the day if you missed the live MTV broadcast, you had to catch a rerun. Now you can just go online and watch whenever.

So, that’s the scoop on the 2025 MTV VMAs: LL Cool J hosted a memorable night filled with standout performances and big wins for artists like Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and more. And for those new to the VMAs, remember this show has a rich history of wild moments dating back to 1984  – it’s always been about capturing the spirit of the times in music and pop culture. This year was no exception, and it’ll be exciting to see what moments from the 2025 show become the talk of the town (or the internet). I, for one, am still buzzing about Mariah finally getting her VMA due, and Tate’s big moment. Progress is nice – even the VMAs evolve and recognize new generations of artists alongside the legends.

Taylor Swift’s Easter Eggs – What’s She Hinting At?

Now, let’s talk about someone who was not at the VMAs but is perpetually in the pop culture conversation: Taylor Swift. If you know anything about Taylor, you know she loves to drop Easter eggs – those sneaky little hints and clues about her upcoming projects. And lately, she’s been at it again, driving her fans (and the media) into a frenzy trying to decode her hints. The question on everyone’s mind: What is Taylor Swift planning next?

Over the past few weeks (and months even), Swifties have picked up on a bunch of subtle signals from Taylor that “something big is coming soon.” The tricky part is, with Taylor, that “something” could be anything – a new album, a re-recorded album, a concert film, a new music video, heck, even a personal life announcement. She keeps us guessing.

Let me highlight a few of the Easter eggs fans have noticed:
	•	The Mysterious Social Media Posts: Taylor has posted some rather cryptic photos and captions on Instagram and X (Twitter). For instance, she might post a photo where a certain number of objects or a particular color predominates, which fans suspect correlates to an album. A recent example: Swifties noted Taylor wearing a lot of orange in her outfits and visuals late last year and early this year. It turns out orange was a key color theme for her latest project, a surprise album titled “The Life of a Showgirl” (which she announced via Easter eggs)  . So color-coding is one of her methods.
	•	The Favorite Number 13: Taylor’s favorite number is 13, and she uses it everywhere in her Easter eggs . Fans have been looking at dates – for example, they predicted announcements on dates that add up to 13. In fact, one clue panned out: she went on the New Heights podcast (hosted by NFL’s Kelce brothers) on August 13 and slyly announced an upcoming project then . There’s speculation she might drop another big hint or snippet on a 13th of an upcoming month.
	•	Travis Kelce and Easter Eggs: Speaking of New Heights podcast – as many know, Taylor is dating NFL star Travis Kelce now. In their cute public interactions, fans are even finding Easter eggs! For example, when Taylor and Travis announced their relationship on Instagram, some fans noted hidden clues in the engagement-like photo’s caption and even the jewelry she wore  . Yes, Swifties will dissect everything down to a hair clip. (And sometimes they’re right – she wore a hair clip named “Aimee” which foreshadowed a track named “Thank You Aimee” on her latest album !)

So, what might she be hinting at this time in late 2025? There are two leading theories:

1. The Next Re-Recorded Album (Taylor’s Version): Taylor has been in the process of re-recording her first six albums (to own her masters). So far, she’s released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” “Red (Taylor’s Version),” “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” and “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” The two remaining are “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” and her self-titled debut (Taylor Swift). Fans are on high alert for Reputation (TV) especially. Taylor has dropped some snake and black-and-white imagery lately, which were themes from the original Reputation era. Also, there’s a bit of a deadline: legally, Taylor can start re-recording Reputation in late 2024 (five years after its 2017 release), and she likely wants to release it by October 2025 due to some trademark timing . In fact, it’s been reported she’s racing against a trademark expiration – she needs to release Reputation (Taylor’s Version) by fall 2025 or risk others exploiting the name . So all those Easter eggs could be pointing to an imminent Reputation (Taylor’s Version) announcement. Fans have speculated dates (there was a theory about a possible August 2025 drop , which didn’t happen in August, but maybe it’s coming very soon).

2. A New Original Album (TS11 or TS12): Now, Taylor’s an overachiever – she doesn’t just do one thing at a time. In 2024, she actually released a completely new original album titled “The Tortured Poets Department” (yes, interesting title!). That album, which came out April 19, 2024, is considered her 11th studio album  and it was massive – it ended 2024 as the year’s top album in the US according to Luminate data . Given that, fans are wondering if she’s already cooking up TS12 (her 12th album). At the 2025 Grammys, Taylor showed up wearing ruby earrings with exactly 12 rubies in each – fans noticed that detail . They took it as a hint that “TS12 is on the horizon” . And guess what, a couple months later she did announce an album called “The Life of a Showgirl,” which was indeed her 12th project, released in October 2025. So her Easter egg game is strong. With that out, now the question is: is she hinting at another new project beyond that? Some think she might surprise-drop a concert film of her Eras Tour on a streaming platform (just speculation). Others think she might announce another album or a second volume to something. With Taylor, you just never know – she’s incredibly prolific.

One concrete thing: recently there was a weird glitch on her official website that fans thought was a deliberate Easter egg. The site had a countdown clock with an orange door graphic – which eagle-eyed Swifties linked to the orange door imagery from her tour and videos . That countdown led to the reveal of “The Life of a Showgirl” album. Now that that’s out, fans are scanning for the next clue.

At this point, all we can say is: Taylor is dropping Easter eggs, and we don’t know what they mean yet, but it’s likely something big – either the next Taylor’s Version re-record or perhaps a new deluxe edition or project. She has openly said she loves planting elaborate hints years in advance , so some clues we see now might even be for a much later payoff. The fun (or torment, if you will) of being a Swiftie is decoding these and then collectively screaming “I knew it!” when the truth is revealed.

For now, we’re in the “still decoding” phase . My bet? We’ll hear official news soon – Taylor isn’t one to keep quiet for too long. Keep your eyes on her social media around dates like the 13th or any Friday at midnight – you might wake up to a new Taylor album drop or announcement. Until then, enjoy the hunt for clues! As Taylor herself once said in a Washington Post interview, she and her fans have descended into “numerology, color coding, word searches, elaborate hints, and Easter eggs” as a way of life . The tradition continues in 2025.

And yes, as a music fan, I find this whole Easter egg culture she’s built really fascinating – it engages the audience in a deeper way and makes the rollout of music feel like an interactive game. It’s marketing genius, frankly. So whatever it is, we’re here for the ride, magnifying glass in hand, looking for that next hidden message from Miss Swift.

Disney+ Updates: Marvel, Star Wars, and More

Time to shift over to the world of Disney+ – specifically what’s new and hot in the realms of Marvel and Star Wars on the streaming platform. Part of our “obligations” here on Why Make Music is to touch on those big franchises (we’re fans too, and our brand Lower Level Creations often ties into these universes). There have been some cool additions in the past month or two, and some exciting upcoming releases in late 2025, so let’s recap.

Marvel on Disney+ (September 2025)

Marvel has been busy this year with both movie releases and streaming series, and a bunch of that content has recently hit Disney+:
	•	Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts – the big Marvel film of Spring 2025 – is now available to stream on Disney+! If you missed it in theaters, you can catch it at home as of August 27, 2025  . Thunderbolts is essentially Marvel’s version of a ragtag anti-hero team-up. It features characters like Yelena Belova (Black Widow’s sister), Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier), John Walker (U.S. Agent), Red Guardian, Taskmaster, and Ghost all in one movie  . Without spoiling too much, the film follows these morally gray characters forced to work together on a dangerous mission – think The Suicide Squad but in the Marvel world. It had a decent theatrical run earlier this year (released in May 2025) and though it underperformed a bit at the box office, it got pretty good reviews for its ensemble cast and action  . Now on Disney+, it’s apparently doing numbers – it became the most-streamed film on Disney+ in the U.S. the day after it dropped . So definitely check that out if you want the latest puzzle piece in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
	•	Along with Thunderbolts, Captain America: Brave New World is also streaming on Disney+ now . This is the new Captain America movie (released earlier in 2025) starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, the new Cap. It was actually available on Disney+ a bit earlier – it started streaming on May 28, 2025  after hitting theaters in February. In Brave New World, Sam Wilson really comes into his own as Cap and faces off against some global threats – I won’t give away plot details, but if you followed the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in 2021, this movie is a continuation of Sam’s journey from Falcon to Captain America. It’s great to have it on streaming for a rewatch or for those who didn’t catch the theatrical release.
	•	In the Marvel series department, we got a cool new animated show this summer: “Eyes of Wakanda.” This is a Marvel Animation action-adventure series that premiered on Disney+ on August 1, 2025 . All episodes dropped at once (it’s a four-episode mini-series). Eyes of Wakanda expands the world of Black Panther – but in animated form, which allowed them to be really creative. It follows brave Wakandan warriors through different eras of Wakanda’s history . Imagine historical Black Panther lore mixed with globe-trotting missions; it’s been described as vibrant and full of espionage and action . If you’re into the lore of Wakanda and want to see more beyond just T’Challa’s story, give this series a go. It’s also notable for being the first series of Phase Six of the MCU according to Marvel – meaning it’s kicking off the next chapter of Marvel storytelling in animation form .
	•	Looking ahead, Marvel has a big series coming later this year: “Wonder Man.” This will be a live-action series introducing Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man into the MCU. It’s set in Hollywood (the character is a stuntman-turned-actor-turned-superhero, which is a fun premise). Marvel has officially slated Wonder Man to premiere in December 2025 on Disney+ . In fact, Marvel confirmed it in their 2025 slate preview . So as of now, we’re just a few months away. There’s some buzz because Wonder Man will blend action with satire about Hollywood – quite unique in tone. Keep an eye out for an exact date; as of now, just “December” is given.
	•	Another Marvel tidbit: Marvel Zombies! Fans of the darker, weirder side of Marvel will recall the What If…? episode that had undead Avengers. Marvel has made an animated spin-off series called “Marvel Zombies,” and guess what – it’s dropping September 24, 2025 on Disney+ (with all episodes at once) . This show will be a four-part event, rated TV-MA (so it’s more adult-oriented), and it picks up from that apocalyptic scenario. If you like horror with your superheroes, mark your calendar for that one.

In summary, Marvel’s giving us a lot: two blockbuster movies now conveniently streaming (Thunderbolts and Cap: Brave New World), a new animated Wakanda series to enjoy, and cool upcoming content like Wonder Man and Marvel Zombies. Plenty to binge for Marvel fans.

Star Wars on Disney+ (Summer/Fall 2025)

Now onto Star Wars, which, let’s be honest, is a whole universe of its own. There’s been some nice updates on Disney+ for Star Wars content recently, plus some collector news which I’ll get to in the next section, but focusing on streaming:
	•	Ahsoka, The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, etc. – first, just a reminder that all the recent live-action Star Wars series from the past couple years are on Disney+. If you haven’t caught up, you have a treasure trove: The Mandalorian (3 seasons), The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor (season 1), and Ahsoka (which came out in late 2023) are all there. They’ve really expanded the Star Wars lore on TV.
	•	Star Wars: The Acolyte – this is a show I mistakenly spoke about in a previous episode (I talked like it hadn’t aired, but it had – my bad!). So let me set the record straight: The Acolyte premiered on June 4, 2024 and ran through July 16, 2024 on Disney+ . It’s set in the High Republic era (about 100 years before Episode I) and it’s all about the dark side emerging – Sith infiltrating the Jedi, etc. Season 1 had 8 episodes. It’s fantastic to see a totally new part of the timeline with new characters. If you missed it last year, go check it out – it’s fully available to stream. (There were rumors it got canceled after one season in 2024 , but then I’ve heard other rumblings it might get a Season 2 – nothing official yet except a mention at Celebration Japan 2025 that Season 2 was greenlit . So we’ll see.)
	•	Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – this is another new live-action series that actually premiered in December 2024. It stars Jude Law and is about a group of kids who get lost in space in the post-Return of the Jedi era (same time frame as Mando/Ahsoka). Skeleton Crew debuted with two episodes on Dec 2, 2024  and completed its 8-episode run in early 2025. If you’re into a Goonies-meets-Star Wars vibe, this show is for you. All episodes should now be streaming on Disney+ as well. It had a fun Amblin-esque spirit, mixing youthful adventure with Star Wars wonder.
	•	Animated Star Wars: This is an area that’s been rich lately. Star Wars: Visions – the anthology of anime-style short films – has two volumes out (2021 and 2023). And great news: Volume 3 of Star Wars: Visions is coming on October 29, 2025 . It was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration that Visions Volume 3 will drop then, continuing the tradition of unique animation studios giving their take on Star Wars . So that’s something to look forward to next month.
	•	Meanwhile, in the more family-friendly animation sphere, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy – Pieces of the Past just premiered on September 19, 2025 . If you enjoy the LEGO Star Wars humor and cuteness, this new series has all episodes out now. It’s a sequel series in the LEGO Star Wars universe – which usually means a lot of tongue-in-cheek references and breaking the fourth wall. Good fun for kids and adults who are kids at heart.

And for completeness: Disney+ has also been adding the classic films from both Marvel and Star Wars as they come out of theaters. So earlier in the summer we saw things like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (from 2023) already on there, and the animated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse landed on Netflix instead due to Sony deals, but might show up later. Over on Star Wars film side, the legacy content is stable (the nine Saga films, Rogue One, Solo, etc.), and no new movie in 2025 (the next Star Wars movie is slated for 2026). However, they did add some vintage Star Wars content in the past (like the old 2D Clone Wars microseries and the Ewok movies), so it’s a treasure chest for completionists.

In summary, if you fire up Disney+ this month, you have brand-new Marvel and Star Wars episodes and movies at your fingertips: Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World for MCU movie fans, Eyes of Wakanda and soon Marvel Zombies for Marvel series fans, and on the Star Wars side Ahsoka (if you didn’t see it in 2023), The Acolyte (2024), Skeleton Crew (late 2024/early 2025), LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy (just now), and upcoming Visions Vol. 3 (Oct 29). Plus all the older goodies. Truly an embarrassment of riches for nerds like us.

It’s exciting (and a bit overwhelming, I admit) to keep up with all these storylines, but as fans, I think we’re living in a golden age where there’s always something new to watch in our favorite fictional universes. Grab the popcorn and enjoy the streaming binge opportunities!

Lower Level Creations: Collectibles & 3D Printing Adventures

As many of you know, aside from music, we at WDMN Media (especially ThinkTimm and myself) are big into collectibles and creative projects – that’s where our Lower Level Creations brand comes in. We often talk about Star Wars and Marvel not just because we watch them, but because we collect figures, props, etc., and even make some of our own. So it’s time for a collector’s corner update! We’ve got news on a major Star Wars collectible, some cool new action figures we acquired, and a bit about our personal 3D printing projects.

HasLab Star Wars LAAT Gunship – Mission Accomplished

First up, the big Star Wars collector news: **Hasbro’s HasLab ** project for the Vintage Collection Republic LAAT/i Gunship has successfully funded! For those not familiar, HasLab is Hasbro’s crowdfunding platform for dream projects – oversized or super-detailed items that they only produce if enough fans back the project.

This summer, they unveiled the Clone Wars Republic Gunship (Low Altitude Assault Transport) in 3.75-inch scale (Vintage Collection scale). It’s a monster of a vehicle – over 2.5 feet long, incredibly detailed, fits lots of clone trooper figures, etc. The campaign ran from July 25 to September 8, 2025 . The price was a hefty $449.99 for backers  (in some regions roughly $399 USD, depending on where you pledged – I saw talk of about $799 AUD in Australia ). They needed a minimum of 8,000 backers to fund it , and by the end of the campaign they got 10,541 backers onboard . Woohoo! That means the Gunship is going into production and is slated to ship around Fall 2026 . They even unlocked a Tier 1 bonus (at 10k backers) – an exclusive Coleman Trebor Jedi figure on a special card . (Coleman Trebor is that Jedi Master who got unceremoniously shot by Jango Fett in Episode II, poor guy – but he’s a cult favorite and this will be his first figure in Vintage Collection form.)

Now, as tempting as this was, we at Lower Level Creations actually decided not to back the Gunship. Why? Well, we already have a Republic Gunship in our collection from years past (the old 2002-2013 era ones). Those older ones are a bit smaller and less detailed than the HasLab, but still – space is an issue, and we’re trying to be selective. The only reason we would have bought another Gunship would be perhaps for resale value down the line (HasLabs often go up in price in the aftermarket). But ultimately, we figured we’d save our funds for other things, since we’re satisfied with the gunship we have. It was a close call though – the HasLab version is absolutely beautiful, a true grail item for Clone Wars aficionados. We salute all who backed it; you won’t be disappointed when that giant box arrives in 2026!

This is an example of progress in the collector hobby – companies using crowdfunding to bring us things that ten years ago we could only dream of. A big vehicle like this wouldn’t survive on retail shelves, but through HasLab it exists. Pretty cool.

New Star Wars Black Series Figures

Our mailbox (and doorstep) had a happy week because new Star Wars figures arrived! We are big into Star Wars: The Black Series (the 6-inch scale highly detailed figures). Here’s what joined the collection:
	•	Night Trooper (from Ahsoka) – If you’ve been watching the Ahsoka series, you saw the creepy Night Troopers: essentially Imperial remnant stormtroopers revived or held together by Nightsister magic (think zombie troopers). They have this awesome weathered, patched-up armor with gold bindings. Hasbro released these as Black Series figures, and we snagged a couple. They look fantastic – very unique addition to the Imperial ranks on our display shelf.
	•	Barris Offee (Black Series) – Barriss Offee is a character from the prequel era (she’s a Mirialan Jedi, was a padawan alongside Ahsoka during The Clone Wars). She’s notable for… well, some spoilery treachery in the Clone Wars series. This figure is based on her Episode II/Clone Wars appearance, and it was just released in the Black Series (as part of a special Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary wave). We pre-ordered her back in June and she shipped now (September 2025)  . The figure is super well done – capturing her face tattoos and Jedi robes. A great Jedi addition, since previously we only had her master Luminara Unduli in the 6-inch line. Now we can pose master and apprentice together.
	•	Merrin (Nightsister from the Jedi video games) – Merrin is a fan-favorite character from the game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (and its sequel Jedi: Survivor). She’s one of the last Nightsisters of Dathomir who becomes an ally to Cal Kestis. Hasbro did a Black Series of Merrin in her Fallen Order look a couple years ago as a GameStop exclusive, but it was pretty limited. We finally got our hands on Merrin, and she’s awesome – comes with her Nightsister magick fire effects and all. With the renewed interest in Nightsisters (thanks to Ahsoka series), it felt timely to add her to the collection.
	
All these figures are part of us fulfilling our Lower Level Collections obligations 😄 – meaning, we keep up with collecting not just as a hobby but also to share reviews, photos, and content for our brand. We’ll likely post some pics or unboxing videos of these on our socials.

And speaking of collectibles beyond Star Wars:

We also scored some cool Marvel Legends figures, particularly tied to the Thunderbolts (remember the movie we discussed earlier). We got:
	•	Red Guardian – This is the character Alexei Shostakov (played by David Harbour in Black Widow), who is part of the Thunderbolts lineup. The figure is beefy, red-suited with his Soviet shield – looks great, and Harbour’s likeness is on point in the face sculpt.
	•	John Walker (U.S. Agent) – The ex-Captain America from Falcon & Winter Soldier, now donning a black U.S. Agent suit. The Marvel Legends figure came in a two-pack with another character. We have him geared up with his shield and it’s cool to have the anti-hero Cap on the shelf.
	•	We also got a few other Thunderbolts-related Legends – likely Yelena Belova (White Widow) and maybe Taskmaster or Ghost, to round out the team. The user mentioned “a few other packages” that came in – I suspect those were the rest of the wave. So our Marvel shelf now has the makings of the Thunderbolts team ready for display.

That wraps up our collector updates. Essentially, we’re doing good on that front – adding the latest figures to our archive, staying on top of HasLab news, and enjoying the tangible side of fandom. For us, collecting is another form of storytelling and creativity – each figure is like a piece of the larger puzzle, and we love setting them up in dioramas or turning them into photography subjects.

Also, quick personal project update: ThinkTimm’s 3D Printer – we have a Neptune 4Plus filament (FDM) 3D printer that was down for a bit, waiting on a replacement part from China. Good news: the part finally arrived! ThinkTimm is in the process of installing it and repairing the printer. So our 3D printing workshop will be back online imminently. In the downtime, he’s been perusing tons of 3D files – hunting for cool models to print once we’re operational again. Expect some new Lower Level Creations original prints soon. We love printing props, miniatures, and display pieces (like lightsaber stands, figure diorama parts, etc.). Now that the printer’s fixed, we can dive into those projects. It’s such a satisfying feeling to be able to create physical objects from digital files – talk about progress in technology enabling home creativity!

One more fun tidbit for Star Wars fans: Hasbro’s premium role-play Black Series line recently released a Stranger Things-inspired Stormtrooper helmet (just kidding 😜). But seriously, they did release a Star Wars Black Series “Thrawn’s Stormtrooper” helmet (with that gold trim from Ahsoka’s Night Troopers). And also the “Clone Trooper Phase II” helmet in 2025. We also have the “Stranger’s helmet” from The Alcolyte . Either way, we’ll unbox our new helmet soon and share which one it is.

The bottom line is: on the Lower Level Creations side, things are humming along. We’re enjoying our hobbies, and it doubles as content and inspiration for our creative endeavors. Whether it’s collecting, printing, or just appreciating the craft that goes into these creations, it all feeds our artistic soul in a way. And it’s just plain fun!

Brand Plugs & Wrap-Up

As we come to the end of this epic episode 50, I want to circle back and plug the various brands and platforms we’re involved with – because if you like what we’re doing, there are many ways to connect, support, or get more content.

Why I Make Music – that’s this podcast. We appreciate you listening! Make sure to subscribe on your platform of choice so you don’t miss future episodes. We always aim to entertain, inform, and share our journey with you.

We also have merchandise if you want to rock some gear and support us. Our designs (inspired by our music, slogans, and even some Lower Level Creations flair) are available on TeePublic and Threadless. So you can grab a t-shirt, hoodie, mug, sticker – whatever suits your fancy. Wearing our merch not only supports us financially a bit, but it also spreads the word. Plus, the designs are pretty cool if I do say so myself.

On social media, you can follow several accounts for updates and fun content:
	•	Instagram – We have a few Insta accounts:
	•	@ThinkTimm – for everything ThinkTimm is up to (music production snippets, personal updates, etc.).
	•	@WDMNMedia – covering the broader media projects under our umbrella.
	•	@WhyMakeMusic – dedicated to this podcast, where we post episode announcements, quotes, maybe some behind-the-scenes from recording.
	•	@DJWarmCookies – yes, that’s a name you might recall (one of our alter egos!); if you’re into DJ mixes or more of the fun side projects, that’s where to look.
	•	@LowerLevelCollections – all our collecting and toy photography goodness goes here. Expect pictures of those new figures we talked about, displays of our collection, and info on collectibles.

Feel free to follow one or follow them all, depending on your interests. We love interacting with folks on Instagram, whether in comments or DMs. So drop us a line, say hi, tell us what you think of Volume 3 or anything else.

We have content on YouTube as well – search for our channels (ThinkTimm or WDMN Media). There you might find music videos, beat-making videos, some Lower Level Creations project videos, and even archives of these podcast episodes in some cases. If you prefer listening on YouTube or want visual content, go check it out. We plan to grow our YouTube presence, so subscribing there would be awesome.

For the music itself: You can stream all our releases on the major platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.), but if you’d like to directly support our music, consider visiting our Bandcamp page. (I think the user spelled it “bandmate,” but it’s actually Bandcamp – to clarify.) On Bandcamp, you can buy digital downloads of our albums, including If I Was Your Producer Vol. 1 and 2 (and Vol. 3 will be up there on release day). Bandcamp is great because it gives artists a bigger share of revenue and you, the fan, can get high-quality audio files and sometimes bonus items. So if you want to throw a few bucks our way and own the music, Bandcamp’s the spot – plus some projects might be “Pay What You Want.”

Lastly, let’s talk Patreon. So, we do have a Patreon page set up – we’ve just been really quiet about it because, honestly, we have zero patrons at the moment (we’ve never promoted it until now). It’s there as potential for the future. If people show interest in supporting us via Patreon, we would absolutely love to engage there and provide cool perks. Off the top of my head, some ideas for Patreon-exclusive content could be: behind-the-scenes vlogs (showing how we produce a track or how we set up our collectibles room), early access to new songs or podcast episodes, exclusive remix releases, maybe even monthly hangout streams or Q&A sessions for patrons. We could also do fun stuff like Patron-only merch discounts, or a Patreon-exclusive piece of merch after a certain period. I’ve even thought of offering something like personalized mini-beats or shoutouts for higher tiers.

Right now, the Patreon is like an empty club waiting for its first guest. If you’re listening and thinking, “Hey, I really dig what these folks do, I’d toss a few bucks a month to help them continue and get some extras,” then by all means, head over to our Patreon (it should be under ThinkTimm or WhyMakeMusic – we’ll post the link in our episode description or on social media). Even one patron would light a fire under us to start delivering cool bonus content regularly. We’re creators – give us an excuse to create more just for you, and we will! 😄

So yeah, Patreon is there, consider this an open invitation. No pressure, of course – times are tough and just listening and sharing our stuff is plenty support. But for those who want that deeper involvement, we’re open to it. And we promise to come up with fun rewards for any founding patrons who join.

Recap of where to find us and support:
	•	Stream and share our music (Vol. 3 coming Sept 22!).
	•	Grab some merch on TeePublic/Threadless if you want to look stylish.
	•	Follow us on Instagram (ThinkTimm, WDMNMedia, WhyMakeMusic, DJWarmCookies, LowerLevelCollections – something for everyone).
	•	Subscribe on YouTube for videos.
	•	Check out Bandcamp to directly support our tunes.
	•	And if feeling extra generous or engaged, peek at Patreon for possibly becoming part of an inner circle of supporters.

Whew! That was a lot, but hey, episode 50 is a big one and we aimed for a super comprehensive, 45-minute-plus extravaganza. If you’re still with me at this point – thank you, sincerely, for listening to this entire episode.

We covered so much ground: from thanking listeners, to new music, to e-book learnings, to our ongoing work and hopes for placements, to a concert experience, a deep dive on Tate McRae’s rise, a breakdown of the MTV VMAs (with a bit of history lesson thrown in), speculation on Taylor Swift’s next move, Disney+ updates for Marvel and Star Wars, our collector hobby updates, and finally our brand shoutouts. Progress is always nice, and looking back at all these topics, you can see the theme: growth, evolution, moving forward. Whether it’s our personal projects, or the artists we follow, or the franchises we love – progress keeps things exciting.

I want to close out by bringing it full circle to gratitude. Episode 50 means we’ve done this 50 times now, and we couldn’t have done it without you, the listeners. Every play, every comment, every bit of feedback has helped us get better and stay motivated. Doing this as a one-person host this time was a fun challenge for me, and I appreciate you giving me your ear for this long monologue! Hopefully it felt more like a friendly conversation and you learned or laughed at least once during it.

Here’s to the next 50 episodes and beyond. We have a lot more music to make, a lot more stories to tell, and a lot more progress to achieve together.

Thank you so much for listening to Why I Make Music – Episode 50. I’m Willa May, and I’ll catch you next time. Until then, stay creative, stay positive, and remember: progress is always nice!

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