🎙️ How Tommy Brown Built a Global Career by Betting on Himself

🖋️ A word from our editor…

This episode got me thinking about what it really means to invest in yourself—not just financially, but with your time, your energy, your belief. Tommy Brown has worked with some of the biggest pop stars of the past decade, but when he talks about how he got there, it’s not some polished origin story. It’s a series of quiet decisions: consistently showing up to sessions, flying overseas on his own dime, choosing long-term growth over short-term comfort.

That mindset stuck with me. There are moments in your life when you hit a fork in the road. You can coast, or you can lean in. You can wait for permission, or you can start backing your own work before anyone else does.

Listening to Tommy talk about those early years reminded me that most of what matters happens offstage. The unglamorous, unshared stuff. And that the real investment is showing up—consistently, patiently—before anyone’s paying attention.

If you’ve been hesitating to bet on yourself, I hope this episode gives you a gentle push. And if it sparks anything, I’d love to hear—I always look forward to reading your replies. 

— Hao Nguyen, Editor

💰 “A plane ticket is the same price as an outfit. A hotel room is the same price as a pair of shoes. So choose your investments wisely.”

When Grammy-nominated producer Tommy Brown aka TBHits says a plane ticket costs the same as an outfit, he’s not trying to be funny—he’s delivering a wake-up call to emerging artists. In a conversation on On the Record with Poppy Reid, the hitmaker behind Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, and Blackpink broke down his philosophy in simple terms: if you want to go global, you’ve got to start acting like it.

That mindset—treating music like a business from day one—runs through everything Tommy does. During his recent visit to Australia, he spent time in studios with emerging local artists, aiming to connect them with global opportunities. But he was clear: before artists can think about overseas success, they need to build something real at home.

“Conquer your market first,” he said. “These are the people who understand your lingo. Once you get hot in Atlanta, then you do collaborations in LA and collaborations in New York and spread it.”

Tommy’s path proves the point. He started producing music at 15 after his father passed away, and spent years hustling, handing out CDs, and learning the craft. His work is global now, but the way he talks about it is still rooted in simple principles: show up, do the work, and think long-term. That includes being honest about the money. 

For Tommy, building a lasting career isn’t about chasing trends or waiting for validation—it’s about backing yourself early and often. That might mean choosing a flight over a shopping spree, or putting out music before anyone’s paying attention. Either way, it’s about taking the long view.

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