In this TMN® Exclusive interview, Jackie Venson reflects on what it really means to build a sustainable career as an independent artist today.

Speaking from experience, Jackie breaks away from industry mythology and focuses on the fundamentals. She talks about why no artist succeeds alone, why community is not optional but structural, and how ego often leads to isolation rather than growth. Throughout the conversation, she reframes success not as fame or visibility, but as the result of long-term collaboration, trust, and shared work.

Jackie also addresses the collapse of mainstream media and the loss of control once held by record labels. In an internet-driven landscape, she argues, the traditional promises of overnight success no longer reflect reality. Exposure alone is no longer power, and “mainstream” has become an illusion sustained by money rather than relevance.

The interview moves through her musical influences across decades, from 70s funk to 90s hip hop and early 2000s songwriter-driven music, offering context for how artists develop their voice outside rigid industry paths.

We publish this interview as part of our TMN® Exclusive Series, where young creators document and reflect on the voices shaping today’s music scene. These stories help us understand what creativity means for a new generation — real people, real moments, real growth.

Read the full interview with Jackie Venson on our blog.

📍 Recorded in Austin, Texas

🎥 Interview by Pablo Herrera for Teens Media Network®

📸 Photo Thumb: Jackie Venson by Ismael Quintanilla III

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