No next year: Why Howard Benson treats music like a Super Bowl opportunity

This edition of 'No Distractions' focuses on the rock-and-roll genius of music producer Howard Benson—also known as the 'man of a billion streams'

"Give me the ball at the end. I want to take the last shot. I want it. I want to score. I look at the scoreboard. That's what it's about."

While it sounds like a pre-game locker room speech, this isn't about sports. It's about the music industry, as told by a titan who loves a good competitive analogy. I recently sat down with Howard Benson.

The rock icon focusing behind the boards

Look at the back of many major rock records from the last 25 years and you'll likely find Howard's name. His credits read like an all-star roster of rockstars: My Chemical Romance, Bon Jovi, Motörhead, Daughtry, Three Days Grace, P.O.D., Santana, Seether, Hoobastank, The All-American Rejects, Papa Roach, Chris Cornell, TSOL, Halestorm, Creed, Simple Plan, Hawthorne Heights, The Starting Line, (my personal favorite) Less Than Jake, and even Kelly Clarkson.

Alternative Press put Howard’s career this way:

"Producer/songwriter Howard Benson was likely behind the boards for at least one of your favorite albums of all time."

See Howard Benson make sports analogies about the search for hit songs.

Beyond his Grammy recognition, Howard has founded Judge & Jury records, engineered industry-standard music plugins, and played keyboards for numerous bands. On a personal level, I know "Uncle Howard" as a dedicated family man and a massive Philadelphia Eagles fan. We consider each other family, regardless of what the bloodlines say. 

The focus of preparation

I recently sat down with Howard in the Philadelphia suburbs to discuss his career, the rise of AI in music, and why he tells artists they can't simply "plan" to make it big next year. For Howard, success starts with a brutal focus on preparation and expectations.

"If you're not prepared, you may never get that again," he said "Look at sports. Sometimes when you go to the Super Bowl, you think, 'we'll be back next year.' Probably not... You need to win that one. You can't be thinking about next year."

The 'right now' music mentality

When a new artist meets with Howard he has an honest conversation about the immediate focus required to succeed. In a world of infinite distractions and fleeting trends, he emphasizes the "now"—specifically, the desire for songs that people actually want to hear.

"I always say to my artists, we have to have hits. Like we can't not have a hit and wait for the next record. You don't know what's going to happen in your life. You don't know what's going to happen in your band's life. You don't know what the record company is going to do. There's so many things that can happen."

This driven focus on hitmaking isn't for everyone, and Howard is the first to admit it.

"This is what we're doing, you know? So it's a little bit hardcore for people. Some people don't like that approach, but that's the way I do it."

Howard's advice extends beyond the music industry to offer professional clarity: Don't put off a golden opportunity under the assumption that another one is just around the corner. If the ball is in your hands, take the shot.