Mark C. Samples

The Creative Process

Discover practical insights on creativity, music, and entrepreneurship from writer and musicologist Mark Samples. These short, story-driven essays help artists and creators level up their careers with timeless lessons, smart frameworks, and real-world examples. Perfect for musicians, educators, and creative pros seeking growth.

Eighty and Rising

"Eighty and Rising" is a new Spotify playlist I created, to keep up with the best-reviewed new music releases. It's called "Eighty and Rising" because all albums on the list have a Metacritic score of 80 or higher (out of 100).* I will periodically update it with new albums, and remove albums that have been on the playlist for a while. 

If you're looking for a way to keep up with new music of varying genres that has caught the ear of music critics, head on over and subscribe to the playlist.

*Metacritic.com is a brilliant website that collects critics' reviews from leading publications and gives an aggregate score on a 100 point scale. If you study pop music (or movies or TV or games), it is a vital tool.

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