Check it out at hundreds of places on the web.
The Beatles came so close to not making it.
George Martin observed that, other than Harrison, they were terrible musicians. It was their sense of humor and the uniqueness of thier appearance that made him decide to take a chance on them. NOT! Their musical ability. George Martin refined them and helped them develop thier God given talent.
Otherwise we may never have heard of them.
Thank goodness Epstein took them to him.
The rest is history.

Like Delbert McClinton said, "There's only two types of music in the world. The kind you like, and the kind you don't like."
I agree with Brian 9ne....The rest is commerce, plain and simple. If you feel you have to follow the commercial process (songwriting clinics etc.) then do it with your heart but there's nothing there to say it's going to put you on top of the game. It's just another way to approach it. In today's day and age, plain ol good luck is going to play a part in it too.
When I started playing in a band in the mid 60's there were only 6 bands in this small town I live in. There's well over 30 now. Times have changed and the population hasn't grown all that much.

Don't get me wrong....I think the Beatles developed into commercial genuises and I dearly love their work. However, thier first big hit in Britain "Love Me Do" could be learned by just following the song along and playing a guitar by ear. You'd have it before the song was done. The facts are, not that many were trying to do that back then. The popularity of seeking recognition and money through the veins of music using this musical group thing (or big name artist) has mushroomed into what it is today.

If you feel you have to approach it that way 9ne then that's what is going to work for you.
I know lots of people that gave their heart soul and life to the music business, songwriting clinics in Nashville, New York etc. Most of them still playing but they're also driving cab and waiting tables too. Everyone has to survive.

This ain't no Shangrila in the long run!

UNLESS! You're doing it as a hobby to escape the pressures of this turbulent old world.

Eric

If you're going to judge someone, do it on the side of mercy.