Legendary singer-songwriter John Ondrasik — known to millions as Five for Fighting — has been telling conservatives something simple but brutal: if you want to win hearts, make something that deserves to be loved. He earned that credibility with arena-sized hits and a long career writing songs that connect with everyday Americans, so when he talks about craft it’s worth listening.
Ondrasik’s background as a mainstream, commercially successful artist gives weight to his advice. He’s not a partisan hack; he’s a professional who has spoken publicly about using music to move people and even about taking stands on real-world events, which proves he understands both art and the power of message.
What he’s warning conservatives against is exactly what’s been killing our cultural influence: cheap political branding dressed up as art. Conservatives too often produce didactic, one-note work that preaches to the choir instead of making something that stands on its own merits and reaches people who don’t already agree with us.
The left has dominated the arts because they perfected the playbook: fund it, flood the institutions, and normalize their message until it feels inevitable. That doesn’t mean conservatives can’t win — it means we have to stop whining about censorship and start making better movies, better music, better novels that move people instead of turning them off.
Big tech and cultural gatekeepers do try to shut down dissenting voices, and Ondrasik’s own clashes with platforms show how quickly creators can be muzzled for stepping on the right toes. That makes quality even more important; great art breaks through censorship because it’s wanted, demanded, and shared by real audiences.
So what should conservative artists do? Master your craft relentlessly, tell human stories rooted in timeless truths, and refuse the temptation to let every piece become a political pamphlet. Invest time, money, and energy in institutions that train, promote, and showcase conservative talent so our message can be carried by excellence rather than grievance.
This is a call to action for patriots who care about the future of our culture: stop delegitimizing our cause by producing second-rate propaganda and start producing work that earns applause from neighbors, not just nods from allies. Do the hard work, make it great, and the rest — audiences, influence, and ultimately victory in culture — will follow.
