A pie chart is a common business tool used to show how something is divided. The secret to success in the music business is understanding that there are several areas that an artist must be proficient in. In other words there are many pieces to the pie and having an incomplete pie reduces small odds of success, to virtually no chance of success. I compare it to trying to win the lottery. Well the pieces may vary a little if you are working towards a publishing deal verses getting a record contract but essentially they are the same other than performance abilities.
Lets break the pie up and talk about each slice.
This one is easy, you have to have it. You have to have good material and you must be able to perform the material well. I will not dwell on this one, not that it is less important than the other parts of the pie, but talent generally gets allot of focus by the artists while other parts of the pie don't get the focus required for success. It is important to realize that talent alone and a buck will only get you a cup of coffee. Businesses exist to make money and a profit.