Podcasts by DIY Musician Podcast
Making music has never been easier, but building a music career today is altogether different. Finding the right audience for your music takes an entrepreneurial mindset, a lot of hard work, and a willingness to experiment. The DIY Musician Podcast features interviews with artists of all styles and backgrounds who’ve found a unique but authentic pathway to success, as well as in-depth discussions with music publicists, promoters, lawyers, publishers, talent buyers, and more. This podcast is geared towards independent musicians who want to build a sustainable music career without giving up (too much) financial or creative control. Hosts Kevin and Chris work with hundreds of thousands of artists at CD Baby, and are actively releasing and promoting their own music too; they're part of the same community they’re helping to educate and encourage with each new episode.
Further podcasts by CD Baby
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#349: Celebrating 25 Years of CD Baby! from 2023-12-02T21:33
In Episode 349 of the DIY Musician podcast, Cristina has the pleasure of sitting down with two remarkable guests, Anna Held ...
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#348: The Scenius Approach to Navigating Industry Changes from 2023-11-06T18:52
Join Cristina and Rachel as they delve into the strategies for fostering community within the DIY music market, addressing the challenges posed by industry changes. Inspired by Brian E...
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#347 - The Future of the Podcast&BARii's Odyssey from DIY Musician to Writing for The Proud Family from 2023-10-23T17:04
Cristina gives a little insight into what is next for the DIY Musician Podcast, and Jack interviews artist BARii about their incredible journey as a DIY artist turned pro-songwriter.
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#346: 8 Friends Every Musician Needs in Their Corner from 2023-09-28T19:53
Relationships are the driving force behind a successful music career. Think of a photographer who captures your essence, a marketing ...
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#345: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Instagram Ads from 2023-08-24T12:10
Running ads for your music isn't easy, no matter what the experts tell you. But it CAN be one of the best ways to reach new listeners and build a lasting audience of fans and customers. So in th...
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#344: Growing a Band into a Business (with Bombadil) from 2023-07-26T16:43
After 18 years as a band AND business, Bombadil is still going strong. In this "Artist Spotlight" episode of the DIY Musician Podcast, Cristina and Chris interview James Phillip...
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#343: A Musician's Guide to Threads from 2023-07-20T17:16
Threads is one of the fastest growing apps in history. Can musicians benefit from adopting this "carbon copy of Twitter," or is it all hype? In this episode, we ask CD Baby's Social Media expert...
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#342: Time as an Instrument (Carving Out More Moments for Your Music) from 2023-07-06T15:01
Are you struggling to find the time to make and promote your music? In this episode, Chris & Cristina discuss ways to carve out MORE time for your music amidst a busy life, and how to get more p...
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#341: Musicians, Don't Be THIS Person! from 2023-06-28T14:01
As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Sadly, music is such a public-facing endeavor that our egos are often on high-alert, which can lead to to moment...
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#340: 5 Things Musicians Get Wrong About Advertising from 2023-06-21T14:30
IF you do it right, advertising on social is one of the best ways to build an audience for your music. But so many musicians are held back by bad attitudes and misconceptions about advertising. ...
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#339: How to Reach Fans Beyond Social Media from 2023-06-15T13:21
There's no doubt, great social content can unlock so many doors in your music career. But “social” can also feel tired and impersonal, like you're shouting into the void. In this episode, Chris ...
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#338: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Making Music from 2023-06-08T19:30
Are there common struggles most young musicians face? Can they be avoided? Whether you're a new musician just starting out, or you're an experienced artist looking for a reminder on healthier wa...
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BONUS EPISODE: The Future of DIY from 2023-05-31T20:03
After 15 years of hosting this podcast, Kevin Breuner has moved on to the next adventure in his music career — but the DIY Musician Podcast will continue! What's going to change? What's going to...
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#337: My Top 6 Pieces of Advice for Artists - Kevin’s Parting Words from 2023-05-24T15:22
After 17 years at CD Baby and 15 years hosting this DIY Musician Podcast, Kevin Breuner has a big announcement: He's saying farewell to both and looking forward to a new adventure in his music c...
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#336: The INSANE Social Content Idea List for Musicians from 2023-05-18T14:15
Artists who want to promote their music online know they have to be active on social to build an audience and engage fans, but some days you just don't know what to post!
If you're stumpe...
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#335: Why Musicians Quit: And How to Avoid It! from 2023-05-09T18:15
Pursuing a music career can be incredibly challenging. As an independent musician, it's easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated. The journey is full of ups and downs, and the road ahead looks lik...
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#334: 5 New SPOTIFY Features + 5 Fun Hacks! from 2023-04-25T23:15
Spotify has launched some new tools for artists to promote their music, and in today's episode we're going to discuss how to use these new features and what they might mean for your music poromo...
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#333: Cassie Petrey - Building a Social Strategy from 2023-04-12T17:53
Whether you love it or hate it, social media is one of your best options when it comes to finding an audience for your songs and building a lasting fanbase.
In this episode, we talk with...
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#332: 15 Email Marketing Mistakes Musicians Make from 2023-04-02T23:50
Email is still the most effective online communications channel you have to market your music, drive sales, and deepen your connection with fans.
If that's statistically true (and it is)...
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#331: 5 Things Musicians Should Leave Behind in 2023 from 2023-03-09T02:38
Are you holding your own music back?
Whenever we hear an artist rationalize why they haven't achieved a certain level of success, it often seems like they're getting in their own way due...
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#330: 10 Ways to Build Anticipation for Your Music from 2023-02-27T00:58
There's too much music out there now for an average listener to care about YOUR SONGS just because they're available on streaming platforms.
That's why you need to create anticipation BE...
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#329: Releasing Music: Paid or Famous? from 2023-02-20T20:00
Would you rather earn a living from your music or gain massive reach on social and streaming?
Of course those two things don't HAVE to be at odds, but when you're towards the beginning o...
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#328: A.I. and Music - Why Musicians Should Care! from 2023-02-07T01:03
Everyone is talking about A.I. — or "artificial intelligence" — and the impact it will have on musicians and artists.
Will advanced machine-learning and information synthesis help usher i...
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#327: The Key to Making More Money from Your Music from 2023-01-27T22:14
For independent artists, the most reliable way to earn a living from music isn't streaming, social monetization, or even lucrative opportunities in sync licensing. It's merch sales!
In t...
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#326: Gamifying Your Music Promotion Using Discord from 2023-01-18T18:59
Want to bring your listeners on a journey? To send them on an adventure that goes deeper than bonus "behind the music" content? How about a multi-player RPG your fans can play together on Discor...
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#325: Releasing Music in 2023 from 2023-01-09T23:32
If you're releasing new music in 2023, of course you want it to "succeed" and reach as many listeners as possible!
But you'll need much more than checklists and rote release strategies; m...
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#324: Music Predictions for 2023 from 2023-01-04T20:58
n some ways, 2022 felt like another year on pause. In other ways, the past 12 months passed in the blink of an eye. How did music trends (and the music industry) change this year? And what are o...
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#323: Talkin' TikTok Trends - How to Use Them for Your Music Promo from 2022-12-23T05:00
TikTok is a powerful platform for music discovery; your songs and videos can reach the right new fans because of TikTok's algorithm. But did you know it's also one of the best places to find ins...
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BONUS EPISODE: Viral Success for Niche Music - How TikTok Worked for Windborne from 2022-12-14T17:41
How does niche music reach millions on TikTok? In this discussion from 2022's DIY Musician Conference, CD Baby's Chris Robley spoke with Jeremy Carter-Gordon of the vocal group Windborne.
<... Listen
#322: Breaking Into Your Local Music Scene from 2022-12-07T23:27
Whether you're new to music, new to town, or finally getting back out there after a break, it can be really beneficial to make solid connections in your own hometown before you try to conquer th...
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BONUS EPISODE: Get the Gig, Keep the Gig! from 2022-12-02T20:07
Want to know how to make yourself more desirable, marketable, and overall employable as a side-person or session musician in today's post-pandemic climate?
In this session from the 2022 ...
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#321: Everything After the Music: What Else You'll Need to Succeed from 2022-11-22T19:19
What ELSE do you need for a successful music release besides the mastered music files? A lot! Let's talk through both the big-picture and nitty-gritty things you'll want to prepare before you la...
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#320: The 5 Hardest Things About Being an Independent Musician from 2022-11-07T20:40
Let's be honest, there are some things about being an independent musician that kinda suck. There are (at least) five common personal and professional struggles that go hand-in-hand with creativ...
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#319: Musician Horror Stories from 2022-10-27T21:38
Imagine a terrifying world where you're an... independent musician. Boo!
In this spooky Halloween-themed episode, Kevin and Chris talk about musician horror stories — both the kind that ...
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#318: Getting 1,000,000 Followers on TikTok from 2022-10-20T10:03
How did an artist who'd been told NO by everyone in the industry blaze her own path to success using TikTok? In this episode, Britnee Kellogg reveals the details behind her massive achievement, ...
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#317: 8 Things New Artists Get Wrong from 2022-10-16T22:08
When recording artists are just starting out, they often overcomplicate things that are simple, and underestimate things that will be difficult. This confusion might just be a matter of inexperi...
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#316: Musician's Guide to TikTok from 2022-10-03T16:30
No matter what genre of music you make, TikTok is one of your biggest opportunities for finding fans and building an audience today. If you still feel like you're sitting on the sidelines while ...
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#315: 50 Promo Ideas in 50 Minutes from 2022-09-23T16:35:25
One of our most frequently asked questions is “How can I promote my music?” In the era of limitless opportunities for music promotion on social media, through email and with new formats like sho...
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#314: Power Up Your Music Videos from 2022-09-15T17:41:28
If you think you need to spend thousands of dollars shooting a professional looking music video just to get people to watch, think again! Short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram Ree...
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#313: 2022 DIY Musician Conference Recap&Highlights from 2022-09-07T20:53:08
With hundreds of attendees both in person and virtual, dozens of presentations from industry insiders and countless jam sessions, mentoring workshops and after parties, the 2022 DIY Musician Con...
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#312: How to Promote Your Live Shows with Bandsintown from 2022-08-19T22:35:17
Live music is officially back! If you’re an artist who plays live often, Bandsintown is an essential tool for listing and promoting your shows.From notifying fans about when you’ll be in their a...
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#311: Live Gigs: Thrive, Survive, or Die? from 2022-08-08T03:54:36
Touring and playing live can be a great way to expand your audience, sell merch and interact with your existing fans. But there are also many things that can go wrong on the road. From vehicle t...
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#310: Crafting Your Music’s Elevator Pitch from 2022-08-02T19:34:01
Before anyone ever hears your music, they need to be convinced to listen. Maybe they’re getting a recommendation from a friend or they see a cool Instagram ad or blog review. Maybe it’s an eye-c...
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#309: How Sync Licensing Can Launch Your Career from 2022-07-26T15:50:34
With Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” seeing runaway success after their placement in Stranger Things, sync licensing is back in the news. While these are c...
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#308: Successfully Releasing an Album in a Singles World from 2022-07-14T20:18:02
Even in the age of singles, there are many benefits to releasing an album. Learn why you should keep albums part of your release strategy, and how to successfully release an album.
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#307: The 2022 DIY Musician Conference Preview from 2022-07-07T23:34:36
With 60,000 new tracks released on Spotify every day, you need an advantage that will help your music rise above the noise and get noticed amidst that daily mountain of new music.You can’t leave...
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#306: 7 Ways to Feel More Confident About Your Music from 2022-06-22T18:55:08
Most people in the world don’t know what it’s like to put themselves and their ideas out into the world. There’s a level of vulnerability involved in releasing your music for others to hear. The...
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#305: 5 Ways to Ruin Your Spotify Presence from 2022-06-14T21:57:29
If your songs do well on Spotify, it means reach and revenue for your music. Sending the right signals to Spotify can lead to huge audience growth driven by personalized playlists like Discover ...
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#304: Music Marketing 101, Part 2 from 2022-06-02T18:21:39
Having a plan and using the right tools is essential to building an audience for your music.In the second part of our two-part series Music Marketing 101, you’ll learn how to market your music on s...
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#303: Music Marketing 101, Part 1 from 2022-05-25T19:07:26
Do you want music fans to hear your music, love it and stick with you for life? Of course! But that doesn’t happen automatically.It takes marketing to achieve this goal. And not just marketing, but...
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#302: 31 Music Revenue Sources from 2022-05-17T22:37:47
Are you looking to make more money from your music? Of course! We all are.The good news is there are more revenue streams for artists out there today than there have ever been. But most artists ...
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#301: The RIGHT Way to Do a Cover Song from 2022-05-11T14:59:39
Cover songs can be an amazing way for you to build an audience and reach new fans, but there are some right and wrong ways to do them. We’ll show you how to choose the best cover songs for diffe...
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#300: The Indie Revolution Continues! from 2022-05-04T16:08:43
The DIY musician podcast has been going strong for 15 years, and this is our 300th episode! This episode is a celebration of the amazing independent artists that make up now-massive segments of the...
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#299: Adam Ezra - Making $200,000 From Your Artist Website from 2022-04-20T17:08:52
Growing and maintaining a sustainable music career is always a hot topic, especially as opportunities around music monetization continue to evolve. While some artists express frustration regardi...
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#298: Promote Your Music with Videos That ACTUALLY Go Viral from 2022-04-12T20:20:13
If you’re not promoting your music with short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, you’re missing out on a major opportunity to grow your audience. And while everyone wants to ...
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#297: How to Find Your First True Fans from 2022-04-06T13:26:06
Whether you’re just starting out or it’s been a while since you’ve released new music, it’s important to find real, true fans. These are people who love your music for what it is, not because they ...
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#296: How to Book Gigs in 2022 from 2022-03-29T21:03:58
Real, live, in-person gigs are finally happening again! That means you should start thinking about getting back out on the road and on stage. But what if it’s your first time out, or your first ...
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#295: The Post-Pandemic Plan for Musicians from 2022-03-16T18:40:40
After two years of false starts and canceled tours, it’s finally time to plan for a post-pandemic music career. But with so many changes in the music industry, how do you get back on track? We’l...
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#294: Before You Remove Your Music From Streaming, Listen to This! from 2022-03-08T22:49:19
You’ve likely seen some famous artists announcing they’re removing their music from streaming platforms like Spotify. These major artists can have an equally major influence on the music industr...
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#293: NFTs for Musicians, Pt 2 from 2022-03-02T17:58:35
#292: NFTs for Musicians, Pt 1 from 2022-02-22T23:32:47
NFTs have been hyped as digital collectibles; as a way of building community; as a new format that could potentially revolutionize the music industry; as a way to return value directly to artist...
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#291: Making an impact with cover art from 2022-02-16T00:08:02
The cover art for your single or album is one of the first points of contact that you have with your listeners, so it’s important to make a compelling first impression. After all, your cover art wo...
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#290: What every artist needs to know about mechanical royalties from 2022-02-09T00:48:13
What are mechanical royalties and how do you get them? If your music is not listed with the MLC, you’re missing out on mechanical royalties you’ve earned. That’s YOUR money! So how do you collec...
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#289: 10 creative challenges to get you out of your songwriting rut from 2022-02-01T22:54:35
Writer’s block happens to everyone, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t frustrating when you’re trying to create and coming up blank. If you’ve found yourself in a songwriting slump, try these fun ch...
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#288: Is social media dead for musicians? from 2022-01-26T18:23:47
When it comes to sustaining your music career, is social media… Dead? Dying? A zombie? Still the greatest tool we have, even though it’s killing our souls one post or doomscroll at a time? In th...
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#287: The new rules for cover art from 2022-01-18T23:29:32
#286: Music predictions for 2022 from 2022-01-10T22:21:34
#285: What independent musicians can learn from The Beatles' Get Back from 2021-12-29T18:04:14
It may feel like there are few applicable lessons to learn from the unrivaled career of The Beatles. They were icons. They were giants. They were... mere mortals? Yep. Humans, just like the rest...
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#284: Releasing music for the first time from 2021-12-20T21:13:40
#283: Bryan Ewald: Artist endorsements and diversifying revenue from 2021-11-30T19:45:04
Even megastars "piece it together." Ticket sales, merch, streaming, publishing, appearances, sponsorships, the list goes on. But how can a DIY musician earn a living via a diversified revenue st...
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#282: Band Vs. Solo Artist - How You Make Decisions from 2021-11-22T17:49:58
#281: E-commerce 101 for musicians from 2021-10-28T04:41:16
#280: Jackie Venson - Adapting for success from 2021-10-20T16:38:47
In this episode, which was recorded at the 2021 virtual DIY Musician Conference, Jackie Venson details how she adapted for continued success during the uncertain times brought on by the pandemic...
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#279: Productivity hacks for musicians from 2021-09-10T17:47:28
#278: 10 music videos you should be making right now from 2021-08-17T22:51:02
#277: Tips for getting back on the stage in 2021 from 2021-07-18T00:57:19
#276: How I grew my Spotify monthly listeners over 2,000%! from 2021-06-21T19:37:12
#275: How you know when you're ready? from 2021-06-01T20:40:33
#274: Create the perfect release plan from 2021-05-10T16:52:03
#273: 6 Music Trends that are wasting your time from 2021-04-07T18:51:33
#272: The state of music streaming from 2021-03-11T19:35:51
The State of Streaming: CD Baby artist's revenue increased 26% in 2020 over the previous year. What music platforms drove the most revenue? What does today's fractured listening environment mean...
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#271: Musicians guide to YouTube from 2021-02-19T19:46:16
Can musicians succeed on YouTube if they're not "YouTubers?" Yes, though there are many lessons musicians should learn from creators who use YouTube as it's intended — managing a video channel w...
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#270: What every artist is asking from 2021-02-03T18:57:02
Every musician's path is unique, but a lot of times we're all wondering the same thing. How to reach new listeners during a pandemic? How to make sure our single releases build towards the album...
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#269: Getting your music promotion in order for 2021 from 2021-01-13T17:53:48
It's a new year with many challenges still facing artist as they try to connect with music fans during a global pandemic. Take heart! Indie artists have always lead the charge when it comes to m...
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#268: How to release your music in 2021 from 2020-12-03T23:03:44
The way artists release music completely changed in 2020. As we approach 2021, artists are asking what is the right balance between singles and albums? How do you target and engage new listeners...
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#267: Cheryl B. Engelhardt - Organizing your fans to reach a goal from 2020-11-17T18:03:12
Whether you're launching a new album, promoting a livestream, or trying to shoot for something bigger like a Grammy nomination, getting your fans onboard can be a challenge. In this episode you'...
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#266: Preparing for the 2020 holiday release season from 2020-10-30T19:13:19
#265: How artists make money from sync licensing from 2020-10-08T19:40:07
Sync licensing has grown into a huge opportunity for indie musicians to gain listeners and earn money. That's increasingly true for thousands of CD Baby clients whose songs have been licensed to...
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#264: Live-streaming on Facebook (Musicians, DON’T panic!!!) from 2020-09-26T05:39:03
The internet exploded with news that Facebook was no longer going to allow artists to livestream on the platform. Fortunately, that information was completely false. However, on this episode of ...
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#263: How to deal with failure and rejection from 2020-09-10T23:30:16
Let’s get real for a sec: Musicians are well acquainted with rejection and failure. But we don’t want to admit it, do we? In this podcast episode, Kevin and Chris talk about the kinds of rejecti...
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DIY Musician Stories Ep 05: Birds of Chicago from 2020-09-01T20:43:51
Birds of Chicago are a husband and wife folk/soul duo based in Nashville, TN.
In this episode of the DIY Musician
#262: Getting attention with online advertising from 2020-08-26T22:14:14
Few people are going to notice your music simply because you've made it. You have to do something ELSE to get attention, and online advertising opens up an affordable way to create awareness, st...
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#261: What musicians need to know about Instagram Reels from 2020-08-21T04:54:16
Musicians, it's time to get Reel. Instagram Reels — Instagram's answer to TikTok — is now available, and your music can be there too! In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss the features of Ins...
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DIY Musician Stories Ep 04: Maya de Vitry from 2020-08-12T22:33:12
Maya de Vitry is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
In this episode Maya tells us about Listen
#260: Creating videos for 2020 and beyond from 2020-08-12T17:25:09
DIY Musician Stories Ep 03: Mary Gauthier from 2020-07-29T18:07:10
Mary Gauthier is a Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter who has struck a balance between her own artistry and penning songs for singers such as Blake Shelton a...
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DIY Musician Stories Ep 02: Amythyst Kiah from 2020-07-27T18:38:05
Singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah is a solo artist, and can be heard alongside Layla McCalla, Allison Russell and Rhiannon Giddens in the Grammy nominated project Our Native Daughters. In this epi...
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#259: 10 Strategies for releasing a single in 2020 from 2020-07-27T15:49:13
It’s time to rethink the way you release singles. Standalone tracks are no longer SOLELY tied to larger album promo efforts. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss 10 strategies for releasing ...
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DIY Musician Stories Ep 01: Misty Boyce from 2020-07-14T23:30:24
Misty Boyce is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She is part of Sara Bareilles and Lord Huron’s band, and has an incredible solo ...
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#258: Taking your live-stream to the next level! from 2020-06-10T21:29:30
With so many artists turning to live-streaming, it’s time to ensure you stand out from the rest a...
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#257: Live-stream success pt 2 - Henry Invisible from 2020-05-26T05:07:32
On this episode of the podcast, Kevin chats with Henry Invisible to discuss how he’s using live-stre...
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#256: Live-stream success pt 1 - Dawn Beyer from 2020-05-17T20:38:43
#255: The truth about live-streaming! from 2020-04-30T21:39:12
Is your social feed crowded with seemingly every musician on the planet "going ...
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#254: Important news you might have missed from 2020-04-14T18:48
You might have missed some important music industry news during the COV...
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#253: What's the difference between This and That? from 2020-04-01T23:45:26
There are seven things that many musicians get mixed up — publishers an...
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#252: What to do when your tour gets canceled from 2020-03-19T04:01:39
What do you do when a gig or tour is cancelled? Touring musicians are facing a time of uncertainty and financial sacrifice as the Coronavirus pandemic has lead to many public gatherings being po...
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#251: 7 tips for pitching your music from 2020-02-28T21:32:30
Whether you want a gig, playlist placement, or press opportunity, y...
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#250: Social media marketing hacks from 2020-02-24T00:00:29
#249: Evolving with the music business from 2020-02-12T16:30:16
The music business is constantly evolving. Streaming dominates. Mark...
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#248: TikTok 101 for musicians from 2020-02-07T17:04:43
TikTok has more than half a billion acti...
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#247: Dave Cool - Building a compelling artist website from 2020-02-04T00:30:46
Having your own pro website is even MORE important in an age where fa...
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#246: Starting your music career from the beginning from 2020-01-14T17:58:02
First time releasing music? Returning to music after a hiat...
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#245: Merch sales and your music career from 2019-12-23T21:41:54
What kind of merch is selling in the streaming era? How do you experiment with...
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#244: How to monetize your Instagram from 2019-12-14T18:03:52
With over 600 million users on Instagram ...
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#243: What record companies don't want you to know from 2019-11-27T22:52:23
"Everything about my music career will get better, easier, bigger, once I'm o...
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#242: 5 things you need to know about mastering that have nothing to do with audio engineering from 2019-11-01T20:04:22
Music mastering can be the mysterious and stressful punctuation at the end of you...
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#241: Building a story into your marketing plan from 2019-10-11T16:14:31
Musicians are natural storytellers, but for some reason we don't apply that...
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#240: Target audiences - How to dominate in a niche market from 2019-09-27T22:02:55
The world’s most successful artists, brands, and companies have one thing in commo...
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#239: 7 things we just learned about pursuing a music career from 2019-09-12T18:07:16
#238: DIY Musician Podcast Live – Crowdfunding is dead. What's next? from 2019-08-28T17:34:57
Once upon a time crowd funding (or fan funding) offered artists the illusion of m...
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#237: 6 months of music news in 60 minutes from 2019-08-06T23:25:10
Catch up on the first half of 2019's big music stories in le...
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#236: The 7 most important things to know about distribution in the streaming era from 2019-07-20T05:50:34
Musicians make a lot of assumptions about what it means to "distribute" a track ...
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#235: 5 things that can crush the soul of musicians (and how to avoid them) from 2019-07-03T22:12:38
A life in music is full of high highs and low lows — but being down doesn't me...
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#234: The 2019 DIY Musician Conference preview from 2019-06-19T21:08:45
3 days could change the course of your whole music career. In...
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#233: Building a powerful setlist from 2019-06-10T16:42:55
Are listeners leaning in at your gigs, or are they tuning you out? There are ...
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#232: Before you choose your artist or band name, listen to this! from 2019-05-28T22:40:30
Good band names are hard to...
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#231: Creating a livestream experience with your fans from 2019-05-05T22:12:59
Live-streaming gives you as a DIY musician a consistent, low-cost way to r...
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#230: Have your say - what musicians want to know pt 2! from 2019-04-25T19:27:04
In this listener feedback episode, Kevin and Chris answer emails and calls fr...
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#229: How to build your list and make a profit giving away your music from 2019-04-15T23:54:07
In this live taping of the DIY Musician Podcast, CD Baby’s Kevin ...
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#228: How to find a producer that won't drive you mad from 2019-03-13T14:21:23
A good producer can turn your songs into masterpieces. But a bad producer can rui...
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#226: The new way to market you music! from 2019-01-30T21:46:44
At CD Baby, we are always looking for new and innovative ways for artists to...
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#225: 25 ways you're sabotaging your music career from 2019-01-15T17:21:19
Are you standing in the way of your own success? In this episode Kevin and Chris talk...
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#224: Have your say, Pt 2 — what MORE musicians want to know… from 2018-12-17T16:51:54
As we close out 2018, we have another episode dedicated (mostly)...
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#223: Have your say - what musicians want to know! from 2018-12-03T17:07:33
Our listeners ask great questions, so we thought we'd do a whole episode taking calls a...
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#222: Tips to promote your music in the holiday season (2018 edition) from 2018-11-22T21:25:26
#221: 8 music myths you need to leave behind from 2018-11-13T12:55:37
Time to say goodbye to a few false assumptions that have been holding you back! The m...
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#220: The right way to do cover songs from 2018-10-29T05:22:10
Do "real" artists do cover songs? What kind of songs should y...
#219: Kristen Ford - How to tour Europe without a booking agent or label from 2018-10-12T16:16:01
The European market has a rich live-music tradit...
#218: Everything you need to sell and stream your music online from 2018-10-06T19:12:27
Once you've finished recording your new...
#217: DIY Musician Podcast Live! – Successful release strategies in a streaming world from 2018-09-29T18:18:57
Streaming has opened up new opportunities for artists to get creative with the way they release music. What strategies actually work? How can you ensure your album release has maximum impact? In th...
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#216: Marketing music with Instagram and Instagram Stories from 2018-09-21T16:22:18
The way musicians — heck, the way ANYONE uses Instagram today — is very different from how we used it years ago. Whether you’ve been marketing your music on Instagram for years or you’re brand new ...
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#215: 8 takeaways from the 2018 DIY Musician Conference from 2018-09-06T10:57:56
Whether you were at the 2018 DIY Musician Conference in Nashville, missed out, or didn’t even know it existed, Kevin and Chris talk about 8 lessons learned at the event, and how they apply to...
#214: The truth about Spotify playlists, Pt 2 from 2018-07-22T21:56:25
Let’s get beyond the basics of Spotify playlists. How do you determine which playlists will actually make a difference for your career? How do you find them, hunt down the contact info of the curat...
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#213: The truth about Spotify playlists, Pt 1 from 2018-07-07T17:40:11
Rethinking everything you know about Spotify playlists means you have to revisit your assumptions. In this first of a two-part series, Kevin and Chris talk through the foundations of a playlisting....
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#212: Promoting a new release – What we tried! from 2018-06-12T16:03:53
There are a million ways to promote a new release. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss some of the things they’ve tried with their new music to reach listeners and amplify that interaction —.....
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#211: DIY Musician Podcast Live! – Everything you need to forget about the music business from 2018-05-25T21:51:03
The old ways and myths are strong. And many musicians are still making important decisions for their careers based on outdated practices and false assumptions. In this episode, taped in front of a....
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#210: Heather Ellis – Marketing music with Pandora AMP from 2018-05-04T18:24:15
Are you use Pandora AMP? It’s a no-brainer; DIY musicians should absolutely take advantage of these powerful (free) features of Pandora’s streaming service, particularly the Artist Audio...
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#209: DIY Musician Podcast Live! – The new rules of social media from 2018-04-27T18:42:06
Have you been wasting your time on social media? Online tools and trends are constantly changing. In this live taping of CD Baby’s DIY Musician Podcast, Kevin Breuner and Chris Robley will discuss....
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#208: Cheryl Engelhardt – 30 emails to automate your fan list from 2018-04-08T20:59:52
If you’re like most artists, you’ve been collecting fan emails to build that coveted email list. However, once you build that list, it’s hard to figure out what to send so your emails continue to.....
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#207: 5 ways to ruin a press opportunity from 2018-03-15T17:15:18
As musicians, we work hard to get press coverage. But when the moment arrives, we sometimes squander the opportunity, or worse, let it go completely off the rails. In this episode, Kevin and Chris....
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#206: Suzanne Paulinski – Time management for musicians from 2018-02-23T20:24:55
Independent musicians today have LESS time and MORE responsibilities. Plus, we can waste a lot of hours just daydreaming. How do you juggle all the DIY tasks without dropping the ball or wandering....
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#205: More money and more credit – Good news for songwriters! from 2018-02-15T23:38:47
Artists that create original music will make more money from on-demand streaming over the next five years. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss two recent wins for songwriters in the world of.....
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#204: Better music marketing with Show.co from 2018-01-22T20:23:32
Show.co’s music marketing tools make it easy for you to create online campaigns that will get your fans to take specific actions. But the effectiveness of these tools is directly related to the...<...
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#203: 3 methods of successful tour booking and tour management from 2018-01-16T00:58:29
Getting gigs and building out a tour is always a challenge for indie musicians. In this episode, Craig Grossman talks about how to utilize three proven methods for networking, contacting venues, an...
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#202: The indie musician’s place in 2018 from 2017-12-20T20:10:36
What opportunities and challenges lie ahead for independent musicians in 2018, and what lessons can they carry forward from the past year? In this episode, Kevin and Chris do some soul searching, a...
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#201: Owning your YouTube audience from 2017-12-18T05:19:17
Want to know how to grow your YouTube channel and increase audience interaction? In this session recorded at the 2017 DIY Musician Conference, YouTube’s Ted Kartzman chats with Hip Hop artist Illma...
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#200: Before you release your next single, listen to this episode! from 2017-12-06T18:40:58
Releasing singles is arguably more important for artists today than any time since the 1960s. But is there a RIGHT way to release a single? In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about five key...<...
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#199: Holiday promotion tips and tricks for 2017 from 2017-11-22T19:36:09
It’s not too late for your music to get a bump from the holiday season’s dependable spike in streaming, YouTube, and music-buying activity. Are you and your songs ready? In this episode, Kevin and....
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#198: 3 Things that will hurt your music on Spotify from 2017-11-03T23:18:40
Streaming success often involves bucking conventional music industry wisdom. Are bad habits holding you back on Spotify? In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about common areas where artists are.....
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#197: Rick Barker – Earning $74,000 using Facebook Live from 2017-10-27T23:00:02
The tools are there for you to monetize with Live Streaming! See what Dawn Beyer did to make over $74,000 in one year using FB Live and how you can too. Walk away with a clear understanding of how ...
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#196: How to prepare your music for a successful release from 2017-09-22T18:44:46
There’s a big difference between making your music available and making your music connect. Thousands of new albums and singles are being “released” every day. But how do you make...
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#195: Our 5 takeaways from the 2017 DIY Musician Con from 2017-09-13T09:23:10
“I feel like I got $1000+ worth of information at the DIY Musician Conference,” said guitarist Lance Allen. If you weren’t with us in Nashville, we can’t give you a time...
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#194: Why you never need to tour…EVER! (A Live Podcast) from 2017-08-29T22:39:12
“How can I build a successful career without going on tour?” That’s one question we get asked a lot on the DIY Musician Podcast. Whether your travels are limited by a job, a family, or a disdain f...
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#193: The 2017 DIY Musician Conference preview + more! from 2017-08-20T05:44:45
What can artists learn and experience at 2017’s DIY Musician Conference in Nashville? In this episode, Kevin and Chris give a detailed conference preview to help you plan your trip. Plus Soundclou...
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#192: Fake artist controversy and real artist questions from 2017-07-25T22:50:22
Spotify’s recent “fake artist” issue: a real streaming rights conspiracy, or a whole lot of nothing? Who gets to decide what a “real artist” is anyway? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk throu...
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#191: Music streaming myths debunked from 2017-07-10T03:06:30
Many of the things you’ve probably heard about music streaming are wrong, yet those myths persist. Why? In this episode, Kevin and Chris debunk some of the prevalent music streaming myths, try to ...
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#190: 5 music branding lessons from Third Man Records from 2017-06-28T19:28:31
Are you making a clear and powerful impression with your music releases, career choices, merch, visuals, and shows? In this episode, Chris and Kevin discuss five things they learned about artist b...
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#189: Cathy Heller – Turning musical inspiration into focused action from 2017-06-03T19:40:49
Kevin last spoke to Cathy on Episode #169 of the podcast where she detailed the opportunities in the world of sync licensing for independent artists. That episode garnered a lot of positive feedba...
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#188: Why you’re not making any money from your music from 2017-05-26T18:37:05
There’s a good reason why “poor musician” jokes abound: we aren’t known — by and large — for our financial acumen. Have you found yourself complaining about not making any money in this biz? Well,...
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#187: How to use Facebook Live to get results from 2017-05-14T23:47:55
Anyone can point a smartphone and hit the Facebook Live button. But can you put on a real SHOW through Facebook Live? IN this episode, Kevin talks with Wade Sutton and Amanda Jones about how they ...
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#186: Jim Jesse – Copyright and music law for indie musicians from 2017-05-05T20:18:55
What rights are you entitled to when you create original music? WHY and HOW should you copyright your music? What happens if you don’t properly register your copyrights with the Library of Congres...
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#185: Is your age an obstacle to music success? from 2017-04-24T16:12:38
Yes, the entertainment industry is obsessed with newness and youth, but your age doesn’t have to be an obstacle to success. In fact, if you play it right, your history can be an asset. In this epi...
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#184: Jack Conte – How to get fans from 2017-04-04T17:27:06
The biggest thing holding your music back might be YOU! In this episode you’ll hear Jack Conte (of the band Pomplamoose) talk about the importance of creative momentum, the crippling effect of pre...
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#183: How to get your music career started from 2017-03-16T23:20:57
You’ve finished your first recording, but how do you turn that into the start of an actual music career? In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss the essential steps you should take to begin (or r...
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#182: 60 ideas in 60 minutes from 2017-02-23T23:48:13
Recorded live at the 2016 DIY Musician Conference with Tony van Veen, Karen Marie Mason, Bob Baker, Martin Atkins, Chris Robley and Mark Hornsby. A solid hour of 60 quick tips on marketing, social...
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#181: How to get your music on Spotify playlists, Pt 2 from 2017-02-13T17:18:17
The first step in establishing a playlisting presence on Spotify is to create your own playlists, seed them with your own music, and attract followers. But what works? What’s a waste of time? How ...
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#180: How to get your music on Spotify playlists, Pt 1 from 2017-02-01T19:01:59
Getting your music onto a popular Spotify playlist is the modern-day equivalent of having a hit song in a local radio market. It’s an important step in reaching a larger following, and it can driv...
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#179: How I got 50,000 views in 3 days from 2017-01-24T00:30:18
Checking the data — it’s probably NOT the most inspiring aspect of your music career, right? But the key to success could be waiting just below the surface of those daily reports and analytics. Yo...
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#178: Your questions and our answers from 2016-12-23T06:51:44
We love getting listener feedback, whether it comes in on our listener line, by email, or in comments and tweets. As 2016 nears its close, Kevin and Chris use this final episode of the year to ans...
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#177: Musician’s guide to conquering the holidays from 2016-11-23T23:51:41
“Christmas time is here again,” as the Beatles once sang, bringing with it a huge spike in music sales, streaming activity, concert opportunities, YouTube ad revenue, tablet and smartphone purchas...
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