Podcasts by Music Business Hacks
A music business show made for artists who are looking for clear information, inspiration, and application for their careers. Ideas are broken down into steps that musicians can use to advance their career. The show is written and hosted by Simon Tam, an industry professional who is the founder of The Slants Foundation, author of multiple books, and longtime mentor/speaker at SXSW, the DIY Musician Conference, and other major events.
Further podcasts by Simon Tam
Podcast on the topic Darstellende Kunst
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#397: When to go Against the Grain from 2022-03-14T17:57:56
It seems almost everyone is in Austin right now for SXSW...and that's a good reminder that sometimes it can be beneficial to go against the grain. When trends, movement, or industries all appear...
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#396: How to Create a Tour Budget from 2022-03-07T18:56:38
If you're thinking about going on tour, you'll want to listen to this episode first.
Resources:
On Merchandise:
Episode 26: Listen
#395: How to Create Demand for Your Music Through Momentum from 2022-02-28T23:52:27
Do ever notice how sometimes the press can't stop talking about certain artists? Have you experienced times when you felt unstoppable creatively? Or have you ever struggled to get something star...
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#394: How to Build a Better Team from 2022-02-21T18:29:15
Whether you are looking for band members, a team to help the business aspects of your career, or a producer, it is important to have the right process in place so that you can get the most out o...
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#393: Continuous Improvement Methodology and Music from 2022-02-14T13:37:51
How can a business efficiency practice designed for factories be used and adapted for musicians looking to advance their career? Today, we talk about continuous improvement methodology and how t...
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#392: Spotify, The Long Tail, and Is Music in Trouble? from 2022-02-07T16:31:26
There's a lot of talk about Spotify these days: whether it is creating a disservice to musicians, how it is impacting the music industry at large, and whether it is worth it to dance with them. ...
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#391: Write a Better Story from 2022-01-31T18:47:08
Most artists understand that storytelling is an essential skill for developing better lyrics. Some also know that it can help with writing a stronger biography as well. However, we can apply the...
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#390: Artist Infrastructure Checklist from 2022-01-24T18:49:26
Infrastructure is important for organizations and communities to thrive. What about artist infrastructure? Today, I talk about the supports that you need so that you'll be able to leverage big m...
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#389 - How to Negotiate Better Pay for Your Shows from 2022-01-17T18:41:40
Negotiation is a critical skill for artists to develop a sustainable career yet so few make the time or effort to grow in this area. Today, we'll talk about how you can negotiate for a guarantee...
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#388: Predictions for an Uncertain Music Industry from 2022-01-10T18:34:59
Today, we're discussing what you can expect from the music industry in 2022. There's no doubt that there are many changes on the horizon, but here's what you can do to prepare and make the most ...
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#387 - How to Make a Lasting Impact and Have a Music Career That Lasts from 2021-08-30T15:43:30
Today's episode is taken from a workshop I recently delivered through my nonprofit organization that serves Asian American artists, Listen
#386 - SXSW Application Tips and Other Music Industry Festivals from 2021-08-23T15:33:04
The early deadline for SXSW artist applications is coming up. Today, we discuss best practices for applying to SXSW and other major music festivals. Also, I have a special announcement regarding...
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#385 - Is It Really a Long Way to the Top? from 2021-08-02T15:19
It's sometimes hard to put long-range goals into perspective when we're considering the many means of getting to them: touring, social media, list building, licensing, music industry trends, for...
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#384 - How to Make Your Career Resilient and "Future Proof" from 2021-07-12T18:10:53
The music industry is an ever-evolving landscape that is often adapting to changes in technology, the law, and how people consume music. However, artists often don't adapt to these changes well ...
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#383 - How to be More Productive from 2021-06-11T15:54:04
Do you wonder how you can get more stuff done? Today, I share some personal strategies for making more progress in your music career each day.
Resources:
Episode #...
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#382 - How You Can Create a Pandemic-Proof Career from 2021-05-13T21:09:54
Today, I'm speaking with Danielle Tucker, the leading force behind the Pandemic-Proof Singer Summit, a free 3-da...
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#381 - The Real Business Artists Are Actually In from 2021-05-12T20:26:36
Have you ever thought about what business you're in? The "music business" is too broad of a term and doesn't really define your activities or what can actually sustain your career. When you unde...
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#380 - How Artists Can Optimize Their Website (Stacey Bedford, CEO of Bandzoogle) from 2021-04-22T17:45:39
Today's interview is with Stacey Bedform, CEO of Bandzoogle. It was inspired by an article that she wrote for the Industry Observer, Listen
#379 - Wendy Parr on The Power of Artist Authenticity from 2021-04-14T13:30:37
Today's episode is a fireside chat with one of the most sought after vocal and artist coaches, Wendy Parr. We talk about the transformative power of finding your authentic artist voice. It was h...
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#378 - How to Multiply Your Content from 2021-04-05T18:31:41
You've written a song. Maybe you even released it. But how can you multiply its reach and its earning potential?
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#377 - What Artists Should Focus On When Starting Out from 2021-03-15T18:08:34
With so much information out there for artists, newer and lesser established musicians often have trouble deciding on what is most important to focus on. Today, I speak with two younger artists ...
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#376 - How Differentiation Makes the Difference from 2021-03-08T18:53:42
When it comes to your music or how you present yourself, what makes you unique? How can you approach your songwriting, marketing/communications, and your audiences with the mindset of differenti...
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#375 - The Return of In-Person Concerts from 2021-03-01T13:00:45
I'm making a few predictions for how/when live, in-person music shows will return. If you want to be set for performances, then you better be prepared!
Resources & Related Episod... Listen
#374 - Algorithm or Audience? from 2021-02-22T16:22:20
Algorithm, the great hidden gatekeeper, has fundamentally shifted the music industry: think about how many artists are now releasing singles instead of albums because they think it favors discov...
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#373 - How Eddie Lam is Winning at TikTok from 2021-02-08T18:55:21
This week, I speak with Eddie Lam, a musician in Vancouver, BC who has been able to see huge growth in his social media metrics by leveraging the native attributes in TikTok. But more than that,...
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#372 - TikTok, Twitch,&Clubhouse for Musicians from 2021-02-01T19:01:17
There are new social media sites popping up all the time and some rise to the surface more than others. Most recently, people have been swarming over TikTok, Twitch, and Clubhouse. In today's ep...
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#371 – Scaling Up pt. 4: Final Lessons from Coaching 3 Artists from 2021-01-19T18:30:22
Welcome back to the Music Business Hacks podcast!
We close out season 2 with final learnings from the DIY Musician Accelerator Program/Scaling Up series before launching a new series of c...
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How 3 Artists Doubled Their Social Media Following from 2020-09-22T19:28:46
This year, CD Baby and The Slants Foundation launched a six month mentorship program for three lucky artists. Join me along with the selected artists Aspen Jacobsen, Darro, and Maxximo to see ho...
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In Between Episodes – Aspen Jacobsen 3 from 2020-05-09T14:00:50
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
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In Between Episodes – Maxximo 3 from 2020-05-06T14:00:47
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
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In Between Episodes – Darro 3 from 2020-05-03T21:07:18
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
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#370 - Scaling Up pt. 3: Music Marketing That Works from 2020-04-27T13:00:58
This season, we’re partnering up with CD Baby to provide six months of mentoring and coaching to three artists in different genres and different stages of their career. You’ll get insights as to...
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In Between Episodes - Darro 2 from 2020-04-21T13:00:05
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
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In Between Episodes - Maxximo 2 from 2020-04-19T00:12:38
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
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#369 - Scaling Up pt. 2: Pandemic Pushups and the Power of Focus from 2020-04-10T13:00:38
This season, we’re partnering up with CD Baby to provide six months of mentoring and coaching to three artists in different genres and different stages of their career. You’ll get insights as to...
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In Between Episodes: Full Call with Darro from 2020-04-02T15:00:54
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I'm providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
Listen
In Between Episodes: Full Call with Maxximo from 2020-03-30T19:52:13
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I'm providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversatio...
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#368 - Scaling Up pt. 1: The House of Music from 2020-03-21T20:24:17
This season, we're partnering up with CD Baby to provide six months of mentoring and coaching to three artists in different genres and different stages of their career. You'll get insights as to...
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#367 - Surviving as a Touring Artist in the Age of Coronavirus from 2020-03-12T14:33:40
Today, I wanted to address current concerns as touring performer with the current global pandemic. How do we respond to numerous event cancellations and uncertainty about the near future? Are th...
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#366 - Season 2: Music Business Hacks That Scale from 2020-03-06T01:51:09
I'm proud to announce Season 2 of the Music Business Hacks podcast.
This time, we're taking a slightly different approach. Instead of having a daily show, we'll be following the career of...
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The DIY Musician Accelerator Program from 2020-01-21T02:22:11
I'm so excited to announce this new joint venture between CD Baby and my new nonprofit, The Slants Foundation: The DIY Musician Accelerator Program.
#365 - One Year of Music Business Hacks from 2019-09-14T14:00:02
It's our final episode!
Today, I reflect on the lessons learned from our journey of one year of music business hacks together.
Follow me on tour: www.theslants.com
Stay in t...
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#363 - Learning Hacks From Other Artists from 2019-08-22T14:43:34
In today's episode, we talk about how you can learn best practices from other artists in a way that fits your own music business strategy. Do you have guidelines? SMARTER goals? These can provid...
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#362 - Interview: Touring for One Year Straight in an RV with Ellisa Sun from 2019-08-21T22:25:55
Today's interview is with Ellisa Sun.
“Ellisa Sun is a force of nature.” (KFOG) She cuts out her heart and leaves it on the stage—which is why she never wears white.<...
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#361 - Interview: Crushin it with Camp Crush: Hustlin' Kids and Instagram Hacks from 2019-08-21T19:49:10
Today's interview is with Camp Crush.
Seeing Camp Crush live is like watching two people fall in love in front of you. And it’s true - the band was b...
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#360 - Interview: Using Memes and Humor with Blank Face Villain from 2019-08-20T22:59:39
This is Blank Face Villain's self-written bio:
"Ay fam, it's cha main man Blank Face Villain AKA BFV AKA yung jimmy AKA 2Uncrustables. I play too many instruments. I've torrented a ...
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#359 - DIY Musician Con pt 2: Social Media Hacks That Defy Trends from 2019-08-17T20:04:05
Today's audio is from my session at the DIY Musician Con.
We all understand that social media is an essential part of an artist’s career but there are very few resources on how to do it w...
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#358 - DIY Musician Con pt 1: How to Dominate in a Niche Market from 2019-08-17T01:29:17
Today's episode is from my presentation at the 2019 DIY Musician Conference.
The world’s most successful artists, brands, and companies have one thing in common: They understand the...
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#357 - Interview: How to be an Unstarving Musician with Robonzo from 2019-08-15T14:00:31
About Robonzo:
Roberto R. Hernandez (aka Robonzo) is a part-time professional drummer and vocalist, who performs with multiple bands throughout the course of any gi...
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#356 - Interview: Diving Into the World of K-Pop with ESAE from 2019-08-14T23:10:58
ESAE is a self-taught producer, singer, and artist based in Los Angeles and Orange County. ESAE (pronounced ee-say) is derived from the first two syllables of her Korean name, and means se...
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#355 - Improving Your Interview Skills pt 2 (How to Be a Better Interviewer) from 2019-08-14T22:27:52
Yesterday, we focused entirely on how to be a better interviewee. Today, I want you to think about what it's like to be on the other side of the questions.
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#354 - Improving Your Interview Skills pt 1 from 2019-08-12T22:39:48
Today, I'm focusing on a key skill that very discuss yet is essential for any thriving musician: how to handle interviews. There's a couple of key concepts but the most important one to remember...
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#353 - Weekly Recap: Time to Invest In Yourself from 2019-08-11T22:08:22
This week, we dived into several key concepts about time and your music business. Today, I'd like to encourage you to invest in yourself. Here the episodes we discussed:
#352 - Interview: How "Bedroom Producer" String Player Gamer Creates Viral Content from 2019-08-10T13:00:48
Diwa de Leon, AKA The String Player Gamer, is a professional film and tv composer, and live musician that specializes on string instruments such as the violin, guitar and the hegalong, a t...
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#351 - When You Should Refresh Your Brand or Sound from 2019-08-09T23:01:13
Artists update their look, change their name, and evolve their sound all the time - should you? Today, I'll cover when and why companies update their brand and what you can learn from that proce...
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#350 - Time and Goals from 2019-08-09T21:51:38
I've often mentioned how your goals should be SMARTER, but in addition to having goals that are time-bound, you should also create time specifi...
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#349 - Real Time Marketing from 2019-08-08T23:08:05
Today, we're going to talk about Real Time Marketing (RTM) and how you can take lessons from this practice to help strengthen your own ability to produce viral content. Grab your Oreos and liste...
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#348 - How to Improve Your Timing from 2019-08-07T21:43:55
When it comes to performing music, rhythm and timing are essential. In that sense, they are always important abilities for the business side of things as well. In today's episode, I discuss how ...
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#347 - Knowing the Right Season from 2019-08-07T00:19:37
You've probably noticed that most major artists release albums and singles around the same seasons. Most music festivals happen around the same time. And most bands choose to tour during the sam...
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#346 - Weekly Recap: Being a True DIY Musician from 2019-08-04T20:46:24
What does it mean to be D.I.Y? In today's recap, I wanted to go over some of the ideas we discussed in light of being an independent musician. Who do you rely on? Who do you work with? How do yo...
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#345 - INTERVIEW: GLASYS on Trending on Reddit, Endorsements, and T-Pain from 2019-08-03T20:06:26
Today, we're speak...
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#344 - Weighing Opportunities from 2019-08-02T20:22:53
Recently, Equifax customers got a choice to benefit from a major settlement: $125 or 10 years of free credit monitoring? It got me thinking: how do we think about opportunities that come our way...
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#343 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome from 2019-08-01T23:05:13
This one is as much for you as it is for me. We all have feelings of inadequacy, especially in the entertainment industry where everything feels like a front. How we address with those feelings ...
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#342 - Making Your Own Merchandise from 2019-08-01T01:18:35
If you've ever considered making your own merchandise, you'll want to listen to this episode. I share some of my own highs and lows with printing merch as well as provide some suggestions for yo...
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#341 - Fitness For Musicians from 2019-07-30T23:26:04
Today, I'm going to make the case for why a regular fitness routine is essential to your music business goals. I'll also share my personal minimum workout routine while on the road and give some...
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#340 - Who to Tour With from 2019-07-29T14:00:54
Today, we talk about who you should tour with, both in terms of other acts as well as who you should bring with you on the road.
Related Episodes:
#339 - Weekly Recap: Small Actions Add Up from 2019-07-28T14:02:43
This week, we focused on little things - small decisions and daily decisions, small actions - and how the culmination of those little things can really add up to make a tremendous difference in ...
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#338 - INTERVIEW: Katie Zaccardi on Self-Care, Wellness, and Time Management from 2019-07-27T14:47:59
Today's interview...
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#337 - Tour Blogging Your Way to Success from 2019-07-27T13:57:34
Believe it or not, but blogging is still one of the most important marketing practices that any business or artist can do. If you can maintain it while on tour, you can do even more things with ...
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#336 - How to Make Better Decisions from 2019-07-25T23:13:51
In business school, we were always taught different business making models to help make the best decision possible. However, I realized that many musicians (even those in music college) don't ge...
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#335 - The Number One Reason Why Fans Will Buy Something from 2019-07-25T00:40:56
If you have a tough time selling physical copies of your music, tickets to your show, or other merchandise, then need to understand why fans choose to buy something or not. A recent survey revea...
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#334 - Making it Rain from 2019-07-23T18:13:03
Have you ever thought about the phrase "Make it rain" and what it actually means? Rain isn't any one thing, but rather, a collection of many little things. True success isn't experienced as a wi...
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#333 - Weekly Recap: Take a Look at Yourself from 2019-07-23T17:39:46
In today's weekly recap, I wanted to focus on using self-awareness to solve problems or overcome barriers in your music career. Is your problem your problem? What solutions open up when we start...
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#332 - INTERVIEW: Peter Lin on Jazz, Music Business Hacks, and Culture from 2019-07-22T23:38:20
ABOUT PETER LIN:
Taiwanese-American trombonist Peter Lin is a young and creative musician active on the New Jersey and New York scene. A graduate of the esteemed ja...
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#331 - Getting More People to Shows: What Kind of Problem Do You Have? from 2019-07-22T19:18:51
When it comes to music business books, articles, and podcasts about selling more tickets to your shows, most only focus on one piece of the puzzle: awareness. However, no amount of letting peopl...
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#330 - How to Have More Effective Meetings from 2019-07-21T23:41:10
In the world of music business, meetings are extremely common: whether they are industry gatherings, pitches to potential partners, or regular sit-downs with your band, it is important to know h...
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#329 - 6 Habits That Will Extend the Life of Your Music Career from 2019-07-18T14:45:50
This morning, I came across an article from Listen
#328 - When to Fire Yourself from 2019-07-18T04:43:34
Many businesses that experience some success eventually find themselves growing stagnant. It's no different with artists and the music business: at some point, you might find that the key to rea...
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#327 - Hidden Opportunities at Shows from 2019-07-16T16:10:05
How do you make the most of your time at a show? What are you doing before you perform and how can you optimize that time to make more fans, get more sponsors, and make the show even more engagi...
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#326 - INTERVIEW: Crashing Anime Conventions with Night Sabers from 2019-07-16T01:17:27
In today's episode, I'm doing an interview live from Anime Blues Con in Memphis, TN. We're speaking with nerd pop band, NIGHT SABERS. Night Sabers’ newest record, "Welcome to Saber School,...
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#325 - Weekly Recap: Turning Pro from 2019-07-14T16:06:12
Over the past five episodes, we covered this idea of becoming a pro. But what does that actually mean? And what does it take to get there? Today, we recap some of the biggest ideas from those ep...
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#324 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 5: Be a Great Headliner from 2019-07-13T15:30:28
In part 5 of our how to be a professional musician, we close the loop opened up in Episode 322 - How to Be a Great Opener. It's important to ...
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#323 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 4: Leading a Team from 2019-07-13T15:25:19
In part four of our series, we talk about leadership, influence, and professionalism.
Related Episodes:
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#322 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 3: Be a Great Opener from 2019-07-12T10:57:47
Part of being a great professional is learning how to be the perfect opening act.
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#321 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 2: The Daily Work from 2019-07-10T21:31:27
For those of you looking to be a full time creative: have you ever stopped to think what you would do all day? Today's episode addresses the day-to-day experience of today's music professional a...
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#320 - How to be a Professional Musician pt. 1: Who is a Pro? from 2019-07-09T14:00:08
We're launching a 5 part series on being a professional musician. What does it take? Who is technically a pro? What are some of the key skills, attributes, or habits needed? Today, we're kick th...
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#319 - Creative Ways of Using Postcards from 2019-07-08T12:00:11
It's often a good idea to try new tactics to stand out in the crowd. In this episode, we talk about using postcards to help drive fan engagement, increase turnout at shows, and to help sell albu...
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#318 - RECAP: Taking the Unconventional Music Career Path from 2019-07-07T14:00:07
In this episode, we cover the happy variety in topics of the past week and how they all tie in together for adopting an unconventional mindset for your music business career.
Reso...
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#317 - How to Get Better Value for Your Gear from 2019-07-06T14:00:04
In today, we're talking about how to get better value and pricing for your equipment. Whether you are buying or selling, you want to get good value.
Resources:
Epi...
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#316 - INTERVIEW: Talking Spotify Strategy with Cenji from 2019-07-05T14:00:52
Cenji is a singer, songwriter, and producer from San Diego, California. He got his start singing cover songs in his college dorm room and has gone on to collaborate with acts such as Pure...
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#315 - What Patriotism and Religion Can Teach You About Making Fans from 2019-07-04T17:16:37
Happy 4th of July!
In today's episode, we talk about how patriotism is a lot like religion...and how those two ideas can teach you about making new fans. It's about building a community a...
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#314 - Touring with a Dog from 2019-07-03T18:55:23
Today, I discuss being a touring musician while also being a pet owner. Whether you decide to take your dog on the road or not, there are some important things to consider. Of course, if you're ...
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#313 - Winning With Video from 2019-07-02T19:06:19
Today, I want to focus on two opportunities to help expand your video (and revenue) earning horizons: Amazon Prime Video and film festivals. Of course, it all begins with having compelling conte...
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#312 - Record Labels Accepting Demos from 2019-07-01T22:08:04
One of the most searched queries for music business websites and musician resources is "Record Labels Accepting Demos" (or some variation of that, like Record Labels Accepting Demos 2019). Today...
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#311 - Weekly Recap: The Hidden Secrets to Success from 2019-06-30T23:01:07
Today is our weekly recap to combine all of the ideas covered over the past six days. In this, we talk about two seemingly conflicting ideas - when to persist and when to quit - and how this is ...
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#310 - The Secret of Quitting from 2019-06-30T01:31:44
One of the greatest skills of any entrepreneur is knowing when to quit something. In the music world, that means knowing when to give up on a song or album, on a band, or just a strategy that is...
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#309 - How to Use My Maps for Tour Booking from 2019-06-28T22:04:59
Today, I want to focus on an underutilized tool: Google My Maps. Not only can you use this for your tour venue database and have it serve as a visual aid for booking, but you can also use it to ...
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#308 - How Artists Can Use Video from 2019-06-27T19:09:25
How can musicians and bands use video? Today, I'm going to provide broad overview of video strategy that is full of tips for you to help achieve your goals. Whether you are wondering to post on ...
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#307 - Do You Need a Reseller's Permit? from 2019-06-26T17:08:43
Today's episode covers an important part of a music business that no one is really talking about: having a reseller's permit or sales tax ID. In addition to being a part of the actual business p...
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#306 - The 2 Most Important Habits for Success in the Music Industry from 2019-06-25T19:04:18
Today, I want to talk about the daily habits you've incorporated into your music career. Specifically, I want to tell you about the power of focus and getting things done. These two habits separ...
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#305 - Getting Unstuck from 2019-06-24T16:24:37
We've all felt stuck before: sometimes, it's the lack of creativity. Other times, it feels like the lack of productivity. In today's episode, we'll identify a couple of key practices you can use...
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#304 - Recap: Being Proactive About Being Reactive from 2019-06-23T17:54:33
"The best defense is a good offense." When unexpected things happen in your music career (and they will), what kind of plan do you have? How can you prepare for those situations?
...
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#303 - The Nashville Round: How You Can Make Your Shows Remarkable from 2019-06-22T17:32:21
A Nashville Round is an interesting way to showcase songs but most artists end up getting lost in the mix. In today's episode, I focus on how the ideas of standing out in a round can really help...
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#302 - The Buy One Get One Strategy from 2019-06-21T14:49:38
Today's episode is about the Buy One, Get One strategy that many companies are using to drive their strategic philanthropy efforts. How have you ever thought of using this to inspire a new model...
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#301 - When Airlines Break Your Stuff from 2019-06-20T20:26:33
After a couple of recent incidents of having my things broken, I decided to do an episode on what you can do when you find your instrument, luggage, or anything else busted up from air travel. Listen
#300 - How to Get People to Respond to Your Email from 2019-06-19T23:20:43
How do you get people to answer to your email messages? When should you follow up? How many words should be in that first message? In today's episode, I discuss email best practices.
#299 - How to Promote Out of Town Shows from 2019-06-18T17:13:35
Today, we answer a question from Charlie Cook of the Kronk Men - check them out here!
In it, I ta...
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#298 - Getting a Logo or Artwork for Your Band from 2019-06-17T15:23:47
Today's episode was inspired by a question submitted to MBH on dealing with designers. When it comes to getting a logo or images for your merchandise, what are some important considerations? In ...
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#297 - Travel Rewards for Touring Musicians from 2019-06-16T22:08:37
Are you taking advantage of the many travel rewards available for musicians? You could be leaving a lot of benefits like free flights and hotel rooms as well as discounts off gas on the table. T...
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#296 - Weekly Recap: The Secret Weapon to Success from 2019-06-16T00:58:37
When it comes to hitting long term goals, what's more effective: a laser or a shotgun? Find opportunities where you can focus your energy instead of spreading yourself thin. One of the best ways...
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#295 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt. 5: Always Give Value from 2019-06-15T01:18:42
Today, we talk about the power of giving value to your audience and why consistency matters. How did a company like Slack explode in popularity? How can you use channels ignored by musicians (li...
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#294 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 4: How to Find Your Niche from 2019-06-13T15:21:31
Today, I talk about how you can find your center, the things that you care about the most, so that you can build your own niche audience from it. What are the things that you love but others dis...
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#293 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 3: What if Your Audience is Too Small? from 2019-06-12T18:29:22
In today's episode, we'll focus on what happens if your audience is too niche. Is your problem your problem?
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#292 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 2: Smallest Viable Audience from 2019-06-11T19:47:22
It's good to be back! I've been on the road relentlessly promoting my new memoir, Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court,...
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#291 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 1: Find a Need from 2019-02-12T18:37:19
Today, I'm kick off a new series specifically on niche marketing and business development. This episode is focused on the foundation for any business: identifying ne...
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#290 - Terry Crews on Mastering Self-Discipline from 2019-02-11T17:08:31
Today's episode was inspired by Terry Crews' approach to self-discipline. We're focusing on his 4 big tips for discipline with a specific focus on music business and...
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#289 - What Successful Artists Do With Their Free Time from 2019-02-01T17:51:02
If you're slightly obsessed with productivity (like I am), then you probably think a lot about how to make the most of your time. In fact, the idea of "free time" se...
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#288 - How to Survive Touring in Severe Weather from 2019-01-31T19:28:57
Severe weather is terrible for music instruments, vocalists, and our vehicles but sometimes it can't be avoided. In today's episode, we're going to cover best practi...
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#286 - Interview: Michael Beinhorn, Producer behind Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, and more from 2019-01-31T18:57:30
Michael Beinhorn has lived his life in the pursuit of artistic expression, first as a visual artist, then as a performer, and finally as a record producer.
#287 - Dropshipping Your Merchandise with Print on Demand from 2019-01-31T00:36:01
Templates for websites and tools by PayPal are making it easier than ever to create your own online shop for merchandise. However, a new option is becoming more popu...
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#285 - Recap: Resolutions, Revisiting, and Habits from 2019-01-28T15:55:04
In today's recap, we revisit some of the big ideas you should be considering as you tackle a new year of music business.
#284 - How to Juggle More Than One Band from 2019-01-23T17:00:57
How do you handle multiple music projects and commitments? It's like trying to run multiple businesses! In today's episode, you'll get some guidelines on smoothly ha...
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#283 - Why You Should Reread Books&Replay Podcasts from 2019-01-22T16:11:16
We often rewatch our favorite movies, TV shows, and videos on social media, but why is it that we seldomly reread the books that have made the most impact in our liv...
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#282 - Starting Your Own Record Label from 2019-01-22T15:36:45
I discuss the pros and cons of starting your own record label for releasing your own music. What are some of the benefits? The challenges? And what is the point?
... Listen
#281 - Why Resolutions Don't Work from 2019-01-03T15:26:18
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#280 - If You're Going to SXSW... from 2018-12-20T16:54:54
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#279 - How to Keep Content Going When You're In-Between Releases from 2018-12-19T16:30:52
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#278 - Can you Copyright a Dance move? from 2018-12-18T21:04:19
If you've been following the news on Fortnite, you'll know that they've been under fire for appropriating "The Floss" and "The Carlton Dance." It's raised a number o...
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#277 - Are You Marrying Your Fans or Dating Them? from 2018-12-12T21:08:58
When it comes to how you play shows and communicate with others, you should ask this fundamental question: are you trying to date them or marry them? Because that wo...
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#276 - The 7 Things Musicians Should Do Everyday from 2018-12-12T20:30:45
If you wanted to create a daily routine for yourself, what would it include? Today's episode focuses on the 7 things you can do to dramatically improve your success ...
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#275 - Recap: On Responding to News and Trends from 2018-12-10T17:00
How do you respond to news, trends, or memes? In today's recap, we discuss 3 episodes from this week that really came up as a result of viral content.
#274 - Interview: Julian David Stone on Photographing the Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, and more from 2018-12-09T19:36:58
In today's episode, we interview Julian David Stone.
While experiencing the adventures that make-u...
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#273 - CBD Oil (and other drugs) on Music and Vocals from 2018-12-09T18:01:42
Everybody is talking about CBD oil right now but how does this supposed cure-all impact vocals? And speaking of drugs (natural or otherwise), how does that impact o...
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#272 - How to Recover From Mistakes from 2018-12-06T20:20:54
No one likes messing up, especially on stage. But the real mistake isn't the bad notes that we play: it's how we handle problems on stage. In today's episode, we get...
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#271 - How Artists Can Respond to Spotify Wrapped 2018 from 2018-12-06T19:55:41
Spotify just released their annual cool year-in-review feature for listeners, Spotify Wrapped. So what can you do as an artist in response? Have you checked out the ...
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#270 - When Should You Keep Your Music a Secret? from 2018-12-06T19:28:50
In today's episode, I wanted to speak to this idea that we should keep our best projects a secret. (Hint: we shouldn't)
Resources:
Article - Listen
#269 - Fake it til you make it? Why Buying Followers is a Bad Idea from 2018-12-01T18:10:52
If you haven't heard the story of L.A based band Threatin, it's a fascinating one (read the latest here). It reminds me of another idea: fa...
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#268 - How to Develop Habits That Build Success from 2018-12-01T17:45:05
In today's recap, we talk about my personal favorite ideas from the past week and h0w they ultimately contribute to the work of building systems (habits) for music business success.
#267 - How to Market Holiday Music with Carl Stuck from 2018-11-29T20:35:21
Carl Stuck is a songwriter and musician hailing from Louisville, Ky. For years a fixture in the Louisville music scene he has also done extensive touring with multiple bands through much of the ...
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#266 - Integrated Marketing Campaigns and Music from 2018-11-29T20:03:07
If you've ever taken a marketing class, then you'd have heard of IMC, or integrated marketing campaigns/communications. The underlying idea is that it's about how many different marketing channe...
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#265 - There's a System For That from 2018-11-28T16:35:17
When something happens to you or you want to make something happen in your career, what do you do? Consider these situations: meeting an enthusiastic fan who has been changed by your life, readi...
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#264 - Why You Should Double Your Performance Price from 2018-11-27T17:06:31
How much do you charge for a performance? Have you thought about the strategy about your pricing? If it has only been based on the market rate (what venues offer or what similar rates you've rec...
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#263 - Why You Should Write Stuff Down from 2018-11-26T15:16:45
In today's episode, we cover the importance of documentation - especially when it comes to building up a sustainable music business.
Related Episode:
#262 - 5 Ways Artists Can Deal with Stress from 2018-11-26T15:13:58
We know that creativity is great for dealing with stress...but what happens when creatives start feeling stress? It can often sap our creative juices. In today's episode, we discuss 5 powerful w...
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#261 - How to Quit Your Day Job from 2018-11-19T17:11:16
In today's episode, we talk about the most crucial steps in getting ready to leave your day job. If you can handle being a fulltime musician, then need to consider some important steps about bud...
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#260 - Show Me, Don't Tell Me in Music from 2018-11-19T16:37:41
The first rule in any kind of creative writing us "Show me, don't tell me." How can you use this in your music business? Obviously, lyrics can be improved by having greater detail but you can al...
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#259 - Weekly Recap: What is Your Vision for a Music Career? from 2018-11-19T16:10:59
In today's episode, we talk about the best ideas from the past week - in this case, it has everything to do with focus and vision.
Related Episodes:
#258 - Interview: How Shannon Curtis Made $25k on a 2 Month House Concert Tour from 2018-11-15T13:00:59
Shannon Curtis is an artist who works as a songwriter, singer, storyteller, recording artist, speaker, and author. Her sixth studio album, entitled Listen
#257 - How to Repurpose Social Media Content from 2018-11-14T20:04:33
Today, I'm going to focus on specific tactics that you can use in order to repurpose some of your social media content. Some of this will be dealing specifically with optimization, while other a...
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#256 - How to Use Automated Marketing from 2018-11-13T17:48:28
Automated marketing, drip campaigns, lifecycle emails...these are all terms you might have heard of. Even if you haven't, chances are you've been a part of the sales funnel that marketers have c...
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#255 - Can Political Rallies Use Your Music Without Your Permission? from 2018-11-12T19:34:49
Rihana and Axl Rose don't have much in common except one thing: displeasure at Donald Trump for having their music used at his rallies. In today's quick episode, we talk about how/when rallies c...
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#254 - How to Ask Better Questions to Get What You Want from 2018-11-12T00:24:22
In today's episode, I shared specific tactics for asking better questions so that you can get what you want (whether it is better customer service, tech support, or making a pitch).
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#253 - Warren Buffet's 5/25 Rule and Your Music Career Goals from 2018-11-10T15:04:36
In today's episode, we're going to begin with the activity first. So grab a paper and pencil and get ready to hit that pause button while we deal specifically with your top 25 goals as a musicia...
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#252 - 5 Takeaways From Working on a Musical from 2018-11-09T02:53:05
I'm working on a musical! It was never really expected to happen but here I am...and of course, it also comes with lessons that I've found helpful to apply in other areas of the music business a...
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#251 - Your Post-Success/Failure Plan from 2018-11-08T01:18:13
After a major election, there is usually a group who is elated and one who is in despair. Where they are going - towards greater success or failure - actually depends on perspective. In today's ...
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#250 - Interview with Tabitha Rhys, Touring Musician Turned Author from 2018-11-06T13:00:49
Tabitha Rhys is the author of Love, Music, Madness, a novel about a songwriters whose music journey takes him acros...
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#249 - Recap: Redefining What Home is for the Musician from 2018-11-05T15:02:25
In today's episode, I reflect on what it means to "home" as a musician (and when we need to do some remodeling work on our business).
Resources:
#248 - Battle of the Bands and the Elections from 2018-11-04T18:56:07
Today's episode focuses on the upcoming elections and what we can learn from candidates vying for your support. From Battle of the Bands, reality tv shows, or trying to get fans to support your ...
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#247 - The World's Worst Band Manager from 2018-11-03T21:57
In today's episode, we focus what trais actually make the world's worst manager. What are they like? How do they treat an artist? What responsibilities are they avoiding? In reality, we're our o...
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#246 - The Best Hack for Getting More Time&Efficiency from 2018-11-02T13:38
Proverbial wisdom will tell you that getting up earlier allows you to get more done...but is that true? Today, we talk about how and when you can work your best as well as find other ways to get...
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#245 - Putting All Your Eggs Into One Basket from 2018-11-01T19:46:36
Musicians like singular ideas and actions. Whether it is a new social media trend, booking SXSW, or trying to get on more playlists, we think these are all magic bullets that can guarantee succe...
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#244 - How to Launch from 2018-10-29T19:12:28
In this episode, we talk about strategies for helping launch a new effort: whether it is a cd release, a new music video, or kicking off a tour, you'll want to have a specific plan in mind for c...
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#243 - How to Tour Lighter from 2018-10-24T21:02:18
In today's episode, we talk about how you can tour with less stuff on the road. Really, you have three options: downsizing your gear, working with a strategic partnership, or borrowing it. What ...
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#242 - Music Business Cram School Recap from 2018-10-23T22:46:36
Today's episode is a highlight reel of some of the most important topics covered over the past 16 episodes (at least in my opinion and based on listenership). If you've missed some, now is a goo...
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#241 - Self-Care for Introverts Who Tour from 2018-10-22T23:42:35
Today's episode is for the introverts out there: you're not alone (even if you want to be). Touring can be extra tough for us so be sure to pay attention and work on some new habits before you h...
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#240 - Free Speech and Music: My Speech at Duquesne University from 2018-10-22T03:40:49
Today's episode contains some of my remarks from the National Conference on Free Speech at Duquesne University, shared earlier in the day (October 21st). I believe the First Amendment is somethi...
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#239 - Who Owns Your Name and Your Music? from 2018-10-20T13:28:53
Today's episode was inspired by Jet Li: it is a reminder to review who owns what. When it comes to things like your music, your name, and even your images, it's important to know (and not just a...
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#238 - How to Use FOMO to Get More Fans to Your Shows from 2018-10-20T02:31:07
FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out, is a powerful human emotion that gets people to act. Have you ever thought about the principles behind it and how you can use it to sell more tickets, get more fans...
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#237 - The Best Non-Music Business Books for Music Business from 2018-10-19T01:32:21
In today's episode, I talk about my favorite and most influential non-music business books that have radically changed my own outlook and approach to music business.
Resources: Listen
#236 - How Important is Image in Music? from 2018-10-17T15:44:54
Today, we talk about how image impacts music, especially the unconscious signals that we provide to others. Image is more than just the clothes you wear: it also is your venue, your lighting, wh...
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#235 - There's More Than One Way Into SXSW from 2018-10-16T20:31:01
In today's episode, I go a bit deeper into the idea of finding unconventional ways into the opportunities we're seeking. Whether it is SXSW, Sundance, or a particular college where you'd like to...
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#234 - How to Make the Most Out of Small Shows from 2018-10-15T14:24:20
This past weekend, I caught an unexpected show while eating dinner at a restaurant. It definitely wasn't the environment for a performer but many of us have been there before. In today's episode...
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#233 - The 2 Reasons Why Artists Aren't Seeing Results on Social Media from 2018-10-10T16:41:21
This week, we learned of how Taylor Swift was able to get record-breaking numbers of people to register to vote with a Listen
#232 - How Successful Artists Spend Their Free Time from 2018-10-09T16:20:31
In today's episode, we discuss the habits of successful artists who have built a sustainable career and how they parallel with the best practices of entrepreneurs. How do you spend your free tim...
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#231 - Unique Songwriting Advice from Tom Waits from 2018-10-08T19:09:06
Tom Waits is one of the most celebrated and prolific songwriters of our time. He's known for innovative songs as well as unconventional songwriting practices. Today, we discuss some of his songw...
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#230 - 5 Things That Prevent Musicians From Growing from 2018-10-08T15:24:59
Today, we talk about the 5 most common reasons why artists feel stagnant in their music careers and what they can do to overcome the things that are holding them back from enjoying the success t...
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#229 - How to Create a Facebook In-Stream Video Ad from 2018-10-07T14:15:49
In which we discuss how you can create your own video ad that appears mid-stream in others' content. Remember the four most important concepts: audience, content that creates emotional responses...
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#228 - How Tim Ferris and Malcolm Gladwell Conquer Fears from 2018-10-05T13:17:39
In today's episode, I share advice about performance from two influential thinkers: Malcolm Gladwell and Tim Ferris. Each has their own approach for dealing with nervousness and anxiety but both...
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#227 - How to Provide a Legitimate Excuse and Balance Repsonsibilities from 2018-10-04T16:09:23
Today's episode answers a question submitted by a listener on how artists can provide excuses in order to get away from other obligations: work, school, etc. In addition to answering the questio...
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#226 - How to Feel More Fulfillment as an Artist from 2018-10-03T14:16:42
In this episode, we talk about joy: how to stay feeling fulfilled so that we have the motivation and satisfaction in doing our work in the music industry. It's easy to fall into ruts, to lose fo...
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#225 - How We Are The Northern Lights Successfully Embodies the D.I.Y Spirit from 2018-10-02T14:51:45
Today's interview is with We Are The Northern Lights.
“They say lightning never strikes the same place twice…” unless, of course, you are We Are The Northern Lights, the self-proclaimed “...
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#224 - Sept. Recap: What Every Artist Should Know and Be from 2018-10-01T12:00:42
In today's monthly recap, we talk about the best ideas from the four weeks. September was a month of building blocks: essentials that artists should know as well as essential qualities that make so...
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#223 - How Artists Can Use Instagram Stories from 2018-09-30T12:00:42
Building on our previous episodes on using Instagram, today we discuss specific tactics and ideas to use Instagram Stories as an artist. We don't spend much time focusing on benefits or basics - fo...
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#222 - How to be an Instagram Live Rockstar from 2018-09-29T12:00:42
Today, we talk about how you can master the art of Instagram Live as an artist. Whether it is promoting your new giveaway as we discussed in Episode...
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#221 - How to Create Giveaways on Instagram from 2018-09-28T12:00:30
We discuss the most effective and legal ways of hosting a giveaway on Instagram (yep, there are rules). Resources: Instagram Pr...
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#220: Artist Consultation Session with Elizabeth Eckert: Touring, Recording, Revenue, and more! from 2018-09-27T12:00:22
In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth to answer questions about her career: everything from diversifying revenue streams to increasing effectiveness in her marketing. Chances are that many of ...
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#219 - How LaurDIY Reached Over 8 Million Subscribers on YouTube from 2018-09-26T12:00:36
Today, we look at DIY Crafter and YouTube video star LaurDIY, and how she was able to develop a successful business enterprise by using consistency, quality, and innovation. Artists take note: if y...
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#218 - How and Why You Should Say No from 2018-09-25T12:00:37
Artists need to learn how to say no more often. In today's episode, we talk about the benefits of turning down gigs and interviews so that you can better focus on projects. We'll also talk about a ...
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#217 - How to Get Your Music on Spotify Playlists from 2018-09-24T12:00:27
Do you wonder how to get your music on Spotify playlists? Today, we talk about specific strategies that will help you get added onto more Spotify playlists so not only will you earn more revenue th...
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#216 - 4 Traits Every Artist and Musicpreneur Needs to Have from 2018-09-23T12:00:36
I believe that every entrepreneur is a problem solver. Today, we talk about what the skill means and how you can incorporate four key traits that every entrepreneur shares into your own career.
#215 - How and Why Musicians Should Use Pinterest from 2018-09-22T12:00:01
Today, we talk about how and why musicians should actively be using Pinterest to help their music careers. Whether you choose to actively engage in this community or not, you can still set things u...
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#214 - Recap: How Awareness, Persistence, and Curiosity Win from 2018-09-21T12:00:24
In today's recap, we talk about the running theme of awareness, persistence, and curiosity and how those three traits can drive engagement and success in the music industry. Episodes: Listen
#213 - How Manafest Sold Over 15,000 CDs Through Facebook Ads from 2018-09-20T12:00:37
Manafest is a barrier breaking singer, songwriter, rapper, author and skater. He effortlessly merges rock, rap and pop throughout his music, carefully assembling experiences and compelling in...
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#212 - How Mentoring Others Will Keep You Motivated from 2018-09-19T12:00:54
Mentoring relationships are critical. Of course, we want a mentor to guide us through this difficult industry. However, have you thought about taking on a mentee yourself and how that might impact ...
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#211 - Why Facebook Reach is Declining and What You Can Do About It from 2018-09-18T12:00:49
If your Facebook numbers aren't looking great these days, you're not alone. Across the board, reach and engagement is down across industries. In this episode, we talk about what you can do specific...
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#210 - How to Increase Your Creativity pt. 2 from 2018-09-17T12:00:12
Today is part 2 of our series on scientifically backed ways to increase your creativity. As creatives and artists, creativity is the source of our art, so let's discuss new ways to discover our bra...
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#209 - How to Increase Your Creativity pt. 1 from 2018-09-16T12:00:02
In today's episode, we're going to geek out about science and how it can be used to build stronger neuron connections, the kind that drive creativity. Let's flex those creative muscles! Res...
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#208 - 3 Qualities Every Artist Needs for Success from 2018-09-15T12:00:12
Awareness, persistence, curiosity. These three qualities are what every successful artist and entrepreneur shares. Today, we talk about how you can develop these traits in yourself. Resourc...
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#207 - Weekly Recap: Approaching Your Music Career with Diversity from 2018-09-14T12:00:34
In today's episode, we talk about strategic application of diversity: everything from using different perspectives and approaching a diverse set of artist needs to actually applying principles of d...
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#206 - Your Music Business Questions, Answered from 2018-09-13T12:00:27
Today, I answer some of the questions that have been coming in about my approach to the music industry, advice about labels, and how to fund an arts career.
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#205 - Hacks for Merch Booths at Conventions, Street Fairs, and Events from 2018-09-12T12:00:35
Today, we focus on developing strategies and tactics to make more at non-music venue events such as music festivals, conventions and trade shows, and street fairs. If you want more information abou...
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#204 - How Musicians Can Stop Wasting Time from 2018-09-11T12:00:16
Today, we talk about productivity. What are the biggest time-killers for artists and what can we do to increase productivity?
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#203 - The Best Exercise for Singers from 2018-09-10T12:00:47
Today, we talk about the best kinds of physical exercises for singers. Yes, it's good to have proper vocal technique through warm-ups and runs, but aerobic exercise, weightlifting, and yoga can hav...
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#202 - How to Get Better Sleep on Tour from 2018-09-09T12:00:59
In today's episode, we talk about 7 specific tactics that artists can adopt to be in peak performance condition through better sleep...which can sometimes be tough to get on the road. Resou...
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#201 - How and Why Artists Should Have an Inclusion Rider from 2018-09-08T16:35
This week, Warner Bros. announced their approach to having an "inclusion rider." How can music artists learn more from this movement and incorporate this kind of value into their own approach? Toda...
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#200 - Becoming a Lifelong Learner of Music Business from 2018-09-07T12:00:35
Today, I recap the best ideas shared over the past week and reflect on what it means to be a lifelong learner when it comes to improving our music music careers. This week's episodes: Listen
#199 - What Working Security for Venues Taught Darren Linder About the Music Business from 2018-09-06T12:00:10
Darren Linder is drummer for Portland band, The Shrike. But in addition to handling percussion, he is the band's primary lyricist, handles the booking, and serves as the tour manager. When not on s...
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#198 - How to Captivate an Audience from Start to Finish from 2018-09-05T16:54:24
Today, we talk about what it takes to captivate an audience. What grabs their attention? What keeps them engaged? How can you do more than simply playing a set of songs? Related Episodes:<...
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#197 - How to Create the Best Stage Plot and Input List from 2018-09-04T14:32:31
If you're playing live shows, you should have an updated stage plot and input list that is accurate, easy to read, and specific to your performance. In today's episode, we talk about best practices...
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#196 - Why Music Genealogy is Important to Your Music from 2018-09-03T17:23:14
Music genealogy is the study of where music came from: how did certain movements and genres arise and what are the qualities of certain types of music? Today, we talk about how this study can impac...
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#195 - How to Properly Advance Every Show from 2018-09-02T12:00:59
When it comes to your shows, you want to make sure that every detail is covered and confirmed before you get there. Having details in writing will make sure things are a little smoother an...
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#194 - 2 SEO Hacks for Bands from 2018-09-01T16:33:26
Today, we talk about two things you can do right now to dramatically increase your ranking on Google and YouTube.
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#193 - August Recap: Checking in Your Midyear Goals from 2018-08-31T12:00:53
In today's episode, we talk about some of the best ideas discussed over the past month. Everything from the big themes like getting sponsorships to side hustles and basics and booking. It's time to...
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#192 - How Frankie Ray Gets 2-3 Shows Booked per Day from 2018-08-30T12:00:39
Currently in the studio recording toward what will be her next album, singer/songwriter/guitarist Frankie Raye is based in the...
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#191 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome from 2018-08-29T16:27:42
You're not alone: almost every artist is filled with doubt about their vocation and passion. In today's episode, I want to focus on 8 specific strategies in dealing with imposter syndrome and how y...
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#190 - How to Find Your Niche from 2018-08-28T12:00:08
If what you believe is your niche is shared by many others, how do you set yourself apart? If you're unsure of what makes you unique, how do carve out your own niche? In today's episode, I provide ...
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#189 - How Musicians Can Improve Their Stage Banter from 2018-08-27T15:55:50
We've all been to shows where the music might be great but any kind of conversation between songs is lackluster. Remember, audiences don't just want a collection of songs: they want a show, from be...
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#188 - Don't work harder. Work smarter from 2018-08-26T12:00:34
Yes, it's important to work hard. But its just as important to work smarter. Today, we talk about the secret to doing both.
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#187 - How to be a Social Media Rockstar (DIY Musician Conference speech) from 2018-08-25T12:00:25
I delivered one of the main addresses at the CD Baby D.I.Y Musician Conference in Nashville, TN on social media hacks. Really, the principles that I love sharing can be applied across multiple area...
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#186 - The Secret to Getting a Sponsorship Deal from 2018-08-24T12:00:12
For the past 8 episodes, we've been talking about sponsorship hacks - everything from pitching a potential sponsor to expanding your network. But really, it all comes down to one thing... E...
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#185 - Interview: How Whitherward Got Subaru to Sponsor Their European Tour from 2018-08-23T11:00
Today we sit down with indie-folk/Americana band, Whitherward. Their inspirational story highlights a creative approach to building a sustainable career with many best practices in booking and s...
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#184 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 7 - How to Ask for What You Want from 2018-08-22T14:03:02
In today's episode, we talk about how to get what you want. When it comes to sponsorships and endorsement deals, how do you ask? Resources
#183 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 6 - Places to Find Even More Sponsors from 2018-08-21T12:00:58
We're building on the techniques discussed this week to talk about even more places where you can fin potential partners for your music. This time, we're looking beyond your network. Resour...
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#182 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 5 - Making Your List of Sponsors from 2018-08-20T12:00:10
Today, we're going to focus on an activity that could help you find your connections and lead to your first sponsorship deals. Resources:
#181 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 4 - Connecting with Sponsors from 2018-08-19T12:00:21
So you've created a compelling pitch. You understand what makes you unique. Now, it's time to demonstrate how a partnership with your sponsorship prospect can be truly unique. In today's episode, w...
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#180 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 3 - Finding Your "It Factor" from 2018-08-18T12:00:52
In today's episode, we focus on activities designed specifically for you to find your "it factor," that which makes you unique and compelling in the eyes of a potential sponsor. Resources:<...
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#179 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 2 - Creating a Compelling Story from 2018-08-17T12:00:34
Today, we talk about how you can create a compelling story when delivering a presentation to the sponsor prospect. How can you use the principles of storytelling and pitching to close the sale so y...
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#178- Hacking Sponsorships pt. 1 - How to Pitch Sponsors from 2018-08-16T12:00:12
Let's get into specific details on getting a sponsor for your music. How do you pitch them? What should you know before sending that email or picking up the phone? Today, we kick off a new series s...
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#177 - Weekly Recap: Everyday I'm Hustlin' from 2018-08-15T12:00:35
This week, we explored the ideas of having a side hustle, both in and outside of the music industry so that you can create more opportunities for yourself, enjoy additional income, and have more fl...
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#176 - Interview: How Tyler Chen Doubled His Income with Side Hustles While Touring in The Slants from 2018-08-14T12:00:27
In today's episode, we speak with Tyler Chen about doubling his income with side hustles (while touring around the world in The Slants), working through band dynamics filled with strong personaliti...
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#175 - Musician Side Hustles pt 5 - Big Ideas for Any Musician from 2018-08-13T12:00:37
The great thing about trying side hustles (in addition to making new streams of income for yourself) is that you can apply the principles directly into your music business. Today, we're going to fo...
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#174 - Musician Side Hustles pt 4 - How to Balance a Side Hustle from 2018-08-12T19:21:41
Today's episode is really about musician time management skills. These best practices are universal and will help you no matter the stage of your music career or if you even have a side hustle.
#173 - Musician Side Hustles pt 3 - Using Your Skills in Other Ways from 2018-08-11T17:12:23
It takes a lot o run a music business. Chances are, you know a thing or two about building websites, designing products, social media, and connecting with audiences. In today's episode, we talk abo...
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#172 - Musician Side Hustles pt 2 - Hustles in the music industry from 2018-08-10T12:00:30
In part 2 of our musician side hustle series, we talk about untapped sources of income for you in the music industry. These gigs are especially great because they help you network, build critical r...
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#171 - Musician Side Hustles pt. 1: How to Get Started from 2018-08-09T12:00:12
These days, our social media feeds and business news sites are filled with inspirational stories of side hustles. How can musicians benefit from a side hustle? What if music is the side hustle? Tod...
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#170 - Recap: Handling the Scattered Musician Mind from 2018-08-08T12:00:56
This week, we covered a variety of topics than spanned from music business management to music creation. Just like in real life, our work often doesn't fit neatly into themes. I wanted to touch on ...
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#169 - Answering the Most Often-Asked Questions About Music Business from 2018-08-07T12:00:26
Today, I answer some of the most often-asked questions about the music industry and being a musician. Questions like:
- How do I get a record deal?
- How do I get more pe... Listen
#168 - How to Turn Fans Into Social Media Brand Ambassadors from 2018-08-06T12:00:29
The success of social media these days depends on having great content that is engaging to your followers. If they aren't leaving comments or re-sharing, it's going to be largely ignored. In today'...
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#167 - How to Kick Out a Band Member from 2018-08-05T12:00:35
It happens: there's a disagreement or creative differences...and someone who is dragging the group down needs to be let go. In today's episode, we talk about what you can do to prevent this kind of...
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#166 - How to Book a Tour Overseas from 2018-08-04T12:00:26
Most musicians love the idea of crossing the ocean on an airplane to tour a completely different market: you can make new fans, experience different culture, and come home with a coveted status of ...
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#165 - How to Book Conventions and Trade Shows from 2018-08-03T12:00:44
Corporate gigs, conventions, and trade shows can be provide lucrative opportunities for performers....yet no one really talks about them. If you can combine an event with a unique niche or demograp...
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#164 - How to Create Better Melodies from 2018-08-02T12:00:31
In today's episode, we talk about two ways to create better melodies in your music. Whether it's a vocal melody, guitar riff, or keyboard lead, these are some simple ways to expand your creativity ...
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#163 - July Recap: What Makes You Unique? from 2018-08-01T12:00:27
In today's episode, we cover some of the best, random ideas of the month...and end up figuring out that the common theme seems to be creating a unique, unexplored path for hacking the music busines...
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#162 - Music Business for Rule Breakers with Damian Keyes from 2018-07-31T12:00:45
Damian is a social media strategist and a newly emerged influencer with fresh perspectives on using online tools for business growth. Damian graduated from music college at 19 and then joined...
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#161 - How to Get Better Prices at Guitar Center from 2018-07-30T12:00:01
In today's episode, we talk about buying strategies that help save your hard-earned cash at the music store. Resources and Notes: Epi...
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#160 - Hacks for Doing Laundry on Tour from 2018-07-29T12:00:52
Dealing with smelly socks and underwear isn't pleasant...when you compound that with a van full of people, it can get downright gross. But sometimes stopping to do laundry is a hassle because it's ...
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#159 - How to Deal With Other Acts Who Have a Similar Name from 2018-07-28T12:00:27
What happens when someone else is using the same (or almost the same) band name, even if it's a different genre or they're in a different state? What about if it is your birth name? In today's epis...
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We're back! from 2018-07-27T19:15:51
Thank you for your patience. Music Business Hacks begins airing again tomorrow, July 28, 2018!
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BRB - A quick note from 2018-07-18T20:28:16
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#158 - How to Be a Self-Made Musician from 2018-07-14T11:00
With the news around Kylie Jenner and now Paris Hilton claiming to be self-made, I decided to do an episode on what it means to be self-made in the music industry. What are the keys to entrepren...
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#157 - How to Stay Creative and Productive when Distracted from 2018-07-13T11:00
One of the biggest challenges for music entrepreneurs is the distraction. Sometimes, we get distracted because of ourselves (like spending too much time on the internet). Sometimes, the people a...
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#156 - How to Scale Your Music Business from 2018-07-12T11:00
In the world of entrepreneurship, you'll hear the term "scaling a business" quite often It means quick growth to level up and reach new markets like never before. If often means getting outside ...
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#155 - 5 Hacks for Filling in Gaps on Your Tour from 2018-07-11T11:00
No artist who spend time on the road enjoys gaps. While it's nice to have a day off occasionally, it also means days of lost income due to travel/logistics. So what can you do to get a show when...
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#154 - Musician Morning Routines from 2018-07-10T11:00
In the world of entrepreneurship and success, people are kind of obsessed with morning routines. Nearly every business magazine has an article on the morning routines of CEOs, authors, and innov...
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#153 - How to Stand Out in an Overly Crowded Marketplace from 2018-07-09T11:00
A common complaint from artists is that there is simply too much music out there and that it is too hard to stand out. Today, we talk about the secret hack to cut through the noise and reach fan...
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#152 - How Birthday Targeting on Facebook Works to Promote Your Music&Shows from 2018-07-08T14:03:17
Imagine if you could do something really special for your most eager fans on their birthday...what would you do for them? Would it be providing a special video message? Giving them a free download?...
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#151 - Monthly Recap: Music Business Strategy vs. Tactics from 2018-07-07T14:27:05
In the world of business, most people get confused over the difference between strategy and tactics. In music, it's no different: it's easy to get attracted to specific tactics, the individual appr...
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#150 - Musician Hacks for YouTube from 2018-07-07T02:23:09
Did you know that YouTube is the world's second most popular search engine? While attention is certainly being divided over Facebook, Vimeo, and other options, it's still important to be providing ...
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#149 - When and How Often Should You Post on Social Media? from 2018-07-05T17:54:20
When it comes to social media, quality definitely reigns. However, frequency is a close second. So how often should you exactly be posting content on Facebook? And when should you tweet? Today, we ...
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#148 - 5 Ways to Promote Your Music on Independence Day from 2018-07-04T15:47:54
Beyond branding your social media red, white, and blue, what can you do to promote your music on the 4th of July? Today, I want to share 5 innovative ways you can get more fans, sell more music, an...
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#147 - How to Get Press Coverage Without a Publicist from 2018-07-04T02:14:59
In today's episode, we talk about how you can get unique press coverage (interviews and features) without a publicist or PR firm. Resources: Listen
#146 - How Musicians Can Rock Interviews from 2018-07-02T21:47:45
Have you listened to or read one too many boring interviews with artists? Don't contribute to the pile! Instead, learn some best practices so you know how to share wit, heart, and the kind of story...
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#145 - Build the Business but Don't Forget the Music from 2018-07-01T23:50:23
Today is our weekly recap where we talk about the best advice for musicians covered over the past six days. This week, our theme revolved around some fundamental business principles that aren't oft...
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#144 - How to Get That Record Deal with Radar Label Group Founder/Partner Jason Davis from 2018-07-01T23:21:17
#143 - The Ultimate Sponsorship Report: How to Make it POP from 2018-06-30T23:45:26
In the world of professional sponsorship, there's a common term: POP (Proof of Performance). Today, we talk about what makes an effective POP report and how you can use this to not only build relat...
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#142 - How to Use RSS to Hack Booking Opportunities from 2018-06-30T00:17:36
You may have heard of RSS feeders. Maybe you even use one to subscribe and read your favorite blogs...but have you ever thought about how you could apply the principles of RSS to your own music car...
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#141 - Permits and Licenses that Musicians Need from 2018-06-28T23:51:30
You might not be aware, but you need a permit to be able to do business - including music business. But in addition to registering as a business, there are a couple of other key permits and license...
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#140 - How to Create an Advisory Board for Your Band from 2018-06-26T16:00
We're often told to treat our music career like a business...yet most music advice out there is ignoring a key part of building a sustainable, thriving organization: having an advisory board. To...
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#139 - Rules for Songwriting Sessions from 2018-06-25T16:00
In the past, we've talked about the benefits of structure and purpose. In episode 4, we covered why bands shouldn't practice - they should rehearse instead. When it comes to songwriting or any o...
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#138 - Weekly Recap: Why recap at all? And How to Get Results from 2018-06-24T16:00
In today's episode, we provide a recap over the best ideas of the week and focus on the laser vs. shotgun approach, relationships, and SMARTER GOALS. It's about having a healthy balance and life...
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#137 - An Honest Talk About Being Married&Touring, Visual Artistry, and Inspiration with Faina Lorah from 2018-06-23T16:00
Today, we speak with artist Faina Lorah. In addition to being an incredible oil painter, illustrator, and author, she's my life partner. Today, we sit down and talk about how we overcame the str...
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#136 - Relationship Advice for the Touring Musician from 2018-06-22T16:00
It's tough touring and maintaining a strong relationship. Time away from each other in different time zones, stress, and mistrust can deteriorate even the best of relationships. Today, I share s...
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#135 - How to Get the Best Possible Rate on a Hotel from 2018-06-21T16:00
There are so many discount websites out there that claim to give the best prices for hotels and motels, but which should you use? And is there a better option? Today, we talk about the good, bet...
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#134 - How to Get Your Music Into Video Games from 2018-06-20T22:07:19
The explosion of music licensed for video games has helped many artists make new fans as well as a dependable source of income. But how do you get your songs in? Typically, one would work with a li...
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#133 - Lasers, Shotguns, and Messages from 2018-06-19T17:10:19
What's more effective at hitting its target, a shotgun or a laser? It depends. When it comes to your messaging, be it social media posts or emails, the same thing applies when you consider how prec...
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#132 - Weekly Recap: Building a Sustainable Music Career with Finance Hacks (and Habits) from 2018-06-18T07:00:58
This week, we discussed building better habits for our music business - especially habits that can save money, create new opportunities, and build wealth. Check them out below! Resources: Listen
#131 - Garrison Snell of Gyrosity Projects on Affordably Launching an Artist's Career from 2018-06-17T19:41:16
Garrison is 24 years old. He graduated from Belmont University in 2015 and immediately started a business. Month after month he's paid all his post-grad bills by building and running <...
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#130 - How to Start a Nonprofit Organization from 2018-06-16T15:16:45
Today we answer the question could you, should you, and why would you file for nonprofit status? There are a lot of pros and cons for doing this, so let's cover how it could apply to your music....
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#129 - Instagram Hacks for Bands from 2018-06-15T22:20:13
How do you get more Instagram followers? Does following other accounts in hopes that they return the favor work? Today, we cover six Instagram tactics that artists can try in order to get more g...
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#128 - Pay to Play and International Tour Buy On Opportunities from 2018-06-15T02:39:14
A listener asks the question: should I pay for a tour buy on opportunity in Europe? It leads to a bigger set of questions about paying to play, buying onto tours, and if there's another way to get ...
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#127 - Musicians and Affiliate/Influencer Marketing from 2018-06-13T07:00:55
What is affiliate marketing and how can musicians benefit from this new trend? How can you become an influencer or find influencers to bring you new fans? Today, we discuss actual application of th...
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#126 - How to Save Money on a Rehearsal Space by Using an Alternative from 2018-06-12T07:00:37
If you're playing in a loud band, chances are that you'll need a place to hold those rehearsals. And if you're in a town that has nearly every rehearsal space booked out, you're going to need some ...
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#125 - Bree Noble on #MeToo&the Music Industry, Empowering Women, and Professional Musicianship from 2018-06-11T17:00:06
This week's feature interview is with Bree Noble. Bree had a successful 7-year run as a touring singer/songwriter including 3 album releases, several songwriting and ...
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#124 - Monthly Recap - The Secret to Hacking the Music Business (Storytelling) from 2018-06-11T02:15:01
We normally do a month-long recap every ~30 days, but today I want to focus on a question that I'm repeatedly asked: what is the one thing I need to do to be successful? It is the question undernea...
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#123 - How to Use Exclusivity to Build Loyal Fans, Sell Records, and More from 2018-06-09T21:28:58
If you want to make people excited (like, really excited) about your e-newsletters, content that you share, or your general communication with your followers, then you need to be providing somethin...
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#122 - Mental Health from 2018-06-08T21:26:58
This week, the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain rocked our world. Countless entertainers, musicians, and fashion icons have taken their lives - it shows artists are not any more immune t...
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#121 - How to Ask For Help From Busy People from 2018-06-07T19:32:38
In today's episode, we talk about how you can reach music business and industry leaders who are busy. How can your email stand out from the rest? How do you get people to respond to your requests? ...
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#120 - Developing a "Sick Policy" for Your Band from 2018-06-06T18:04:19
It happens. People get sick. But when you have performances or a record on the line, how do you deal with people who need to call in sick? And what kind of remedies are actually the best for a sing...
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#119 - How to Deal with Hecklers from 2018-05-30T07:00:42
It happens to the best of us: hecklers. When you're performing at venues, especially bars with drunk audience members, people can sometimes get unruly. But instead of responding in anger or frustra...
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#118 - Art and Activism from 2018-05-29T07:00:42
The worlds of art and activism have been connected for as long as social structures have existed, however, we're living in a new era of inter-connectedness where the lines between activism and art ...
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#117 - Weekly Recap: Takin' Care of (Music) Business from 2018-05-28T16:25:50
This week, we focused on developing some core music business practices that every artist should have a grasp on: trademark registration, accounting/finance, press photos, and having the best EPK/pr...
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#116 - Matt Westin on Meeting Danny Trejo on a Slayer Set, Meaningful Music, and Gary Vaynerchuk from 2018-05-27T21:45:40
Matt Westin's first single, “Our Redneck of the Woods” reached the IndieWorld Country chart and the European Country Music Association charts. Matt is nominated for a...
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#115 - How to Become a Famous Singer from 2018-05-26T17:35:33
Recently, I came across an oft-asked question: "How do I become a famous singer?" It's so common that Alexa and Google suggest it, leading to a generic article with advice that won't really get you...
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#114 - How to Improve Your EPK (Electronic Press Kit) from 2018-05-25T07:00
Here's the hard truth about submitting anything via Sonicbids or Reverbation, your press kit to a record label, or trying to book a big show: You have less than one minute to get the per...
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#113 - Hiring a Photographer to Get Your Best Press Shots from 2018-05-24T07:00
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So what are your press photos saying about you? In today's episode, we talk about why you should have better press photos and how you can find the r...
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#112 - Music Business Budgeting from 2018-05-23T07:00
Do you have a business for your music business? Have you forecasted your revenue or expenses for the year to include touring, new albums, and merchandise? In this episode, we cover this crucial ...
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#111 - How to Get a Registered Trademark from 2018-05-22T15:00
What is a trademark and why should every artist get one? How does it differ from a copyright? In today's episode, we discuss some of the most important information about getting a trademark regi...
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#110 - Weekly Recap: Hacks for a Touring Musician from 2018-05-21T07:00:08
Touring is a staple for most performing musicians. This week, we focused on some best practices for artists who travel for a living. Check out the episodes to build your skillset and professionalis...
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#109 - Talking Tour Management&Branding with Ed Wimp (Earth, Wind,&Fire and A$AP Rocky's Tour Team) from 2018-05-20T07:00:59
Today, we speak with Ed Wimp. Ed Wimp is a Speaker, Author, Tour Manager, Artist Manager, and Musician from Orlando, Florida. After graduating co...
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#108 - How a Tour Driving Schedule Can Save Your Life from 2018-05-19T07:00:17
How do you decide who is going to drive on tour? By being proactive and prepared, you can avoid dangerous situations like falling asleep at the wheel or driving drunk.
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#107 - How to Keep a Tour Vehicle Running Properly from 2018-05-18T07:00:01
If you are going to be doing any kind of extended traveling, it’s important to do some basic maintenance and preparation on the vehicle to prevent any unexpected brea...
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#106 - How to Use Special Effects in Your Live Show from 2018-05-17T07:00:01
Many bands don’t think of set design unless they’re touring large venues on a regular basis. Even then, some only go as far as putting a large backdrop or banner. How...
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#104 - How to Soundcheck Like a Pro from 2018-05-15T07:00:03
One of my biggest pet peeves as a performer is a band who doesn’t know how to soundcheck properly. It shouldn’t be - it usually reflects inexperience and ignorance ra...
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#103 - Weekly Recap: How Storytelling Can Change Your Career from 2018-05-14T07:00:15
This week, we focused a lot of storytelling - that's because it is so important and can impact nearly every area of your music business career! To review the week, check out our episodes: E...
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#102 - Interview with Joe X. Jiang on How Filmmakers Use Story (and What Musicians Can Learn From Them) from 2018-05-13T07:00:15
In today's episode, we speak with director, editor, and guitarist Joe X. Jiang on the art of storytelling and how the world of film can teach us more about songwriting and performance - not to ment...
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#101 - Storytelling pt. 5: How to Use Storytelling Techniques in Social Media and Marketing from 2018-05-12T07:00:36
Is the trend of telling stories and marketing a hype? Let's talk about how you can use the tools of story - and storytelling - to make your social media memorable, engaged, and interesting.
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#100 - Storytelling pt. 4: Making a Better Live Show with Story from 2018-05-11T07:00:21
Many musicians think of the live show as an opportunity to showcase their songs but that’s a mistake, it’s so much more. If it was only about the songs being shared, ...
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#99 - Storytelling Tips Pt. 3: How to Write a Better Biography from 2018-05-10T07:00
Most artist biographies are terrible. They sound more like a collection of achievements or include details that no one cares about. However, you can change that by using the power of story.
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#105 - How to Overcome Common Obstacles on Stage from 2018-05-10T01:19:39
Things rarely go exactly as planned on stage. There are often setbacks - instruments go knocked out of tune, the monitors don’t sound right (or the venue lacks monito...
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#98 - Storytelling Tips Pt. 2: Writing Great Lyrics with Advice from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Lin-Manual Miranda, and Leonard Cohen from 2018-05-09T07:00:23
Today, we talk about songwriting secrets gleaned from the art of storytelling. To help with best practices, we'll get advice from Jason Blume and Andrea Stople, as well as songwriting giants such a...
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#97 - Storytelling Tips pt 1: Creating an Emotional Arc from 2018-05-08T07:00:37
We all want to learn how to tell better stories. From comedians to writers, the art of storytelling hooks an audience in a way that keeps them coming back. This week, we learn how to become better ...
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#96 - Weekly Recap: Music Business Hacks Through the Eye of the Beholder from 2018-05-07T07:00:34
This week, we spent a lot of time building the case for developing more effective systems: better email, live shows, and processes to get your best content out there - as well as - how you can use ...
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#95 - Rick Barker, Former Taylor Swift Manager&Music Industry Blueprint Founder on His Best Advice from 2018-05-06T14:59:50
Today, we speak with music industry guru, Rick Barker. From formerly managing Taylor Swift to founding the Music Industry Blueprint podcast, Rick is a powerhouse of knowledge for independent artist...
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#94 - 2 Things Holding Artists Back at Live Shows from 2018-05-05T07:00:54
How you can take every situation, whether it is karaoke night or playing Madison Square Gardens, to show that you are a star.
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#93 - How to Use Focus Groups to Choose Songs for Your Next Album from 2018-05-04T08:48:34
A few years ago, I thought of a new way to select songs for an album I was releasing: by treating it like a songwriting contest. I realized how a focus group could be a powerful way to not only get...
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#92 - 5 Tips to Get Your Music Licensed for TV, Film, and Video Games from 2018-05-03T07:00:49
There’s a wealth of information out there on how to get your music into video games, on films, tv shows, commercials, and other opportunities. In today's episode, I want to cover my favorite ...
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#91 - 5 Ways to Guarantee Your Emails Will be Read from 2018-05-02T07:00:53
Today, the average open rate for an email is 10%. The average click through rate for music is 2.5% (of the emails that are actually opened). With social ...
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#90 - Monthly Recap: The Best Music Hacks From April from 2018-05-01T07:00:13
You have the ability to unlock your full potential as an artist. It just requires 3 main things:
- Changing your perspective
- Building new habits in light of your goals
- Dedi... Listen
#89 - Interview with Neo-Traditional Hispanic Country Star Madelyn Victoria from 2018-04-30T07:00:53
In today's interview, we speak with country chart topping star, Madelyn Victoria. From viral videos to performing with acts like the Jonas Brothers, this beauty pageant winner, model, and San Anton...
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#88 - 10 Ways to Incorporate Social Media into any Fan Meet Up from 2018-04-29T07:00:35
In today's episode, we talk about the importance of creating unique events to engage with fans both offline and online. How can you become more creative with your fan engagement strategy? R...
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#87 - Hacks for Traveling as a Musician on Airplanes from 2018-04-28T07:00:37
If you're flying to shows, you'll want to learn some of the basic hacks of traveling with a guitar and learning how to navigate the system. Recommended Items: Listen
#86 - 3 Mistakes Musicians Make to Sabotage Their Own Careers from 2018-04-27T07:00:44
Today, we talk about 3 common mistakes that many of us make that ends up hurting us: burning bridges, acting self-entitled, and blaming others. Related: Listen
#85 - 5 Common Myths About Touring and Booking from 2018-04-26T07:00:35
Today, I answer questions about the most common myths in regards to touring and booking. If you feel pretty good about all of these, then check out this article I wrote to help you for the next sta...
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#84 - 6 Things Musicians Should Know That They Don’t Teach You in Music School from 2018-04-25T07:00:01
Today, we focus on six key things that every musician should know but they don't teach in music school.
Here are six things that you should know that aren’t covered in...
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#83 - Weekly Recap: Where Creativity Meets Best Practices from 2018-04-24T07:00:19
This week, we focused on bringing new, creative perspectives to standard music business best practices. Check out the episodes here: 78 - If You...
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#82 - How to Earn Dependable Income From Live Music with Greg Wilnau of Musician Monster from 2018-04-23T07:00:11
Today we speak with Greg Wilnau of the Musician Monster podcast and 1k With Music. Learn specific strategiesfrom his Live Show blueprint: Listen
#81 - How to Find New Fans Through Market Segmentation from 2018-04-22T07:00:27
Market segmentation involves breaking down a broad audience into a smaller subset of customers. You can divide along demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and/or psychographics (values,...
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#80 - Why Every Artist Needs Timers on Their Contracts from 2018-04-21T07:00:46
If you're like most people, you scroll past the terms and conditions sections of most software, 3rd party apps, and social media. When it comes to music agreements like licensing deals, content you...
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#79 - Two Cent Video Strategy That Will Get Your Priceless Engagement from 2018-04-20T07:00:16
A simple 4-step strategy that you can use to drive more engagement on your videos.
- Identify a cause and pledge two cents (or more) per view, comment, share, and like.
- Tell your pe... Listen
#78 - If Your Music Career Was a Food Cart from 2018-04-19T07:00:30
What if you took on the mindset of running a food cart and applied it to your music? Adopting best practices and approaches in other industries often unlock new creative energy for our own work. In...
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#77 - Weekly Recap: How Lists Unlock Creativity from 2018-04-18T07:00:02
A recap of this week's best ideas: remembering your purpose as a musician and learning how creating a target and list can unlock your creativity in new ways. This week's episodes: 71 - Listen
#76 - Finding the Life Mission of the Artist with Ed Roman from 2018-04-17T07:00:33
In today's episode, we speak with multi-instrumentalist and multi-award winning artist, Ed Roman. Resources: More about Ed: Listen
#75 - How to Deal with Conflict in The Band from 2018-04-16T07:00:19
Every team, group, and organization experiences conflict. Bands are no different. When it comes to dealing with different personalities and expectations, it's important to have some healthy ways of...
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#74 - 5 Things You Can Learn From Your Day Job to Apply to Your Music Career from 2018-04-15T07:00:35
Whether you have a day job or side hustle, it's a good idea to take note of what skills you're building and to think about how you can leverage those abilities in your music career. Today, we'll ta...
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#73 - Hacks for Productivity: Finding Time in Unexpected Places from 2018-04-14T07:00:34
If you're often feeling like you don't have enough time to invest into your music career, these 11 productivity hacks will help you develop a more efficient schedule. If you have a tip that you wan...
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#72 - 6 Phrases That Can Make You Sound Like a Diva from 2018-04-13T07:00:47
We all know a few artists who have a ridiculous sense of self-entitlement. And though they might take themselves very seriously (and maybe a few of their fans too), the rest of us will laugh ...
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#71 - The Guide to Performing Rights Organizations: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC from 2018-04-12T07:00:45
If you're a songwriter, publisher, performer, or all 3, then you should be familiar with PROs. But what are the differences between ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC? Can you join more than one? What about Sou...
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#70 - Weekly Recap: How to Make More Money as a Musician from 2018-04-11T07:00:27
This weekly recap is more like two week recap. Here's what we covered since our big roundup of best ideas: Episode 57: Listen
#69 - How to Authentically Connect with Audiences the Jeremy Parsons Way from 2018-04-10T07:00:11
#68 - 50 Revenue Streams for Musicians part 2 from 2018-04-09T07:00:47
50 revenue streams for musicians to inspire you to think more creatively about how you can earn a sustainable income. Are you receiving every dollar that you're able to earn? Resources: Listen
#67 - 50 Revenue Streams for Musicians (part 1) from 2018-04-08T07:00:55
50 revenue streams for musicians to inspire you to think more creatively about how you can earn a sustainable income. Are you receiving every dollar that you're able to earn? Resources: Listen
#66 - How to Manage Expenses for Musicians from 2018-04-07T07:00:47
To create a sustainable income, you have two parts: income and expenses. Today, we're going to focus on 5 big ideas for helping you manage expenses as a musician. Resources: Listen
#65 - 5 Unexpected Places to Promote Your Music from 2018-04-06T07:00:36
Today, we talk about 5 unexpected places that you probably haven't considered to expand your music's reach. Remember, it's about injecting as much creativity in your outreach efforts as you would y...
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#64 - How to Make Music Business Contacts from 2018-04-05T07:00:16
It’s no secret that often in the world music, it’s more about “who you know” than what you know. The industry generally favors pre-existing relationships, whether you are looking for a venue,...
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#63 - 6 Things You Can Do for $100 That Will Help Your Music Business from 2018-04-04T07:00
You can easily spend $100 on strings, picks, or sticks. You could even buy a cheap electric guitar. While many of those things are important, how can you create a long term investment ...
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#62 - Discussing Finance for Musicians with Scott Statton from 2018-04-03T14:37:55
It's tax season, which means you should be thinking more about your finances as a musician. Today, we speak with Scott Stratton of Listen
#60 - Hacks for Using Linkedin in Your Music Business Strategy from 2018-04-01T07:00:38
Most musicians aren't leveraging Linkedin as a serious tool for hacking the music industry. Stand out from the crowd by learning how to make the most of this social media networking media channel. ...
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#59 - The Best Ideas of March: Merchandise, Digital Marketing, and the Interviews from 2018-03-31T07:00:09
Our second month is over! For March, we covered a lot of big ideas, but I wanted to highlight some of the most important ones in building a sustainable music career: maximizing revenue from merchan...
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#58 - How Often Should You Play? 6 Drawbacks to Playing More Shows from 2018-03-30T07:00:36
When it comes to play out, it's just as much about quality as it is quantity. Yes, booking agents and festivals find it important for you to playing often, but if it's the same market all the time,...
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#57 - 5 Free Social Media Listening Every Band Should be Using from 2018-03-29T07:00:23
In this episode, we cover 5 essential marketing tools that every musician should be using to help listen to social media conversations, monitor their brand, and to research for their craft. Please ...
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#56 - Weekly Recap: the Science of Selling&Songwriting/How to Get a Record Deal from 2018-03-28T07:00:07
In today's episode, we cover some of the biggest ideas from the week as well as answer one of your questions: how to get a record deal? Review the episodes from the week: Episode #50 - Listen
#55 - Interview: Audio Engineer Adam Gonsalves on Mastering Typhoon, Elliot Smith, and More from 2018-03-27T13:46
Today, we interview mastering engineer Adam Gonsalves of Telegraph Audio and talk about hit indie records, the importance of mastering in finishing your studio projec...
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#54 - Hacking Interviews: How to Interview Better (and get more from them) from 2018-03-26T07:00:24
When it comes to being interviewed for your music, do you have a plan? How are interviews supporting your music goals (besides exposure)? In today's episode, we provide some media training to music...
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#53 - Songwriting Secrets from Max Martin from 2018-03-25T07:00:25
The elusive Swedish pop hit machine behind Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, NSync, and countless more songs, Max Martin is starting to open up about his process and his life. We talk about some of his ide...
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#52 - How to Negotiate Better Performance Fees from 2018-03-24T07:00:46
Like all artists, you've probably wondered how to get better pay for your hard work. In today's episode, we talk about the compensation structure of performances: door deals vs. guarantees, and how...
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#51 - The Science of Persuasion from 2018-03-23T07:00:18
In this episode, we talk about the Science of Persuasion. These are principles that determine how people make decisions. Applied correctly and ethically, you can help influence others positively: i...
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#50 - Supplies Every Merch Bin Should Have from 2018-03-22T07:00:53
In today's episode, we talk about the supplies that every merch bin should have, including some of the non-obvious stuff that can revolutionize how you approach selling merchandise at shows! So get...
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#49 - Weekly Recap: Music Business Fundamentals and Improving Your Sows from 2018-03-21T07:00:03
I'm back in town from SXSW! Today, we provide our weekly recap on the best ideas that you should review or focus on. Check out: 43 - Why Every Music...
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#48 - Dez Cadena of Black Flag/The Misfits talks Rick Rubin, Duff McKagen,&Punk Rock from 2018-03-20T07:00:06
In today's episode, we sit down with punk legend Dez Cadena to talk a bit about his decades of experience touring in punk bands Black Flag and the Misfits, as well as other steeped in rock n' roll ...
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#47 - Email Marketing Hacks from 2018-03-19T07:00:38
How can you get the most out of your email? Through two main efforts: acquisition and execution. In today's episode, we talk about some unspoken best practices that can truly help you grow and...
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#46 - How to Protect Your Music Through Copyright Registration&Copyright Myths from 2018-03-18T07:00:02
Protecting your music through copyright registration is one of the most important things that you can do for your music. It's inexpensive, easy to do, but very misunderstood. Listen to today's epis...
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#45 - The Parento Principle in Your Music Business from 2018-03-17T07:00:01
What is the pareto principle and how can you use it for your music career? Tune into today's episode to learn!
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#44 - How to Work a Crowd from 2018-03-16T07:00:39
Today, we talk about specific tactics on how you can better work a crowd. This includes modeling the flow of your set after theatre as well as being more engaging with the audience by improving you...
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#43 - Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan from 2018-03-15T07:00:04
What is a post-show game plan and how can you use it to revolutionize your music career? Find out what all successes do after their "main event" and how you can apply those same lessons to your tou...
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#42 - Weekly Recap: Best Ideas to Get You On Shark Tank from 2018-03-14T07:00:28
What are the parallels between the music industry and the TV show shark tank? In this week's recap, we talk about the best ideas that you can apply to get you ready for the big moments in your care...
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#41 - Interview: How Phillip Broussard Uses His Finance Background to Hack the Music Industry from 2018-03-13T07:00:49
In today's episode, we speak with Navy veteran, business maven, and John Mayer inspired blues-pop artist Phillip Broussard. Check out his work: Listen
#40 - Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music from 2018-03-12T07:00:41
What is strategic philanthropy and how can you use it in your music business? Today, we learn about creating partnerships with non-profit organizations so you can raise the profile of your music wh...
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#39 - 8 Tips to Help You Sell More Merchandise from 2018-03-11T11:00
The two ways of increasing revenue from merchandise are increasing profits and decreasing expenses. However, sometimes it simply means just selling more product in general. Today, we go over 8 s...
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#38 - How Artists Can Use the Scientific Method to Hack Their Careers from 2018-03-10T07:00:38
You might remember the Scientific Method from your high school days, but what you may not realize is that it can unleash your music business potential. Here are the 8 steps of the Scientific Metho...
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#37 - Managers, Publicists, Booking Agents, and Lawyers: What Do They Do and When Should You Hire Them? from 2018-03-09T07:00:24
As your music business grows, you'll need to consider expanding your team beyond just your core band members. The four most important people in your career that can help you take things to the next...
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#36 - How to Book a Tour for Your Band, Step-by-Step from 2018-03-08T07:00:26
Today's episode provides an overview on one of the most important parts to your music career: touring. There's no question that touring is one of the most effective ways of building a regional or n...
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#35 - Weekly Recap: Social Media Hacks for Bands from 2018-03-07T07:00:05
#34 – Lessons Learned from Writing 2,200 Songs and Touring 100k Miles with Gayle Skidmore: An interview with the N...
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#34 - Lessons Learned from Writing 2,200 Songs and Touring 100k Miles with Gayle Skidmore from 2018-03-06T07:00:20
Gayle Skidmore could be described as a serial songwriter, a nonstop touring machine, and one of the most talented singer-songwriters I've had the pleasure of knowing. She's won multiple awards from...
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#33 - 5 Big Tips That Can Save Your Tour from 2018-03-05T07:00:50
There’s a lot of great advice out there about how to book a tour but I haven’t found many things about how to survive on tour. Today, I talk about 5 big tips that can help you endure the dang...
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#32 - How Bands Can Create Reaction Videos to Get More Views from 2018-03-04T07:00:26
Have you noticed the growing trend of reaction videos? They're funny and sometimes emotionally moving but more importantly, they're addicting. In today's episode, we'll talk about how can bands inc...
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#30 - Hacks for Booking College Gigs from 2018-03-02T07:00:24
It's pretty well known that colleges are a great market for musicians to make some decent money. But how do you get in and how can you make the most of the experience? In today's episode, we talk a...
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#31 - How to Get Better Pricing From Your Merchandise Suppliers from 2018-03-02T04:18:27
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#29 - When Should You Boost Facebook Posts? from 2018-03-01T07:00:08
With the ever-changing algorithm that is showing less and less of your content to your Facebook followers, it's tempting to just boost your way out of the problem. But is it worth it? What about Fa...
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#28 - 28 Days of Music Business Hacks from 2018-02-28T07:00:01
A recap of where we are 28 days after launching this podcast, including some of the best ideas from the month and where we're going next. Today is the last day to enter the giveaway. Listen
#27 - Recording Studio Hacks with Victor Franca of Track Town Records from 2018-02-27T07:00:45
An interview with Victor Franca, one of the partners and lead engineer at Track Town Records in Eugene, OR. Resources & Recommendations: Must-have microphones: Listen
#26 - Return on Investment (ROI) on Merchandise from 2018-02-26T07:00:54
Have you ever stopped to calculate your true ROI on your band's merchandise, music, and products? Have you incorporated the idea of turns so you have a better idea what moves more quickly? Here's h...
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#25 - How to Get the Opening Slot for a Major Tour/Band from 2018-02-25T07:00:26
There are a few ways to make sure you get to open for a major artist in town. Today, we'll talk about the options that you have available and the pros and cons of each. Resour...
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#24 - Every Musician Needs an Intraband Agreement from 2018-02-24T07:00:47
It’s good to set realistic expectations over each other’s duties as well as having a plan on how money, responsibilities, debts, and things will be divided. What if some band members believe ...
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#23 - Booking SXSW and Other Music Festivals from 2018-02-23T07:00:04
If you've ever wondered how to book SXSW and if it's even worth the trouble, money, and energy to get there, you definitely need to take a listen. Then, create a decision making metric to help with...
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#22 - How to Get a Sponsor pt. 2: Approaching Sponsors from 2018-02-22T07:00:23
Today's episode is on beginning the sponsorship conversation.
If you’ve done the preliminary work of making your brand attractive to sponsors, developing your nic...
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#21 - Weekly Recap: It's All About Value from 2018-02-21T07:00:14
This week, we covered a couple of big ideas but they can really be summed up in one theme: it's all about value Episo...
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#20 - It's a Long Way to the Top if You Wanna Rock with Eric Stuart from 2018-02-20T07:00:34
Brooklyn born and raised singer/songwriter Eric Stuart is a special blend of talent. He has successfully combined the world of music, voice acting and directing for many years. Besides starri...
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#19 - The Non-obvious Stuff Every Musician Should Carry from 2018-02-19T07:00:25
What are the tools that every touring musician should have them with at all times? Tools/Gadgets to check out:
#18 - The Surprising Benefits to Transcribing Your Own Music from 2018-02-18T07:00:40
Transcribing your music involves translating everything from a piece of music that is performed to written form. It's dictation for music. Action items for today: - St...
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#17 - Breaking Into New and Unexpected Markets for Your Music from 2018-02-17T07:00:45
Looking at the traditional methods of making new fans as well as new and unexpected ways of making new fans. How do you measure the return investment? How can leverage old school methods with uncon...
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#16 - Hacking Yelp for Your Music from 2018-02-16T07:00:45
Have you ever thought about using Yelp as a viable social media platform to sell music and get more fans to your shows? That's right, Yelp. The food sharing guide. 3 Actions Steps:...
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#15 - How to Get on the TED stage from 2018-02-15T07:00:51
The TED stage has a certain clout of prestige in our society. But how do you get there? Today, we talk about how delivering value with consistency can earn opportunities like the TED and TEDx stage...
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#14 - Weekly Recap: SMARTER Crowdfunding from 2018-02-14T07:00:03
A big week of big ideas! This recap goes over: Episode 8: SMARTER Goals - Your goals should be specific, measurabl...
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#13 - Kicking It With Kickstarter Record Breaker Shanna Germain from 2018-02-13T07:00:04
An interview with author and crowdfunding success story, Shanna Germain. An award-winning writer and editor, she has published more than 350 stories, novellas, novels, articles, essays and books. S...
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#12 - Crowdfunding Your Way to the Top from 2018-02-12T07:00:07
Everything you need to know about Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other sites. Whether you are raising money or crowdsourcing for ideas, we talk about the best practices to apply in campaigns. Whether ...
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#11 - Find New Sources of Inspiration from 2018-02-11T07:00:41
Today, we talk about how you can continue to get inspiration for your music. We focus on two main action items: - Create an Idea Book - Learning to Write Stories - See What's Selling, Then Do Somet...
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#10 - Getting Venues to Respond from 2018-02-10T07:00:49
If you're having trouble getting venues to respond to your messages, you need to listen to this episode. We'll go over 7 key tips in improving your booking email response rates as well as activitie...
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#9 - Perfecting Your Pitch from 2018-02-09T07:00:53
Imagine you had an opportunity to directly pitch your music to the record label of your dreams - what would you say? Today's episode focuses on one of the most important skills needed to advance in...
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#8 - SMARTER Goals from 2018-02-08T07:00:51
"If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time" - Zig Ziglar How you can make goals SMARTER: S - Specific M - Measurable A - Attainable ...
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#7 - Weekly Recap: Changing Your Habits from 2018-02-07T07:00:53
Our very first weekly recap covers the launch of the Music Business Hacks podcast, including some of the ideas from: Episode 1: Welcome to the Mus...
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#6 - From Sweeping Floors to Smashing Success with DaRealWordSound from 2018-02-06T07:00:54
Our first weekly industry interview is with DaRealWordSound, AKA Elwin G. Williams, III. He is known for his eccentric flow, hardcore nerdcore beats, and his big heart. He's toured wit...
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#5 - How to Stay Healthy While on Tour from 2018-02-05T07:00:49
In today's episode, we focus on some basic but important guidelines for staying healthy while on tour. From eating properly to the type of exercise you can do while in a van, these habits will help...
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#4 - Don't practice. Rehearse instead. from 2018-02-04T07:00:03
Perhaps the biggest impact on your live performance is how you approach practices and rehearsals. In this episode we focus on:
- The difference between practicing and rehearsing
- 3 E... Listen
#3 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.1: Creating Partnerships from 2018-02-03T07:00:08
Have you ever wondered how to get money and products to support your tour, album, and other music business efforts? I today's episode, we spend some time redefining what it means to get a sponsor a...
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#2 - How to Book Better Shows from 2018-02-02T07:00:16
Learning to book shows is one of the most essential skills for any performer. However, no one teaches how to do it and there isn't really any set, consistent method. Today, we'll focus on advancing...
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#1 - The Most Important 15 Minutes of Your Day from 2018-02-01T13:57:36
Do you have 15 minutes to spare? If you want to spend more time doing something for your music career and less time waiting for opportunities to arrive, then you'll want to subscribe to this podcas...
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#0 - Introducing Music Business Hacks from 2018-01-31T17:55:45
Welcome to the Music Business Hacks podcast! This episode introduces who this podcast is for, what will do, and how you can be entered in to win a book + consultation package just for sharing your ...
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