“How can I build a successful career without going on tour?†That’s one question we get asked a lot on the DIY Musician Podcast. Whether your travels are limited by a job, a family, or a disdain for sharing a van with stinky bandmates for weeks on end, in this episode, taped in front of a live audience at CD Baby’s DIY Musician Conference 2017, Kevin and Chris run down a list of ways to connect with audiences without ever leaving your home(town).
#193: The 2017 DIY Musician Conference preview + more!
What can artists learn and experience at 2017’s DIY Musician Conference in Nashville? In this episode, Kevin and Chris give a detailed conference preview to help you plan your trip. Plus Soundcloud news, listener questions, and a necessary game of bad cop/bad cop.
#192: Fake artist controversy and real artist questions
Spotify’s recent “fake artist†issue: a real streaming rights conspiracy, or a whole lot of nothing?  Who gets to decide what a “real artist†is anyway? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk through the controversy and also answer real emails and real phone calls from real listeners.
Articles referenced in this episode:
#191: Music streaming myths debunked
Many of the things you’ve probably heard about music streaming are wrong, yet those myths persist. Why? In this episode, Kevin and Chris debunk some of the prevalent music streaming myths, try to separate truth from fiction, and talk about the factors that have muddied the discussion within the music industry thus far. Plus, news about Jay-Z, music piracy, SoundCloud woes, and more.
#190: 5 music branding lessons from Third Man Records
Are you making a clear and powerful impression with your music releases, career choices, merch, visuals, and shows? In this episode, Chris and Kevin discuss five things they learned about artist branding from Jack White’s Third Man Records. Plus, big news about Spotify “payola,†a SCOTUS ruling on The Slants’ band name, and more.
See pictures and read more about Third Man Records:Â http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/music-promotion/5-branding-lessons-learned-third-man-records/
Revisit our “Authentic Artist Branding Bootcamp†episode: https://podcast.cdbaby.com/2016/10/175-authentic-artist-branding-bootcamp-diy-musician-podcast-live/
Hear the full story behind Simon Tam’s band-name trademark case: https://podcast.cdbaby.com/2015/09/episode-154-simon-tam-band-name-trademark-story/
#189: Cathy Heller – Turning musical inspiration into focused action
#188: Why you’re not making any money from your music
There’s a good reason why “poor musician†jokes abound: we aren’t known — by and large — for our financial acumen. Have you found yourself complaining about not making any money in this biz? Well, maybe it’s not just bad luck. It could be a bunch of small (and avoidable) mistakes that have kept you from a solid payday. In this episode Kevin and Chris list dozens of common reasons why musicians might not be making any (or enough) money.
#187: How to use Facebook Live to get results
Anyone can point a smartphone and hit the Facebook Live button. But can you put on a real SHOW through Facebook Live? IN this episode, Kevin talks with Wade Sutton and Amanda Jones about how they used Facebook’s streaming video feature — and a whole lot of planning and practice — to turn a live concert into a genuine online event
You can find out more about Amanda and her music HERE.
You can check out Wade Sutton’s company HERE.
#186: Jim Jesse – Copyright and music law for indie musicians
What rights are you entitled to when you create original music? WHY and HOW should you copyright your music? What happens if you don’t properly register your copyrights with the Library of Congress? How do you put together an agreement that’ll keep your band members happy and motivated? In this episode, entertainment lawyer Jim Jesse (RockNRollLaw.com) joins Kevin to talk through some of the common legal issues indie artists face, how to avoid them, and how to minimize the damage if your rights ARE being infringed upon.Â
#185: Is your age an obstacle to music success?
Yes, the entertainment industry is obsessed with newness and youth, but your age doesn’t have to be an obstacle to success. In fact, if you play it right, your history can be an asset. In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about some ways to make sure you’ll have a long-term career that matures with your listeners. Plus listener calls.
#184: Jack Conte – How to get fans
The biggest thing holding your music back might be YOU! In this episode you’ll hear Jack Conte (of the band Pomplamoose) talk about the importance of creative momentum, the crippling effect of premature self critique, and why you need to put out as much music as possible to create the widest “funnel†for your potential fans. Are you finding more obstacles than inspiration in your music career? Jack will give you a good kick in the pants. It’s a fun and insightful speech, which he delivered as the keynote of 2016’s DIY Musician Conference.
#183: How to get your music career started
You’ve finished your first recording, but how do you turn that into the start of an actual music career? In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss the essential steps you should take to begin (or restart) your music career on the right footing, make a good impression, and build your “brand” with intention. Plus some big streaming news.
#182: 60 ideas in 60 minutes
Recorded live at the 2016 DIY Musician Conference with Tony van Veen, Karen Marie Mason, Bob Baker, Martin Atkins, Chris Robley and Mark Hornsby. A solid hour of 60 quick tips on marketing, social media, songwriting, recording, distribution, PR, and artist management, jammed into a single, high-impact hour, presented by experts with decades of experience. Better get a pen and paper ready, these tips fly by fast!
Get tickets and book your hotel for the 2017 DIY Musician Conference HERE.
#181: How to get your music on Spotify playlists, Pt 2
The first step in establishing a playlisting presence on Spotify is to create your own playlists, seed them with your own music, and attract followers. But what works? What’s a waste of time? How do you get Spotify to take notice? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about their own recent playlisting experiences and share some best-practices and common mistakes.
Hear Pt 1 of this podcast HERE.
#180: How to get your music on Spotify playlists, Pt 1
Getting your music onto a popular Spotify playlist is the modern-day equivalent of having a hit song in a local radio market. It’s an important step in reaching a larger following, and it can drive significant revenue. But you don’t just GET a song placed in a curated Spotify playlist. You need to work your way towards that goal. In this episode, digital promotion expert Charles Alexander lays out a clear strategy with achievable steps that will help you get the attention of prominent playlist curators.
Part 2 of How to get your music on Spotfy playlists is found HERE.
#179: How I got 50,000 views in 3 days
Checking the data — it’s probably NOT the most inspiring aspect of your music career, right? But the key to success could be waiting just below the surface of those daily reports and analytics. You just need to make a habit of looking, noticing the trends, and adjusting to the unexpected. That’s what Kevin Breuner did last month, using his Pandora AMP data and CD Baby trending reports to drive 55k+ views of his band’s Facebook video in a matter of days. In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about how and why that video gained such quick momentum. Plus music news, listener comments, and three cheers for the most reviled football team in America.
Read more and see some of the data HERE.
#178: Your questions and our answers
#177: Musician’s guide to conquering the holidays
“Christmas time is here again,” as the Beatles once sang, bringing with it a huge spike in music sales, streaming activity, concert opportunities, YouTube ad revenue, tablet and smartphone purchases, and more. Is your music ready to conquer Christmas this year? In this episode, Kevin and Chris draw up plans for you to make the most impact with your music during the holidays.
#176: Ari Herstand – 26 things to do before you release your song or album
Are you really ready to release your new music? In the frenzied juggling act that leads up to the launch of a new song or album, it’s easy to miss some crucial things, or let them slip through the cracks because you’re over-eager, under-prepared, or just not properly informed. In this episode, DIY musician and musician advocate Ari Herstand gives you a step-by-step checklist so you’ll be sure that your new music has the best chance of succeeding when it meets the world.
Get Ari’s new book here:Â http://smarturl.it/aribook
#175: The Authentic Artist Branding Bootcamp (DIY Musician Podcast Live!)
Most musicians are terrible at telling their story and describing their sound. Why? We’re inside the music AND the mind that made it, so it’s easy to lose perspective. But a band that has a solid grasp on their branding has a huge advantage over acts that don’t. In this episode, taped live at the 2016 DIY Musician Conference, Chris and Kevin lead you through a handful of exercises that will help you identify what makes you unique, and how to communicate it clearly to the world.
#174: 12 Tips for a Better Band Website
You don’t need to completely redesign your website to keep your fans engaged. Sometimes all it takes is a few simple tweaks. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss 12 tips that will help you get the most out of your current website — plus big streaming news (and a major discount on web hosting and distribution fees)!
Get a pro musician website + unlimited music distribution HERE.
#173: Kevin Breuner – Cutting Through the Noise
How do you get music noticed in a world that has become so noisy? Is it possible to get anyone’s attention in an age where we’re bombarded with constant messaging and information? In his opening keynote for the 2016 DIY Musician Conference, Kevin lays out the foundation for cutting through the noise and getting people to take notice.
#172: The 2016 DIY Musician Conference Preview
Deep voice: “In a world where one thousand independent musicians take over a historic and haunted hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago for the weekend…” For this episode, Kevin and Chris give a preview of the DIY Musician Conference and talk about the moments they’re most looking forward to. Plus big music streaming news.
#171: 10 mistakes you might be making with your music right now
We like to think we’re unique as snowflakes, but we musicians can be pretty similar when it comes to the mistakes we (continue to) make. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss 10 common errors and oversights many DIY artists are guilty of. Are you guilty too? Plus, news about SoundCloud albums, Spotify playlists, the DIY Musician Conference, and more.
#170: How to deal with negative press and bad reviews
Bad reviews, negative YouTube comments, hecklers: we all experience them from time to time. Criticism is an inevitable part of putting your music out there, but still it always seems to hurt. What are some productive ways to deal with criticism? In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about the good and bad ways in which they’ve responded to negative feedback on their music, and ask listeners to share their stories too.