Imagine a terrifying world where you’re an… independent musician. Boo!

In this spooky Halloween-themed episode, Kevin and Chris talk about musician horror stories — both the kind that are common amongst DIY artists and a few uncommonly strange, scary, and disastrous stories submitted by listeners.

 

How did an artist who’d been told NO by everyone in the industry blaze her own path to success using TikTok? In this episode, Britnee Kellogg reveals the details behind her massive achievement, sharing the whole story of how she went from 0 to 1,000,000 TikTok followers in a short amount of time. Whether you’re a TikTok pro or total novice, this interview should both inform and inspire!

 

When recording artists are just starting out, they often overcomplicate things that are simple, and underestimate things that will be difficult. This confusion might just be a matter of inexperience, and the artists will learn as they go. But sometimes that confusion is actually caused by well-meaning industry “veterans” stepping in too soon to give poorly-timed (and often intimidating) advice.

In this episode we’ll set the record straight and tell new artists what they should ACTUALLY prioritize when they’re getting ready to release music for the first time.

No matter what genre of music you make, TikTok is one of your biggest opportunities for finding fans and building an audience today. If you still feel like you’re sitting on the sidelines while the rest of the music industry rushes headlong into TikTok, this is the episode for you — a broad overview of TikTok for musicians. Kevin and Chris describe what makes TikTok unique in the social media landscape, how the algorithm surfaces content, a few tricks for driving TikTok engagement, and much more. Plus listener feedback!

One of our most frequently asked questions is “How can I promote my music?” In the era of limitless opportunities for music promotion on social media, through email and with new formats like short-form video, it can be difficult to know where to start.That’s why we compiled this list of 50 promo ideas and crammed it all into 50 minutes!

If you think you need to spend thousands of dollars shooting a professional looking music video just to get people to watch, think again! Short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels and trusty standbys like YouTube have made it easier than ever for indie artists to reach new fans with quick, affordable videos. In this live podcast recording from the 2022 DIY Musician Conference, Kevin and Chris explain how to make music videos without breaking your wallet or testing your patience. 

With hundreds of attendees both in person and virtual, dozens of presentations from industry insiders and countless jam sessions, mentoring workshops and after parties, the 2022 DIY Musician Conference was the biggest and best indie music event of the year! If you were there, you doubtless made some connections that will last the rest of your music career. If you weren’t, this Conference recap is the next best thing.Kevin and Chris discuss their five takeaways and highlights from the weekend in Austin. And they give us a preview of what’s next for the DIY Musician Conference.

Live music is officially back! If you’re an artist who plays live often, Bandsintown is an essential tool for listing and promoting your shows.From notifying fans about when you’ll be in their area, to recommendation algorithms to get your music in front of more listeners and a free email platform right in your account, Bandsintown offers artists plenty of ways to connect with fans new and old. Bandsintown Managing Partner Fabrice Sergent joins the podcast to discuss the platform. Learn about Bandsintown’s offerings for artists and fans, and how they’ve pivoted during and after the pandemic.

Touring and playing live can be a great way to expand your audience, sell merch and interact with your existing fans. But there are also many things that can go wrong on the road. From vehicle troubles to poor sound systems to fatigue, we address all the issues artists face on tour, and how to handle them.

Before anyone ever hears your music, they need to be convinced to listen. Maybe they’re getting a recommendation from a friend or they see a cool Instagram ad or blog review. Maybe it’s an eye-catching album cover.But sometimes it’s the description of the music that captures someone’s imagination. But you don’t have all day to sell someone on your music. So your description has to pack a punch.Learn how to come up with a compelling elevator pitch for your unique sound with the help of Chris Robley and special guest Cristina Cano.

With Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” seeing runaway success after their placement in Stranger Things, sync licensing is back in the news. While these are classic hits from veteran artists, independent musicians can also benefit from just one big sync placement.Learn how sync can change your music career and get expert advice from special guest CD Baby Manager of Sync Licensing Brett Byrd.

Even in the age of singles, there are many benefits to releasing an album. Learn why you should keep albums part of your release strategy, and how to successfully release an album.

With 60,000 new tracks released on Spotify every day, you need an advantage that will help your music rise above the noise and get noticed amidst that daily mountain of new music.You can’t leave it to luck. Your advantage will come from work, strategy, connections, and collaboration. And you can find all of that at the DIY Musician Conference.Learn how to prepare, what to bring, and most importantly: What to achieve when it’s all happening!

Most people in the world don’t know what it’s like to put themselves and their ideas out into the world. There’s a level of vulnerability involved in releasing your music for others to hear. These are your hopes and dreams, your thoughts and ideas and your creativity all on display. From the indie newcomer to the seasoned singer-songwriter with a dozen albums to their name, we all have moments of doubt in our music journey. That’s why we’ve outlined seven ways to feel more confident about your music.

If your songs do well on Spotify, it means reach and revenue for your music. Sending the right signals to Spotify can lead to huge audience growth driven by personalized playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar.But sending the wrong signals to Spotify can ruin your presence on the platform, which means you’ll need to spend more time and effort to build back your standing. There are five major ways artists self-sabotage the work they’ve done on Spotify. We’ll outline each of them and offer some tips to build and maintain your presence on Spotify.

Having a plan and using the right tools is essential to building an audience for your music.In the second part of our two-part series Music Marketing 101, you’ll learn how to market your music on streaming platforms, social media and more. Reach your fans where THEY are!

Do you want music fans to hear your music, love it and stick with you for life? Of course! But that doesn’t happen automatically. It takes marketing to achieve this goal. And not just marketing, but GOOD marketing. Learn how to effectively market your music to grow your audience in part one of our two-part music marketing series. 

Are you looking to make more money from your music? Of course! We all are.The good news is there are more revenue streams for artists out there today than there have ever been. But most artists aren’t tapping into all of them. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing ALL the revenue streams for your music. Because there are probably a few you’re missing.

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Cover songs can be an amazing way for you to build an audience and reach new fans, but there are some right and wrong ways to do them. We’ll show you how to choose the best cover songs for different scenarios like live shows, studio recordings and social media. Tired of playing “Wagon Wheel” and “Don’t Stop Believing” over and over again? Or do you think covers are just for wedding bands? Learn how to do cover songs the right way so you build your audience and connect with existing fans, while still maintaining your artistic integrity.

 

The DIY musician podcast has been going strong for 15 years, and this is our 300th episode! This episode is a celebration of the amazing independent artists that make up now-massive segments of the music industry. It’s a celebration of all the people past and present here at CD Baby, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to level the playing field for all creators. And it’s a celebration of perseverance, because there were so many times where it would have been easier to let the podcast fade away. In this episode, we’ll discuss the podcast’s origin stories, how the music industry has changed and how that change impacts the future.

Growing and maintaining a sustainable music career is always a hot topic, especially as opportunities around music monetization continue to evolve. While some artists express frustration regarding streaming payouts, there are many more dependable ways to earn revenue from your music.Independent roots rock artist Adam Ezra has been proactive in connecting with his dedicated fans. This connection has allowed him to generate over $200,000 right from his Bandzoogle website. In our interview, Ezra provides some tips for indie artists to achieve the same level of success.

Get your own Bandzoogle website HERE!

If you’re not promoting your music with short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, you’re missing out on a major opportunity to grow your audience. And while everyone wants to go viral, actually achieving hit status on the social video platforms is difficult. That’s why we brought in experienced musician and viral content creator Gil Assayas to offer some expert advice on how to attract more viewers to your videos on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and more.

Whether you’re just starting out or it’s been a while since you’ve released new music, it’s important to find real, true fans. These are people who love your music for what it is, not because they know you personally. In this episode of the DIY Musician Podcast, you’ll learn how to find those first fans at live shows, online and in your local scene.

Real, live, in-person gigs are finally happening again! That means you should start thinking about getting back out on the road and on stage. But what if it’s your first time out, or your first time in a long time? Or you’re just looking for a leg up in the hyper competitive world of independent music? You should consider working with a talent buyer to help you book the right venues for your music. Talent buyer Jeff Tuohy joins the podcast to discuss everything you need to know to work with a talent buyer and book all the gigs you could ever play.

After two years of false starts and canceled tours, it’s finally time to plan for a post-pandemic music career. But with so many changes in the music industry, how do you get back on track? We’ll review the challenges you’ll face and provide helpful tips on booking tours, getting back on stage, marketing your music and much more.