Are listeners leaning in at your gigs, or are they tuning you out? There are many ways to build a solid set list, but lots of ways to lose your audience too. In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about the different kinds of sets musicians perform, and how to put the right songs in…

A good band name is hard to com by. Before you decide what you’re going to call yourself as an artist, listen to this episode. Kevin and Chris list a number of common problems with band names, how to avoid them, and WHY your artist name can spell the difference between success and obscurity.

Live-streaming gives you as a DIY musician a consistent, low-cost way to reach listeners on huge social platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and more. You can also format your broadcasts in a number of ways: concerts, talking about your songs, AMAs, and more. In this episode, Kevin asks Chris Robley about his bi-weekly series of…

In this listener feedback episode, Kevin and Chris answer emails and calls from DIY musicians who are wondering how to market their music in the streaming world, how to brand themselves, how to make sure every sale counts, and more. Plus, news about Amazon and Google introducing free, ad-supported streaming to Echo and Google Home…

In this live taping of the DIY Musician Podcast, CD Baby’s Kevin Breuner and Chris Robley compare notes on how they launched and managed their “Free + Shipping & Handling” campaigns to give away their newest CDs for free — while STILL making a profit, building their email lists, and converting casual listeners into fans….

A good producer can turn your songs into masterpieces. But a bad producer can ruin more than just your recordings. They can sap your self-confidence, wreck your reputation, and exhaust your energy and bank account. In this episode, Kevin and Chris give some pointers on how to find a good producer, what to expect of…

The foundations of music marketing stay pretty solid: capture attention, offer value, lead listeners on a journey from awareness to action. But the house you build on that foundation is always shifting. What older marketing strategies still work for musicians in 2019? What are the new tools to tell your story? How do the shifting…

At CD Baby, we are always looking for new and innovative ways for artists to market and promote their music. That’s why we’re happy to announce  Spotify audio ads and banner ad targeting as a new additions to our Show.co marketing platform. In this episode. Kevin and Jason (Found.ee) walk through the new features that…

Are you standing in the way of your own success? Are you accidentally making it harder to accomplish your music goals? In this episode Kevin and Chris talk about 25 kinds of self-sabotaging artist. Are you one of them? Listen in to make sure you’re not creating obstacles in your music career.  

As we close out 2018, we have another episode dedicated (mostly) to our listeners, where DIY musicians call and email with great questions and tips! “Mostly” dedicated, because the episode begins with Kevin and Chris sharing some of the successful things they’ve tried recently while releasing singles, touring, marketing music, and selling new merch!  

Our listeners ask great questions, so we thought we’d do a whole episode taking calls and emails from DIY musicians, and then try our best to provide answers that aren’t bonkers. Plus, inspirational film and podcast recommendations that will help you close out 2018 on an upswing.    

The holiday season is the perfect time of year to crank up your music promotion efforts and try something new and different to engage your fans. In this episode, Kevin and Chris share their holiday promotion ideas and tips that take advantage of this special time of year. Plus, they reach into the mail bag…

Time to say goodbye to a few false assumptions that have been holding you back! The music industry has stayed loyal to some really destructive myths, so it’s always great to see when independent artists find new methods for success once they’ve freed themselves of bad or outdated ideas and habits. In this episode, Kevin…

Do “real” artists do cover songs? What kind of songs should you cover? And what are the different uses of a great cover version? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about the controversy and opportunities of recording or performing another songwriter’s material. Plus some great listener emails!  

The European market has a rich live-music tradition, but artists often feel lost when trying to infiltrate the scene as an outsider. However, with the aid of online tools like Google Translate and Skype, booking your own successful European tour might be easier than you think. In this session, recorded live at the 2018 DIY…

Once you’ve finished recording your new album or single there is still some work to do in order to get the release over the finish line. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss all the final pieces and bits of information needed to ensure success in the distribution process. Plus, we answer listener calls, emails,…

Streaming has opened up new opportunities for artists to get creative with the way they release music. What strategies actually work? How can you ensure your album release has maximum impact? In this episode that was recorded live (partially) at the 2018 DIY Musician Conference, Kevin and Chris will discuss the release mindset and strategies needed to…

The way musicians — heck, the way ANYONE uses Instagram today — is very different from how we used it years ago. Whether you’ve been marketing your music on Instagram for years or you’re brand new to the platform and have no idea what “Instagram Stories” even are, this episode will help you get the…

Whether you were at the 2018 DIY Musician Conference in Nashville, missed out, or didn’t even know it existed, Kevin and Chris talk about 8 lessons learned at the event, and how they apply to today’s independent musician. Plus, a few thanks and listener emails.  

Let’s get beyond the basics of Spotify playlists. How do you determine which playlists will actually make a difference for your career? How do you find them, hunt down the contact info of the curator (without being a creeper), and make an effective pitch? In this episode, Part 2 of our “Truth About Spotify Playlists”…

Rethinking everything you know about Spotify playlists means you have to revisit your assumptions. In this first of a two-part series, Kevin and Chris talk through the foundations of a playlisting strategy, touching upon a few common misunderstandings, and a few commonly missed opportunities.  

There are a million ways to promote a new release. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss some of the things they’ve tried with their new music to reach listeners and amplify that interaction — from proven promo strategies to untapped press opportunities. Also, lots of listener calls and questions. Hear Smalltown Poets’ new album…

The old ways and myths are strong. And many musicians are still making important decisions for their careers based on outdated practices and false assumptions. In this episode, taped in front of a live audience during Music Biz 2018 in Nashville, Kevin and Chris talk about everything you need to forget about the music industry….

Are you use Pandora AMP? It’s a no-brainer; DIY musicians should absolutely take advantage of these powerful (free) features of Pandora’s streaming service, particularly the Artist Audio Messages and Featured Track tools. In this episode, Kevin interviews Heather Ellis of the Pandora AMP team to explore how AMP and Next Big Sound can be used…

Have you been wasting your time on social media? Online tools and trends are constantly changing. In this live taping of CD Baby’s DIY Musician Podcast, Kevin Breuner and Chris Robley will discuss what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep your audience interested on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and more.