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 And many musicians are still making important decisions for their careers based on outdated practices and false assumptions.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.

If you’re like most artists, you’ve been collecting fan emails to build that coveted email list. However, once you build that list, it’s hard to figure out what to send so your emails continue to feel fresh and useful to the people who subscribe. On this episode of the podcast, Cheryl Engelhardt is going to…

As musicians, we work hard to get press coverage. But when the moment arrives, we sometimes squander the opportunity, or worse, let it go completely off the rails. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss five surefire ways to ruin a press opportunity or interview. Oh, and how NOT to ruin your moment in the…

Independent musicians today have LESS time and MORE responsibilities. Plus, we can waste a lot of hours just daydreaming. How do you juggle all the DIY tasks without dropping the ball or wandering off track? In this episode Kevin talks with Suzanne of Rockstar Advocate about time-management strategies, finding a place of efficiency that balances…

Artists that create original music will make more money from on-demand streaming over the next five years. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss two recent wins for songwriters in the world of music streaming: a huge hike in interactive mechanical royalty rates, and the addition of songwriter and producer credits in Spotify’s track-level metadata….

Show.co’s music marketing tools make it easy for you to create online campaigns that will get your fans to take specific actions. But the effectiveness of these tools is directly related to the thought and creativity you put into your campaigns. In this episode, Kevin and Chris tell you how to get the most out…

Getting gigs and building out a tour is always a challenge for indie musicians. In this episode, Craig Grossman talks about how to utilize three proven methods for networking, contacting venues, and closing bookings. This episode, which was recorded at the 2017 DIY Musician Conference, will also teach you how to organize all the data…

What opportunities and challenges lie ahead for independent musicians in 2018, and what lessons can they carry forward from the past year? In this episode, Kevin and Chris do some soul searching, and a little industry analysis, to ask questions about where DIY artists stand right now. Plus, a bunch of great listener calls and…

Want to know how to grow your YouTube channel and increase audience interaction? In this session recorded at the 2017 DIY Musician Conference, YouTube’s Ted Kartzman chats with Hip Hop artist Illmac to break down the steps Illmac took to truly own his audience on YouTube.

Releasing singles is arguably more important for artists today than any time since the 1960s. But is there a RIGHT way to release a single?  In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about five key strategic concepts you should apply to the launch of any single. Plus, some great listener calls. Our publishing split sheet…

It’s not too late for your music to get a bump from the holiday season’s dependable spike in streaming, YouTube, and music-buying activity. Are you and your songs ready? In this episode, Kevin and Chris run down a list of both standard and unusual holiday promotion tips for your music — plus, a discussion about…

Streaming success often involves bucking conventional music industry wisdom. Are bad habits holding you back on Spotify? In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about common areas where artists are either missing opportunities or shooting themselves in the foot. Plus, they answer lots of listener calls. The Spotify article mentioned in the news section can…

The tools are there for you to monetize with Live Streaming! See what Dawn Beyer did to make over $74,000 in one year using FB Live and how you can too. Walk away with a clear understanding of how to use the tools to better engage and monetize your audience. You will also learn how…

There’s a big difference between making your music available and making your music connect. Thousands of new albums and singles are being “released” every day. But how do you make sure YOUR NEXT RELEASE will make an impact? In this discussion, you’ll hear from CD Baby’s Patrick Griffin, Anna Held, Ben Hubbird, and Chris Robley…

“I feel like I got $1000+ worth of information at the DIY Musician Conference,” said guitarist Lance Allen. If you weren’t with us in Nashville, we can’t give you a time machine, but we CAN share some takeaways, tips, and highlights. In this episode, Kevin and Chris recap their 2017 conference experience and also answer…

“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…

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.    

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: http://bit.ly/2uvhPxo http://bit.ly/2uvf8vV http://bit.ly/2v6pweV…

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…