Want your songs placed in TV and film productions? Had success in sync licensing, but you’re looking to secure higher-profile placements? In this episode, Kevin talks with Cathy Heller, an independent artist who quit trying to “make it†in music via the traditional route, and focused instead on sync licensing, becoming a go-to source for music supervisors. Cathy shares some great ideas and tips in this podcast that will help you get more out of your music catalog.
#168: 6 tips for making a no-budget music video
A music video is a practically required these days when promoting new music. But most DIY artists don’t have a budget left for video production after all the expenses of recording, manufacturing, and distributing an album. How can you create a no-budget music video? In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about six principles for producing a quick, “cheap,” and creative music video. These are guidelines Chris developed while shooting the music video for his song “Anonymous,†which recently premiered on KCRW and cost $0 to produce. Have you shot a low-budget (or no-budget) video that you’re proud of? We’d love to see it. Leave a link (and the backstory) in the comments for this episode.
#167: The 4 pillars of a successful performance
Just because you wrote a song and happen to be standing on a stage doesn’t make you a great performer. Captivating a live audience is a skill all its own, one that you must learn and practice — just like your instrument. In this episode, performance coach Tom Jackson reveals the 4 pillars of a good live performance. Take these tips to heart, integrate them into your rehearsals, and you’ll be on your way to building a die-hard fanbase, packing out venues, and driving more merch sales.
Check out all of Tom’s performance resources at OnstageSuccess.com
#166: The singles vs. album release debate
Once upon a time, the single ruled. Then, for almost half a century, the album dominated. Now that the means of distribution are in YOUR hands, which format makes the most sense for your music? In this episode, Kevin and Chris each pick a side of the argument — singles vs. albums — and discuss the pros and cons of each. Plus, some big news from SoundCloud!
#165: Are exclusive blog features worth it?
Blog premieres and exclusives have become a ubiquitous way of promoting new music, but are they WORTH it? Some blogs are putting an end to the practice on their own sites, and many musicians are starting to weigh the pros and the cons of exclusivity. In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about a series of song and video premieres leading up to the release of Chris’ new album: the good, the bad, the flakey, the futile, and a couple big wins!
#164: Is “marketing” destroying your music career?
Music Marketing: it’s either the art of effectively communicating your story to potential fans or it’s an utter waste of time spent staring at computer monitors and smartphone screens. How can you tell the difference? How can you tell if your marketing “strategy” will lead you on a path towards success? In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss the good and ill of social media, music apps, and internet marketing trends. Have an opinion? Call our listener line at 360-524-2209 or leave a comment in the show notes.
#163: Justin Evans – How LANDR instant mastering works
Audio mastering is often the last, mysterious step in preparing a new song or album for mass consumption. That’s if you’re lucky. A lot of artists skip the mastering process for various reasons (time, budget, etc.), and the end results suffer. Now with the automated mastering service LANDR, you can instantly master a track, compare the results with your original mix, and — if you like it — pay a small fee to download the high-quality audio file. But how does it work? How does it stack up against an experienced mastering engineer? And what kinds of artists should be using LANDR? In this episode, LANDR co-founder and CEO Justin Evans talks with Kevin to answer all of these questions and more.
You can master a track right from your CD Baby member dashboard. Go HERE to sign in or create an account.
Want the full professional mastering experience? Check out The SoundLab HERE.
#162: Becky Yee – Are your artist photos a barrier or gateway to your music?
Like it or not, photography plays a huge part in how people HEAR your music. Yep, it’s true. Visuals are often the introduction to your artist story, and to the story of your music too. In this episode, talented commercial photographer Becky Yee tells us how to find a good photographer, set up a productive photo shoot, get the shots you need, or capture quality photos yourself — on the cheap. Say cheese!
You can find out more about Becky and here work HERE.
#161: How to double your merch sales overnight!
Want to move twice as many CDs at your next show? Hear all about the merch-table makeover that happened for Chris Robley during his seven-night residency last month, and how switching a few simple things around made a huge difference. In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk merch tips, pet peeves, and more — plus big news about Spotify, the RIAA, SoundExchange, and a crazy good deal on CD Baby distribution.
Get in on the $29 for 29 days deal. Check out the video HERE.
#160: Budi Voogt – How to market your music on SoundCloud
SoundCloud provides artists with a unique ecosystem in which to promote music and build an audience. But like with most online tools, the more musicians that use SoundCloud, the harder it is to cut through the noise. In this episode, Budi Voogt, author of The SoundCloud Bible, provides some tips and tricks for using the audio platform to connect with new fans.
Get more info about The SoundCloud Bible HERE.
#159: Musical goals and predictions for the biz in 2016
What are your music goals for 2016? Do you work best when other people can hold you accountable? We do too. That’s why in this episode, Kevin and Chris each list a few things they hope to accomplish with their music-making in the year ahead. Plus, some guesses at what the music industry will look like 12 months from now. What’s your prediction?
#158: Top 5 album release mistakes
Putting out a new album is a rare opportunity to rally fans, the press, and other segments of the industry around your music and your story. It took a lot of work to get your album ready for release, so don’t squander a chance for promotion and sales that only comes around once in a while. In this special episode of the DIY Musician Podcast, Kevin and Chris — in front of a live audience — discuss some of the most common mistakes musicians make when releasing new music (and what you SHOULD be doing instead).
#157: The Star Wars Episode – What artists can learn from epic mistakes!
#156: Annie Lin – How to legally sell a cover song
You’ve recorded a really unique cover version of your favorite song and you can’t wait for your fans to hear it. But hold on a second! Have you secured the proper license to release that tune? In this episode, Kevin speaks with Annie Lin from Loudr about when, why, how, and who an artist needs to pay in order to distribute a cover song, and what can go wrong if you don’t properly license your cover song before its release — plus, a little about how Loudr makes cover song licensing easy for independent artists today.
License your cover songs at Loudr.Fm HERE
#155: Roundtable – The Official DIY Musician Conference Recap
Heads are abuzz and hearts are aglow after CD Baby’s first-ever DIY Musician Conference. What made this event so special? What were the key lessons learned over three jam-packed days of workshops, mentoring sessions, and panel discussions? Kevin and Chris talk about some highlights that are applicable to your music career. Plus, music news: the launch of YouTube Red, Apple Music’s subscription numbers, and Adele’s newest hit video.
#154: Simon Tam – A band name trademark story
Should you trademark your artist/band name? Should an artist even care about a trademark? These questions – and many more – will be answered as we follow the band The Slants on a trademark journey that’s taking them all the way to Federal Court and could potentially change the United States Constitution.
The Slants website is HERE.
The band agreement mentioned in the podcast is HERE.
#153: Roundtable – The DIY Musician Conference Preview
CD Baby has built a better, stronger, friendlier music conference geared specifically towards DIY artists. But why? And how? And where? And what can you expect when you attend? In this episode, Chris and Kevin talk about the event, what they’re most excited about, and how you can make the most of your time at the conference. Plus music news, listener calls, and questions for our resident music publishing expert.
#152: Roundtable – The Apple Music Review
Has the launch of Apple Music been a dazzling success or a dud? Will fans and artist actually use Apple Connect? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about Apple’s new music streaming service, what they got right, what they got wrong, and what effect any of this will have on musicians and music consumers.
Call our listener line to weigh in: 360-524-2209
#151: Josh Collum – A micro sync success story
Micro-sync licensing might sound like small peanuts, but indie musician Josh Collum has earned over $200,000 from online sync opportunities, Audio Swap, YouTube lyric videos, and other user-generate content. In this episode, Josh talks about how he quickly grew his micro-sync revenues from a few hundred dollars a year to tens of thousands every quarter.
The soundtrack video referenced in this podcast can be found HERE.
Want to see how people are using music in wedding videos? Watch THIS.
#150: Roundtable – What artists need to know about Apple Music
Apple has officially announced their new music streaming service called Apple Music. The new service will be available for iOS users on June 30th. Will Apple Music change the music industry forever or will it be just another streaming options in a increasingly crowded field? Join Kevin and Chris as they look at the Apple Music launch through the indie musician lens. Do you have an opinion about what the Apple Music launch means to the industry? Call our listener line or email us to weigh in!
Check out all our articles on Apple Music:
How do i get my music on Apple Music?
What effect will Apple Music have on the industry?
How to claim your Apple Music artist profile through ‘Connect’
#149: Roundtable – How to craft your story
Your music is the last thing that matters. But once someone’s listening, it’s the ONLY thing that matters. Your artist story is what leads a listener to that moment. What IS your artist story, though? What is it comprised of? How do you craft it? How do you tell it? In this episode, Kevin and Chris are joined by music publicist Dmitri Vietze to answer these questions. Plus, more delays with YouTube Music Key, stats about smartphone usage at concerts, and more.
Get your tickets to the DIY Musician Conference HERE.
#148: Rob Filomena – Professionalizing your music rights
#147: Roundtable – Do release dates matter anymore?
The recording industry has determined that Friday will be the new global record release day — but in a digital world of endless options and instant delivery, does it make sense for every artist to put out new music at the same time? In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss how this change could affect independent musicians and music consumers. Plus, Tidal’s relaunch woes, Facebook boasting even more users, and publishing rights administration for UK artists.
#146: Roundtable – Your best touring tips!
A great tour can make you feel on top of the world. A bad tour can make you question everything. We asked CD Baby artists for advice when it comes to successful DIY touring, and how to make sure there are more ups than downs when logging miles in support of your music. In this episode, Kevin and Chris share their favorite bits of touring wisdom from the CD Baby community, plus they discuss the launch of Tidal, YouTube Music Key, and rumors of iTunes streaming.
The Doubleclicks article mentioned in this episode can be found HERE
The merch article mentioned in the episode is HERE
#145: Roundtable – How do you decide to turn down a gig?
It’s pretty much a universal experience that every artist has had; the drive home from a so-so gig where you can’t help but think it would have been better to pass on that one. But how do you decide? What are good indicators that a gig is better off left to someone else? In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss some key indicators they use to determine the value of a gig. How do you decide whether or not to turn down a questionable gig? Weigh in below in the comments section, or call our listener line at 360-524-2209.
Facebook’s list of most talked about songs is HERE
SoundExchange’s list of most streamed songs on digital radio is HERE