#345: 10 Ways to Simplify Your Instagram Ads
Running ads for your music isn’t easy, no matter what the experts tell you. But it CAN be one of the best ways to reach new listeners and build a lasting audience of fans and…
#297: How to Find Your First True Fans
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…
#296: How to Book Gigs in 2022
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…
#295: The Post-Pandemic Plan for Musicians
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?…
#294: Before you remove your music, listen to this!
You’ve likely seen some famous artists announcing they’re removing their music from streaming platforms like Spotify. These major artists can have an equally major influence on the music industry, and they may even inspire independent…
#293: NFTs for Musicians, Pt 2
You might know what NFTs are, how they work and how to create and sell them. But…should you? That’s a totally different question. In part two of our series on NFTs, we talk through some…
#292: NFTs for Musicians, Pt 1
NFTs have been hyped as digital collectibles; as a way of building community; as a new format that could potentially revolutionize the music industry; as a way to return value directly to artists for their…
#291: Making an impact with cover art
The cover art for your single or album is one of the first points of contact that you have with your listeners, so it’s important to make a compelling first impression. After all, your cover…
#290: What every artist needs to know about mechanical royalties
What are mechanical royalties and how do you get them? If your music is not listed with the MLC, you’re missing out on mechanical royalties you’ve earned. That’s YOUR money! So how do you collect…
#289: 10 creative challenges to get you out of your songwriting rut
Writer’s block happens to everyone, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t frustrating when you’re trying to create and coming up blank. If you’ve found yourself in a songwriting slump, try these fun challenges to dig…
#288: Is social media dead for musicians?
When it comes to sustaining your music career, is social media… Dead? Dying? A zombie? Still the greatest tool we have, even though it’s killing our souls one post or doomscroll at a time? In…
#287: The new rules for cover art
Contrary to the old idiom, people DO judge a book by its cover. And the same goes for music. If your release’s cover artwork is blurry, unnecessarily cluttered or just downright ugly, it could put…
#286: Music predictions for 2022
Given that there’s no ONE path to success these days, CD Baby has made sure to empower artists in a myriad of ways: digital music revenue, publishing administration, sync licensing, physical manufacturing and distribution, social…
#285: What independent musicians can learn from The Beatles’ Get Back
It may feel like there are few applicable lessons to learn from the unrivaled career of The Beatles. They were icons. They were giants. They were… mere mortals? Yep. Humans, just like the rest of…
#284: Releasing music for the first time
Are you planning to release your first song? Or… your first song in a while? There is a lot you’ll encounter along the way that might be new to you. Let’s talk about all the…
#283 – Bryan Ewald: Artist endorsements and diversifying revenue
Even megastars “piece it together.” Ticket sales, merch, streaming, publishing, appearances, sponsorships, the list goes on. But how can a DIY musician earn a living via a diversified revenue stream that includes production, session work,…
#282: Band Vs. Solo Artist – How You Make Decisions
One decision, whether to go solo or work with a group, can have a huge impact on how you make, market, and monetize your music. In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk through some of…
#281: E-commerce 101 for musicians
What separates full-time from part-time musicians often comes down to merch sales — not just at gigs, but ONLINE too. Do you have YOUR e-commerce game dialed in? Are you profitably selling shirts, hats, CDs, vinyl,…
#280: Jackie Venson – Adapting for success
In this episode, which was recorded at the 2021 virtual DIY Musician Conference, Jackie Venson details how she adapted for continued success during the uncertain times brought on by the pandemic. Not only has she…
#279: Productivity hacks for musicians
As a DIY artist, you need to manage every aspect of your music creation and marketing. At the same time, your audience’s attention span is shortening, so you feel the pressure to be MORE productive…
#278: 10 music videos you should be making right now
As a musician today, your VIDEO presence is likely what has the most impact on your ability to reach new listeners and engage your fans. So you need a steady flow of good video content….
#277: Tips for getting back on the stage in 2021
Are you ready, like REALLY ready, for the return of live gigs? In this episode, Kevin and Chris talk about what artists should (and shouldn’t) be doing to make the most of the return to…
#276: How I grew my Spotify monthly listeners over 2,000%!
Growth on Spotify. We all want it. And there are a hundred online courses teaching you how to run PAID traffic to boost your streams. But Siren and the Sea grew their monthly listeners on…
#275: How you know when you’re ready?
DIY musicians don’t actually want to do it all themselves. Nor should they! BUT… there’s a right time and wrong time to grow your team, take a big risk, or attempt the next big thing….
#274: Create the perfect release plan
We have big dreams whenever we releases new music — more fans, more money, more recognition. But there’s a difference between a goal and a wish. In this episode, Kevin and Chris provide a detailed framework…
#273: 6 Music Trends that are wasting your time
As musicians, our most valuable resource is time. Yet we often spend that time on things that don’t matter. Or that won’t help us achieve our actual goals of growing and engaging with our fanbase….