Diy Musician Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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 musicians to remove their own music from streaming platforms. But is this something indie artists should do? Why would they want to? And what does it mean to cancel your music? We answer all that and more on this episode.

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 of the opportunities AND challenges when it comes to musicians creating and selling NFTs.

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 work. But what is the real opportunity for NFTs with musicians? Is there real profit to be made? Or are they just a fad? In part one of our series on NFTs, we outline everything musicians need to know to get started.

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 art won’t just live on streaming platforms. It might also inform your social media presence, your videos, your website design, your ads, and more. That’s a lot of brand touchpoints, so it’s important to have a cover image that works well with your music.

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 it? And just what is the MLC? We interviewed CEO Kris Ahrend for all the details, so this is a must listen!

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 out. You’ll emerge with a new perspective on your creative process, a revived outlook on music and -- most importantly -- a few new additions to your repertoire.

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 this episode, Kevin and Chris take stock of the state of affairs with social media and its ability to move a music career forward.

The new rules for album 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 off potential fans before they even click “Play.” In Part 1 of our 3-part series on cover art, we warn artists about some common mistakes, as well as provide guidelines you want to follow so your distribution goes smoothly.

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 video monetization, label services, and more. That’s a LOT of the music industry right there. Which also means we have a lot of experts in-house who are shaping the present with an eye to the future. In this episode, Kevin and Chris discuss what their predictions were for the music business in 2022, particularly as it relates to independent artists. Do you have a prediction to share?

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 us working musicians — bouncing between frustration and inspiration, struggling against their own flaws. And Peter Jackson's recent 8-hour documentary 'Get Back' lays that bare. In this podcast episode, Chris and Cristina unpack the many universal lessons that creative people should learn after watching the Beatles' process unfold in both catastrophic and triumphant ways.

Are you planning to release your first song? Or... your first song in a while? Let's talk about all the things you'll need and need to know to ensure your music gets out there as quickly and efficiently as possible.