Advice

A collection of 210 posts

Music

Why Releasing On A Thursday Might Be Costing You Chart Position

A song released at midnight Thursday and a song released 24 hours later can enter the world with the same marketing budget, the same fan base and the same playlist ambitions. By the following Thursday night, however, one has had eight days in public and the other seven. On the

Music

The Video Game Sync Market Indie Bands And Artists Are Missing

Everybody's chasing the same handful of Netflix and A24 sync spots. Same emails, same agencies, same thousand other bands pitching the exact same supervisors. Meanwhile there's a whole market sitting right next door, genuinely underserved, paying real money, and almost nobody in the indie world is

Music

Studio Tips That Changed The Way I Record

Recording can be intimidating, tricky, and oftentimes nerveracking. I have actively been recording music in different types of studios for the past 5 years, working in anything from home studios to spaces large enough to hold a symphony orchestra. Not only has it been more unique, but every time, it

Music

What I Wish I Knew Before Releasing My First Album

When I started recording my first album this past year, I finally felt like I was making something I was proud of. I wanted the story of the album to be a compilation of songs that made me who I am as an artist, built from songs that mean the

Music

Why Some Bands Are Choosing Slower Growth on Purpose

Every so often an artist's phone stops buzzing overnight, and the silence that follows a viral spike tells its own story. A growing number of musicians and their teams have started paying close attention to that silence, and building their careers around avoiding it altogether. For years the

Music

What Does It Take to Stand Out!

The Biggest question for emerging artists has shifted dramatically from  “How do I get the attention of the industry?” to “How do I get the attention of the right audience?” The so called music industry  ‘gatekeepers’ once carefully controlled who got signed, what songs were recorded and released, whose song

Music

Unleashing the Power of the Guitar: Tips, Techniques, and Tales

Let's dive into some essential topics and tips for guitar players of all levels: Choosing the Right Guitar: Finding the perfect guitar for your playing style, preferences, and budget is essential. Consider factors such as body shape, tonewood, neck profile, and pickup configuration when selecting your instrument. Don&

Music

Writer’s Block – It’s Unpredictable, Frustrating, but Fixable

Let’s talk about an ugly 500 lb. gorilla that can keep you tossing and turning all night.   If you’ve watched Bull Durham or Tin Cup you get the idea. It happens to Golfers, and Baseball Players. This syndrome works very much the same way for songwriters; what has

Music

Who am I? A Full Time Artist … In My Heart

Do you have a job considered non-creative to support your family and pay the bills? Do you hear that little voice inside your head or real voices from your immediate family or friends telling you “You are not a musician, you’re not an artist, you don’t do

Music

Physical Albums, or Digital Downloads?

Two burning questions have confounded the human race since the beginning of known existence: -       Why are we here? -       Should I print CDs or just offer a digital download of my new album? To stay within the word count of this column, we’ll only try to tackle the second question.

Music

Social Media Isn’t the Real Deal

by: Sarah Sokal In this day and age, social media conducts our lives. It defines the image we put out there into the internet stratosphere; it shapes who we are supposed to be. Yet, in over 95% of cases, what we see online has little to do with the real

Music

Why You Should Consider AI A Collaborator

There has never been a better time in history to do what you love and attract your ideal audience but let’s be honest, it’s not easy. The world has changed. The path to success isn’t a straight line anymore. There are no gatekeepers to go through, no

Music

To Share or Not to Share Writing Credits

“The medium is the message” - Marshall McLuhan. In my open the “message” of music is that it connects people. Whether sung around campfires as hunters and gatherers or seeing your favourite act in an arena. Unlike most other mediums when in a shared space it’s unavoidable – i.e., you

Music

The Cost of a Home Studio

There are many options, and everyone you ask will give you a different reason why their personal choice is best.  There are three ways to go:  1) A soundboard and outboard gear 2) In the box (recording and mixing entirely on the computer) 3) A hybrid combination  Let’s break

Music

Using Ticket Data to Plan Tours Before You Book Them

Somewhere between city four and city five on a badly planned tour, a band realizes the room they just played had 30 people in it and the room they're driving to next has even fewer reasons to fill up. For decades, routing a tour meant working off gut

Music

Touring - Life on the Road Can Have its Ups and Downs

Life on the road can have its ups and downs! Beyond doing your best to deliver a great performance there are many things to consider. Money is always a primary consideration. If you are touring to promote a new release you may not make much money. Oftentimes just aiming to

Music

Songwriting: The Art of Co-Writing

When the songwriting “mosquitos” start buzzing in my creative brain, my instinct is to jot down ideas — pen on paper. Yes, some prefer digital tools, but I’m old-fashioned and love the organic feel of writing by hand. Songwriting often begins as a personal process, but it’s a

Music

The Value in Writing About Music

When I first started my solo career, I wasn’t sure where to start in terms of putting myself into a music scene. It would require a lot of meeting new people—other artists, show runners, producers, session musicians, engineers, photographers, etc. When you’re starting from nothing, or when

Music

The Dark Side Of Home Recording

Before you hit Delete, can reading this SAVE you time ?? As I get older, along with music, TIME is my most valued commodity. So I’d only ask you to read this if I thought it could give you MORE time for music, and for life. We get a LOT

Music

Crafting Melodies and Lyrics: A Guide to Songwriting

Let's delve into some essential tips and techniques for crafting compelling melodies and lyrics: Inspiration and Creativity: Songwriting often begins with inspiration, so keep your senses open to the world around you. Draw inspiration from your personal experiences, emotions, observations, and imagination. Experiment with different approaches to spark

Music

Knowing Your Worth: A Quick Guide to Money Negotiation

One of the most daunting conversations to have as an artist is how much to charge to put on a show. First, make sure to think about why you want to play shows. This will set the tone for everything else. Performing live can give you the opportunity to promote

Music

Stage to Studio 101 for Guitarists

Congratulations! You’ve put together a killer band, written the next Sgt. Pepper’s, played fulfilling gigs to packed houses and now you’re ready for the next step; recording your music. You’re comfortable playing in rehearsal and live settings but haven’t been in a Recording Studio before

Music

Navigating Music in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

I love writing songs, both for myself and in genres that differ from my own style. For the Super Bowl, as a fun songwriting exercise, I wrote a Taylor Swift-inspired song about her relationship with Travis Kelce and shared a snippet on social media. The response was unexpected. Some

Music

What Makes You Successful

When you think of someone super successful, you may think of someone who has millions of fans, has made millions of dollars, has won awards, has worked with the best people, has done exceptional things, has seen spectacular places and have unquestionably achieved their goals and then some. From the

Music

Why “Pay What You Want” Still Works In 2026 (When Done Right)

There's something genuinely lovely about giving people the room to be generous, and it turns out, a lot of them are. Fans, given the actual choice, don't automatically pick the lowest possible number. Bandcamp's own data shows that when you let people pay what