Music The 80/20 rules apply I know you. You’ve gotten into music for the pure love of it - the creation; taking your instruments and turning their sonic motion into story, right? Yeah, me too. You spend hours creating your masterpiece, honing your writing and playing skills along the way then you publish it online
Music Before, During and After Each Show As so much of the Canadian music industry prepares for Canadian Music Week, North by NorthWest, summer music festivals, and tours, it is really smart to take some quality time to ensure your next show is a success. Not to mention, the compounding success that is possible when you apply
Music So You Want To Be A Session Player? I was lucky enough in the heyday of the music business to be a #1 call session player, or studio musician if you prefer. Cell phones had just come in to use, though they were terribly expensive. You would always be reached by phone by a contractor, someone who would
Music 7 Fun And Friendly Tips To Nail Your First Zoom Media Interview As An Indie Artist So you landed your first media interview. First of all, congratulations. That is a huge step. Someone out there wants to hear your story, your music, and what makes you tick. That alone is worth celebrating. Now comes the part where many artists suddenly think, "Wait... what do I
Music How to Split up the Songwriters' Shares in a Band Waaaaaay back in the early '80s I went to a songwriting seminar. I have never forgotten what one of the writers said to us all. The question put to him was, “How do you split up royalties, my drummer wants a piece”. His answer was candid and straight to
Music The Sane Musician I am a musician—specifically a composer—and I’ve always tried to achieve a healthy balance between my artistic passion and personal wellbeing. One has to rein in that creative compulsion and capitalize on its power. So far, I have more or less succeeded at maintaining a healthy life
Music Be In Your Scene If you’re a musician, you need to go to local shows! I know, I know! If you play your own shows, have a band practice each week, maintain a day job, live with a life partner, have kids… it may well feel like you don’t have any time.
Music Home Recording (On a Budget) Thank you for asking me to write this article. Recording and producing from home is something that I have been passionate about my entire career. It is something I know a lot about, as I have made hundreds of recordings from within the walls of my home. It is my
Music “Children’s Music” Can be Not for Kids Only We are a family that makes music for families. The Oot n’ Oots is my three brothers, my daughter, and me. At a certain point we sat down to put some thought into what we do. It wasn’t until we were clear on those intentions that we agreed to
Music I’m Just Not “Cool” A few nights ago a friend of mine made a comment about the winter coat he had seen me wearing the last time we hung out. It was minus 30 outside and although I wore a denim jacket underneath, this particular coat is comparable to something George Costanza would wear.
Music What Your Group Needs to Survive Each Other is “Creative Diplomacy” Have you ever had an argument about a seemingly insignificant creative decision that ended up feeling like life or death? Have you felt unequipped to have healthy conversations with collaborators who don’t share your opinion? If you’ve ever played in a band, I know you have. Just ask
Music How To Price Your Merch For Maximum Profit Merch isn't a side hustle anymore. For independent artists at the club level in 2026, tour merch accounts for 30 to 50 percent of total touring income, with average per-show revenue of $2 to $8 per attendee. That table by the door can be the difference between
Music Music is Magic, From the Mind to the Stage to the Screen When I was five years old, my parents put an accordion in my lap. It was so big and awkward, I could almost hide behind it. I would stretch my fingers to grasp the keys on an instrument I could barely lift and play Italian folk songs to the delight
Music Getting your money from Satellite Radio: A primer on digital performance royalties You may have heard a publicist or radio promoter say they’ll pitch your music to satellite radio like SiriusXM and/or Stingray. Sounds like a great perk! Maybe you listen to satellite radio yourself! Beyond it being an excellent promotion opportunity if your song lands on one of these
Music How to Make Your Publisher Work For You So, you’re a songwriter, artist, or producer and you got a publishing deal offer — congrats! It’s a huge accomplishment. But what exactly did you get an offer for, how does a publishing deal help you, and what should you look for in a publishing deal? Let’s review
Music The Concept of an Album: Turning a creative assignment into an adventure The art of making an album is one of the most freeing adventures – there are no rules. You can record a handful of songs in one room over a short period, or songs can travel through time and space by visiting different studios with years and miles between. As far
Music Protect Your Hearing Before It’s Too Late Turn the volume to 11! Originally from the classic rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, this cliché of all clichés sums up the entire situation with regard to musicians, and their generally uncompromising love for loud music. While practicing, performing, or producing, it’s difficult to resist getting louder – after
Music Mentally Exhausted?! Impossible. I’m Too Busy To Be Tired. IIt’s quite incredible to realize that it’s already been two years since everyone’s lives have been profoundly impacted by the still-ongoing pandemic. It’s unreal on so many levels. I was coming back from a European tour when it all began… I thought it would be
Music The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Dream Band Members Photo by 'Antonio Uquiche' on Unsplash.com Finding the right band members is crucial for the success of any music career. A cohesive and talented band can make all the difference in creating a unique sound and captivating live performances. The impact of band members goes beyond just
Music The Types Of Media That Actually Help Grow An Artist Career There has never been a wider, more dynamic media landscape for artists than there is today. For those building a career in music, that’s not a challenge, it’s an advantage. The key is understanding how different types of media support different stages of growth, and how they work
Music Structuring DJ Sets Like a Film I’ve always admired cinema, music, and storytelling and the way they intersect. I feel music and film are the greatest love affair this world has ever known. I grew up as a drummer and musician, and had my start in a handful of different bands, from rock to screamo
Music How Do I Find a Manager (And is a Manager Even What I Need)? There are certain questions that come up regularly when I’m talking to developing artists and one of the most common ones is, “How do I find a manager?” On the surface it’s a fair question. A manager can help build your career, guide you through your journey, share
Music I’m Uninspired If you’re a songwriter you have likely experienceed at least once, a moment of writer’s block or lack of inspiration. Most of us have experienced this at one time or another. How do you break free back into the joy of creative flow? There are few techniques that
Music Musicians, Their Instruments, and the Never-ending Upgrade Some people describe their most treasured instrument as an extra limb, an extension of themselves, or an inspiration in and of itself. As someone who has toured with a bulky, much-loved, deep green Wurlitzer 200A (that’s almost ended up in the pit more than once), I get it.
Music The Joys of Arranging I love creating original music, but there's much joy and growth to be gained in arranging other songwriters' tunes as well. That’s especially the case when the repertoire is considered "classic" and has been covered countless times by different artists. Unlike an original song
