It seems almost everyone is in Austin right now for SXSW...and that's a good reminder that sometimes it can be beneficial to go against the grain. When trends, movement, or industries all appear to go one in one direction, when is it right for

#396: How to Create a Tour Budget

Mar 7th, 2022 14m 7s

If you're thinking about going on tour, you'll want to listen to this episode first. Resources: On Merchandise: Episode 26: How to Calculate Return on Investment from Merchandise Episode 31: How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers On

#395: How to Create Demand for Your Music Through Momentum

Feb 28th, 2022 12m 14s

Do ever notice how sometimes the press can't stop talking about certain artists? Have you experienced times when you felt unstoppable creatively? Or have you ever struggled to get something started? These are instances of momentum. If you want

#394: How to Build a Better Team

Feb 21st, 2022 11m 11s

Whether you are looking for band members, a team to help the business aspects of your career, or a producer, it is important to have the right process in place so that you can get the most out of the relationship. In addition, you want to save

#393: Continuous Improvement Methodology and Music

Feb 14th, 2022 10m 58s

How can a business efficiency practice designed for factories be used and adapted for musicians looking to advance their career? Today, we talk about continuous improvement methodology and how those ideas can improve nearly every area of your m

#392: Spotify, The Long Tail, and Is Music in Trouble?

Feb 7th, 2022 11m 11s

There's a lot of talk about Spotify these days: whether it is creating a disservice to musicians, how it is impacting the music industry at large, and whether it is worth it to dance with them. But distribution is beside the point. Real music-p

#391: Write a Better Story

Jan 31st, 2022 14m 51s

Most artists understand that storytelling is an essential skill for developing better lyrics. Some also know that it can help with writing a stronger biography as well. However, we can apply the best practices of storytelling to more than just

#390: Artist Infrastructure Checklist

Jan 24th, 2022 10m 33s

Infrastructure is important for organizations and communities to thrive. What about artist infrastructure? Today, I talk about the supports that you need so that you'll be able to leverage big moments and be prepared to execute your plans.

#389 - How to Negotiate Better Pay for Your Shows

Jan 17th, 2022 13m 49s

Negotiation is a critical skill for artists to develop a sustainable career yet so few make the time or effort to grow in this area. Today, we'll talk about how you can negotiate for a guarantee or better pay for your shows but the same tactics

#388: Predictions for an Uncertain Music Industry

Jan 10th, 2022 15m 6s

Today, we're discussing what you can expect from the music industry in 2022. There's no doubt that there are many changes on the horizon, but here's what you can do to prepare and make the most out of the moment.

CPOC Music is Here - Register for Free now

Oct 25th, 2021 2m 11s

If you’re looking for ways to grow your music career while making a real-world impact, check out our free music business conference designed with an equity-first mindset. It takes place Nov 5 + 6 and it’s all available to you for fre

#387 - How to Make a Lasting Impact and Have a Music Career That Lasts

Aug 30th, 2021 1h 2m

Today's episode is taken from a workshop I recently delivered through my nonprofit organization that serves Asian American artists, The Slants Foundation. It was a session specifically on creating a lasting impact - be it cultural, systemic, or

#386 - SXSW Application Tips and Other Music Industry Festivals

Aug 23rd, 2021 12m 41s

The early deadline for SXSW artist applications is coming up. Today, we discuss best practices for applying to SXSW and other major music festivals. Also, I have a special announcement regarding CPOC Music, a new music business conference desig

#385 - Is It Really a Long Way to the Top?

Aug 2nd, 2021 12m

It's sometimes hard to put long-range goals into perspective when we're considering the many means of getting to them: touring, social media, list building, licensing, music industry trends, formats of releasing music, etc. but those are all ta

#384 - How to Make Your Career Resilient and "Future Proof"

Jul 12th, 2021 9m 44s

The music industry is an ever-evolving landscape that is often adapting to changes in technology, the law, and how people consume music. However, artists often don't adapt to these changes well because we often create processes without a lens o

#383 - How to be More Productive

Jun 11th, 2021 13m 51s

Do you wonder how you can get more stuff done? Today, I share some personal strategies for making more progress in your music career each day. Resources: Episode #368 – Scaling Up pt. 1: The House of Music Episode #08 - SMARTER Goals BOOK: Th

#382 - How You Can Create a Pandemic-Proof Career

May 13th, 2021 20m 30s

Today, I'm speaking with Danielle Tucker, the leading force behind the Pandemic-Proof Singer Summit, a free 3-day event filled with leading experts in the music industry who will teach you how to create a sustainable arts career. Today, we'll t

#381 - The Real Business Artists Are Actually In

May 12th, 2021 8m 25s

Have you ever thought about what business you're in? The "music business" is too broad of a term and doesn't really define your activities or what can actually sustain your career. When you understand what business you're actually in, you can s

#380 - How Artists Can Optimize Their Website (Stacey Bedford, CEO of Bandzoogle)

Apr 22nd, 2021 53m 55s

Today's interview is with Stacey Bedform, CEO of Bandzoogle. It was inspired by an article that she wrote for the Industry Observer, Direct to the fan: websites are where the rubber meets the road for independent artists. I've always been an

#379 - Wendy Parr on The Power of Artist Authenticity

Apr 14th, 2021 1h 19m

Today's episode is a fireside chat with one of the most sought after vocal and artist coaches, Wendy Parr. We talk about the transformative power of finding your authentic artist voice. It was hosted by The Slants Foundation, a nonprofit organi

#378 - How to Multiply Your Content

Apr 5th, 2021 4m 45s

You've written a song. Maybe you even released it. But how can you multiply its reach and its earning potential?

#377 - What Artists Should Focus On When Starting Out

Mar 15th, 2021 1h 12m

With so much information out there for artists, newer and lesser established musicians often have trouble deciding on what is most important to focus on. Today, I speak with two younger artists about prioritization as well as addressing common

#376 - How Differentiation Makes the Difference

Mar 8th, 2021 14m 6s

When it comes to your music or how you present yourself, what makes you unique? How can you approach your songwriting, marketing/communications, and your audiences with the mindset of differentiation so that you can create a scalable and sustai

#375 - The Return of In-Person Concerts

Mar 1st, 2021 11m 5s

I'm making a few predictions for how/when live, in-person music shows will return. If you want to be set for performances, then you better be prepared! Resources & Related Episodes: To optimize merchandise: Episode #26: How to Calculate Return

#374 - Algorithm or Audience?

Feb 22nd, 2021 10m 53s

Algorithm, the great hidden gatekeeper, has fundamentally shifted the music industry: think about how many artists are now releasing singles instead of albums because they think it favors discoverability, how many release covers on YouTube in h