Why You Shouldn’t Over-Focus on One Data Point
Here’s my soapbox for today: Numbers don’t mean anything in isolation. Except for the number 42, obviously. Every other number requires context to be useful. I’ve been reminded of this as I’ve looked over a bunch of Spotify for Artist accounts and Meta ad campaigns; I’m doing some end-of-year review to try to figure out […]
Reddit’s Take on Music Marketing: Why ‘Around-the-Side’ Tactics Are a Game Changer for Artists
If you’re looking to find the absolute truth on a topic, go ahead and check out Reddit. I’m saying this tongue-in-cheek. But also, let’s be honest: Most of us trust Reddit far more than we trust the mishmash of ads and AI-generated responses that the internet regurgitates at us when we Google something. I’m a […]
Social Media Tactics That Actually Work for Artists: Insights from Real Musicians
Well, we’re going to talk more about social media today. In case you are a normal person and don’t read every newsletter I write, here’s a quick recap of where we’ve been these past few weeks. Two weeks ago, I sent out a short, four-question survey asking how artists use social platforms. One week ago, […]
From Membership Launches to YouTube Milestones: My 3-Month Business Review and Next Steps
Every three months, I take a solid day to review, plan, and basically just think about this business. The point of this is to get perspective. It’s very easy (as I’m sure you know) to get lost in the weeds of what you do each day. The trouble is that if you keep your head […]
Why Music Quality Isn’t Just Personal Opinion: The Hidden Objectivity Behind Taste
The quality of music is not subjective. Bet you didn’t see that one coming, huh? (To be honest, I didn’t, either. I started writing a long, boring article about when to use music marketing agencies. Then this idea bubbled up and I deleted everything to chase it. #YOLO) There’s a cultural assumption that music is […]
New Beginnings: The Joys and Struggles of Moving into a Shared Space
I have nothing to say right now. This past weekend, Alli and I moved out of the apartment we’d lived in for four years and into a (rented) house. It’s a split level with a decent backyard featuring the remains of a garden and an unoccupied – but inviting – chicken coop. We’re sharing the […]
From AI Genre Analysis to Free Landing Pages: Why SubmitHub is a Game-Changer for Musicians
I’m writing this from a new desk. Well, new to me; I got it at a thrift store. My old desk, as I mentioned last week, recently disintegrated into 37 separate pieces during our move. Like me, it didn’t deal well with change. Anyway, what I want to say about this new desk is that […]
The Hidden Cost of an Audience: Reflections on Self-Worth and Social Validation
“If you can live your life without an audience, you should do it.” ⬆️ That’s the voice of internet prophet Bo Burnham. (Click the link and watch that clip, by the way. It’s worth the two minutes.) I heard Bo deliver that line eight years ago on Netflix, at the end of his Make Happy […]
Learning from Fellow Musicians: Music Marketing Wins and Fails
I’m about to hop on a plane to head back to Maryland. Alli and I are flying back to catch her little sister’s graduation, and unsurprisingly, I haven’t given myself enough time to write 2,000 words about some music marketing topic. But last week, I was doing office hour calls with my Spotify growth community, […]
Spotify Marketing, DIY Playlists, and Real Talk: Artists Share Their Best (and Worst) Strategies
Well, it happened. Last Monday, I didn’t send a newsletter. It marked the first time I’ve skipped a week in about a year, which is a sentence that leaves me with an interesting mixture of shame and pride. I’ve got good excuses, of course. I always do. But, as my high school English teacher told […]
