What the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act means to the working musician
Changes included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could have a meaningful impact for working musicians — some will keep money in your pocket, others won’t. Read the post.
indie artist
Stop failing at music (and be a smart CEO)
As an independent musician, you own a small business — and it’s time you realized it. To stop failing at music, you need to be a smart CEO. Read the post.
How to get the attention of a talent buyer or booking agent
You’ve put together a great set of music and you’re ready to perform. How do you make a connection and impress a talent buyer to book you for a high-profile gig? Read More.
How to grow a SoundCloud fan base: Tips for emerging artists
SoundCloud is a fantastic tool for promoting your music, but success doesn’t happen overnight. Use these three steps to grow your SoundCloud fan base and build on your successes. Read More.
Train to succeed in the music business
People train for everything: marathons, driving tests, hotdog-eating competitions! Why on earth wouldn’t you train for something as huge, as dangerous, as awe inspiring, as being able to succeed in the music business? Read More.
Getting out of a creative rut
If your music career spans any length of time, there will be those inevitable periods when you find yourself in a creative rut. The challenge is knowing how to work your way out and get back to the business of making your art. These tips can help. Read More.
8 tips for holding band meetings that don’t suck
You’ve heard it before, “it’s called the music business for a reason,” and one good business practice that can help you meet your music career goals is holding effective band meetings. To ensure your meetings go smoothly, check out the following eight easy-to-execute tips. Read more.
Planning the rewards for your music crowdfunding project
Whether you are trying to cover the cost of producing your next album or get a tour off the ground, crowdfunding gets your fans involved while generating the necessary dollars. Today we want to dive into setting a mix of rewards to encourage backers to pledge the most amount of money to your project. Read more.
CD Baby announces the DIY Musician Conference schedule
CD Baby is hosting its premiere DIY Musician Conference at Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago on October 23-25 in Chicago. There’s an impressive assortment of workshops, panels, and showcases scheduled, built specifically around the needs of independent musicians. Read more.
Creative strategies to raise money for your indie album release
You’ve got your songs, arrangements, musicians, and studio all set and ready to go; plans for CDs and publicity aren’t far behind. The question? How to pay for it all. Here are case studies, tips, and strategies from musicians on gathering the funds to make their own dreams of an indie album release a reality. Read more.
Home grown crowdfunding tips
There are numerous ways to approach crowdfunding – including home-grown methods that don’t rely exclusively on the websites that facilitate the process. Singer/songwriter Linda Chorney has been creatively financing and her own album projects for decades. I interviewed her to get some of her personal crowdfunding tips on the matter. Read more.
How to crowdfund your next project: 11 steps to success
Crowdfunding doesn’t just raise money, it engages your fans beyond simply asking for donations or getting them to buy your merchandise; a successful campaign makes them feel like active participants, captures their enthusiasm, and helps you spread the word. The key is organizing your efforts to maximize fundraising. Read more.
Four ways you can fund your next music project
You’re a musician – of course you want to record your music, make CDs, have an album release party, create new merchandise, and go on tour. Trouble is, you don’t have the cash on hand to make any of these things a reality. How can you raise the money to help fund your next music project? Read more.
Trust your musical vision if you want to succeed
In this video, music manager Steve Rennie talks about finding your “true north,” which often means you have to pick yourself up when something fails and stay true to your musical vision. When you’re not in a place of success or showing signs of improvement, it can be tempting to think about your music and career in a different light. Read more.
How to gig more without overexposing yourself
If you want to perform live more than just once a month, there are plenty of ways to fill up your performance schedule without saturating a particular market. Four basic strategies you should consider include: 1) A club residency, 2) Alternate format performances, 3) Dual territory performances, 4) A tour. Read more.