Luminate’s Midyear Music Report for 2024 contains some interesting lessons for musicians. The report also suggests that despite many recent controversies — such as Spotify royalty changes, Deezer catalog changes, and the spectre of endless AI-generated music competing with human creativity —  things actually seem MORE promising for lower and mid-tier independent artists.  So let’s look at some of the report’s key takeaways, from the perspective of a career-minded musician.  What is Luminate’s Midyear Music Report? Luminate (formerly Neilsen Music) is a company that provides ..read more

One of the fastest growing ways I see artists gaining attention today is not with Spotify playlists. It’s not with their own video content on TikTok or Instagram. Or even ads. What’s helping so many artists to grow their career? Partnering with influencers. Nano-influencers, to be specific. Nano-influencer marketing can lead to: Increased visibility More fans and engagement A bigger network of collaborators Brand sponsorships or endorsements And more They don’t call them influencers for nothing!  Curious to work with nano-influencers, but not sure where to begin? Well, below you’ll find ..read more

Record labels transform unknown artists into superstars, right?  They magically turn you into an overnight success? They validate your artistry for the world? Well,… lemme try to answer those questions delicately: NOPE! Labels do NOT magically turn you into a “real” artist worthy of global recognition. The real role of labels in the industry today Instead, they invest in artists who’ve already demonstrated some kind of profit potential.  In 2024, many labels prefer to add fuel to a fire that’s already burning. They want to deploy their expertise and budget to scale something proven ..read more

Want to get paid for your musical talents?  As a musician, there are more ways to earn money than ever before. Dozens upon dozens of ways, in fact! While you should, of course, prioritize certain revenue streams as an artist who creates original music, there are times — perhaps when you’re first growing your career —when you just gotta pay the bills.  And in that case, putting your music skills to use sure beats a job outside of music, right? Especially if your musical side-hustle helps you stay sharp as an instrumentalist, arranger, producer, educator, or content-creator.  ..read more

Daniel Ek’s side hustle as a lightning-rod seems to be going very well. Last year he shook the music industry with three big changes to Spotify’s royalty payments, effectively demonetizing tracks with less than 1000 streams per year… … and the internet went nuts. Then he compared aspiring musicians to amateur footballers. And the internet went nuts. Then Spotify argued it can pay less mechanical royalties to music publishers and songwriters because it’s now bundling audiobooks with music. And the internet went nuts. The cost of creating content: “close to zero?” And then… … Ek went and did ..read more

This week’s biggest music news includes an announcement that should please DJs. Thanks to the Twitch DJ Program, you can soon livestream without the risk of getting muted or removed. The program launches in the summer of 2024. If you’re monetizing your sets on Twitch, you’ll now be able to draw from “the vast majority of popular music,” without takedowns. Check here for all the details. Want a recap of this week’s other big music stories? Here goes, in under 60 seconds! View this post on Instagram A post shared by ReverbNation (@reverbnation) The post No more muted streams with the Twitch ..read more

Let’s talk straight: For your music to be a career, you need to earn money.   Some acts make their living on the road. Others stay in the studio recording music for TV shows. Of course, megastars like Taylor Swift seem to make a fortune in almost all the ways.  Building a professional life as an artist, band, or producer requires that you either maximize your profits in one or two areas, diversify your earnings across a wide range of revenue streams, or some combination of both approaches.  More ways to earn money from your music No matter what you see in news headlines, there a ..read more

What’s the biggest mistake musicians make when it comes to ? JUST. NOT. EMAILING. ? Most musicians neglect their email lists. Perhaps out of fear that “marketing” makes us look sales-y, self-centered, or desperate. Or maybe it’s a fear that we’ll send an email and hear… crickets. But we ghost our subscribers (our biggest fans, btw!) for weeks or months at a time. Then whenever there’s important news — like an album drop, video release, or regional tour — we share the details once with our list and act like the job is done. Not Billie Eilish! A music marketing lesson from Billie Eilish Billi ..read more

Want more people to listen to your new music? Well then, let’s first assume you’re already using your email list. That’s good, because your email subscribers are likely to be your most reliable listeners. But that doesn’t mean they’re actually opening all your emails. Which is why it’s important to take your subject lines and social captions up a notch when you have new music to promote. Don't have an email solution yet? This one feature alone makes your ReverbNation membership worth it! How to get fans to open your emails Of course your subscribers can’t click through to stream your new tra ..read more

Many up-and-coming artists today have developed prolific songwriting and production processes. They’re able to build successful music careers by staying creatively active, but selective when it comes to official releases. So the secret to your music’ success could depend upon the music you DON’T release! What the heck does that mean? Well, having more songs than you need can help you put your best foot forward. Because when you have enough material “in the hopper,” you allow the true gems to shine.  Let’s dive into how you can become more prolific as a creator, and all the reasons why you ..read more