Miro

Last week, I came across an interesting question. Someone asked: What is better for independent artists that are starting out? To release quality content on a slow but consistent basis? Or to push out new stuff as fast as you…

There’s not that one simple answer to this question. It relies on a multitude of factors. First of all, we should acknowledge the fact that people love to stream. It’s easier for them than to play CDs, cassettes, and vinyl.…

Here’s a neat exercise to get on the next level. You can use any data. Monthly listeners, sync deals, written songs, published productions, etc. For my example, I choose your current income. First, write down your current income. Multiply it…

I have a vinyl record collection that I didn’t touch over the past three years.  Back in the day, this collection used to be precious to me – even though I barely put the records on my turntables. Did I…

Digital marketing, music promotion, release strategy, fan base growth, loyal fans, tribe. All these buzzwords have one thing in common: Tracking. In other words: Know your target audience. (I’m talking about the consumer fans, not people such as music supervisors.)…

If there’s one question that came up lately, it’s how you can make your songs find the audience. The answer is very simple. (There’s a good chance that you already know parts of the answer.) Basically, it’s a three-step process…

Over the past years, I spoke to so many musicians. From the times before I was working at a radio station until today as a mix engineer. And most musicians loved to share their music. While there were great songs…

The music industry as we knew it three years ago has changed. And it’s changing so fast that we almost can’t keep up with it.  And still, old beliefs and myths swirl in so many discussions by many so-called industry…

Did you have a live stream recently? Or did you post a quick update about a new song idea out of the home studio? Or did you just say thank you to your supporting fans during the past months? Whatever…

The most important thing is that you have great songs that align with your purpose as a musician. If your songs fail to serve your audience, all your marketing and management are in vain. Without authentic songs that speak directly…

After talking a lot about live streaming during the past weeks, I thought it would be great to send you an email about it. So I sat down and started writing … and quickly realized there was more to say…

It’s extremely important to have a purpose as a musician. Something to look forward to achieving. To make the world a better place. Yup, that sounds so cheesy. However, I know a bunch of creators who struggle with this –…

How do you hang tough while staying at home? I’ve heard from people having a lot of problems staying focused, productive, and efficient. And I can confirm that for myself. What a weird time it is. And even though the…

As independent creators, we have to think differently. All the time. While employed people can just call in sick for the day (at least in Europe), this isn’t true for independent artists. We have to take care of ourselves. We…

I think you’ll agree with me when I say: It’s REALLY hard to get people to listen to your new songs – especially when you’re not an established artist yet. Well, while not as easy as it used to be…

Do it yourself is a term that’s loosely used in the music business. And people get confused by its meaning. Because many people seem to assume that “doing it yourself” is a synonym for “doing it alone.” But they are…

30 years ago, it must’ve been amazing to be a music artist. Because you had only one job: make music. This image changed over the past decades. And now, it’s like there are no successful “pure” musicians anymore. Aside from…

Lately, I got asked a lot about how I would plan a music career in 2020. Problem is, there’s not the ONE answer to this question. You have to consider too many factors and variables. So, instead of giving an…

I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is, there’s no silver bullet. The good news is, you’re unique as an artist. Your music career depends on a bunch of factors. Naming them all takes too…

We’re in a new decade. Throughout the past decade, so much happened in our beloved world of music. New independent artists popped up, old structures and beliefs were torn down, and musical diversity exploded (once again). In all this amazing…

Do you know this one little thing we independent musicians need the most? Fans. Having a successful music career depends on a bunch of individual factors. But to realize your dream in today’s music industry, you better take care of…

Yesterday, I was at a print shop to order a ring binder for a bunch of drawings from when my daughter was one year old. These drawings were chaotic. Big pages, small pages, thick paper, thin paper, corrugated paper, smooth…

How you define success is completely up to you. Nobody can dictate you that. Of course, people can tell you what success is. But it’s always a subjective representation of their own perspective on success. My definition of success is…

There’s only one reason why you need a day job: money. A day job supports you to pay for living expenses. As long as you’re not paying your bills and other living expenses from your music. Since you’re an artist,…

Speaking about profits – last week a subscriber reached out to me and asked me where she could wire me money. She’d love to donate something to appreciate the free advice buffet I served over the past year. Actually, it…

In 2019 and the future, nobody really makes money from music. Even the music superstars who earn a lot from royalties and music sales. These income streams represent only a small percentage of the annual profits. Instead, they sign exclusive…

In the new music business, there are plenty of opportunities for independent musicians to earn money. These opportunities can differ depending on the genre, the subculture, the region, your character, and many more factors. What worked for me might not…

The difference between amateurs and professionals There’s a difference between an amateur and a professional. I don’t talk about talent, skills or network. Rather about the very fundamental stuff. An amateur is usually led by (emotional) motivation. Like that musician…

It’s already the end of November – the year 2019 is almost over. Crazy, huh? So, with this year coming to an end, it’s time to review the yearly goals and set new ones for the next year. One step…

Just for the record, I mix recordings. I don’t tell you this because I want to sell you something. What I want to talk about is the right mindset for your next release. And, in the past, I had too…