IOTM Blog
Posted: Nov 4, 2025
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Tyler James Cook, an independent musician from South Carolina.
"while there are more outlets for musicians than ever before, the much-vaunted democratization of music has made our jobs even more difficult. Instead of being a songwriter and musician, we must fill multiple additional roles, all of which might help us get towards the indie musician's dream: financial security through music. It is a noble and achievable goal, but it takes time. During all that practicing, recording, performing, promoting, and touring, musicians need to feed themselves. The solution is elegant in its simplicity, and immensely profitable: teach private music lessons...Here are a few reasons why indie musicians should make time for private lessons..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Dec 18, 2024
Category: Tips & Tricks
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**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.
"Every year from about mid-December onward, the music industry becomes a ghost town. People start going on vacation and taking time off, major label artist releases slow down big time, and for indie artists, it’s no man’s land. And while that coupled with the frigid temperatures might be enough to have you hunkering down and never leaving the safety of your home for the next few months, this time of year is actually incredibly powerful for setting yourself up for success. Here’s everything you need to know..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Apr 3, 2024
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by James Hill, a veteran of the music industry. He has worked at Warner Reprise Records and then Interscope/ Geffen Records and now helps indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD, custom vinyl records and merch company in LA.
"Having a career in music is not all sunshine and rainbows, and I’m sure you already know that, especially during the pandemic. To start a career in the music industry, you need to not only release good music but you have to be willing to learn the trade, to advertise yourself, get to know the right people, and many more. It’s too tedious! But still worth it. Let’s head on and enumerate the 25 reasons why being a musician today is awesome." View Full Article
Posted: Dec 6, 2023
Category: Tips & Tricks
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**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.
"Every year from about mid-December on, the music industry becomes a ghost town. People start going on vacation, taking time-off, major label artist releases slow down big time, and for indie artists, it’s no man’s land. And while that, coupled with the frigid temperatures, might be enough to have you hunkering down and never leaving the safety of your home for the next few months, this time of year is actually incredibly powerful for setting yourself up for success. You just have to know how to take advantage of it. Here’s how..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Aug 2, 2023
Category: Live Performance
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**Guest post written by Katherine Dvoskin, Co-Founder & Piano Teacher for K&M Music School, San Diego.
"In the enthralling journey of morphing from a classroom maestro to a virtuoso on the concert stage, there's a symphony of skills that every musician ought to master. These skills are the crescendo to your performance, and like the meticulous tuning of an instrument, they prime you for the ebbs and flows of a life spent on the road. In this post, we will explore three key skills that music education helps cultivate: stage presence, repertoire selection, and audience engagement." View Full Article
Posted: Jul 5, 2023
Category: Career Goals
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**Guest post written by Katherine Dvoskin, Co-Founder & Piano Teacher for K&M Music School, San Diego.
"Music education plays a crucial role in building a solid foundation for aspiring musicians. It goes far beyond simply learning how to play an instrument or sing; it encompasses a range of skills and experiences that prepare individuals for a successful career in the music industry. In this section, we will explore three key areas where music education helps in building that strong foundation: deepening appreciation and knowledge of music, developing work ethic and discipline, and enhancing coordination and multitasking skills." View Full Article
Posted: May 16, 2023
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post by One Submit, the ultimate music submission platform.
"Over the course of the years, I have learned that there are very important and valuable skills in particular that make a big difference and, from experience, have helped me continue to improve. Surprisingly, it's not time management skills, networking skills, or even improving your songwriting skills or talent that will launch your art career. So, what is the most important skill you'll need to become a successful artist?"
Posted: Dec 7, 2022
Category: Tips & Tricks
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**Guest post originally featured in the Symphonic Distribution Blog.
"Every year, from about mid-December on, the music industry becomes a ghost town. People start going on vacation, taking time-off, major label artist releases slow down big time, and for indie artists, it’s no man’s land. And while that, coupled with the frigid temperatures, might be enough to have you want to hunker down and avoid leaving the safety of your home for the next few months, this time of year is actually incredibly powerful for setting yourself up for success. You just have to know how to take advantage of it. Here’s how..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 6, 2020
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!
"Episode 15 of Words of Fang featuring John McLucas, discusses some of the positive aspects of being in a band."
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