• Pro Services
  • Venues & Colleges
  • Festivals & Conferences
  • Members
  • Show Availabilities
  • Band Availabilities
  • Classifieds
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Features
    Pro Services Venues & Colleges Database QuickPitch Emailing Festivals & Conferences Show Availabilities Band Availabilities Classifieds
  • Members
  • Account Benefits
  • Blog
  • Home
Login Sign Up

IOTM Blog

Reset

Musicians! We have Congressional support to make a Living Wage

Posted: Mar 11, 2025

Category: The Musician Business

record labels make money spotify indie artists music streaming services career goals wordplay t jay living wage for musicians act

**Guest post by WordPlay T. Jay, hip-hop artist and producer based in Tacoma, WA.

 

WordPlay T. Jay


"Since the advent of music streaming, our careers have not been the same...Streaming services partnered with the major labels to carve out exclusive rates in exchange for vast catalogs of music and market share...It’s discouraging and that diversity is under threat. Fans want to see artists thrive and musicians are struggling to earn a living. Fortunately, you can do something to help musicians earn a living wage."

View Full Article

What is an EPK? And why do you need one?

Posted: May 9, 2023

Category: Online Presence

show booking booking agents record labels managers radio promotion fan engagement online presence epk bandzoogle resume press advance the show

**Guest post written by Melanie Kealey of Bandzoogle.

 

BZ EPK - What Why How


"As a musician, you need tools for promotion. An EPK is your online resume and musical business card, making it easy for industry professionals to discover who you are. Included in an EPK are assets to help industry easily understand and promote a band’s music. You’ve likely heard that every artist should have an EPK - let’s look at the reasons you might need one."

View Full Article

Radio Truth

Posted: Mar 14, 2023

Category: Promotion

record labels promotion music business musik and film radio airplay charts grow your audience production

**Guest post written by Musik and Film Promotions.

 

Musik and Film Promo


"You read articles that give "the truth"-- that say Indie Artist can't get airplay, Right? -- WRONG! It's a BIG world out there! Musik Radio Promotions has charted artists in the top 10 in many charts around the world...Indie Artists are playing on thousands of stations - some on TENS of thousands. How, you ask?"

View Full Article

Dreams and Reality

Posted: Jan 18, 2023

Category: Promotion

record labels social media diy promotion marketing indie artists budget musik and film radio airplay invest teamwork

**Guest post written by Lacie Blue, director of artist relations at Musik and Film Promotions.

 

Dreams and Reality - Musik and Film


"Nashville used to be the land where dreams came true for musicians. Superstar makers would walk into a bar and swoop up the “next big thing”—pretty soon you had Garth Brooks. Perhaps it still happens…once in a blue moon. Once upon a time, musicians and songwriters created music to create. They performed because it was in their blood to perform. They didn’t care if they fit into a genre. They wanted to connect to people on a higher level through music. Gone are those days. (But not the musicians…)"

View Full Article

The DEFINITIVE GUIDE to starting a famous band at 16 | Words of Fang #36

Posted: Apr 4, 2022

Category: Tips & Tricks

record labels touring music business fan engagement keys to success practice lords of the trident booking agents managers setting goals learning

**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!

 

Starting A Famous Band - Fang


"Well, the secret's out..."

View Full Article

How To Get Noticed By A Record Label

Posted: Feb 7, 2022

Category: Career Goals

social media indie artists career goals professionalism experience following fanbase demo embrace change record labels yona marie music

**Guest post written by Yona Marie, originally featured in her blog.

 

Yona Marie - Noticed By Record Label


"Back in the day, you didn’t need much but talent and potential in order to grab the attention of an A&R or label scout. A huge amount of time and money from a label was invested into the artist development process for fresh acts that needed to be groomed for the music world. Now, with so much competition around, musical acts that bring a lot to the table usually outshine those who are talented but less prepared. Here are some tips that will help you reach the top of the ladder among other musicians and artists who are on the front lines for opportunities."

View Full Article

It’s Time to Change Lanes to Reach Your Music Career Goals

Posted: Jan 31, 2022

Category: The Musician Business

record labels artist development keys to success career goals consistency music technology be prepared live streaming indie artists music streaming services yfm viral

**Guest post by Eric Todd of YFM, The Big Break Solution.

 

"Once upon a time, back in the 80’s the world was chock full of record labels, both major and indie, limited to a single one-way street to success. It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad, it just was what it was...No one could imagine that we’d be living in the Bizarro World in 2022 (on so many levels), where the exact opposite is true. Today, only a few big labels exist, but there is now a multi-lane superhighway to find success, by whatever success means to the artist. It’s not good, it’s not bad, it just is what it is."

View Full Article

Lessons I Learned From Starting A Record Label

Posted: Jun 21, 2021

Category: The Musician Business

record labels marketing music business keys to success hard work quadio invest

**Guest post from Marcus Welch, President & CEO of Quadio.

 

Marcus Welch


"There are so many talented creators out there who could benefit from the help a label provides - many, many more than you think...finding one another in the vast sea of musicians can be hard. On top of that, the right choice for an artist might be to go at it independently - which is a totally viable strategy for some, and can be leveraged in all kinds of ways with a creative enough approach."

View Full Article

Music Business After Dark Ep. 6: The Consolidation of the Music Business (Why Should I Care?)

Posted: Nov 16, 2020

Category: The Musician Business

booking agents record labels radio stations managers music business jeff lysyczyn

**Guest post by Jeff Lysyczyn, music industry veteran, educator, and creator of Music Business After Dark.

 

Jeff L - Music Consolidation


"Episode 6 of Music Business After Dark, a series of informative vlogs by music industry veteran and educator Jeff Lysyczyn."

View Full Article

The Music Industry’s Great Lie

Posted: Feb 18, 2020

Category: The Musician Business

record labels youtube promotion marketing music album release schwilly family musicians videos invest the music entrepreneur grow your audience

**Guest post written by Carlos Castillo of Schwilly Family Musicians - music marketing strategist, web designer, live performance recordist, international road-tripper, lap steel player, and Captain of the Schwilly Family.

 

Carlos Schwilly Family
"Things I DO KNOW are: Music and Business. I studied them separately and built a BRAND NEW bridge between them. And that bridge is a LOT easier to cross when you don't have a herd of greedy trolls weighing you down..."

View Full Article

4 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Record Deal

Posted: Dec 23, 2019

Category: The Musician Business

booking agents record labels artist development record deal music business licensing music album release music career physical vs. digital managers artists and repetoire lawyers similar artists

**Guest post written by Scott Ronald, musician, songwriter, and creator of GuitarGearHeadz.com.

 

"Before signing a deal, artists need to be able to weigh up what the label can do for their career versus the rights, control and income they are signing away. These are four important questions you need to ask yourself when evaluating a label offer, in order to ensure that you make the best decision for your career..."

View Full Article

Music Business After Dark Ep. 2: How Do I Get Opening Slots on Tours?

Posted: Oct 14, 2019

Category: The Musician Business

music venues booking agents record labels managers touring music business national acts promoters opening bands music business after dark jeff lysyczyn

**Guest post by Jeff Lysyczyn, music industry veteran, educator, and creator of Music Business After Dark.

 

Jeff Lysyczyn - Ep 2


"Episode 2 of Music Business After Dark, a series of informative vlogs by music industry veteran and educator Jeff Lysyczyn."

View Full Article

You're On Your Own

Posted: Sep 9, 2019

Category: The Lefsetz Letter

record labels merch diy managers promotion music festivals indie artists songwriting nyc la bob lefsetz genre booking agents

**Guest post by Bob Lefsetz of The Lefsetz Letter.

 

"Don't wait for help, do it yourself. Just like you can record and distribute yourself, you can promote too. If you're waiting for a manager to start, don't...Decide who you want to be. A hobbyist, a touring musician or a superstar. This affects your path..."

View Full Article

4 ways musicians can use an EPK

Posted: Jul 1, 2019

Category: Online Presence

music venues show booking booking agents record labels managers promotion music festivals radio promotion publicist bandzoogle press corporate gigs private gigs

**Guest post written by Dave Cool of Bandzoogle.com.

 

4waysepk - BZ


"An electronic press kit (EPK) is essential for making a strong first impression on promoters, bookers, media, and other music industry professionals...You can use your EPK to help you get more press, more gigs, and come across as a serious artist."

View Full Article

Getting Dropped from a Record Label: What It's Like and 4 Ways to Avoid It

Posted: Jun 24, 2019

Category: The Musician Business

record labels diy cd baby record deal tunecore communication drumming review independent speak up

**Guest post written by Nick Cesarz, drummer, producer, and blogger from Milwaukee, WI. Nick is the editor and owner of DrummingReview.com, a website dedicated to helping drummers choose gear, learn how to play, and guide them through the music industry.

 

Nick Cesarz - Dropped From Label


"It's a phone call conversation I wouldn't wish on any of my enemies: getting dropped from a record label. Being let go from a record company is a sad tale that many acts endure throughout their careers. Today I'll explain what it's like and how you can reduce your chances of having this unfortunate conversation."

View Full Article

Releasing Indie Music Is Like a Message in a Bottle: My Experience Getting Heard

Posted: Oct 29, 2018

Category: Music Streaming

record labels diy promotion spotify music streaming services music album release playlists playlisting playlist push angela predhomme

**Guest post written by Angela Predhomme, a singer-songwriter / music producer of inspiring soulful songs.

 

Releasing Music on Streaming Services - Angela Predhomme


"As independent artists releasing music on streaming services, we have one goal: that people come across our music and like it...First, I’ll go over a little background information about music streaming and promotion, and then share the details of my own personal experience..."

View Full Article

Record Labels Are Dead

Posted: Jul 31, 2017

Category: The Musician Business

artist collective branding internet kickstarter marketing plan payola record deal record labels recording

**Guest post by Vinnie Hines of Artist Collective.

 

Record Labels Are Dead - Artist Collective
"For ages, there’s been a cliché dream for any would-be musician...You’re immediately bombarded by these different suits throwing you offers from every record label you could think of, and finally, you’ve made it. You’re “signed...It’s all bullshit.”

View Full Article

10 Record Deal Red Flags

Posted: Jun 26, 2017

Category: The Musician Business

advances balanced rights bandzoogle career goals contracts edwards pc creative law expenses record labels red flags termination provisions

**Guest post written by Canadian entertainment lawyer Byron Pascoe, originally featured on Bandzoogle.com.

 

Record Deal Red Flags - BZ Blog
"Before signing a contract with a label, it’s important to understand what you’re signing. When I’m reviewing a record label agreement for an artist, it’s not uncommon for there to be a number of “red flags” – warnings to watch out for in the agreement and/or the relationship with the label. The following list (in no particular order) provides some common red flags to keep in mind..."

View Full Article

5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Your Music

Posted: Jun 19, 2017

Category: The Musician Business

artist collective branding career goals invest keys to success make money marketing record labels save money

**Guest post by Vinnie Hines of Artist Collective.

 

5 Reasons Invest AC Blog
"It’s almost understood that if you’re a musician, you’re likely unemployed, homeless, broke or all three. I deal with it constantly when people ask what I do for a living. Though I love writing and booking, I will always and forever identify as a “musician.” It’s my passion and my purpose and here’s the kicker: I’m not broke. The reason for that, is that I have approached my music like a business from the get-go."

View Full Article

I Got a Major Label Meeting and Nothing Happened

Posted: Mar 14, 2016

Category: The Musician Business

attorney career goals diy indie artists make money musicianship record deal record labels supply and demand

**Guest post written by Gaetano, a NYC based Singer, Songwriter, Producer, and Guitarist, as featured in his blog and on Digital Music News.

 

Atlantic Records
"At this point, we all know someone trying to “make it” in the music business. Thanks to the world of technology we live in, the industry has easily become over-saturated with thousands, if not millions, of aspiring singers, producers, songwriters, musicians, DJs, etc. Anyone with a smartphone and a Wi-Fi connection can simply fill out their social media bio and give themselves whatever title they wish to be called. With too much supply and not enough demand, it’s no wonder that so many are getting discouraged while in pursuit of their dreams..."

View Full Article

Major vs. Indie: What really happens when you sign a record deal

Posted: Nov 30, 2015

Category: The Musician Business

bandzoogle career goals control distribution diy funding independent label major labels pros and cons record labels

**Guest Post written by Dave Cool of Bandzoogle.com.

 

BZ Major vs. Indie
"...it can be difficult as an independent musician to determine the best path to take for long-term growth and success. Ultimately this crossroads is met with three separate avenues: DIY (Do It Yourself), Independent Label, or Major Label. There are pros and cons to each avenue, which should be weighed carefully against what type of musician / band you are and how you expect to see growth."

View Full Article

Record Label Deal

Posted: Aug 17, 2015

Category: The Musician Business

emotion facebook music streaming services musik and film record labels social media songwriting twitter youtube

**Guest post by Stephen Wrench, CEO of Musik and Film.

 

"I recently had the pleasure of pitching a very talented well produced artist to major labels...They never listened to it [the music] because their social media numbers were not good enough?"

View Full Article

You Can't Take No For An Answer

Posted: Oct 2, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

artists and repetoire career goals keys to success music business record labels true north

 

In the music industry, you're going to run into the word "no" more times than you will the word "yes" and if you're going to make a career in this biz, you can't take no for an answer! In this clip, record exec and A&R heavyweight Jason Flom talks about why this is important and gives great advice on NOT taking no for an answer. Jason's enjoyed a long career in the music business and most recently signed Lorde and handled the record-label business behind her new album "New Heroine".

View Full Article

Manager Bruce Flohr on Getting A Record Label's Attention

Posted: Sep 13, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

ato records bruce flohr fan engagement hometown managers online presence press kits record labels

 

Deciding the next step to help break your music and band can be a confusing one. You'll have people tell you what they think you should do and if you don't know any better or have an experienced person to talk to about it, packing up the van and moving to LA might seem like the very best option. But before you do that, take a listen to what industry veteran and manager Bruce Flohr thinks of that approach and his opinion on the best way to get some worthwhile attention in the music industry.

View Full Article

How do you achieve success as an indie artist? Enjoy baking and sell your bread.

Posted: May 24, 2012

Category: Indie on the Move

diy record labels touring

 

"Major labels didn't start showing up, really, until they smelled money, and that’s all they're ever going to be attracted to is money – that's the business they're in – making money. My idea was: Enjoy baking, sell your bread, people like it, sell more. Keep the bakery going because you're making good food and people are happy.” – Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat, etc.)

View Full Article
About | Features | Pricing | Testimonials | Contact | Newsletter | Blog | Touring Tips | Terms | Privacy
  • About
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • Contact IOTM
  • Members Directory
  • Blog
  • Touring Tips
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Professional Services
  • Venues & Colleges
  • Festivals & Conferences
  • Show Availabilities
  • Band Availabilities
  • Classifieds
Facebook X Instagram
Back To Top

© 2025 Indie on the Move. All rights reserved.