Tag: Podcasts

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This Week In Music (May 20, 2022)

This Week In Music News May 20

From YouTube’s surprising podcast domination to The Judds’ final tour, we’re bringing you all the music news you need to know as we head into the weekend.

Three weeks into May, and life has yet to disappoint. As the temperatures continue to rise and more artists hit the road with summer sunsets on their minds, something about the season feels shockingly normal. As long as you don’t look at the news or spend too much time on social media, there is plenty to love about life at the moment. We have great music, new opportunities, and another day to chase our dreams. What more could you want?

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. Below you’ll find the biggest stories of the week, all covered by the best outlets in tech and entertainment. Click around, learn what’s happening, and use the weekend to prepare for the end of the month.

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

THE NEED TO KNOW MUSIC NEWS OF THE WEEK

Report Finds YouTube Is More Popular For Podcasts Than Spotify

US radio group Cumulus Media and research firm Signal Hill Insights have published a report suggesting that Google’s video service is the most popular podcasting platform in the US now.

That’s based on a survey of listeners, with 24.2% saying YouTube is the platform they use the most for podcasts, ahead of Spotify (23.8%) and Apple Podcasts (16%).

Meanwhile, the report claims that these three platforms now account for 64% of podcast listening in the US, up from 55% in 2019. The suggestion is that video podcasts are a big part of YouTube’s rise, with six in ten weekly podcast listeners claiming to prefer podcasts with video. You can download the full report here.

Spotify Partnering With Employees To Offer Free Premium

Businesses don’t just rely on health insurance to lure potential workers into their fold. Gym memberships, free snacks or meals, even free fitness trackers — there’s no shortage of perks that modern companies can use to win over future employees. Spotify is sick of being on the outside of those benefits, so it’s introducing a new program to help businesses entice workers through the promise of free jam sessions.

Spotify for Work is the company’s new perk for employers, and it’s kicking off with Accenture, a “global professional services firm.” Members in Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania are getting a free Spotify Premium account meant to be used both during and outside of work hours. For now, this program is just a partnership with Accenture, though the streamer is teasing potential collaborations with other companies down the road with today’s announcement.

The Judds Final Tour Will Carry On With All-Star Female Guests

As Wynonna Judd has promised, the show will go on for the Judds’ previously announced Final Tour after the death of her mother and duo partner, Naomi Judd. A press release Thursday morning (May 19) reveals that a slate of all-star female guests will join Wynonna Judd to complete the tour in tribute to the Judds’ enduring legacy, calling it the “ultimate girls night out.”

Brandi Carlile, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde and Trisha Yearwood are set to join Judd for the tour, with more guests to be announced.

“I am humbled, once again, by the loyalty of the fans who have been with us for 38-plus years, who continue to show up for me when I need them the most,” Wynonna Judd states. “I am grateful that we will continue to honor the Judds legacy, together.”

MENA is the “Fastest Growing Music Region In The World” According to the IFPI

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is now the “fastest growing music region in the world,” according to the IFPI, which is preparing to roll out its “first ever regional chart” for the nations at hand and their approximately 400 million residents.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) today detailed its view of MENA’s growth (as well as its plans for the aforementioned regional chart) via a formal release that was emailed to DMN. Back in March, the organization reported that the Middle East and North Africa had achieved 35 percent music-industry growth in 2021, against 31.2 percent for Latin America and 18.5 percent globally.

Building upon these findings, the IFPI last month commissioned a survey of 1,560 United Arab Emirates residents between the ages of 16 and 44. This study found that the country’s roughly 10 million citizens enjoy an average of 22.5 hours’ worth of music per week (22 percent above the international average), with 54 percent of individuals having stated that they “typically listen to at least one Middle Eastern genre.”

NFT Marketplace Serenade Raises $4.2M, Plans US Expansion

Serenade, a music NFT marketplace launched in 2021, has raised AUD $6 million (approx USD $4.2m).

The company, founded by Australian tech entrepreneur Max Shand, says the funds will be used to “help grow its artist and partner roster” across the UK and Australia, as well as in the US, where the company plans to enter the market and open a dedicated office.

Today’s (May 18) news follows the announcement in March, that Iain Watt, the former Managing Director of YMU Music in the UK, joined the platform’s Advisory Board as Chairman.

According to a media statement, Serenade has been supported by several high-profile music industry investors, including senior management figures from Atlantic Records UK, Secret Sounds, Future Classic, UNIFIED Music Group and Warner Music Group, as well as Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman.

The statement adds that “the group has also been joined by Matt Gudinski and Johann Poniah of Mushroom Group and former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning.”

SONG OF THE WEEK: Zach Bryan – “Heavy Eyes”

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Industry News News

This Week In Music (May 13, 2022)

From the loss of Trevor Strnad to the arrest of Young Thug, we’ve gathered the latest need-to-know music news in one place.

Happy Friday, the thirteenth! We know this day is often associated with bad luck and things that go bump in the night, but this month, it’s also the date of an incredible New Music Friday. We’ve got new releases from Kendrick Lamar, The Black Keys, State Champs, Morgue Supplier, and Cage Fight, just to name a few. There’s also a slew of wonderful singles and a decent chance the weather won’t be terrible all weekend. We don’t see any reason to complain.

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. Below you’ll find the biggest stories of the week, all covered by the best outlets in tech and entertainment. Click around, learn what’s happening, and use the weekend to prepare for the end of the month.

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

THE NEED TO KNOW MUSIC NEWS OF THE WEEK

Black Dahlia Murder Vocalist Trevor Strnad Dead at 41

Trevor Strnad, founding lead vocalist of the melodic death metal band the Black Dahlia Murder, has died at the age of 41.

Strnad’s bandmates confirmed his death Wednesday on social media. No cause of death was provided, but the surviving members shared the contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Trevor Scott Strnad,” the Black Dahlia Murder said in a statement. “Beloved son, brother, and Shepard of good times, he was loved by all that met him. A walking encyclopedia of all things music. He was a hugger, a writer, and truly one of the world’s greatest entertainers. His lyrics provided the world with stories and spells and horror and whimsy. It was his life to be your show.”

Spotify launches editorial submission form for indie podcasts

Musicians have long been able to share new and upcoming music with Spotify’s editorial team for playlist consideration. However, podcasters have mostly been left behind. Unless tied to a major production company, most podcasts are left to fight with other shows for whatever attention they can pull. Until this week, when Spotify gave indie shows a shot at real growth.

To help better find, review, and amplify the latest, greatest, and most diverse indie podcasts, the Podcast Editorial team recently opened up an editorial submission form for the U.S. podcasting community. Each applicant will be considered for their editorial features, with the aim of highlighting a wide range of formats (including video podcasts), backgrounds, and experience levels. And if you do get an editorial feature, you’ll have earned a coveted spot as one of Spotify’s featured podcasts across one of our community destinations or in our New Releases section. Read more about how to get your podcast featured on Spotify.

REST IN PEACE: iPod

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) is discontinuing the iPod more than 20 years after the device became the face of portable music and kickstarted its meteoric evolution into the world’s biggest company.

The iPod Touch, the only version of the portable music player still being sold, will be available till supplies last, Apple said in a blog post on Tuesday.

Since its launch in 2001, the iPod took on a storm of competing music players before being eclipsed by smartphones, online music streaming and within the Apple pantheon, by the rise of the iPhone.

The iPod has undergone several iterations since its inception featuring a scroll wheel, the capacity to store a 1,000 songs and a 10-hour battery-life. The version that has been carried till date – the iPod Touch – was launched in 2007, the same year as the iPhone.

Rappers Young Thug and Gunna arrested in connection with RICO case

The popular rapper Young Thug was arrested in Atlanta on Monday, and faces a slew of accusations from Fulton County’s district attorney, including that he was allegedly a founder and active leader of the violent Young Slime Life street gang.

The 80-plus page indictment charges both Young Thug and another rapper, Gunna, with gang-related crimes, and includes more than 25 others who have allegedly participated in YSL gang activity.

The New York Times reported that the lawyer for Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Williams, said that YSL was not a street gang and claimed that the indictment was “baseless to include him.”

“Mr. Williams came from an incredible horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at,” Attorney Brian Steel said.

Ashley Gorley Signs With Sony Music Publishing & Domain Capital Group

Award-winning hit songwriter Ashley Gorley has signed a global agreement with Sony Music Publishing, in partnership with Domain Capital Group. The deal encompasses Gorley’s complete catalog of songs, as well as future compositions.

Gorley is one of the most in-demand songwriters in modern music, with a record-setting 59 No. 1 songs and over 400 songs released by artists such as Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Cole Swindell, Bon Jovi, Weezer, and more. He has been named ASCAP Songwriter of The Year an unprecedented eight times, and is a five-time Billboard Top Country Songwriter and five-time NSAI Songwriter of The Year.

Of the deal, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO, Rusty Gaston, says, “I’ve been a fan of Ashley Gorley’s songwriting since the late ’90s when we both attended Belmont University together. He’s a true music connoisseur in every sense of the word. His diverse influences combined with his genuine heart have led his songs to define the soundtrack of country music. Sony Music Publishing is so proud to partner with Ashley and our friends at Domain Capital to champion this new leg of his historic songwriting journey.”

“Ashley Gorley is undeniably one of the most talented, hard-working and acclaimed songwriters in the world,” adds Domain Capital Group’s Pete Chiappetta. “We are excited to see what he accomplishes next with Jon [Platt], Rusty, Cam [Caldwell] and the rest of the incredible team at Sony. To partner alongside such a passionate and well-respected group of professionals is an honor.”

Gorley’s recent hits include “You Should Probably Leave” by Chris Stapleton, “Sand In My Boots” by Morgan Wallen, and “What’s Your Country Song” by Thomas Rhett. In addition to being a hit writer, Gorley also acts as a publisher. His Tape Room Music has celebrated 35 No. 1 hits.

SONG OF THE WEEK: Misery Index – “Complete Control”

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Haulix News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast Ends After Seven Years, 237 Episodes

Inside Music is a podcast about the lives of professionals in the music business. Each week, host James Shotwell chats with an artist or industry tastemaker to learn how anyone can navigate the world of entertainment.

The first-ever Haulix podcast, Inside Music, is saying farewell after more than two hundred episodes exploring life in the modern entertainment business.

Haulix.com has announced the end of Inside Music, its first-ever podcast series. The show’s final episode featuring musical guest Rivers Of Nihil debuted online at the end of September 2021.

“Creating Inside Music was my first attempt at podcasting. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time, but thanks to patient guests and trusting leadership, we found our way to great conversations that I will always cherish.”

– James Shotwell, Inside Music host.

The Inside Music Podcast launched as a Haulix production in 2014 to help people better understand the lives of music professionals, both on stage and off. Across the show’s more than 200 episodes, guests included everyone from platinum-selling rapper Jack Harlow to iconic producer Butch Vig. Additional guests have included BABYMETAL, Celldweller, Bryan Garris (Knocked Loose), Tilian Pearson (Dance Gavin Dance), Phil Bozeman (Whitechapel), among hundreds more.

A full statement from the Inside Music Podcast team reads as follows:

Inside Music began as a desire to see what was possible with the podcasting medium. Over seven years and hundreds of conversations, you helped us build a tiny community of curious music consumers that kept us passionate about our creation.

It is hard to pinpoint when we knew it was time for the show to end, but we believe some things in life you just know. We wrestled with whether or not to push for another milestone. After all, episode 250 or 300 isn’t that far away, but we can’t convince ourselves to create something we’ve internally laid to rest. 

Don’t worry, however, because we have many more wonderful productions on the horizon. You can currently hear our team’s collaborative efforts on High Notes, the music industry’s leading recovery podcast. We have additional programming planned for 2022, but we can’t talk about it yet.

To everyone who ever gave us an hour of conversation or thirty seconds of listening—thank you. We will never forget this time in our lives, and thanks to the internet, the show will live on. Every episode will be available to stream anywhere you get podcasts for as long as possible. 

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Haulix Industry News News Podcasts

High Notes Season Three: Part 2 Debuts Online

The music industry’s first recovery-focused podcast, High Notes, returns with five new stories now available everywhere.

Haulix is proud to announce the release of High Notes season three: part 2. The critically-acclaimed music recovery podcast continues its successful run with five new episodes featuring guests from across the musical spectrum. Included in this latest season are Art Alexakis of Everclear, Andy Black of Black Veil Brides, Mike Hansen of Hotel Etiquette, singer-songwriter Morgan Wade, and Monarch frontman Ryan Williams (ex-Red Sun Rising). All episodes are available now everywhere you find podcasts.

Subscribe to High Notes on Spotify!

“We’re excited to be back,” says James Shotwell, host and Director of Customer Engagement at Haulix. “These five episodes are some of the best we’ve made. It took a little longer than expected to finish production than expected, but we used that time to make each episode special. Where we go from here is anyone’s guess, but I speak for our entire team when I say that making this series is a source of great pride. We hope it helps you or someone you know feel a little less alone, even if only for a moment.”

Episode guide for High Notes season three — part 2:

HN 3.6: Art Alexakis (Everclear)

Art Alexakis is a modern rock icon. For nearly three decades, Art and his bandmates in Everclear have been writing the great American songbook, greatly informed by Art’s personal experiences. His appearance on this episode details his life before Everclear, back when he was living in San Francisco with his first wife. Art recounts an event that changed his life trajectory and the temptations he continues to wrestle with today.

HN 3.7: Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides)

Andy Biersack, sometimes known as Andy Black, is recognized worldwide as the face of modern alternative music. Black and his band, Black Veil Brides, have played everywhere and sold more records than many of their genre peers, all while learning harsh lessons about life in the fast lane. Black’s appearance on the show focuses largely on a tumultuous time for the band in the early 2010s and how industry pressures can lead young talent astray. It’s a story that Black expands on in his autobiography, They Don’t Need To Understand, which is available now wherever you purchase books.

HN 3.8: Mike Hansen (Hotel Etiquette)

Michael Hansen, known to friends as Mike, began his life in and around music as a member of the straight edge community. Through a litany of experiences and personal revelations, Mike decided to break edge and experiment with various substances, each offering a different lesson on life. It was fun until it wasn’t, and that’s when Mike turned to his wife for support. Together, the two found a new lifestyle that fits their needs, which Mike details in this episode.

HN 3.9: Morgan Wade

Morgan Wade is the future of country music. A singer/songwriter who has lived more life than most can fit into her years, Wade brings a mature perspective to life in the modern age. Her appearance on the show takes listeners back to a blurry New York night that found Wade waking up face down in a parking lot. That night, coupled with several contributing factors, served as a much-needed wake-up call for the songwriter who was still barely in her twenties. Wade recounts her decision to make a change and everything she gained with her new lifestyle.

HN 3.10: Ryan Williams (Monarch)

Ryan Williams rose to international attention with his band Red Sun Rising, but the group’s success came at a cost that went unpaid for far too long. Now, Williams is beginning again with Monarch, an exciting new project built from the ground up with a sober mind and a lifetime of experiences. Williams’ appearance on the show details the dizzying times that led him to get sober, as well as how recovery impacts creativity.

High Notes is produced in partnership with heartsupport the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation. The show is hosted by James Shotwell and produced by Laura Haggard, who also serves as a programming consultant for the series. Liam Dellamonica handles marketing.

Every season of High Notes and the podcast’s recent Season of Mist-themed miniseries are available now wherever you listen to Podcasts. You can search for the show on your favorite platform or click here to find direct links. Previous guests include Brian “Head” Welch of KoRn, Phil Labonte of All That Remains, Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October, Anthony Green of Circa Survive, and Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies.

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News

Are There Too Many Podcasts? [Video]

A new report sheds an alarming light on the number of podcasts in existence, but should the rising show count deter you from launching something new?

Podcasts are here to stay. Many have known that to be true for years, but the long-form audio medium continues to find new listeners with each passing week. Musicians, artists, experts, and random everyday humans from all corners of the Earth are creating shows that cover every topic imaginable, and several are finding massive success along the way. We’ve told you to start one before, and we still believe you should.

But a new report has some creators thinking twice about their future in podcasting. According to Chartable, more than 17,000 new podcasts were launched every week in 2020. That amounts to more than 800,000 new podcasts for the year.

Now we know what you’re thinking: That is a lot of podcasts. We felt the same way at first, but then we considered a few data points that Chartable’s report does now:

  • Many podcasts never have a second episode. They start and die overnight.
  • Those 800,000 podcasts cover hundreds of thousands of topics.
  • Not every podcast is available on every platform.
  • Not every podcast is available in every country.
  • All or most of those podcasts do not feature YOU.

Music podcasting is mainly non-artists talking about artists they love. Musicians and groups using podcasting to engage and develop their community are far rarer, and that’s a shame.

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell looks at the data and offers advice to anyone, especially musicians, that may be thinking twice about starting a podcast. He explains the benefits that podcasting can offer to artists of any size and even provides resources to help you start.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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Haulix Industry News News Podcasts

High Notes Podcast Season Two Debuts Online

The world’s first recovery podcast set in the music business, High Notes, returns with ten new episodes available today worldwide.

Today – Tuesday, December 15th – Haulix.com, in partnership with heartsupport and the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation, has released HIGH NOTES, a podcast about addiction and recovery in the music industry. The full 10-episode second season debuts today on all podcast platforms.  Listen and subscribe https://linktr.ee/highnotes.

“At Haulix, in addition to taking care of our customers, we take pride in using our industry reach to educate and shine a light on topics less heard about, like addiction and recovery,” says company founder and CEO Matt Brown. “Our High Notes series lets us tap into real-world experiences spoken by the artists themselves.”

The second season of HIGH NOTES features exclusive, in-depth conversations with rock and alternative musicians in various recovery stages. Guests include Shannon Larkin of Godsmack, Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate, Eric Christopher of Hospital Bracelet, Ben Liebsch of You, Me, And Everyone We Know, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Amanda Lyberg of Eva Under Fire, Donovan Melero of Hail The Sun, singer/songwriter Janet Devlin, Trevor Hedges of Sundressed, and indie newcomer Kat Hamilton. Each episode delves into a different guest’s journey to sobriety and the role the music business played in helping (or hurting) their recovery.

“We believe in the power of conversation,” says host James Shotwell. “The second season of our show looks at addiction and recovery from a variety of fresh perspectives. The discussions we have can be tough to hear at times, but we always emphasize hope. We want everyone listening to know that there are always people who love and believe in them no matter how bad things appear. Our team and our guests want to cheer on our audience the same way they cheer for their favorite musicians.”

The first season of HIGH NOTES premiered in July of 2020. The 8-episode season featured Brian “Head” Welch of KoRn, Tommy Vext of Bad Wolves, Bert McCracken of The Used, Anthony Green of Circa Survive, Haley Butters of Absinthe Father, Nick Martin of Sleeping With Sirens, Ronnie Winter of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October.

HIGH NOTES’ entire second season is available starting today, July 28. https://linktr.ee/highnotes.

Episode descriptions:

2.1 Eric Christopher (Hospital Bracelet)

A recent star of the indie punk scene, Eric Christopher of Hospital Bracelet, discusses the relapse that led them to reconnect with music and launch their career. They also share the importance of mantras, finding a supportive community, and sharing your journey. 

Hospital Bracelet’s debut album, South Loop Summer, arrives in 2021 through Counter Intuitive Records.

2.2 Ben Liebsch (You, Me, And Everyone We Know)

For Ben Liebsch, a lifetime spent trying to outrun childhood traumas inevitably led to years of drug and alcohol abuse. His problems reached a boiling point in the spring of 2011 when every member of his band quit, leaving Ben to sift through the things he’d worked so hard to avoid. Ben tells us how confronting his past allows him to live in the present and how processing his experiences ultimately led him back to making music. 

2.3 Amanda Lyberg (Eva Under Fire)

Amanda Lyberg has known the destructive power of addiction her entire life. Raised by addicts, Amanda spent years trying to understand their struggles, which eventually led to a career in clinical psychology. In this episode, Amanda shares her pivotal life experiences and how she works to make the world a better, more understanding place both in and out of music. 

2.4. Clint Lowery (Sevendust)

Clint Lowery is a modern rock icon. He’s done everything a rockstar can, but he realized many years ago that the version of stardom found in movies and television shows is no way to live. Here, Clint recounts the day he chose to change his life and details how the Serenity Prayer’s lessons changed him for the better.

2.5. Donovan Melero (Hail The Sun)

Once a shy teen with dreams of making a living in entertainment, Donovan Melero saw drugs and alcohol as a way to escape his insecurities. Over time, however, he realized that running away from your problems never leads to peace. Here, Donovan tells us how opening up about his difficulties helped him find a community that supported him on the path to recovery.

2.6 Trevor Hedges (Sundressed)

Sundressed vocalist and founding member Trevor Hedges knew he had to make a change after a run-in with law enforcement nearly derailed his life. Thankfully, he found purpose in making music to help others, and his devotion to developing his talent has kept Trevor on the path to recovery for over a decade.

2.7 Janet Devlin

Fame is difficult for anyone to handle, but it’s perhaps hardest on young people. After gaining international attention through reality TV at the age of 16, Janet Devlin fell into addictive behaviors while feeling isolated from the outside world. She uses her time on High Notes to tell us how a combination of recovery groups and therapy saved her life on more than one occasion. It’s a darkly funny look at the work involved in getting betting, but it’s as honest as any conversation we’ve shared.

2.8 Craig Mabbitt (Escape The Fate)

When Craig Mabbitt joined Escape The Fate, his image was a hard-partying rockstar with a look and attitude similar to Motley Crue in their prime. That lifestyle was fun for a while, but deep down, Craig knew it could never last. Fast-forward to 2020, and Craig is in his first year of sobriety, which has unfolded amid a global pandemic.

2.9 Shannon Larkin (Godsmack, Apocalypse Blues Revival)

Shannon Larkin is music royalty. Best known as the drummer of Godsmack and The Apocalypse Blues Revival, Larkin has contributed to some of the most influential rock records of all-time. He’s been everywhere and done everything that musicians dream of achieving, but his most significant accomplishment happened just four years ago when a motorcycle accident pushed him to get sober. 

2.10 Kat Hamilton

Kat Hamilton is a fast-rising musician who channels the years she spent dealing with intense addiction and trauma into her songwriting. Kat uses her time on the show to discuss the therapeutic qualities of sharing your truth and lessons learned in recovery.

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News

Spotify’s New Tool Revolutionizes Music Podcasts (And It’s Free)

Spotify’s efforts to become the premier platform to listen, discover, and create podcasts just took a giant leap forward.

Spotify just reinvented music podcasts. Starting last week, users worldwide can create podcasts using Anchor that includes music from the Spotify library. The music is available to creators without licensing fees, but artists will make money from the use. It’s a first of its kind development that stands to create a boom of new content for the popular streaming platform.

Anchor, which Spotify acquired in February 2019, is a podcast creation and distribution platform that is free to use. With a few clicks, anyone can upload and share their recordings with the world. The new feature, available in numerous countries, allows creators to add full songs from anyone with music on Spotify without fear of copyright claims or expensive licensing costs.

But there is a catch. There’s always a catch.

Shows featuring music from the Spotify library will only be available to Spotify users. That may frustrate some creators, but it’s a genius decision for Spotify corporate. The company is encouraging boundless creativity while still keeping the final product of that creativity within its ecosystem. As a result, more creators will move shows or make new ones exclusive to Spotify, and Spotify will have a constant stream of new content for its massive community of users to consume. All this, plus the fact musicians will make money any time people stream podcasts with their music, makes this development a winning combination for everyone!

In this Music Biz 101 update, host James Shotwell breaks down the newest Spotify development and the many ways it can potentially help artists everywhere get ahead while earning money. Check it out:

For more music industry news and advice, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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News Podcasts

Rockers Pale Blue Dot Appear on The Latest Inside Music Podcast

Virginia’s Pale Blue Dot is not letting a global pandemic prevent them from becoming your new favorite band.

Last weekend, something I thought impossible happened. After spending months watching musicians I know and love perform online with various degrees of success and production, I found and discovered someone new because of a live stream. A group of musicians I had never heard or met was performing on Facebook, and I not only watched but made an effort to seek out and support their career. It gave me hope for a concert-less world, and I think they’ll give you hope as well.

Virginia rock band Pale Blue Dot knew 2020 was going to be a wild year before it even began. Their new album was nearing completion, people were starting to pay attention, and every week brought new press. Then the pandemic happened, and every plan the band had was ruined in a matter of weeks. That kind of abrupt change can derail anyone, but the members of Pale Blue Dot did not miss a beat. The group pushed their album release, explored new marketing practices, and started work on what would become their first live stream performance.

On this episode of Inside Music, Pale Blue Dot shares the lessons they’ve learned throughout this tumultuous year. The group explains how merely pushing ahead without acknowledging the impact of change is a weak recipe for success, and that taking the time to understand what you’re experiencing matters. The current pandemic is impacting everyone differently, and it’s okay to take the time you need to process the present moment. Others might be able to brush it off and move forward, but others cannot, which is perfectly fine! Pale Blue Dot knows you have to listen to your heart and body above all else, which is what fuels their exciting take on modern alternative music.

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Industry News News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast #187: Annie Schindel on Songwriting

Three years after her Inside Music debut, songwriter Annie Schindel returns to the show with stories from her life in the industry.

Success is not measured in comparison to others but in your sense of satisfaction with the work you pursue. That lesson is one every music professional must learn, often more than once, and it rarely easy.

Annie Schindel is not your typical singer/songwriter. After finding viral success online while still in high school, Schindel took a step back from the spotlight to focus on school and personal development. That effort lead her to rediscover her passion for songwriting, which eventually lead to behind-the-scenes role helping artists from all walks of life craft better material. She cannot speak the names of those she works with, at least not yet, but it is safe to say she has rubbed shoulders with serious industry players.

Now, three years after her Inside Music debut, Annie Schindel returns to our podcast with a series of stories and lessons from her life in songwriting. Annie explains how her lack of public output does not equate to a lack of work, as well as the plans she has for 2020. Annie also shares the story behind “Reminiscing,” the brand new single she released at the end of November. Take a listen below:

Prefer video? We’ve got you covered:

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Industry News News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast #183: Blue October (Justin Furstenfeld)

After twenty years in the music business, Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld makes his Inside Music Podcast debut with stories of triumph, loss, and recovery.

Malcolm Gladwell would classify Justin Furstenfeld as an outlier. The frontman of Blue October has shaped the sound of alternative rock for over two decades. In that time, Furstenfeld has released more than half a dozen records, toured endlessly, and written numerous hit songs. He’s also hit rock bottom, found a path to recovery, and lived to tell his story. Furstenfeld is a person who puts his all in everything he does for better and worse. He fully commits in every way, and that approach to living has made all difference in his career.

When you speak to fans of Blue October, there is a sense of community that is impossible to deny. Each listener finds themselves relating to Furstenfeld’s journey through life’s toughest times in a manner that breeds hopefulness. They are often lost souls in search of meaning and peace who turn to music when they believe there is nowhere left to turn. Furstenfeld has done the same, and he conveys the messages he wishes to hear whenever he sings.

Hours before a recent gig in West Michigan, Furstenfeld sat with Inside Music host James Shotwell on Blue October’s tour bus to discuss the lessons learned from his time in music. Furstenfeld shared his highest highs and lowest lows, all of which lead him to change his perspective on life. That shift produced a ripple effect that benefitted not just his band, but everyone he connects with through music as well.

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