Spotify’s Royalty Changes Revisited
Remember when Spotify announced all those changes to their royalty systems? I’m guessing you do, because it was only a few months ago and because a lot of people (including the folks on this reddit thread, the guy in this video, and maybe, dare I say it, you) were very upset. It was a hot topic. So, naturally, […]
An Indie Artist’s Feedback Loop
I am addicted to checking my email. I am definitely not addicted to responding to my email, as you know if you’ve ever tried to communicate with me. I live clean there, thank goodness. But I don’t think I’ve gone a day without checking my email in like five years. I get a dopamine hit […]
Lessons from Super Bowl LVIII Commercials
I was struck by a trend in this year’s Super Bowl commercials: A ton of them featured celebrities. If you watched the game (hello, 37% of my fellow Americans), I bet you noticed this, too. It felt like you couldn’t go a couple of seconds without seeing some famous person – and no, I’m not just […]
A Spotify Scam in 2024
Here are some words I wrote about a year ago: “I’m tired of artists calling things ‘scams.’ Most things just are not scams. Most people in this industry are trying really hard to do good work. I think our tendency to call things scams is symptomatic of an underlying cultural issue: We’re a grace-impoverished people.” […]
I might finally try TikTok this year.
I said “might,” okay? I’m still waffling, so don’t hold me to it. Truth be told, I still don’t like short-form video content in general, and I like TikTok in particular even less. I’m old, I’m grumpy, and I’m set in my ways, kind of like Tom Cruise in Maverick except with less charisma and aerial combat […]
Networking: A 2024 Hot Take
Networking. If I’m honest, the word makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. It brings to mind chatty business bros, happy-hour events where the only socially acceptable topic of conversation is sales revenue, and, for some reason I can’t quite pin, lululemon. As you may guess, I don’t love networking as a […]
Indie Music Academy Review: Is Their Spotify Promotion Legit?
So, you’re here because you’re wondering… Is Indie Music Academy’s Spotify promotion service legit? Fair question. Here’s my quick answer: Yes, it’s legit. In fact, it’s my top Spotify promotion company for 2024 (out of about a dozen that I’ve tried). The backstory: I run Two Story Media, a PR firm focused on helping indie artists […]
The 12 Best Spotify Promotion Services (That Are Actually Legit)
Spotify promotion feels risky – but it can be a hugely effective way to reach a new audience, too. In this article, I break down dozens of companies based on my results trying real campaigns.
What makes music popular?
It’s a good question. It’s a hard question. It’s also the premise of Derek Thompson’s Hit Makers, which I just finished yesterday while sitting at Starbucks. (Yes, I finally got away from Panera. I think we can all agree that it was time.) I don’t typically rate books, because I don’t believe that the quality of […]
YouGrow Promo Spotify Review: Is It Legit?
Yes, I think YouGrow is legit based on my results from multiple campaigns with them. They get real streams – but playlisting does carry some risk, too.
