Today, I launched my newsletter: Where Music's Going. It's for Artists & Builders working to create music's best future. Each week, I break down new tools & strategies to grow more connected audiences. Here's what's inside ↓

So many music tech startups pivot to building for "all creators" and it's a mistake. I get it: - "Music isn't big enough" - You need a bigger TAM - You need to sell it to your investors But artists aren't like "all creators". Music is different. It's distinct. Artists

Artists - now is the right time to post that TikTok asking people to sign up for your email list or community. Even if TikTok isn’t banned, this makes clear the value of direct fan relationships. These platforms can disappear or change their algo overnight.

Move fans somewhere you own. All that matters before Sunday is moving fans off TikTok & into your world where you can connect directly. 1) Add a sign-up form to your profile 2) Ask fans to join you there in your bio 3) Post about the need to connect directly Forget all else.

Bad Bunny just launched a massive 21 show residency in Puerto Rico & he's doing some incredible things to take care of his fans & his home. How? He's going direct. 1. Register with Bad Bunny 2. Real fans become eligible for tickets 3. Winners receive concierge access to buy

This is tech built to pursue mediocrity. We should be pursuing greatness.

Attention #LosAngeles Music Industry Professionals: If you’ve been working in the music industry for 5+ years and need assistance, @MusiCares is offering: •$1,500 in financial assistance •$500 in food vouchers 📧: musicaresrelief@musicares.org 📞: 1-800-687-4227

Life as an artist manager.

This is what happens when we pay with our attention, not our intention.

I know many people are annoyed with the constant talk about 'fandom', but here's why it's important: It's a rejection of the massive, passive industrial complex that turns everything into commodified content slop, disconnecting artists from their work & diminishing its value.

Best American band of the last 25 years? Go.

Honestly, this is a great framework for artists to think about their careers. It's not superstar or bust. Make what you want for your core people. Focus only on the metrics that matter to you. Don't chase someone else's version of success. (from the founder of Midjourney)

Big news for the indie music world. UMG just bought Downtown Music for $775M. Downtown houses some of the most vital tools & services available to the independent music sector: CD Baby→ Distribution for 2m artists FUGA→ Infra for top indie labels & services Songtrust→ Pub

The thing music needs most is a fan experience for lean-in discovery, lean-in consumption & lean-in community that is NOT siloed in individual artist spaces. Solve this, we solve most of our the problems facing artists & fans.

It’s up to the artists & builders solving these problems to shape a better future for music. More here:

Every problem is an opportunity. That’s what’s beautiful. We're never done. There will always be things to make better. The music industry was left for dead 20 years ago & along came streaming to bring it back to new heights. Now that, plus the internet & more, have caused a

Problems are opportunities and the music industry has plenty. So, I asked 35,245 people “what’s the biggest problem to solve in music?”. Here are the most common answers: 1. Streaming/Spotify 2. Music has been devalued 3. Artists don’t know who their fans are 4. Oversaturation

Problems are opportunities and the music industry has plenty. So, I asked 35,245 people “what’s the biggest problem to solve in music?”. Here are the most common answers: (Plus my thoughts below)

Music's not under-valued. It's under-monetized.

I want a button that skips the “guest’s background” at the start of podcasts. (Sorry)

I asked 35,000 people what's the biggest problem in music and BY FAR the most common answer was "music is undervalued". This begs the question: Is music valued more or less today than during the pre-Spotify, piracy era?