NHT Blog

If you receive the weekly e-newsletter that I send out each Wednesday, you saw that last week I led off the August 17th email by saying that I just might’ve met my match.  I was referring to having been told before that I’m “the hardest working man in show business,” yet the guest on Episode 444 of my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast that was being released that day is just not stopping at all.

Creators – whether music, podcasts, or otherwise – already know how challenging their business is in the first place.  You don’t want to make the hill even steeper to climb by surrounding yourself with people who are going to get in your way of reaching the top.

The other day I saw a social media post from someone who runs a well-known business that’s a service provider to the podcasting industry.  I was shocked to read that he gets emails on a regular basis that none of us want to get even once.

Approximately ten days ago when I did my “Promoting Your Music Career” seminar at the 2nd Lake Martin Songwriters Festival, I got to a point where I was specifying some resources that the attendees could use to try to get more bookings.

While I cited eight different websites, the truth is that there are certainly lots and lots more.  BUT, you don’t just get more gigs from online destinations that you check periodically.

Getting your music played on the radio is a big achievement for many independent artists. Online and FM/AM radio stations are a big promotion win for emerging artists wanting to promote their music and get their music heard.

Submitting independent music to radio stations will help new artists on the block reach new audiences, both locally and worldwide. New and emerging artists who are trying to make it in the music industry should most definitely submit their new music to radio stations to gain more exposure.

Today I’m on a plane from the west coast heading back home after having been a speaker at the 18th San Francisco Writers Conference & Writing for Hollywood Summit.  At one point I was encouraging the attendees to write what they know, meaning, something that they’re passionate about.  The comparison I made was to something that guests have mentioned on my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast, which is, to not “write for the radio.”  Meaning, don’t just do what you think radio wants.

Last week I was on my Peer Call for this month. I had written a blog here on this site last November about my having created those and what they are. And one of the discussions this time around was someone asking what they should charge for a potential opportunity they were in talks with a potential client for.

These days I’m spending time on the FedEx and USPS websites, using their tracking features.  As you would assume, it’s because I’m trying to keep up with incoming packages, especially those that might require a signature, not to mention just a general awareness of the timing of each of what I’m getting.

Here in the U.S. the banks are closed today as is the post office.  Employees at lots of businesses, in fact, get the day off as Americans celebrate the Independence Day holiday.  And since it falls on a Monday this year it means that many folks – as evidenced by all the “prepare yourselves, travelers” stories last week – got a head start when the workday ended last Thursday.

Any music artist will tell you that placing your music on Spotify Playlists can do wonders for your musical career and music exposure. Submitting your songs onto Spotify playlists is imperative for every music artist who wants to get their music exposed.

Even though a lot of the larger playlists on Spotify are controlled and managed by Spotify, there are still plenty of opportunities for indie artists to be featured on curators' playlists, which host thousands of followers.

Two nights ago, I sat and barely watched, hanging my head as my beloved Tampa Bay Lightning got crushed by the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.  If it was that painful for me as a fan, I can imagine what it was like being on the bench and in the locker room.

While there’s still quite an uphill battle ahead, the good news is, the two teams play again tonight and so – unlike football where you have a week in between games to have your most recent defeat hanging over you – the loss from Saturday night can be put in the past.