Cyber PR Music Podcast

Playlisting Prowess: Pushing Playlist Potential with AI Nov 07, 2023

In this episode, I sit down with Playlist expert Mike Warner to delve into the fascinating world of targeted advertising, the challenges of music promotion, and the powerful role that AI can play in your playlist strategy.

Mike warns about the dangers of targeting the wrong audience and emphasizes the importance of considering an artist's genre when reaching out to potential fans. He also shares personal anecdotes, including a friend's experience with directing family and friends to their music under a new name.

Discover how text and visuals can influence listeners' decision to press play, and why catching people's attention within a fraction of a second is crucial in today's social media scrolling culture. From the struggles and challenges faced during the creative process to the innovative use of AI in crafting effective song descriptions and pitches, Mike offers invaluable insights and practical advice to aspiring musicians and industry professionals.

Tune in as Mike uncovers the potential of AI tools like Chat GPT in revolutionizing the way we promote music and connect with audiences. With a treasure trove of tips on filling out submission forms, curating playlists, and making the most of streaming platforms, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry.

Artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of music promotion, and musicians can take advantage of AI-driven tools for various tasks. Warner discusses the benefits of Chat GPT in writing engaging pitches, improving communication with recipients, and streamlining the workflow.

Although AI has its limitations and requires fine-tuning, it can be a valuable partner in the music industry. AI not only aids in overcoming writer's block but also enhances the effectiveness of promotional efforts. In an era where music promotion requires a multi-faceted approach, the insights shared by Mike Warner offer valuable guidance for musicians. From targeting the right audience and harnessing the power of words to understanding the nuances of music streaming platforms and embracing AI-driven tools, artists have an array of strategies at their disposal.

By staying informed and adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape, musicians can maximize their reach, engage their fan base, and elevate their music careers to new heights.

Key topics in this Podcast

- Targeting the Right Audience for Music Ads - Importance of Text in Music Promotion - Challenges in Creating and Describing Music - AI Tools for Music Promotion - Manipulation and Consequences in Music Streaming Platforms - Utilizing Submission Forms for Music Platforms - Using Chat GPT for Writing Pitches - Playlists and Other Opportunities for Music Promotion - AI as a Partner in the Music Industry Works - Documenting and Sharing Experiences in the Music Industry

About my Guest: Mike Warner

Australian-born Mike Warner is one of the leading experts in the world of streaming music. Mike has held many roles in music over the past 20 years. Currently, he is the Head of Editorial Marketing Partnerships, in North America with global music distributor Believe. Prior to this, he was the Director of Artist Relations at Chartmetric.As a true wearer of many hats, he is also a best-selling self-published author as well as a public speaker, Mike has shared his insights on every stage, from guest starring on numerous podcasts and appearing live on CNBC to speaking at the music industry's largest conferences including SXSW, NAMM and Music Biz.

Based on the success of the first two editions of Work Hard Playlist Hard, Mike has expanded the world of WHPH into a full online blog and a podcast series. He also collaborated with industry friend Erika Parr to translate the book into Spanish. Mike has gained an audience on LinkedIn, with his informative and entertaining posts earning him the title as one of LinkedIn’s 2023 Top Voices in Music. An independent artist himself, Mike understands the challenges facing artists today better than anyone.

A bit of a rebel and an obstinate supporter of independent artists, Mike continues to be unrelentingly passionate about empowering musicians with the tools they need to succeed. As an educator, author, speaker, executive, and leader, Mike's work has gained him recognition among his peers as the go-to authority at the forefront of the digital music world.

Featured Links and Deeper Dives:

X DJ Mode on Spotify - Head to your Music Feed on Home in the Spotify mobile app on your iOS or Android device, tap Play on the DJ card, and let Spotify do the rest!

Work Hard Playlist Hard - Mike's awesome blog.

PlaylistAI - Describe what you want to listen to and AI will make you the perfect mix.

Consent, Collaboration, and Caution: Web 3.0, The Metaverse and AI Sep 29, 2023

In episode 6, I sat down with extraordinary visual artist, musician, and Metaverse expert Carrie Able, to discuss the fascinating intersection of AI, art, and the future of music.

Throughout the episode, Carrie shares insightful perspectives on the unique art that we all know and love (like the art you can visit in museums) and how AI falls short in replicating its depth and creativity. She also delves into her exciting journey of creating standalone music that inspires art.

We discuss the potential risks and benefits of AI in the art industry. Carrie emphasizes the need for regulation and consent in using people's data and imagery for training AI systems.

We cover inspiring examples of breaking genre boundaries, such as the Barbie movie, which exemplifies that AI is not yet capable of replicating the creative spark that comes from human imagination.

She shares her personal journey as an artist, from being an apprentice to a portrait painter at a young age to embracing tech-related art and becoming an artist in residence at a VR studio.

Then she swings into her collaboration and the exciting future possibilities of augmented reality and VR technology. This technology is important to pay attention to because Carrie thinks it could revolutionize the way we experience art and music, similar to how the iPhone revolutionized the industry.

Carrie sheds light on the importance of artists owning their own data, creativity, and online assets in virtual worlds, emphasizing the potential of Web 3.0, crypto NFTs, and the Metaverse for artists.

Overall, this episode is a treasure trove of insights and ideas that will leave you excited about the future of music, art, and technology.

Digital Dexterity: Decoding the AI Musicians' Maze By Testing Tools, Apps & Sites Jul 18, 2023

In this episode, we dive into the world of AI music-making tools and their rising popularity. My guest, Kristin Juel, did extensive research for Water & Music and had a LOT to say about why it is critical to get proactively out in front of all the AI tools that are coming to market and why it is empowering for artists to test and understand what’s available. This not only alleviates the fear of the unknown but also as Kristin says “Don't wait for it to become something that's a nuisance. Get in the mindset, and start looking at the opportunities.”

Different types of people, from hobbyists to professional musicians, are utilizing these AI music-making tools. While initially concerned about the future of humanity with the rise of technology, Kristin emphasizes that human creativity remains essential and that humans ultimately control the conversation.

We also explore the possibility of AI influencing the creation of hit songs instead of completely writing them, the importance of people feeling capable and able to express themselves and we highlight the challenges and blessings of putting yourself at the forefront of innovation in the music industry.

List of tools, sites, and AI apps mentioned in the episode:

Boomy - https://boomy.com - Create original songs in seconds, even if you've never made music before

Grimes AI Voice Tool - https://elf.tech/connect

Magenta Studio: Free AI tools for Ableton Live

https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/magenta-studio-free-ai-tools-ableton-live/

Abelton’s amazing AI Tool Blog Post - Mentions dozens of tools to know about - https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/ai-and-music-making-the-state-of-play/

Never Before Heard Sounds - https://heardsounds.com/

Midjourney - https://www.midjourney.com/ Use for story boards when creating music videos, or EP, and single covers

Landr - https://www.landr.com- Create, collaborate, master, distribute and promote your music

all in one place.

Maximizing Music Marketing with ChatGPT and AI Jun 08, 2023

On this episode of The Cyber PR Music Podcast, Ariel chats with an old friend and colleague. John Oszajca, a musician and digital marketer, and he shares his insights into using AI language models like Chat GPT for music marketing, emphasizing the importance of having a human-derived game plan and not solely relying on AI. He also shares his thoughts on the singularity and what it means for AI's potential future.

Lastly, the podcast touches on the strengths and limitations of AI in music marketing, and how musicians can complement their talents with AI tools. Overall, this episode explores how AI language models can be used as effective tools in music marketing, while still understanding the value of human touch and authenticity.

Rhythm & Reflection: Why Musicians Need an AI Point Of View Jun 01, 2023

On this episode of The Cyber PR Music Podcast, host Ariel Hyatt speaks with software engineer and Myxt co-founder Chris Wetherell about AI in music and the need for a cultural understanding around technology. Wetherell shares insights on his current work in mastering, audio pattern detection, and transcription services, as well as the breakthrough in AI language translation that happened in 2017.

He also discusses his concerns about government understanding of technology and the weaponization of social media, a topic he knows a LOT about as he had a front-row seat at Twitter. Key takeaways include the importance of musicians developing a point of view on AI in music, the potential impact on vocalists and instrumentalists, and the need for early conversation around the cultural impact of technology.

About Chris Wetherell

Chris Wetherell is a musician turned Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Myxt. An early engineer at Google, Chris started the popular Google Reader app used by millions worldwide. Chris then went on to work at Twitter as the lead on implementing its Retweet feature. He also started Thing Labs, Avocado Software, and was most recently the Chief Product Officer of the geographic data analysis platform, Tierra. Chris attended University of California, Berkeley where he studied Computer Science and Music.

Link About it:

Myxt - https://myxt.com/

Eleven Labs - https://beta.elevenlabs.io/

Key takeaways:

- Musicians should develop a point of view on AI in music to prepare for its impact on the industry.

- Vocalists should take action to own the transformation of their own voice with AI.

- There are concerns about the weaponization of social media and how AI can facilitate language generation.

- There is a prediction of a new development in the music industry that will likely create a new business model.

- The conversation around the cultural impact of technology should be held early on in its development.

Melodies in the Machine: Legal Landmines of AI-Generated Music with Ryan Kairalla, Music Attorney & Break The Business Podcast Host May 24, 2023

On episode 2 of The Cyber PR Music Podcast, AI Season we dive into the world of AI and creativity. The music industry is facing a new challenge that requires attention from lawyers and lawmakers to create new laws that fit the existing landscape and address the rise of AI. However, the potential of AI in the music industry is enormous, allowing artists to create work more easily and more effectively.

First, we discuss the legal challenges surrounding AI-generated content after the much covered AI debacle with fake Drake and The Weeknd, causing DSPs to take down the song. Then, we explore how AI, specifically Chat GPT, can help creators with the tedious and less enjoyable parts of content creation, such as writing blog posts or generating musical ideas. Ryan emphasizes how AI can help save time and allow for more human-oriented creativity, but we must ensure human involvement to prevent AI from pushing fans away. We also discuss AI collabs with artists and the importance of being transparent with fans about AI's use in the creative process.

Tune in to discover the exciting possibilities of AI in the music industry from the perspective of an entertainment attorney.

“ Using AI to collaborate with artists requires legal precautions. Trademark and rights of publicity issues arise when using a celebrity's name or likeness, but general templates of terms of service with legal waivers can protect both parties. Grimes' collaborative model of allowing her voice to be used with clear disclaimers and legal protection can be a possible solution.” - Ryan Kairalla, Music attorney and Break The Business Podcast Host

Metadata, Music Discovery & Musicians AI with Hazel Savage, Co-founder Musiio by SoundCloud May 17, 2023

The newest season of the Cyber PR Music Podcast is all about AI Music Marketing and the brilliant Hazel Savage, co-founder of Musiio by SoundCloud kicks it off from London.

Hazel talks about the role of AI in music creation. While the use of AI can be seen as a "freak show" to some, it can also be an opportunity for artists like Grimes to explore a new branch of creativity. She touches on the history of technology in the music industry, and how the industry will continue to find ways to value artists while not stifling creativity.

She speaks candidly about her personal experience of struggling to find inspiring female bosses early in her career and emphasizes the importance of being vulnerable and open about limitations for women in the workplace.

She takes us through the AI technology behind Musiio, which is primarily a B2B company however all indie artists can use it for free (and they should - we explain why!). In seconds Musiio adds metadata to tracks, and will reveal things you may not know about your own musical creations which can help you with marketing and play;lisy placements.

Hazel explains the differences between ML and AI and she discusses and explores the possibilities of AI-assisted music creation. We both encourage the use of assistive technologies for individuals working as a team of one and share some fun experiments with AI-generated selfies and more.

Tune in to learn more about the intersection of technology and music!

Key topics in this Podcast

The difference between AI (artificial Intelligence and ML (machine learning)
The importance of humans in content creation (AI is NOT coming to replace you!)
Different perspectives on AI-generated music (freak show vs. creativity)
Assistive AI technologies for individual musicians and teams
Adding rich metadata to tracks to improve playlists, search functionality, and music discovery
How independent artists can use Musiio to add metadata to their tracks or get a second opinion on their music for richer marketing experiences

Featured Links:

Musiio by SoundCloud https://musiio.com/ - Musiio is a free AI tagging too that all indie artists should try.

Audio Shake - https://indie.audioshake.ai AudioShake's AI technology makes it easy to upload a song and begin breaking it down into its individual stems.

Measure of Music - https://conference.measureofmusic.com Free annual online music industry Conference. Watch all replays and sign up on the site.

The Ultimate Guide to Music Publicity Aug 13, 2021

In this episode Ariel discusses:

The struggle she went through to release this book
Exclusive Q&As with some of the amazing independent artists and industry professionals who are featured in The Ultimate Guide to Music Publicity
Music release strategies and how to get featured on blogs and playlists

Growing Patreon With Your Superfans w/ Heather Mae Jan 20, 2021

In this epsiode, Heather & Ariel discuss:

How to engage and establish your fanbase
Finding your Super Fans
Turning your Super Fans into Patreon subscribers
Using Patreon to connect further with your fans

Monetizing Zoom Concerts and Hangouts w/ Dan Mangan Jan 04, 2021

In this episode, Dan & Ariel discuss:

The state of live music during a pandemic
Livestreaming
Virtual Concerts
Using StageDoor

How to Grow A Massive Fanbase with Michael Walker Nov 19, 2020

In this episode, Michael & Ariel discuss:

Engaging your audience
Creating real connections with your fans
Getting in the right mindset
Leveraging social media

Music Marketing 101 with Bryan Calhoun Sep 04, 2020

In this episode, Bryan and Ariel discuss:

His impressive roster of working with G-Eazy, Drake, Kanye and Lil Wayne (to name a few)
Why vanity metrics don’t really matter
The difference between social media management and marketing plans
The self-service tools different platforms offer that you want to make sure you’re taking advantage of
Where to spend your money if you’re getting into music marketing for the first time
How you can engage and interact with your fans across all platforms and discover look-a-like fans
Music Business Toolbox - what it is and where it’s headed!

Creating Community With Ashley Kervabon Jul 31, 2020

In this episode, Ashley and Ariel discuss:

What #WomenCrushMusic is, Why it began, and how it spread to 16 cities in their first year
How #WCM has gone virtual during the COVID crisis
Why connection and community are the most important things in this industry
Surprise wins that #WCM has experienced as a result of the Digital transition
What #WCM is planning for the future
Why getting vulnerable and being real with your fans is important for your career
How musicians can work on bouncing back from this pandemic

Beat Your Inner Critic with Angela Beeching Jun 12, 2020

In this episode Angela and Ariel discuss:

How Angela helps transform musicians' careers
The importance of creating authentic fan connections especially during quarantine
The Hero's Journey and how it relates to your career
What your musician's bio should actually say
How to overcome your inner critic
Real exercises you can do today to break down your hurdles and gain momentum as an artist

Fighting COVID Through Connection May 29, 2020

In this episode Ariel discusses:

How to communicate with your audience during this time
Why you can foster deeper connections with your fans more than ever before
The reasons you should continue to release music throughout this pandemic

Breaking Down The Business with Ryan Kairalla May 05, 2020

In this episode Ryan and Ariel discuss:

The importance of not taking any shortcuts when building your career
Resources for legal advice for every budget
Why meeting the "right person" won't make your career take off
Why copyrights are the most important thing you can do for yourself in your career
Some dangerous documents that might be disguised as your “big break”
Why you should focus more on building your career as an independent artist as opposed to seeking a record deal

Twitch for Musicians Pt. 2 with Karen Allen Mar 27, 2020

In this episode Karen and Ariel discuss:

Twitch and the audience in depth
What tools you need to stream on Twitch
How to produce a stream on Twitch
Levels of Twitch users and their differences
How to make money on Twitch before you qualify for monetization

If you're interested in Karen's book, Twitch for Musicians you can purchase it here.

If you'd like to sign up for her online course, click here and use the code CYBERPR30 for 30% off!

Twitch for Musicians Pt. 1 with Karen Allen Mar 27, 2020

In This Episode Karen and Ariel Discuss:

Her career highlights including working for the RIAA
Her new E-Book and course, Twitch for Musicians
How musicians can try Twitch for free before committing to the platform through her account In Rotation
How and why you can monetize more effectively while livestreaming
What livestreaming is & what it isn’t
Examples of people mastering Twitch
Based on your numbers how much monthly income you could bring in on Twitch

Why Authenticity is Key with Emily White Mar 16, 2020

In this episode Emily and I discuss:

Her new book, How To Build A Sustainable Music Career And Collect All Revenue Streams
Emily’s background at Collective Entertainment and her non-profit #iVoted
Emily’s time with The Dresden Dolls and what she learned from her work tour managing them
The importance of building and nurturing your email list
Answers to her most asked question at Clive Davis: how do I get a manager?
Where artists are making mistakes NOW
How and why you should collect data from your fans on your website
Why you should never pay for followers and be cautious about running ads on social media
Everything you need to know about Text Clubs

Bandsintown, The Indie Artist's Best Friend Feb 25, 2020

In this episode Kristin and I discuss:

Tips to optimize your profiles on other platforms including your artist website utilizing Bandsintown
Why Bandsintown can be your new and improved mailing list
How Bandsintown gives smaller artists a leg up
How to not exhaust your mailing list with the use of Bandsintowns’ new VIP geo-tracking feature
What is working for other artists on Bandsintown
What the promoter platform is and how can it help you grow your numbers number of trackers easily!

Women In Music 2020 and Beyond Jan 15, 2020

In this episode Nicole and Ariel discuss:

WIM'S history - it was founded in 1985 and up until 5 years ago was only based in New York City. It is now a global organization with over seven thousand members
How to join, the benefits you will receive as a WIM member (the best $75 you will spend each year for your music career) and how to take advantage of their active Google group and the new private member portal. How to join a volunteer team and be a contribution to other women in the business
WIM'S global reach - there are now chapters all over the world - throughout Europe, India, Japan, and South America with additional chapters coming in 2020.
A breakdown of the 3 major initiatives for 2020

Full Time Music is Possible Oct 09, 2019

In this episode, Manafest and Ariel discuss:

Manafest shares his system for releasing singles and how he’s shifted to the singles market
How he uses print on demand to release singles and tshirts at the same time for extra bang (and extra money)
How he has launched and succeeded at SIX crowdfunding campaigns !
Get your Music Marketing & Promotions ebook for free - https://smartmusicbusiness.com/ariel

Your Music and People Aug 09, 2019

First, we talk about at the realities of being an introvert (like Derek) and discuss how to still make friends and influence people in the business whether you’re at a gig, a party or an official music conference. Next, Derek breaks down one of my favorite articles that he’s ever written, where he discusses the happiest artists he knows and what they do to remain creative and active in their music careers without suffering from the grind of the gig economy or burning out from feeling like they need to constantly monetize and hustle. In This Episode Derek and Ariel Discuss:

Derek Sivers first interview is just for musicians and the music business people
How a natural introvert like Derek learned how to get ahead in the music business and at any networking event or conference
How he came up with the brilliant title of his upcoming book: Your Music and People, Creative and Considerate Fame, what it’s about and what to expect when it’s released
How to keep yourself in balance and the formula artists have figured out to stay happy as lifelong creatives
Why having a stage name is a fabulous way to protect your personal humanity and separate yourself from what can feel confronting and how this can separate you from negativity
How a natural introvert (like Derek) can learn how to get ahead in the music business and at any networking event or conference

What the happiest musicians Derek knows do to keep themselves in balance and the formula they have figured out to stay happy as lifelong artists

Episode Action Sheet: Download All 6 Cyber PR Music Freebies! Books Mentioned:

Your Music and People, Creative and Considerate Fame – Derek Sivers upcoming book – it will be announced here when it comes out here.

Digital Minimalism – Cal Newport

How to Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie

Articles Mentioned:

Balance – Derek’s Article about the happiest musicians he knows and what they do differently

The Modern Trap of Turning Hobbies Into Hustles – Manrepeller

Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? – The Atlantic

Throwback Video:

Derek & Ariel discuss the best niche-based pitch he ever heard (it’s that “one line” Derek refers to in this podcast.)

Contact Derek:

Email

Derek’s Twitter

On Being A Woman in Music Jun 28, 2019

The Cyber PR Music Podcast

Episode Six: On Being A Woman in Music with Bree Noble

In This Episode Bree Noble and Ariel Hyatt discuss

Navigating the business as both artists and music industry professionals

How a woman's journey in the music business differs from a mans

Getting support from peers with peer mentoring is just as worthy as finding a high powered mentor

Why marketing yourself may feel so confronting and actually shame-inducing (much more for women than for men)

Episode Action Sheet:

Join the Cyber PR Music Newsletter

and get my FREE Music Marketing Checksheet

Tools, Articles or Other Tips Mentioned:

Work Hard, Playlist Hard

Submit Directly to Spotify Playlists

How to Get on Spotify Playlists

The Indie Musicians Guide To Spotify

Links mentioned:

Women In Music (A Non-Profit Organization every woman and any men who want to support women in our industry should be a member of)

Ilyana Kadushin. No, I Know Podcast

Ariel’s article on how a mastermind group will change your life

The Krickets On Instagram

Lauren Waller On Instagram

Musicians Guide to IG Stories & Highlights

Patreon

All About Bree:

FEMusician

Women of Substance Podcast

Female Musician Academy

Bree On Socials:

Female Indie Musician Community Facebook Group

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Connect With Ariel Hyatt & Cyber PR Music

Work With Me:

Musician’s Total Tuneup

Cyber PR LABS

Other Ways I Can Help:

1) Subscribe to my podcast - The Cyber PR Music Podcast

2) Check out my newest ebook Social Media Tuneup to walk yourself how to effectively ratchet up your social media presence across all channels

3) Order my bestselling book CROWDSTART a step-by-step guide to a successful 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Available on Amazon

3) Learn in one of my LABS masterclasses - there are 12 to choose from and they focus in on areas you may want to hone in on including: Supercharge Your PR, Release Music With Ease, and Getting Sponsored.

4) Read any of the 300+ blog posts I have written to help you get ahead in the business. My main focus areas are marketing, music PR, crowdfunding, and making money.

About:

Ariel Loves the challenges that today's music business presents and she leads her team to help clients come out ahead- whether that is with a detailed Total Tuneup, a new brand, or an increased established digital footprint, she is dedicated to helping her clients leave more educated than they were when they came to Cyber PR. She has written over 300 blog posts and four books on marketing, crowdfunding, and social media for artists- two of which went to #1 on Amazon. Ariel has spoken to over 100,000 artists in 12 countries about how to take control of their own marketing leading masterclasses, workshops, and panels.

Spotify or Die Jun 14, 2019

The Cyber PR Music Podcast

Episode Five: Spotify or Die with Mike Warner

In this episode Mike and I discuss:

The Spotify Basics most artists skip

How to submit your music to Spotify’s playlist curators

How to stand out amongst the 40,000 tracks (yep you read that right!) that go up every day on Spotify

Why curating your own playlists is a great marketing strategy

How to avoid shady playlisting companies

What to do if you only have ONE hour a week

Episode Action Sheet:

Join the Cyber PR Music Newsletter

and get my FREE Music Marketing Checksheet

Tools, Articles or Other Tips Mentioned:

Work Hard, Playlist Hard

Submit Directly to Spotify Playlists

How to Get on Spotify Playlists

The Indie Musicians Guide To Spotify

Links Mentioned:

Connect With Ariel Hyatt & Cyber PR Music

Work With Me:

Musician’s Total Tuneup

Cyber PR LABS

Other Ways I Can Help:

1) Subscribe to my podcast - The Cyber PR Music Podcast

2) Check out my newest ebook Social Media Tuneup to walk yourself how to effectively ratchet up your social media presence across all channels

3) Order my bestselling book CROWDSTART a step-by-step guide to a successful 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Available on Amazon

3) Learn in one of my LABS masterclasses - there are 12 to choose from and they focus in on areas you may want to hone in on including: Supercharge Your PR, Release Music With Ease, and Getting Sponsored.

4) Read any of the 300+ blog posts I have written to help you get ahead in the business. My main focus areas are marketing, music PR, crowdfunding, and making money.

About:

Ariel Loves the challenges that today's music business presents and she leads her team to help clients come out ahead- whether that is with a detailed Total Tuneup, a new brand, or an increased established digital footprint, she is dedicated to helping her clients leave more educated than they were when they came to Cyber PR. She has written over 300 blog posts and four books on marketing, crowdfunding, and social media for artists- two of which went to #1 on Amazon. Ariel has spoken to over 100,000 artists in 12 countries about how to take control of their own marketing leading masterclasses, workshops, and panels.

Lessons from Marie Kondo Jun 12, 2019

The Cyber PR Music Podcast

Episode Four: Lessons from Marie Kondo

What Marie Kondo Can Teach You about Your Music Career…

I recently completed the KonMari Method™ and it was as she promised, life-changing. In this episode, I share the lessons Marie can teach us all in the music industry. It starts with clearing out space so that your creativity juices have a place to flow, and while you are at it, you can clear out some space for the dreaded business side of the music business.

Here’s what I was reminded of and learned, and how it relates to any of us trying to succeed in this new music business.

Lesson 1: It’s Self-Help Help Not Shelf-Help

OK, so Marie didn’t teach me this directly, but my experience with the book is a great reminder: I bought the book years ago it languished (sadly) in the downloads on my Kindle - out of sight, out of mind. It wasn’t until I went to an actual bookstore and bought the book - the physical book (and put it on my nightstand) - that I really got around to doing the work.

AKA It’s hard to commit to doing serious work when so many meaningless things pull us in the wrong directions. I have a lot of clients who signed up for a LAB and never watched a single video or put a technique into place because they feel too busy and overwhelmed. I get it. But, once you commit to making shelf-help your self-help, this will shift.

Lesson 2: Branding With Authenticity is Key. Is decluttering new? No. There have been countless books and systems created in the past on how to do it. Professional organizers have been gainfully employed for years. But Marie created a sensation, and a craze. She’s a total rockstar in her lane. Why is this? People resonate with real.

What Marie does comes honestly. She used to organize her room and her family’s house when she was a child and has dedicated her whole life to her art. In other words, it’s 100% authentic and fans resonate with her realness and that is POWERFUL!

KonMari Method™ - Her System Has a Name - This Is Brilliant Branding!

Marie Kondo took parts of her name for the brand of her method. It stuck and it caught fire.

Lady Gaga has little monsters, Clay Aiken has Claymates, the Grateful Dead have Deadheads - you get it, you know all about brilliant tribe branding and strong marketing.

Lesson 3: Dress The Part - AKA Show Up For Your Stuff

Marie advises to dress up while you're doing her method - this means looking your best like you would for a big meeting at work or a gig, or in my case a speaking engagement. Don’t do this in your sweatpants - come prepared. Show up for your stuff.

When you do something dressed for the part, a deep shift will occur. Do you try to advance your music career in stained sweatpants on the couch? Try getting up, getting dressed, and getting out to a coffee shop or a co-working space - just to see if that shifts your productivity or your mood.

Lesson 4: Go Through It ALL

In her system, you have to take all your clothes out of all your closets and drawers and cupboards and the garage and the back of the car and the laundry room, and put them in a huge pile so that you can start by seeing everything you have. This is confronting and it's a bit embarrassing to see that giant mountain of stuff. After that, you move onto the rest of the items in your house, your papers, and finally your most sentimental effects.

What you're supposed to do is pick up each item at a time - I started with a new shirt that I love. Next, you ask yourself: Does this spark joy? If not, you get rid of it; if so, you keep it and you will organize it (that comes later though).

The person who just clears out one drawer and expects massive change never gets it. We all know that just doing one thing never yields the results you want. You need to do something radical here…. Get real with yourself. If you have ever done anything big in your life, it didn’t take a teeny shift. It took pigheaded discipline and dedication.

You can’t just do ONE area - you must do it all!

In her book, Marie rightly points out that just doing one thing isn't enough because you end up in clutter again. This is why hiring a publicist or a radio promoter in isolation isn't enough. You’ve only addressed ONE area, and soon you will be back at the same place you started.

Maybe You Don’t Need PR - You Need To DeClutter

Of course, when you are planning your marketing or your music rollout strategy, we don't ask, 'does this spark joy?'

But what we do ask, and what you should ask yourself:

Why are you doing this in this way?

Is this a fan?

Is this a potential fan?

Should we keep this strategy?

Should we abandon this?

Do you like this or hate this?

Is this even working?

Lesson 5: You Must Intentionally Create Vacuums in Your Life to make the universe help you to fill up those empty places you created.

The whole point is to have a total transformation in your life. It's not just about the stuff, it's about not having enough space and room to actually grow and change, and clutter could be stopping that change.

It’s About Creating Voids

What she does seems fairly simple - the Netflix series makes it seem this way (let me be clear going through your whole house, getting rid of stuff, and organizing it all of is NOT simple). However, what she is actually having us do is much deeper.

Yes, you end up with a less cluttered house that sparks joy. But, have you ever heard the expression “The Universe abhors a vacuum”? I bet you have. What this means, from a manifestation standpoint, is whenever there is a void, the universe seeks to fill it because, according to the laws of physics, empty spaces are not natural.

The Lies YOU Tell Yourself Are Stopping Your Vacuum from being created

If your socials are clogged with fake likes and your feeds are clogged with purchased streams, you've clogged up your house. This means you need to unclog it, go through each thing one at a time, and give yourself room to really grow.

You Got Your Numbers To Grow, But You Didn’t Get REAL FANS.

I have been lied to so many times about how an artist who has never toured or only has a few hundred streams across all socials and DSPS magically has 100,000 fans on Facebook or 19,000 fans on Instagram, but very few comments or likes. Or, those hundreds of thousands of plays on YouTube and the comments that are not even in English. Then there are those tens of thousands of SoundCloud streams but no followers and no comments.

I get it, so many of us have tried “grey area” aka “bot” marketing and we all know it doesn't work. And I know seeing large #’s makes our egos feel good, but ask yourself really how that all happened.

I recently wrote a plan for an artist who started in the social media advertising game early, got really good at it and he has 3 million fans across channels, but he can’t sell 30 tickets in his hometown. After the plan we made, he did it! He sold out a show with 100 people in his hometown, and there’s another one booked next month. This is an artist with a career that is building. This is the goal, not huge inflated numbers. These don’t fool anybody.

Lesson 6: Think of Planning, Strategy & Fanbase Building the Way Marie Thinks of Mess.

The reason why I was on pins and needles the whole time while reading Marie's book is - this is exactly what I do with my artists. My team and I Roto-Rooter through everything we can find online about you and get it all out onto paper and spreadsheets. Then we put it all back together in a more organized way.

Build your fanbase one real human at a time. Like you begin to put your house together one item at a time. Is it a pain in the butt to touch every item one at a time? You bet. But, in the end, each one is known to you and in its right place. On socials, your newsletter, or on text, etc.

Lesson 7: No One Else Can Decide What Sparks Joy for you and what feels good in your closet and throughout your home. Only you can make those decisions. Organizing is NOT new and it’s NOT Sexy. It takes work and a considerable amount of willpower.

Just like working on the business side of the house will never feel as sexy as making the music.

At least they don’t feel and sound as sexy as having another person doing stuff for you, but the truth is, this rarely moves the needle. No one on earth - not a publicist, or that record label you so desperately want, not a manager, not a consultant, can build your fanbase - this is YOUR DAMN JOB.

Just like it was my job to touch every item in my house and deal with it.

So - Go out and do it. Please. The world needs your music.

If you are stuck in any area of your artist life, start with decluttering your home and see what opens up.

Join the Cyber PR Music Newsletter

and get my FREE Music Marketing Checksheet

Connect With Ariel Hyatt & Cyber PR Music

Tools, Articles or Other Tips Mentioned:

KonMari Books

Links Mentioned:

KonMari Website

Work With Me:

Other Ways I Can Help:

1) Subscribe to my podcast - The Cyber PR Music Podcast

2) Check out my newest ebook Social Media Tuneup to walk yourself how to effectively ratchet up your social media presence across all channels

3) Order my bestselling book CROWDSTART a step-by-step guide to a successful 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Available on Amazon

3) Learn in one of my LABS masterclasses - there are 12 to choose from and they focus in on areas you may want to hone in on including: Supercharge Your PR, Release Music With Ease, and Getting Sponsored.

4) Read any of the 300+ blog posts I have written to help you get ahead in the business. My main focus areas are marketing, music PR, crowdfunding, and making money.

About:

Ariel Loves the challenges that today's music business presents and she leads her team to help clients come out ahead- whether that is with a detailed Total Tuneup, a new brand, or an increased established digital footprint, she is dedicated to helping her clients leave more educated than they were when they came to Cyber PR. She has written over 300 blog posts and four books on marketing, crowdfunding, and social media for artists- two of which went to #1 on Amazon. Ariel has spoken to over 100,000 artists in 12 countries about how to take control of their own marketing leading masterclasses, workshops, and panels.

The Importance of Mindset May 20, 2019

The Cyber PR Music Podcast

Episode Three: The Importance of Mindset with Suz Paulinski

May is mental health month and in this episode, I have a great conversation with Suz Paulinski AKA The Rock/Star Advocate, who is my go-to colleague for mental health related advice. Suz holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and has a background working at major labels. She blends all of her experience to provide brilliant and masterful coaching and advice for all artists, plus she is a born and raised New Yorker just like me - so we have a thing. :)

For those of you who live in the NY area, I deeply encourage you to check out Suz's wonderful conference, The Musicpreneur Mindset Summit. I will be in attendance in September 2019 in beautiful Long Beach, and I encourage you to join us there. This episode is poignant because we not only discuss strategies, but also cite three specific artists who have ellegantly dealt with mental health issues and are working hard to bring their experiences to the forefront.

Join the Cyber PR Music Newsletter

and get my FREE Music Marketing Checksheet

Connect With Ariel Hyatt & Cyber PR Music

Tools, Articles or Other Tips Mentioned:

Musicpreneur Mindset Podcast

Rock/Star Life Planner

Links Mentioned:

Suz’s Website

Alyson Stoner Instagram

Joey Suki Website

Cipha Sounds Website

Mike Warner Podcast with Joey Suki

Work With Me:

Other Ways I Can Help:

1) Subscribe to my podcast - The Cyber PR Music Podcast

2) Check out my newest ebook Social Media Tuneup to walk yourself how to effectively ratchet up your social media presence across all channels

3) Order my bestselling book CROWDSTART a step-by-step guide to a successful 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Available on Amazon

3) Learn in one of my LABS masterclasses - there are 12 to choose from and they focus in on areas you may want to hone in on including: Supercharge Your PR, Release Music With Ease, and Getting Sponsored.

4) Read any of the 300+ blog posts I have written to help you get ahead in the business. My main focus areas are marketing, music PR, crowdfunding, and making money.

About:

Ariel Loves the challenges that today's music business presents and she leads her team to help clients come out ahead- whether that is with a detailed Total Tuneup, a new brand, or an increased established digital footprint, she is dedicated to helping her clients leave more educated than they were when they came to Cyber PR. She has written over 300 blog posts and four books on marketing, crowdfunding, and social media for artists- two of which went to #1 on Amazon. Ariel has spoken to over 100,000 artists in 12 countries about how to take control of their own marketing leading masterclasses, workshops, and panels.

The Rise Of The Indie May 10, 2019

The Cyber PR Music Podcast

Episode Two: The Rise of The Indie with Tony van Veen

Independent artists and their voices are now being included and invited to the table in a recognized way. Tony & Ariel talk how to be excellent at marketing, how not to be an a-hole, and how to monetize your music. Plus what the future of CD Baby and DIY Media Group will be.

Join the Cyber PR Music Newsletter

and get my FREE Music Marketing Checksheet

Connect With Ariel Hyatt & Cyber PR Music

Tools, Articles or Other Tips Mentioned:

Marie Kondo and the KonMari decluttering method

T Harv Eker mindset and money coach

Links Mentioned:

This episode showcases my article

The Musician’s Guide To Setting And Achieving Goals on the Cyber PR Music Blog.

Work With Me:

Other Ways I Can Help:

1) Subscribe to my podcast - The Cyber PR Music Podcast

2) Check out my newest ebook Social Media Tuneup to walk yourself how to effectively ratchet up your social media presence across all channels

3) Order my bestselling book CROWDSTART a step-by-step guide to a successful 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Available on Amazon

3) Learn in one of my LABS masterclasses - there are 12 to choose from and they focus in on areas you may want to hone in on including: Supercharge Your PR, Release Music With Ease, and Getting Sponsored.

4) Read any of the 300+ blog posts I have written to help you get ahead in the business. My main focus areas are marketing, music PR, crowdfunding, and making money.

About:

Ariel Loves the challenges that today's music business presents and she leads her team to help clients come out ahead- whether that is with a detailed Total Tuneup, a new brand, or an increased established digital footprint, she is dedicated to helping her clients leave more educated than they were when they came to Cyber PR. She has written over 300 blog posts and four books on marketing, crowdfunding, and social media for artists- two of which went to #1 on Amazon. Ariel has spoken to over 100,000 artists in 12 countries about how to take control of their own marketing leading masterclasses, workshops, and panels.

Goal Setting For Musicians May 07, 2019

Welcome to Episode one of the Cyber PR Music Podcast. Over the past 23 years since I started Cyber PR, I realize that having a “hyphenated career” is essential for all of us as artists and industry peeps to learn a lot of things.

The Cyber PR Music Podcast Will be a Combination of 2 Things:

Presenting my articles, parts of my books and observations in short form (approx 15 minutes each episode).

Interviews with people furthering the conversation about marketing and PR in the music business.

Very few of us have goals written out with timelines attached and this is precisely why I wanted to start this podcast series with this topic.

There are 2 Types of Goals

Big Picture / Long Term Goals - What does your music want to do in the world and what is your intention for it? Why do you make music in the first place? What will you be thinking about when you lie on your death bed in respect to what you created?

Actionable Step Goals / Short Term Goals - The goals that make up the steps that create the map to your own personal success. Releasing your next music, taking your next tour, etc.

These work like a map so that you can actually get where you want to go.

Note: Goals and Metrics are two separate things - I talk to so many artists who want metrics (like I want 1M streams on Spotify) but they don’t have a GOAL around the desire for the metric.

Write Down Your Goals: Start With Big Picture / Long Term Goals

Put a 5 or 10-year timeline around these goals - they should be big and exciting.

Next,Get Detailed Actionable Step Goals / Short Term Goals

Branding – Your look, your feel, your image, your health and/or your pitch, bio, unveiling your story, etc.

Marketing – What will you do for your marketing? Will you be hiring an assistant or a company to help?

Newsletter – Creating and sending it 12 – 24 times a year (1-2 times a month). Also getting the numbers up on your mailing list while flushing out the inactive emails addresses on the list.

Website – How is it at this point Building a new one, diversifying your online presence, or re-branding?

Social Media – When was the last time you took stock in your overall social media goals Instagram?

Music PR – Getting covered on online outlets (blogs, podcasts, websites). Are people talking about you in the blogosphere?

Booking – Touring or local gigs? Maybe a combination of both?

Downloads, Streams & Merch Sales – What will you release, distribute, and sell? What are your goal numbers around these?

Licensing – Will you work towards this in the near future in this domain

Expanding and Maintaining Your Fan Base – How will you focus on new fan outreach, but still acknowledge and appreciate those who have been true fans of yours for years?

Team – Will you be trying to get a manager or a booking agent?

Writing & Recording – Songwriting or recording an album or EP in the coming months?

Instruments & Learning – Buying a new instrument or taking lessons?

Time Management – How will you manage to balance your time to make sure you can focus on your musical goals?

Money – How much money would you honestly and realistically like to earn a year?

How To Write Down Your Goals

Write down each goal as if they are already happening. Add a date and it can’t rely on someone else.

Be pragmatic - make sure your goals are realistic and achievable. Start with something that is easy to do that you can check off easily.

If you don’t know where to start, try practicing the KonMari / Marie Kondo method on your studio or closet to clear out what may be cluttering your mind and keeping you from getting your goals activated in the first place

Write Down 5 Successes Each Day

Write down five little victories each day. Once you start getting into this habit, you are training yourself to put the focus on the positive and get your brain to stop being so critical.

Put a notebook next to your bed and each day write down 5 things. Make sure one or two of them are music or band related.

Make Lists

Make daily lists of what you need to do to get your goals met – the night before!

Do the hardest thing first in the morning – don’t be a procrastinator. By getting the most daunting task done first, everything else will seem like a breeze.

Delegate the little activities that waste your valuable time to other people.

Don’t overload yourself – studies show that 6 tasks is the maximum you can achieve in one day!

And if you have a day job remember that you probably don’t have as many hours in the day as you think you do so maybe 1-2 tasks a day is a great goal to start with.

Episode Action Sheet:

Join the Cyber PR Music Newsletter and get my FREE Music Marketing Checksheet

Connect With Ariel Hyatt & Cyber PR Music Company Website Personal Website Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Tools, Articles or Other Tips Mentioned:

Marie Kondo and the KonMari decluttering method

T Harv Eker mindset and money coach

Links Mentioned:

This episode showcases my article

The Musician’s Guide To Setting And Achieving Goals on the Cyber PR Music Blog.

Work With Me:

Music PR Musician’s Total Tuneup Cyber PR LABS

Other Ways Ariel Can Help:

1) Subscribe to my podcast - The Cyber PR Music Podcast

2) Check out my newest ebook Social Media Tuneup to walk yourself how to effectively ratchet up your social media presence across all channels

3) Order my bestselling book CROWDSTART a step-by-step guide to a successful 30-day crowdfunding campaign. Available on Amazon

3) Learn in one of my LABS masterclasses - there are 12 to choose from and they focus in on areas you may want to hone in on including: Supercharge Your PR, Release Music With Ease, and Getting Sponsored.

4) Read any of the 300+ blog posts I have written to help you get ahead in the business. My main focus areas are marketing, music PR, crowdfunding, and making money.

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