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Symphonic Masterclass Recap: Fueling Your Next Release with Marketing Drivers

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 19:13:58 +0000

Did you happen to miss our last masterclass on marketing drivers? No worries! We’ve put together a quick recap of the best tips you definitely don’t want to miss… no video required. Social media has taken over in ways beyond what anyone ever expected. For independent musicians, it’s great for reaching new fans… isn’t it? Or is it great until the algorithm changes and you go from thousands of views to being buried under fat cat videos and viral dance trends… The truth is, you don’t own your audience on socials; the platform does. But email is different. With it, you aren’t at the mercy of a constantly changing algorithm. You just send your message, and it goes directly where you want it to: their inbox. If you want to build a reliable fanbase that lasts, buys tickets, supports your music, and sticks around for the long haul, email is one of the best tools you’ve got. In this post, we’ll explain everything you need to know to build the ultimate email strategy that drives real results beyond algorithms. Let’s dive in…

How To Build a Real Fanbase in the Age of Algorithms with Email Marketing

Why Email Beats Social Reach

Think of social media like renting an apartment. You decorate the space and invite people over, but you don’t own it. The landlord (aka the platform) can change the rules at any time, and you literally just have to… deal with it. With email, you own your list. Nobody can decide for you who gets to see your message. There’s no algorithm messing with your big announcement; you send it, it lands in their inbox, simple as that.

On top of that, email still gets way better engagement than socials. (Yes, really.) The average open rate of 42.35% for email is a pretty big difference from the 0.50% average engagement rate on Instagram and 2.5% on TikTok. And if you want to sell tickets, promote your new track, or share something that means a lot to you, you want as many people to see it as possible. And in reality, new apps will always come and go, algorithms will keep changing, but email isn’t going anywhere. It offers a direct line of communication to the people who care the most about what you’re doing.

Now that’s something worth putting some real effort into.

How to Grow Your Email List

If you’re starting from zero, don’t worry! Every great list starts with just a couple names. The key is giving people a reason to hand over their email that feels worth it to them (and easy for them to do). For example, here’s what you can do:

Offer freebies or “fan perks.” This could be an unreleased track, a behind-the-scenes video, a sample pack, or even a discount code for merch. Just make it feel like something uniquely you that they can’t get anywhere else.
Get signups at shows. Put a QR code at your merch table, have a tablet for quick sign-ins, or run a raffle for a free t-shirt/vinyl/poster. This is super low-effort for them and gives you instant connections.
Promote it on socials. Post a teaser of something exclusive and tell people the full thing is only going to email subscribers. (Make FOMO work in your favor.)
Add it everywhere you can online. Your website, Linktree, YouTube video descriptions, even your Spotify “About” section. Honestly, anywhere fans might stumble across you is a good place.

You don’t need a massive list to start seeing results. Even 50–100 people who care about what you’re doing are more valuable than thousands of random followers who scroll past your posts without a second thought. Why? Because when people actually care about you and your music, they are way more likely to take action. That means buying tickets, streaming your music, sharing your stuff, etc. We’re talking quality over quantity here.

And even if you start with 50 people, stick with it, nurture it, and you’ll be surprised how fast it grows.

What to Send Your Fans

Now that you’ve got people coming over to your list, what else can you send them? Think of your emails like a backstage pass. You need to give fans something exclusive, something they can’t get anywhere else.

Newsletters are a great way to share updates on shows, releases, press, or behind-the-scenes moments. (Just make sure you keep it personal, like you’re talking directly to them.) Drops and exclusives, like early access to tickets, new tracks, or limited merch, make fans feel like VIPs. Personal stories are another great way to connect, like sharing the inspiration behind a song, a funny studio moment, or a little life update. The more human you are, the more invested your audience will be.

Even things like milestones and recaps, like year-end roundups, tour highlights, or best moments, help fans feel like they’re a part of your journey. And speaking of fans, don’t forget fan spotlights! Feature fan art, covers, or messages to build community and show appreciation.

The key is variety. Don’t just blast out promotions. Mix in stories, sneak peeks, and personal notes so fans look forward to every email. It needs to feel like a real connection, not a sales pitch.

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As your music career grows, your workload grows right along with it. More shows, more marketing, more messages to respond to… and more pressure to keep it all going strong. Without a plan, this can quickly lead to burnout and/or losing focus on the creative passion that led you here in the first place. That’s why scaling your music business is all about finding ways to reach more people and increase your impact without sacrificing your artistic vision (or well-being, for that matter). But how does one do this? It requires clear boundaries, organized systems, and smart delegation for starters, all so you can protect your time and energy while continuing to grow. That said, here’s everything you need to know to do it for yourself…

How To Build a Scalable Music Business Without Selling Your Soul

Setting Boundaries

Boundaries are the foundation of a sustainable music career. (Louder for the people in the back!!) Without them, it’s easy for your schedule to become overloaded with requests, gigs, and side tasks that don’t actually move you toward your goals. The best thing you can do is start by identifying your non-negotiables. This can include specific days off, set hours for responding to emails, or a limit on how many shows you play per month. The goal here is to create space for both your creative work and your personal life.

Clear boundaries also help others understand how and when to work with you. For example, if you only take meetings on certain days or only accept new projects that align with your brand, you’ll spend less time on activities that drain your energy and more time on the ones that matter.

The earlier you establish these boundaries, the easier it will be for you to stick to them as your career grows. This isn’t about making yourself unavailable here; think of it as being intentional with your availability so you can perform, create, and run your business at your best. For example, consider things like this for starters:

Office hours for communication: Decide when you’ll answer emails or DMs (and when you won’t).

Limit your gigs: Cap the number of shows or appearances you do each month to avoid exhaustion.

Protect creative time: Block off hours or days specifically for writing, recording, or practicing.

Define collaboration criteria: Only take on projects that fit your goals, genre, or brand.

Rest days are non-negotiable: Schedule time off to recharge, even during busy seasons.

Building Systems for Marketing, Communication, and Outreach

Once you’ve got great boundaries in place, the next step is to create systems to help you stay organized and consistent without stressing you out. By “system”, all I mean is an easily understandable, repeatable process you can follow (or automate) so important tasks don’t get forgotten and you aren’t starting from scratch every time.

For marketing specifically, this could mean creating a content calendar for your social media, scheduling posts in advance, or using templates for your emails and press releases. For communication, you can set up an auto-reply that lets people know when they can expect a response, or use a form on your website to collect booking requests in one place. For outreach, you could have a spreadsheet or CRM tool to track contacts, follow-ups, and project timelines.

Systems like these save you from making constant decisions and free up mental energy for your creative work. They also make it easier to hand tasks off to a team member or collaborator later, since your process is already clear and ready to go. The more organized your marketing, communication, and outreach are, the easier it is to maintain consistent audience growth. When you have this process running smoothly, you build trust, stay top of the minds of your listeners, and make it more likely that your music becomes part of their everyday listening habits.

Need some ideas? Consider these tools to help you out:

A content calendar: Plan your posts for the month so you’re not scrambling for ideas.

Cheska Cruz! The HITS Act lets you take 100% of your recording expenses in the year you spend it instead of making you slowly take those expenses over many years. But there’s a lot more you need to know… In this article, Edy Blu, a seasoned artist, music educator, and tax advisor at Brass Taxes, breaks it all down. With a decade of experience as a coach and teacher, plus six years in accounting and tax, she brings a unique perspective that blends creative and financial know-how to help artists understand exactly how this bill could impact their bottom line. Here’s everything you need to know…

A Tax Professional Explains the HITS Act for Musicians

What Is the HITS Act, and Why Should You Care?

There’s a lot more to making music than just the creative part, so let’s dive deeper into something that affects us all: taxes! As a musician and tax advisor, I’m here to hold your hand through this complicated subject.

You’ve probably seen some posts about the HITS Act, which recently got signed into law and directly affects independent musicians, producers, and record labels. But before we get into this change to the tax code, let’s zoom out and examine how to file taxes when we’re out here spending money on our craft and trying to make it.

You’re trying to make money, right? That’s the first signal to the IRS that you are a business and not a hobbyist. If music is your hobby, and you have no goals of making money, you can only take expenses up to the amount of money you were paid for making music; you can’t incur a loss. So now that we’re all here to make money and a profit, let’s talk about how the income you make and the expenses you have in your music career interact with your tax form.

Profit & Loss 101: What It Means and Why It Matters

Ever heard of a profit and loss statement? It helps you determine whether you made or lost money in a given time period. At tax time, this shows up as your Schedule C. It tells the IRS whether you owe taxes on your profit or if you took a loss that could offset other income.

How does the HITS Act change things? If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably thinking about all the ways you spend money on your music career. The HITS Act specifically applies to expenses related to creating a new sound recording here in the U.S. This could include things like paying session musicians, renting studio time, hiring a producer or engineer, or buying new equipment for your home studio to finish the project.

Basically, you’re creating something valuable (an asset), and before the HITS Act, the IRS required you to spread out the cost of that asset over several years. So, if you spent $10,000 this year on your project, you could only deduct a portion of that amount each year for 4 to 5 years.

Yes, music lasts forever, but for tax purposes, the IRS treats it as having a “shelf life.” With the HITS Act now in place, you can deduct the entire $10,000 expense in the same year you spend it. This lowers your taxable income right away, making your taxes reflect your actual financial situation more accurately.

What Can You Actually Deduct?

The IRS has specific categories for deductible expenses. Common ones for musicians include:

Studio equipment and plug-ins

Digital audio workstations (DAWs)

Instrument repairs and supplies

Mileage to gigs and rehearsals

Renting studio space

Paying collaborators

Courses or coaching for professional growth

(Note: This isn’t an exhaustive list, so definitely talk to a tax advisor about your unique situation.)

Track Your Money Like a Pro

The last thing I want to touch on is tracking and documenting your income and expenses. The most important part? Find a system that works for you. I personally love spreadsheets, and I use the Brass Taxes Expense Tracker. There are also plenty of apps if that’s more your style.

Check in regularly (at least once a month) so you’re not overwhelmed come tax time. Remember, we’re trying to make money. You can’t measure your progress if you’re not looking at your numbers.

Final Thoughts

Looking at your finances might feel intimidating at first, but it can also be one of the most empowering things you do for your career. If you’re ready to dig deeper into your own situation, book a consultation or tax appointment with me or one of the incredible folks at Brass Taxes. (All of us have lived the freelance life, so we get it.)

VOTING OPEN: Symphonic’s SXSW Panel Pickers are Live! appeared first on Symphonic Blog.

10 Brazilian Boom Bap Tracks You Should Be Listening To

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:56:34 +0000

Looking for some new music to obsess over this year? Brazilian Boom Bap blends classic 90s U.S. hip hop beats with Portuguese lyrics, samba, and funk influences. Gritty, soulful, and rooted in Brazil’s urban storytelling, if you like Nas, Mos Def, or Wu-Tang Clan, you’ll definitely vibe with these tracks. The way we talk about mental health is changing (as it should be!), and more and more artists are opening up about going to therapy. Not just after a breakdown, but as part of staying grounded, protecting their creativity, and actually enjoying the careers they’ve worked so hard for. This shift is making real waves in the industry, slowly replacing the “just push through it” mindset with one that values rest, self-awareness, and sustainability.

However, for many artists, especially men, BIPOC creatives, or those overly locked into hustle culture, talking about therapy can still feel uncomfortable or even intimidating. And that silence can make things even worse. This article is here to help break that silence. Whether you’re curious about therapy, looking for a therapist who understands the music grind, or just trying to figure out how to talk about it without oversharing, here’s everything you need to know…

Breaking The Stigma: Let’s Talk About Therapy in the Music Industry

Confronting The Stigma

Even as the conversation around mental health evolves, the stigma around it still exists. It’s like there’s this unspoken rule that artists are supposed to be resilient no matter what. You’re expected to be on 24/7, to pour your soul into your art, and act like nothing can shake you.

For male artists, vulnerability is often equated with weakness. For BIPOC creatives, cultural expectations or generational beliefs can make therapy feel unfamiliar, taboo, or even off-limits. And for touring artists, the reality of being in a different city every night, far from a stable support system, only adds to the pressure.

The idea that therapy is something you only turn to when things fall apart doesn’t help either. It keeps people quiet, even when they’re struggling. And when no one talks about it, it creates the illusion that everyone else is fine, which makes it even harder to ask for help.

But therapy isn’t just for the breakdowns. It’s about finding tools to manage the highs and the lows, process what you’re going through, and show up fully for yourself and your art.

Think of Therapy as Creative Maintenance

Therapy isn’t about fixing something that’s “wrong” with you. It’s about maintaining your mind and staying mentally well enough so you can keep creating from a healthy place. For artists, your mind is your most valuable instrument. And just like you’d tune your guitar or rest your voice, taking care of your mental health is just another essential to treat with care.

Creative blocks, impostor syndrome, burnout, anxiety about performances/releases… these aren’t rare occurrences in the industry, but they’re not things you have to deal with alone either. Therapy gives you a space to work through all of it, from navigating the pressure to constantly produce to managing the emotional rollercoaster that can come with chasing numbers, complicated team dynamics, or even just social media in itself.

It also gives you tools you can actually use in your day-to-day life, like grounding techniques before a show, strategies for dealing with rejection or self-doubt, or setting boundaries with your team. Not only that, but it can help bring you some much-needed clarity when you feel stuck or lost. Think of it less like a last resort and more like a regular tune-up that helps you stay in sync with yourself.

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Switching distributors can feel like stepping into the unknown. Even if you’re not happy with your current distributor, the idea of making the switch to someone new can be intimidating. What if something goes wrong? What if your streams reset? What if your playlist placements disappear? And the truth is, these fears are valid… switching can be risky, but with the right tools (and the right distributor), it doesn’t have to be! In this post, we’re breaking down what nobody tells you about switching distributors and how to do it right, no stress necessary.

What No One Tells You About Switching Distributors

Let’s break it down…

Switching distributors isn’t just about uploading your tracks to a new platform and calling it a day. Behind the scenes, your catalog is tied to an intricate web of metadata, codes, and connections that platforms like Spotify and Apple Music use to track your streams, saves, playlist placements, and more.

What no one tells you is how fragile those connections can be… and how easy it is to lose them if things aren’t done right. If your metadata changes even a little, or if your new uploads aren’t linked correctly, you could unintentionally wipe out years of algorithmic history. And once that data’s gone, there’s no guarantee it’ll come back. That’s why understanding the process (and using the right tools) is the difference between a smooth switch and a total nightmare.

To help you do that, let’s clear up some of the most common myths about switching distributors…

Myth #1: “My Streams Will Just Follow Me”

One of the biggest misconceptions about switching distributors is that your streams will carry over automatically if you re-upload the same songs. Unfortunately, that’s not quite how it works.

Streaming platforms don’t track your audio; they track your ISRCs (International Standard Recording Codes). These unique identifiers are what tie your streams, playlist placements, and algorithmic history to each track. If you reupload a song with a new ISRC or inconsistent metadata, it’s treated like a brand-new release. That means starting from zero…. Zero streams, zero saves, zero playlist adds.

This is where Symphonic’s TransferTrack comes in handy. With TransferTrack, you can preserve your original ISRCs, UPCs, release dates, and metadata to make sure your streams stay intact. Even better, the tool pulls this info directly from your Spotify artist profile or UPC, so you don’t have to dig through old files or guess at what info to carry over. Once everything is matched up correctly, DSPs like Spotify will link the new delivery to the original, keeping your streaming history, playlist placements, and fan saves right where they belong.

Myth #2: “I’ll Just Re-upload Everything Manually”

On paper, re-uploading everything yourself may seem like the easiest route. You’ve got the files, you know the songs… how hard could it be? Actually, this is where a lot of artists run into trouble.

Manual re-uploads leave a lot of room for small mistakes that can cause big problems. Things like a slightly different artist name, a missing songwriter credit, or even a wrong release date can prevent the new version from linking properly to the original. And if you assign a new ISRC or UPC, platforms like Spotify will treat it as a completely new release, meaning your play counts, playlist placements, and fan saves won’t carry over. It’s also easy to accidentally create duplicates, which can confuse listeners, mess with your algorithmic performance, or even get flagged by DSPs.

Long story short, manually rebuilding your catalog is not impossible, but it is a risky and time-consuming process. If you’re going to switch, it’s in your best interest to make sure there’s a system in place to handle the technical details for you. Plus, no matter what, you should always double-check that your metadata matches exactly. (That’s music biz 101 right there!)

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