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Music Business 101: What Every Artist Needs to Know to Protect Their Art and Build Their Career
Making music is beautiful. It’s healing. It’s magical. But if you ever want to scale your artistry, step beyond your bedroom, and be taken seriously as a professional — you have to understand the business side of music. There’s no way around it. Because here’s the truth: Not knowing how…
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Networking for Musicians: How Real Connection Can Change Your Career
You can have the voice of an angel, the soul of a poet, and a melody that could move mountains…But if no one hears it?It doesn’t go anywhere. That’s why in today’s post, I’m breaking down one of the most important, most misunderstood, and most game-changing parts of your music…
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Turning Life Into Light: 3 Profound Lessons from Jordan Siwek’s Musical Journey
In a world that too often favors volume over substance and algorithms over artistry, it’s rare to meet a musician who chooses vulnerability over polish, community over ego, and light over spectacle. In this recent conversation on Off Key and On Pitch, I sat down with the soulful, ever-authentic Jordan…
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How to Build a Creative Career from Scratch — 3 Lessons from Filmmaker Dalton Lewis
Dalton Lewis didn’t go to film school. He didn’t have connections. What he had was a passion for music, a beat-up camera, and the boldness to sneak into concerts—just to get his foot in the door. Today, he’s a full-time content creator, cinematographer, and strategist working with both indie and…
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How to Start Playing Real Gigs (Even If You Have No Idea What You’re Doing)
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to play live shows, but I have no clue where to start,” welcome. You’re in the right place. This guide is for every indie artist staring at their guitar wondering how to go from bedroom performances to real, paying gigs. I started with no…
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Play It Scared, Sing It True: 3 Lessons from 15 Years Onstage
Fifteen years. That’s longer than a lot of marriages, longer than most artists stay signed, and definitely longer than my patience when I’m hungry. But that’s how long Eva Rose and David Pippin have been making music together. Not just surviving—thriving, performing, writing, competing, laughing, living. Across stages big and…
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The Truth About Streaming, Playlists, and Artist Growth: Lessons from Mike Warner
The music industry is an ever-changing landscape, and for independent artists, understanding the mechanics of streaming, playlisting, and audience engagement is crucial for success. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mike Warner, a leading expert in the streaming space, author of “Work Hard Playlist Hard”, and consultant…
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How to Stay Creative (Without Burning Out) in the Music Industry
As musicians and artists, we put so much pressure on ourselves. The deadlines, the expectations, the late nights in the studio, the endless rewrites, and the feeling that no matter how much we practice, it’s never quite good enough. It’s exhausting. And sometimes, that pressure can suck the joy right…
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Stuck as an Artist? This Is the Hard Truth You Need to Hear
Every artist reaches a point where they feel stuck. Maybe your music is good, but it’s not evolving. Maybe you dream of performing but can’t seem to take that first step. Maybe you’re watching others succeed and wondering why you’re not growing at the same pace. The truth is, growth…
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Laugh, Connect, Create: The Secret to Unlocking Your Best Art
As musicians and artists, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of it all—the deadlines, the expectations, the long hours of practice, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Life can feel overwhelming, and sometimes it seems like everything is falling apart. It’s in those moments that we need…
Tzayla 