Artist Amplified

Five million streams sounds like the dream. For singer-songwriter Marc Robillard, it came with a catch.

Marc has had five songs on MTV's Jersey Shore, a song in Netflix's Turn of the Tide, and a nationwide Sun Chips commercial. He talks with Andrew Raiher and Anika Paris about what it really takes to get your music placed, and what nobody tells you once it works.

In this episode:

• Why writing for the money gets you nowhere in sync
• Why Rick Rubin doesn't need to play a note
• The vocal trick on every Springsteen record
• How Sia ended up singing Titanium
• Why every part you add can make your song worse
• Why men and women hear songs differently

Plus two of Marc's songs, "Rolling Down" with Lone Tusker and "The Way It Goes," and why they work. His new single "Fine" is out now.

LISTEN TO MARC'S SONGS
Rolling Down (Lone Tusker & Marc Robillard)
The Way It Goes
Fine (new single)

CHAPTERS
0:00 Five million streams: good and bad
0:12 A quick correction (and workshop news)
1:24 Meet Marc Robillard
4:04 From hockey to music
9:30 The music house that tore him apart
11:14 His first (terrible) song
12:53 Great composers can't even play
15:30 Rick Rubin can't play a note either
18:39 The two tricks that fixed his mixes
21:21 Reverb, slap delay and Springsteen
24:16 Your speakers are lying to you
29:35 Writing for sync vs writing for yourself
31:49 "Rolling Down" and the five million streams
34:38 The Sia and David Guetta detour
37:29 "The Way It Goes"
42:56 Make them wait for the chorus
45:37 Every part you add makes your song worse
46:38 The one book every songwriter needs
48:47 Women and men don't hear songs the same way
53:39 How strangers find your music
55:35 Music and film, and a DM twenty years later
57:10 Your song is invisible without visuals
1:00:39 What's next for Marc

FIND MARC ROBILLARD
Spotify
Instagram

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Every month, ten artists get up on stage, perform a song and get real feedback from Andrew and Anika on the spot. Join the Priority List to be first in line for a place in the next workshop:
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Anika Paris: Website · Spotify · Instagram · TikTok · YouTube

Next episode: legendary songwriter Dominic Bugatti, whose songs have gone from Air Supply and Chaka Khan all the way to Daft Punk.

A country hit with millions of streams — and a singer who doesn't exist. We go looking for the AI act nobody will claim credit for, find out who's collecting the royalties, and break down Spotify's plan to catch the fakes: badges, human reviewers... and more AI. Plus: Tedeschi Trucks blowing the Black Crowes off the stage at the Hollywood Bowl, why every new song is the same four chords, how emotion in music is a learnable skill, and what recording at Abbey Road is really like.

COME WORKSHOP WITH US

Every month, ten artists get up on stage, perform a song and get real feedback from Andrew and Anika on the spot. Join the Priority List to be first in line for a place in the next workshop: https://artistamplifiedshow.com/lab/join.php?s=ep05-sp

Hosted by Andrew Raiher (@andrewraihermusic) and Anika Paris (@anikaparismusic).

Watch the video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xdQk9UTrogs — and find everything else at https://linktr.ee/artistamplifiedshow

In this episode of Artist Amplified, we dive deep into the future of music, AI, authenticity, and what it truly means to be an artist in today’s algorithm-driven world.We discuss the massive Supreme Court AI copyright auling and what it means for songwriters, producers, singers, and creators moving forward. Can AI-generated music be copyrighted? What still belongs to human artists? And why documenting your creative process may become more important than ever.We also explore:• Why music alone may no longer be enough• How artists are becoming storytellers, personalities, and content creators• Why showing the process matters more than perfection• TikTok, Instagram & the new discovery economy• The rise of “Proof of Human” content• Why authenticity beats polish in today’s algorithm• How artists can stand out in a sea of AI-generated mediaPlus, we spotlight rising artist Noa Bar and break down why her looping videos, branding, and creative identity are cutting through online.To learn more about her: https://linktr.ee/noabarIf you're a musician, songwriter, producer, creator, or artist trying to navigate the future of creativity, this episode is for you.

COME WORKSHOP WITH US

Every month, ten artists get up on stage, perform a song and get real feedback from Andrew and Anika on the spot. Join the Priority List to be first in line for a place in the next workshop: https://artistamplifiedshow.com/lab/join.php?s=ep04-sp

You have 14,000 followers. Your video gets 78,000 views. How? Because nobody decides to watch you anymore — the algorithm does. This week we get into why the follower count on your profile is the most useless number in music.Andrew Raiher, Anika Paris and Yulia Gonzalez break down the Supreme Court's Cox v. Universal piracy ruling and what it means for working songwriters, Google's new Lyria AI music engine coming straight for composers, the first-ever federal conviction for AI music fraud ($8M and a fake jazz empire), and why TikTok surviving is the best news independent artists got all year. Then we put North London's Ruby Francis under the microscope — one clip went nuclear, the one next to it died, and the difference is a lesson every artist needs.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 Cold open — the misheard Supreme Court question00:48 Yulia's video goes viral (SZA reposted it)01:10 Keith Haring, Angel Ortiz & the credit artists never get02:09 Cox v. Universal: the ruling that targets you, not the platform03:23 Who actually protects the songwriter now?04:37 Show your process — or the public treats you like a machine06:24 Charlie Puth, Taylor Swift & putting yourself online08:10 Lady Gaga, the vocal chameleon & the power of reinvention10:17 Learn the masters or find your voice? (Mastery vs the amateur)13:28 Be brave: permission, Halloween & why nobody remembers failures15:14 How a Janet Jackson "failure" accidentally created YouTube16:39 Google drops Lyria — AI music comes for the composers19:50 The stats + Yulia's shaman-to-superstar theory23:01 Monrovia, bedroom folk & music as cultural storytelling24:47 Why AI can't score a film (yet): the reactive-timeline problem27:58 $8M and federal prison: the first AI music fraud conviction31:09 TikTok stays — and why the for-you algorithm is your real boss33:58 FEATURED ARTIST: Ruby Francis — anatomy of a viral clip41:45 Dress rehearsals should suck: hard-won performance rules47:03 Run the room: set lists, towels & individual responsibility49:32 Outro — go follow Ruby Francis🎤 FEATURED ARTIST — RUBY FRANCISNorth London artist, producer, singer & DJ. Genre-blurring R&B, neo-soul and jazz with a garage edge.Instagram: https://instagram.com/ruby_francisSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7fnUWKPwdb4svzQ7xQF83U🔔 ARTIST AMPLIFIEDWe workshop your songs, your studio, your stage and your media presence. Subscribe and bring a real artist's career to life with us every episode.Website: https://artistamplifiedshow.comInstagram / TikTok / YouTube: @artistamplifiedshow🎙 YOUR HOSTSAndrew Raiher — composer & producer (film/TV, Elsham Music)Anika Paris — hit songwriter, author & vocal coachWith guest co-host Yulia Gonzalez — artist-development strategist & content specialistWhen you support us, you support live music and real artists doing the work. Want your music workshopped on the show? Reach out — we want to work with you.

COME WORKSHOP WITH US

Every month, ten artists get up on stage, perform a song and get real feedback from Andrew and Anika on the spot. Join the Priority List to be first in line for a place in the next workshop: https://artistamplifiedshow.com/lab/join.php?s=ep03-sp

#ArtistAmplified #AIMusic #IndependentArtist #Songwriting #MusicProduction #MusicIndustry #ContentCreation #TikTokAlgorithm #MusicPodcast #RubyFrancis #UKMusic #MusicBusiness

What actually makes an artist blow up today—and is any of it real?In this episode of Artist Amplified, we break down the truth behind viral artists, “industry plants,” and how labels are quietly boosting content to hack the algorithm. We dive into why followers don’t matter the way they used to, how TikTok and Instagram have reshaped music discovery, and what artists should focus on instead: building a platform, telling their story, and creating connections beyond the song.We also tackle the rise of AI in music, asking the big question—do audiences still care if art is human?If you’re an artist trying to cut through the noise in today’s attention economy, this episode gives you the real strategy behind what works—and what lasts.Featured Artist Melle Songshttps://www.mellesongs.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mellesongs/https://www.tiktok.com/@mellesongs🎤 About the ShowArtist Amplified is an artist development series for musicians—exploring the intersection of song, stage, and social.Hosted by Andrew Raiher and Anika Paris, joined on this episode by Yulia Gonzalez.

COME WORKSHOP WITH US

Every month, ten artists get up on stage, perform a song and get real feedback from Andrew and Anika on the spot. Join the Priority List to be first in line for a place in the next workshop: https://artistamplifiedshow.com/lab/join.php?s=ep01-sp

Hashtags##IndustryPlant #ViralArtists #MusicIndustry #MusicMarketing #IndependentArtist #ArtistAmplified

In this episode of Artist Amplified, we break down what’s really happening behind viral music content—and what artists need to understand to compete today.From “man-on-the-street” music videos to hidden pay-to-play promotion, we uncover how some content goes viral—and why it’s not always as organic as it looks. We also dive into:* The rise of game-style content and why it’s dominating social media* How platforms like Roblox are shaping the future of music discovery* Rock isn’t dying…It’s just not optimized for the algorithm.* Why DMs, community, and direct fan connection are more powerful than followers* The shift from chasing algorithms → building your own platform* Real strategies for artists to grow without relying on labelsPlus, we explore music and performance of featured Artist "labitlabit"https://linktr.ee/labitlabithttps://www.instagram.com/labitlabit/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO-xLUMbazQ3mZSp0ky-LlwArtist Amplified is where songs, stage, and strategy collide.Hosted by Andrew Raiher and Anika Paris, this show breaks down what it really takes to build a career as an artist today. Yulia Gonzalez joins them on this episode.From songwriting and stage performance to social media, AI, and the algorithm—this is a 360° approach to modern artist development.

COME WORKSHOP WITH US

Every month, ten artists get up on stage, perform a song and get real feedback from Andrew and Anika on the spot. Join the Priority List to be first in line for a place in the next workshop: https://artistamplifiedshow.com/lab/join.php?s=ep02-sp

#SocialMediaStrategy #TikTokMusic #InstagramReels #Roblox #AIinMusic