Sarah Landry and Amélie Lens played 11 tracks from the same unknown producer in a single Ultra set. He wasn't there. He wasn't booked. His music was everywhere, and nobody in the crowd knew his name.

That moment kicked off one of the most honest conversations we've had on this podcast. Joey, Ralph, and Jobke break down why streaming disconnected music discovery from artist identity, why releasing more isn't the answer, and what a sustainable career actually looks like when you're building from scratch.

What we get into:

• Spotify streams don't equal bookings because people can love a track without knowing who made it — and that's a structural problem, not a talent problem
• The music industry has moved from scarcity to noise, and the artists who will win are the ones who make fewer, better things instead of feeding the algorithm every two weeks
• Jobke's approach to money: build financial stability with a job first, then go all in on music — that way the pressure doesn't kill your creativity before you get traction
• Consistency beats intensity every time — especially if you have a day job, a family, or anything else pulling at your time
• Starting your own label to release other artists' music means starting a second business — most artists aren't ready for what that actually involves
• Your content doesn't have to be about music to build a music audience — shared interests create real connections, and those connections transfer

Ready to take your artist career seriously? Apply for 1-on-1 coaching at artistcoaching.nl

📺 Watch on YouTube📸 Instagram: @artistcoachingnl🎵 TikTok: @artistcoaching

Tags / Keywords

music producer tips, DJ career advice, electronic music industry, streaming vs bookings, artist identity, sustainable music career, music producer burnout, artist branding, content strategy, DJ podcast

Chapters

(00:00:00) Welcome

(00:05:11) 11 tracks played at Ultra — and the producer wasn't booked

(00:07:28) Is the industry still about the music?

(00:08:29) How streaming broke the link between discovery and identity

(00:09:52) Millions of streams, no bookings — why it keeps happening

(00:15:00) Stop analyzing what works and start building from within

(00:29:51) Are we in a creativity crisis?

(00:33:43) Why there were no incentives to be different — and why that's changing

(00:49:02) Should you start your own label?

(00:51:33) Going all in: what artists actually get wrong about money and burnout

(00:55:35) Why content that isn't about music still builds your audience

(01:01:02) Closing + retreat announcement

Does visibility beat talent? In this episode, we get into one of the biggest tensions in modern music careers. We talk about why visibility, consistency, and output matter if you want to make a living from music, but also why authenticity still has to stay at the center. A real conversation about deadlines, community, radio, content, quantity vs quality, and building a DJ or music producer career without losing the love for making music.     

(00:00) Intro

(00:38) Jobke’s new live set and taking action

(01:28) Put it on your calendar and work towards it

(04:41) Artist Coaching retreat update

(06:35) The power of community

(16:14) Does making multiple genres confuse your audience?

(17:34) Is radio still relevant?

(25:59) Community questions

(26:57) Quantity vs quality in music releases

(35:56) Content strategy for artists

(38:33) Visibility beats talent

(39:58) What changes when music becomes your income

(40:50) Why it’s not just about the music anymore

(45:20) More output means more chances

(46:29) Authenticity and volume

(47:33) The mindset behind a sustainable music career

Most artists think getting signed starts with sending demos.

In this episode, Jay Hardway explains why labels usually come later, and why DJ support, strong music, and real-world proof matter more than just chasing inboxes. We also get into free downloads, Spotify strategy, pitching tracks, genre choices, and what beginner DJs should focus on.

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:00) Artist Coaching retreat

(05:30) Ultra and live set culture

(15:28) Borrowing gear and creativity

(17:29) Sending your music to artists

(18:10) Choosing your genre

(31:32) How to get signed

(33:45) Free downloads and Spotify growth

(38:38) Radio edit vs extended mix

(44:55) Should you pitch unfinished music?

(49:12) Beginner DJ tips

(51:08) Set structure, loops, and transitions

(54:53) Why DJ support matters

(01:02:07) Why every track needs its own sound

For DJs and music producers building a career today, one question keeps coming up.

Do you still need record labels to succeed?

In this episode of the Artist Coaching Podcast, we talk about how independent releases, SoundCloud, and social media have changed the way artists build a DJ career.

For years, record labels were the gatekeepers of the music industry. If you wanted to reach a global audience, you needed a label behind you.

But today, artists can release music themselves, collaborate with other producers, and grow their audience without relying on traditional labels.

So what role do labels actually play today?

We discuss when labels still make sense, when they don’t add much value anymore, and what artists should focus on instead if they want to build a sustainable DJ career.

Question for you:

Do you think artists still need record labels today?

You spend weeks finishing a track.

You finally release it… and then nothing happens.

In this episode we talk about one of the most frustrating realities of being a DJ or music producer: the moment after releasing music when the algorithm seems to completely ignore your track.

We discuss why most releases don’t immediately take off, why the algorithm isn’t something you can control, and why building a sustainable music career requires a completely different mindset than most artists expect.

We also talk about DJs faking festival support videos, the current state of festival ticket sales, ghost production as a career, and what it really takes to survive in today’s electronic music industry.

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏼 More info about the Beats and Brand Retreat: https://www.artistcoaching.nl/beats-and-brand-retreat/

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) Beats & Brand Retreat

(07:45) DJs faking festival support videos

(15:00) AI-enhanced DJ press photos

(22:00) Festival ticket sales discussion

(26:30) Community questions

(31:00) The KSHMR sample pack

(38:00) Why Your Song Gets No Plays

(40:30) Are big DJs starting to retire?

(44:00) Progressive house comeback

(48:00) Can you live from ghost producing?

The Artist Coaching Podcast is for DJs and music producers who want to build a sustainable music career and navigate the realities of the electronic music industry.

Is music still the most important thing in a DJ career?

In this episode, we end up in a conversation that feels uncomfortable but necessary.

We talk about discipline vs motivation in the studio.

About finishing tracks even when nobody is waiting for them.

About releasing music without external validation.

And then we go deeper.

If festivals use your music in promos but don’t book you… what does that say about the industry?

Is great music enough?

Or has branding become just as important?

If you’re building a long-term music producer career and want clarity instead of hype, this episode is for you.

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) Weather and productivity

(07:00) Discipline vs motivation

(15:00) Evolving your sound

(27:00) Releasing vs shelving tracks

(34:00) Is melodic dance music dead?

(41:00) Copying vs inspiration

(54:00) Music vs branding debate

(01:02:00) Retreat announcement

If this resonates, share it with another producer who needs to hear it.

You don’t need another tutorial.

You need to release music.

A lot of DJs and producers feel busy. Watching studio breakdowns. Buying plugins. Saving ideas. But nothing is getting shipped.

In this episode, we talk about:

– The education trap that keeps producers stuck

– Why motivation won’t build your DJ career

– Discipline vs inspiration

– Finishing music consistently

– Age pressure in the music industry

– When to sign with a booking agency

– Slowing down to gain clarity

– Building a sustainable artist career

If you want longevity instead of hype, this conversation will resonate.

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) Slowing down and clarity

(09:00) The lost art of doing nothing

(17:00) The education trap

(25:00) Discipline vs motivation

(33:00) Age pressure

(38:00) Releasing imperfect music

(45:00) Booking agency advice

(52:00) Analog gear discussion

(54:00) Beats & Brand Retreat

Most producers think talent is the key.

But if that was true, the most talented person in every room would win.

In this episode, we talk about why discipline, consistency, and vision build sustainable DJ careers. We break down talent myths, social media numbers, bookings, and why showing up weekly matters more than perfection.

For serious DJs and music producers who want longevity.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(06:00) Talent vs Discipline

(14:00) Tomorrowland Is Not a Strategy

(22:00) Followers vs Community

(30:00) Showing Up Weekly

(52:00) What Makes Top Artists Different

At some point in your DJ or producer career, doing more stops working.

Real growth starts when you learn what to say no to.

In this episode of the Artist Coaching Podcast, we talk about the shift every artist runs into sooner or later. When saying yes to everything no longer helps your career, your creativity, or your life.

We discuss touring versus studio time, finishing music, creative discipline, insecurity, and why long-term careers are built on better choices, not more pressure. This episode is about sustainability, clarity, and staying in the game without burning yourself out.

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) Touring, shows & testing new music

(06:20) Why playing live helps finishing tracks

(09:30) Saying no and career growth

(13:40) Sustainability and boundaries for artists

(16:00) Joey returning to the studio after time away

(23:50) When is a track actually finished

(37:30) Procrastination, discipline & creative work

(42:00) Insecurity, authenticity & image

(49:00) Tomorrowland 2026 Line Up

(55:30) Closing thoughts

Joey, Ralph, and Jobke discuss the 'Golden Combo' of music production and marketing in this episode of Artist Coaching. Learn why legendary DJ Benny Rodrigues still handles his own management and how to navigate early-career label contracts

(00:00) Welcome back & Jobke’s China tour (07:04) Substance vs. Packaging: Why our last episode went viral (10:53) Benny Rodrigues: The case for total independence (12:35) The "Punishment" of office work: Why it keeps you grounded(19:46) Bassjackers Studio Dynamic: Producer vs. DJ feedback (23:22) Releasing multiple genres: Is it "too random"? (28:58) Viral hits vs. Originality: Should DJs be more experimental? (35:31) Label Contracts: Negotiation and master rights (42:18) Ralph’s exact Mastering Chain revealed (52:44) The Verdict: Music vs. Marketing

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏼 Join the Artist Coaching Community:https://linktr.ee/artistcoachingnl🙋🏼‍♂️ Get coached by us: https://linktr.ee/artistcoachingnl❤️ Follow us on:https://youtube.com/@artistcoachingnlhttps://www.tiktok.com/@artistcoachinghttps://www.instagram.com/artistcoachingnl