The music industry is constantly evolving, that should come as no shock. And 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year...

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa kick off our year-end predictions series, where they share insights into the future of music marketing, industry trends, and beyond! Learn about how the future role of AI, changes in advertising strategies, and direct-to-fan trends can impact your music career!

Whether you're plotting your 2026 game plan or simply curious about what's on the horizon, this episode will give you our insights to help you stay ahead in the new year!

DISCOVER:

Why Content Diversity Will Be Key In Your 2026 Ad Strategy

How AI Is Reshaping The Music Industry And What It Means For Artists

Why Direct To Fan Isn't As Straightforward As It Seems

What Potential Grifts In Music AI Tooling Should Be On Your Radar

How To Think Critically About Anti-AI Narratives In Music

What You Can Learn From Past Technology Shifts To Prepare For The Future

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

Got music marketing questions? We've got answers...

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa answer some burning questions from our community about music marketing strategies in a special Q&A episode! Learn about when DSP ads actually make sense, how to get your band on board with e-commerce, and tactics for leveraging live streams for growth!

This Q&A episode is your go-to guide for pushing forward!

DISCOVER:

When To Use DSP Ads In Your Marketing

How To Convince Your Band It's Time To Dive Into E-commerce

Why And When Retargeting Ads Still Work

Why Documenting Your Creative Process Now Will Benefit Future Releases

How To Utilize Live Streams To Move Fans Through Your Funnel

When To Focus On Small, High Quality Content Improvements

What To Consider Before Dropping Cash On A Big Budget Music Video

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

As the holiday season lights up, are you switching off on your music career? Spoiler: You shouldn't be!

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa talk holiday marketing strategies to keep your fan base engaged and your music career thriving while the rest of the industry takes a break. Learn about creative holiday offers, sales promotions, and strategies that can keep your online store active even when the music industry is snoozing through the holiday season!

If you're ready to tap into the holiday season to boost your e-commerce sales, this episode is packed with offers that you can use starting right now!

DISCOVER:

How A Mystery Bag Can Clear Out Your Merch Overstock

What Makes Gift Cards And Store Credit A Fan-Favorite

How To Use Store Cash Coupons And Unlock Sales Potential

What New Year's Offers To Run To Get Fans Buying

How To Present Your 2026 Plans In A Way That Fans Want To Support

Why Every Sale Is A Chance To Connect With Your Fans

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

On this bonus episode of Creative Juice, Jack McCarthy joins Dave Hamilton as a guest on Gig Gab to dig into the real business of music, how to grow attention, capture it, and convert it into lasting fan relationships.

You'll learn why the right material works, how to transform inspiration into your own content, and why audio quality matters less than energy when you're trying to make fans say, "who is this band?" It's about creating cultural moments, fueling FOMO, and turning one-time listeners into repeat buyers.

This is where "Always Be Performing" extends beyond the stage into every piece of marketing you share.

From building email and SMS lists to flattening the revenue rollercoaster with calendars and consistent outreach, you'll see how indie artists can move from surviving to thriving. Jack and Dave walk through practical strategies like dissecting viral hits, harnessing UGC, and even using AI to smash blank page syndrome.

You'll hear why you're probably not being "salesy" enough, and how treating your marketing as another form of performance makes it feel authentic, not forced. If you're ready to stand out in a noisy world, this episode shows you how.

With a ton of discussion around the music industry about AI tools like Suno and Udio, copyright, labels, and lawsuits, there's a lot for artists to unpack and wrap their heads around...

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa discuss our evolving thoughts on the role of AI in music creation! Learn about the convergence of AI and art, the democratization of music production, and how learning about these tools might affect your journey as an artist!

If you're curious about where AI technology is taking the industry, this episode is a must-listen!

DISCOVER:

Where AI Tools Are Becoming Essential Parts Of Artists' Workflows

What The Rise Of Music AI Means For Record Labels And Indies

How Tastemakers And Curators Will Become More Important Than Ever

Why The Future Of Music Involves Audience And Creator Blending

What You Can Do Now During AI Adoption In The Music Industry

Why You Should Experiment With AI Tools In Your Creative Process

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

AI, Music Law, and What Artists Should Know with Ryan Schmidt

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

Want to crush it as an artist and stay on top of your game? Here's what to pay attention to today...

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa break down four key tactics to help you dominate in your music career by focusing on what most artists aren't willing to do! Learn about creating daily, viewing your fanbase as a customer base, advertising continuously, and utilizing AI tools to stay sharp and creative!

Whether you're looking to elevate your music career or just want practical advice to keep you ahead, this episode is packed with strategies to help you stand out!

DISCOVER:

How To Create A Piece Of Content Every Single Day Without Getting Burned Out

Why Thinking Of Your Fans As Customers Changes Everything

What Happens When You Always Keep Advertising

How Music Industry Norms Hold Back Indie Artists

What You Can Achieve By Turning AI Into Your Creative Playground

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

Are Facebook and Instagram acting up and sending your ad results into a tailspin? It's time to get to the bottom of it...

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa break down major updates to Meta's advertising platform that every musician needs to know! Learn about the new Meta Andromeda system that's changing how ads are served on Facebook and Instagram, the effects of AI-generated content, and what these shifts mean for your music marketing strategies moving forward!

If you want your Facebook and Instagram ads to reach the right audiences and drive new listeners, fans, and sales, this episode is a must-listen to stay ahead of the curve!

DISCOVER:

How Meta's Andromeda System Is Changing Ad Delivery

Why Your Ad Targeting Strategies Need A Refresh

What Creative Diversification Means For Your Campaigns

Why Broad Targeting On Meta's Platform Is Optimal

What Role AI Features Play In Your Ad Strategy

How To Set Up Audience Segments For Better Insights

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

Sick of staring at the blank page when it comes to content to promote your music? You're not alone and it's time to get your creative spark back!

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa tackle content creation slumps to help you get on track when creative the well runs dry! Learn strategies that can help you out of a rut and start creating with passion again, whether you're crafting songs or cranking out social media content!

Whether you're feeling stuck or just need a new approach to the content side of your music career, this episode is packed to spark your creativity!

DISCOVER:

Why Conventional Wisdom On Writer's Block Might Not Actually Work

How Uninformed Optimism Can Fuel Your Initial Creative Burst

Why Hitting Goals Can Sometimes Lead To Creative Burnout

How Finding Motivation In Spite And Clout Can Reignite Your Drive

What Role Music Discovery Plays In Overcoming Music Creation Slumps

How To Tap Into Current Conversations For Social Media Inspiration

Why Stepping Away Might Actually Reset Your Creative Mindset

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

Simplicity is key, but as artists, why does it feel like we always make things more complicated than they need to be?

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa dive into the art of simplifying your music career and marketing strategies! Learn about how complexity can become a roadblock and why stripping ideas down to their core is a game-changer with insights from programming, business, and real artist stories!

If you find yourself stuck in the weeds in your music career and want to get back to basics, this episode is your guide to doing less with more impact!

DISCOVER:

Why Complexity Can Slow Down Your Music Career

How Great Communicators Simplify Their Messages

What Accidental Complexity Is And Why It's A Problem

How To Identify Unnecessary Steps In Your Marketing Plans

When Simplicity Leads To Better Systems And Processes

How To Avoid Over-Engineering Your Projects

Why Essential Complexity Is The Only Complexity You Need

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!

Feel like your music career is hitting a wall and you don't know what to fix? This is more common for artists than you might think...

In this episode of Creative Juice, Jack and Circa break down the stages of your music career where you might be stuck and how to identify what's causing the bottleneck! Learn about the Buddy System, how to assess where your fanbase growth is stalling, and where to prioritize your efforts for growth!

Whether you're trying to get more eyes on your music, get your fans excited, or finally start making money for your efforts, this episode has insights you can't miss to get on track with a strategy that works for your stage of growth!

DISCOVER:

How To Know If You're Boring Your Potential Fans

Why You Need To Bribe Your Fans To Capture Attention

What You Might Be Missing With Monetizing Your Audience

Why Big Artists Might Have Huge Social Media Numbers But No Loyal Fans

What Separates Thriving Indie Artists From Those Who Stall Out

How Major Artists Hit Plateaus Even With Label Support

Why Your Manager Or Label Might Be Giving You The Wrong Advice

RESOURCES:

Learn The Top Music Marketing Strategies Inside IndiePRO

Join Us In The Indepreneur Discord Server!

Looking to expand your team or need marketing help? Apply to work with IndieX!