“Spotify doesn’t pay” is a familiar complaint, but the uncomfortable question is this: were most artists ever getting paid the way fans imagine? We open season two with a candid talk about how the music business really works, then we zoom out to what matters more than the platform: the ability to adapt, keep creating, and stay visible without losing your soul.

I’m joined by Frankie Muriel, a lifelong performer from St Louis with serious rock-star energy and a track record that spans decades. Frankie breaks down how he writes songs when inspiration shows up in different forms, why genre-bending is easier now than it has ever been, and how social media turned into a real growth engine for his new releases. We also look back at the Dr. Zhivegas era, where a “just for fun” project blew up into something far bigger than anyone planned.

Then the conversation turns into a mindset you can actually use: joy as currency. Frankie says he’s “selling smiles,” and we talk about why you cannot compete with someone who is having fun, how to ignore the noise, and how to build a small but real community that wants what you’re making. He also drops a surprise reveal about a mariachi-themed EP inspired by Tequila Tuesdays in Cabo.

If you’re an independent artist, a creator rebuilding after a setback, or someone who needs a push to share your work, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.