Music Business Newsletter w/ Matthew Rix

In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m reading an email from a 31-year-old former professional swimmer from London who’s trying to break into the Christian and country songwriting scene in Nashville.
Her background has nothing to do with the music industry. She spent years competing, then built a successful fitness apparel business. So naturally, her Instagram is full of training clips, gym content, and old competition photos.
Now she’s running into a strange problem:
When she sends artists song pitches or demos, they ignore the messages.
But those same artists comment on her old swimming photos and reply to her gym stories.
Meanwhile, her music-related outreach gets zero traction.
She wants to know:
• How can she get taken seriously as a songwriter?
• Does she need a brand-new Instagram account?
• Can someone outside the U.S. realistically pitch songs to Nashville artists?
• And how does she make her profile reflect who she is now, not who she was years ago?
In this episode, I break down the truth about:
-How songwriters should present themselves online
-When (and when not) to create a separate account
-Why artists judge you instantly based on your profile
-How international writers can still build Nashville relationships
-What actually gets a songwriter taken seriously in 2025
If you’re trying to transition your identity online or step into a new lane professionally, this episode is packed with clarity.
Got your own story or industry question?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com the more detail you give, the better I can help.
#MusicIndustry
#SongwritingTips
#NashvilleSongwriters
#IndependentSongwriter
#ChristianMusic
#CountrySongwriters
#MusicBusinessAdvice
#ArtistBranding
#SocialMediaForArtists
#BuildingYourBrand
#MattrixMinute
#MatthewRix
#UKToNashville
#SongwriterLife


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the most honest and heartbreaking emails I’ve received in a while.
A 26-year-old songwriter from Portland reached out because he feels like the industry is leaving him behind.
He loves writing music. He loves the craft. He’s spent years building his sound.
But he absolutely shuts down the second a camera turns on.
He hates filming himself.
He hates watching himself back.
And the constant pressure to become a full-time “content creator” is making him feel like he doesn’t have a future in music at all.
He asked me:
• Can someone who hates being on camera still build a career?
• Does the music even matter anymore?
• Is there a realistic path for introverted artists in 2025?
• Or is he wasting his time because he can’t become what the algorithm wants?
This is a very real fear for many artists right now, and in this episode, I break down what’s actually true and what isn’t.
We talk about:
-Why introverts feel this pressure so deeply
-What the algorithm really cares about
-How to grow without turning into a personality you don’t recognise
-And how to build a career even if you never want to be a “face-forward” creator
If you’ve ever felt burnt out, discouraged, or invisible online, this episode is for you.
Have your own music industry question?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com the more real and detailed it is, the better the advice I can give.
#musicbusiness #musicindustry #artistdevelopment #music #matthewrix


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 29-year-old singer-songwriter from Ohio who might…might be doing a little too much on stage.
He’s been experimenting with a new “performance identity,” and it has spiraled into something between:
• a youth pastor
• a motivational speaker
• and Mick Jagger if he tripped over a cable
His band says he “moves like a glitching Sims character.”
A bartender called him “a liability.”
The sound guy said he’s “a hazard.”
And honestly… based on the knee slide during an acoustic ballad, they might not be wrong.
But here’s the real question he asks:
Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH stage presence?
Especially for small artists playing bars, wineries, and small venues where the audience is half-listening and mostly just trying to eat their dinner?
In this episode, I break down:
-What healthy stage presence actually looks like
-The difference between memorable and distracting
-When to go big… and when to chill
-How to find your performance style without scaring the crowd
-And how to stand out without accidentally unplugging the whole stage
If you’ve ever wondered whether your performance style is helping you or hurting you, this episode will give you clarity and probably a laugh.
💬 Got your own question or story?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com and click submit your question The more details you give, the better advice I can offer.


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the rawest, most honest emails I’ve ever received.
A musician in his 30s tired, disappointed, and skeptical wrote in to vent.
He doesn’t believe I can help him. He barely thinks anyone can help him at this point.
After years in music, he’s been:
• Betrayed by close friends
• Let down by bandmates who walked away
• Ghosted by producers and managers
• Fed promises that never turned into anything
• Burned enough times that hope feels dangerous
Now he’s jaded. He’s bitter. He’s exhausted.
And he’s asking a brutally real question:
“Why should I even keep doing music anymore?”
If you’ve ever felt burned by the people around you, or like the industry has taken more than it’s given back, this episode is going to feel uncomfortably familiar in a good way.
Got your own story or question?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com.
Tell me everything the details matter, and your story could help someone else survive this industry too.


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m answering an email from a 25-year-old indie-pop artist who’s feeling crushed under the weight of social media expectations.
He’s been releasing music since 2020 and built a small but real foundation, with 3,500 monthly listeners and a couple of songs in the 10–15k range. However, lately, it feels like he is drowning in advice telling him he needs to be on every platform if he wants to grow.
TikTok… Reels… Shorts… YouTube… Discord… Threads…
It’s endless. And it’s killing their motivation actually to make music.
In this episode, I break down:
-Whether artists truly need to be on every platform
-How to choose the right platform for your personality and music
-Why quality beats quantity (even in the algorithm era)
- How to grow without burning out
-And why trying to be everywhere usually leads to being nowhere
If you’re overwhelmed, stuck, or quietly panicking about posting more this episode is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.
Got your own question?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com the more details you share, the better advice I can give.


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a mid-30s country singer who’s convinced he has the talent to become a star, if only he had the time.
Between a full-time job, two kids, a wife who wants him present, friends who expect him around, and a borderline-serious pickleball habit, he feels like he’s drowning. And now, the pressure to post constantly on social media is exacerbating the issue.
He’s not lazy. He’s not unmotivated. He’s just overwhelmed, frustrated, and feeling like real adult life is standing in the way of his dreams.
In this episode, I break down:
🔹 Why time is the biggest excuse artists use
🔹 How to realistically pursue music with a full life
🔹 What “getting serious” actually looks like
🔹 How to balance passion with responsibility
🔹 And whether it’s still possible to succeed in your 30s
If you’ve ever felt stretched thin or guilty for not posting enough, this episode will hit home.
Do you have your own question about balancing music and life? Go to https://MatthewRix.com and click “Submit Your Question” The more details you give, the more I can help.


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m reading an email from a 27-year-old artist who’s torn between two completely different paths.
On one side, he’s creating moody R&B that performs well, with his songs hitting 40–60k streams, around 9k monthly listeners, and a sound that fits perfectly into what Spotify tends to push.
On the other side, he’s writing raw singer-songwriter music that feels honest and personal… but doesn’t pull the same numbers.
Now he’s stuck in the middle, trying to decide:
Do I lean into what’s “working,” even if it doesn’t feel like me?
Or do I risk losing momentum and rebuild around what I actually love?
In this episode, I break down:
-Why artists feel split between two identities
-How to shift your sound without throwing everything away
-What matters more: consistency or authenticity
-How to choose a direction without wrecking your momentum
-And how to blend or transition styles strategically
If you’ve ever questioned who you are as an artist or felt like your numbers and your heart are pointing in different directions this episode will help you breathe again.
Do you have a question you'd like me to answer?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com and send it in with as much detail as you can. Your story might help someone else too.
#IndependentMusician #IndieArtist #MusicTips #ArtistDevelopment #SongwriterLife #MusicProducer #ArtistJourney #CreativeStruggle #MusicAdvice #GrowingAsAnArtist


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In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m answering a question that almost every independent artist runs into at some point:
Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam?
He’s an artist out of Austin, Texas, who has been getting hit with emails and DMs from companies promising playlist placements, blog features, radio spins, and even label attention but only if he pays anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, or signs up for a monthly retainer.
On top of that, he’s already been burned once by a so-called “promotion company” that took his money and barely did anything. Now he’s stuck wondering:
Is any of this real, or is it all smoke and mirrors?
In this video, I dive into:
-The truth about PR and radio promotion
-How to tell a real company from a shady one
-What PR can and can’t actually do for an artist
-When it’s worth paying for — and when it’s a waste of money
-Why do so many artists get fooled by the same sales pitches
If you’ve ever wondered whether you should pay for PR, radio promo, playlisting, or “exposure campaigns,” this episode is going to save you a whole lot of money and headaches.
Do you have a question about the music industry?
Visit https://MatthewRix.com and submit it.
The more details you give, the better I can help and your story might help another artist avoid the same mistakes.


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a guitarist from Orlando whose band was this close to signing with a legitimate Los Angeles management firm.
For months, everything looked real:
-The company flew them out to L.A.
-Put them up in nice hotels
-Held meetings and even a showcase
-Sent contracts to lawyers
-All the signs of a serious partnership were there
Then after their third trip, everything fell apart in one night.
He and his lead singer had a little too much to drink, ended up getting kicked out of a bar, offended the people in the group, and flew home the next day. A few days later, they received a cold email saying the firm was no longer moving forward.
No follow-up call.
No explanation.
Just silence and now, the band is being completely ghosted.
Bob’s question is simple:
Did they ever intend to work with us?
And if they did… how could one night ruin everything?
In this episode, I break down:
1. The reality of how fragile the music industry can be
2. Why professionalism matters more than talent during negotiations
3. How quickly a team can change its mind if trust is broken
4. What you can and can’t recover from
5. And what his band should realistically do now
If you’re an artist dreaming of a team, a deal, or industry support you need to hear this one.
Do you have a question or a story you'd like me to break down? Go to https://MatthewRix.com and send it in.
The more details you share, the more I can help — and your story might help someone else avoid the same mistakes.


Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from Sarah, a 22-year-old college student in Nashville who’s finally ready to record her first single but has no idea what a realistic budget looks like.
Sarah’s studying in Music City, where opportunities are everywhere, but so are the price tags. Some recording students at her college have offered to record her single for free, but the only available studio time is at night. Meanwhile, professional Nashville producers have quoted her $5,000 for one song and she’s not sure if that’s normal or just “Nashville math.”
She makes country music but comes from a punk and Christian background, and she’s realizing that recording real instruments and session players might be pricier than she thought. She wants to do it right but also not blow her savings before graduation.
In this video, I break down:
-What a realistic budget looks like for your first single
-When to take a free recording opportunity (and when not to)
-Why country songs cost more to produce — and how to keep it affordable
-How to find good players and producers without getting ripped off
If you’re about to record your first song and have no idea what to expect, this episode will save you time, money, and headaches.
Do you have a music industry question or a story to share?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com and send it in.
The more details you share, the more I can help and your story might help another artist just like you.

#MusicIndustry #IndependentArtist #RecordingTips #MattrixMinute #MatthewRix #ArtistAdvice #MusicProduction #CountryMusic #FirstSingle #NashvilleMusic #MusicBudget #StudioRecording


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