It’s Q and A time on the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast. Rick is scrolling down Twitter and Instagram and answering your questions. In this episode Rick gives valuable advice for aspiring songwriters that want to get the attention of artists and labels. Also, find out what you could be potentially wasting your time on as an independent artist and where that time would be better spent.   “What I see most independent artists not doing, is putting a value on their time.” -Rick Barker   Subscribe to iTunes, or Google Play! Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes! What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Key Highlights:   ⇾ Valuable marketing advice for aspiring songwriters ⇾ Which social platforms you need to be active on ⇾ Find out where you should be spending your time as an independent artist   Time Stamps: 01:24 What’s the hardest part about the music industry/business? 03:39 What advice do you have on presenting your songs to artists/labels if you are a new writer? 05:22 Do you see podcasts becoming more prominent than they already are? 06:30 Advice for aspiring songwriters 08:37 Should I be active on all social media platforms? 10:35 What is something you see independent artists wasting their time on? 12:31 What's an effective way to approach playlist curators? 13:41 Should I move to Nashville as a business move?   Connect with Rick Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: [email protected]

Do you have what it takes to become the first you? Everyone wants to be the next Taylor Swift or the next Bruno Mars but rarely do artists say they want to be their authentic self. In this episode, Rick breaks down how you should be evaluating yourself as an artist. If you are going to be the next big hit, you need to know your strengths and have some clearly defined goals. Rick shares some key questions you should be asking yourself, you don't want to miss this episode. “Be the first you.”-Rick BarkerSubscribe to iTunes, or Google Play!Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes!What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Key Highlights:   ⇾ Don’t be the next Taylor Swift, be the first you⇾ Figuring out your own personal strengths⇾ Evaluate and establish your career goals Time Stamps: 1:34 What does it takes to be the next Taylor Swift?2:36 Understanding that your fan base is key3:07 The Gary V of the music business4:07 Figuring out your current strengths5:50 The necessary work ethic7:10 Understanding the music business7:30 Establishing your goals8:06 Research before you put your product out Connect with RickFacebookInstagramYoutubeTwitterSoundcloudRickBarker.comContact: [email protected]

On this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint special guest Logan Young joins Rick to discuss branding, storytelling and some key information about social media marketing. Logan is the co-founder and head of training for Blitzmetrics. Blitzmetrics creates Facebook dashboards and micro-targeted ad campaigns for brands such as the Golden State Warriors, Nike, and Rosetta Stone.   “Failures are either stumbling blocks or stepping stones, it’s really up to you.”- Logan YoungSubscribe to iTunes, or Google Play!Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes!What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Key Highlights:  ⇾ Dealing with rejection⇾ Tips for branding and storytelling⇾ Plumbing - Know what’s going on with the content you put out Time Stamps:02:19 Logan Young’s backstory04:20 Being rejected by other creatives04:45 What kept Logan going after many failures08:40 Tips for branding and storytelling10:47 Focus on being you12:44 Plumbing - Knowing what is going on with the content you put out there16:15 The story of the bologna principle Resources & LinksDennis Yu Facebook PageBlitzmetrics FacebookBlitzmetrics.com Connect with LoganLogan Young Facebook PageLinkedinContact: [email protected] (remember to mention this podcast or “hot single Mormon girls” in the subject line) Connect with RickFacebook

Are you really in the music business or is it just an expensive hobby? Find out the harsh truth on this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint. Rick delves into the necessity of having a marketing budget and a strong relationship with your fan base to bring in the revenue. “If you can’t get 1000 fans to give you $5, you haven’t built a strong enough relationship with them.” - Rick Barker Subscribe to  iTunes, or  Google Play! Love the podcast? Leave a review on  iTunes! What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Key Highlights:⇾ Are you treating your music like a hobby or a business ⇾ Shocking results from Rick’s revenue survey of 200 artists ⇾ Building a profitable relationship with your fans  Time Stamps: 1:36 Are you treating your music as a hobby or a business? 3:37 Facebook changes- Your content MUST be high quality and engaging 4:28 Artists must learn how to market 5:49 Rick’s artist revenue survey 6:14 A harsh reality- if you don't make $5000 a year on music, you’re not in the music industry 7:26 You have to think of your music as a business 7:51 Build a relationship with your fans 8:10 Facebook marketing tipsResources & Links Real Artists Don't Starve by Jeff Goins  Creative Juice Podcast Connect with RickFacebook Instagram Youtube  Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: [email protected]

The conversation continues! After our first episode about TV talent shows our listeners had a lot of questions! This question in particular kept coming up, “Why have the television shows had such a hard time breaking in artists?” Find out Rick’s answer to this question and the keys to solve this problem on today’s podcast. (In case you missed it, here’s the first episode on TV Talent Shows)“It’s not hard to get a record deal, it’s hard to keep it .” - Rick Barker Subscribe to  iTunes, or  Google Play! Love the podcast? Leave a review on  iTunes! What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Key Highlights:⇾ Whose responsibility is it to make the winning artist a star ⇾ What you should be doing in the early weeks of the show ⇾ Things you need to do before signing a TV talent show contract  Time Stamps:2:00 Why have the television shows had a hard time breaking artists? 2:32 Why Blake Shelton always wins! 3:17 Whose responsibility is it to make you a star? 4:41 What you should be doing on social media while on the show 5:32 Things you need to do before you sign the contract 7:24 Danielle Bradbery after The Voice 8:42 Letting the artists growResources & LinksTelevision Talent Show Part 1 Danielle Bradbery- Worth ItPeople MentionedTrent Harmon Lauren Alaina Scotty McCreery Danielle BradberyConnect with RickFacebookInstagramYoutube Twitter Soundcloud Contact: [email protected]

In life, especially as an artist, there will be times when things don't go as planned. What you do in those moments can make or break your career. Today, Rick talks about the amazing perseverance American Idol winner, Trent Harmon displayed as he went through some astronomical challenges after the show. From a managing company that went bankrupt to a label that folded, find out how this young artist overcame his worst nightmare.“When plans get changed, you can either whine and complain about it or you can make adjustments.”- Rick Barker Subscribe to  iTunes or  Google Play!Love the podcast? Leave a review on  iTunes!What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast?Tell us here!Key Highlights:⇾Understanding that things will not always go as planned⇾How to persevere through tough times⇾The reward of making adjustments Time Stamps:03:00 Trent Harmon’s difficulties after American Idol05:51 Wanting to call it quits06:24 What Trent did to persevere through his tough times06:56 The support of great fans07:34 Trent’s breakthrough Resources & Links●Trent Harmon on iTunes People MentionedTrent Harmon Connect with Rick●Facebook●Instagram●Youtube●Twitter●SoundcloudContact: [email protected]

American Idol, The Voice, The Launch…. the list goes on and on. There are so many TV talent shows out there but which one is right for you? On this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint Rick discusses the pro’s and con’s of TV talent shows and what marketing tools you need to have in place before your name goes up in lights. Listen in as Rick gives his expert advice on each TV show to help you decide which one would be the best fit for you. “Once the door opens and we put you in the door, the rest is on you.”- Rick BarkerLove the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes!What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Key Highlights:  ⇾ Understanding the purpose of TV talent shows⇾ What you need to have in place before you go on a TV talent show⇾ Which TV talent show is right for you Time Stamps03:18 - Things that you need to have set up before you go on a TV talent show04:41 - Rick’s review of American Idol05:23 - Rick’s review of The Voice06:18 - Rick’s review of The Four07:26 - Rick’s review of America’s Got Talent07:56 - Rick’s favorite TV Talent Show - The Launch Resources & LinksAmerican IdolThe VoiceThe FourAmerica's Got Talent The Launch People MentionedScott Borchetta from Big Machine Label Group Connect with RickFacebookInstagramYoutubeTwitterSoundcloudContact:

In today’s episode, Rick talks about the way the music industry has changed with the growth of technology. With an audience at your fingertips at all times, utilizing social media to engage with people is a necessity for growing your fanbase. Rick explains just how you can use the internet to share your music and your message every second of every day. “You have the ability to directly connect with your fans on a minute by minute, second by second. basis.”- Rick Barker  Key Highlights: ⇾ How technology has changed the opportunity for exposure.⇾ Why this is the most EXCITING time to be an artist.⇾ The value of engaging with fans.⇾ Using your music as marketing material to get your name out there in the industry.  TIME STAMPS 01:20 - How technology has changed the music business and how social media is creating amazing opportunities for young artists to reach a global audience. 04:06 - The importance of engagement rather than views to get the conversation started with your customers. 05:58 - How to share your music. Social media? Leveraging what? More enticing detail here. 08:09 - Creating content that makes people passionate, changes lives, and leaves a lasting impact.  Connect with RickContact: rick[at]rickbarker.com

Rick Barker is undoubtedly one of the strongest influences working behind the scenes of the music industry today. In this episode, Rick talks about how he navigated the industry, from working at radio stations to becoming a consultant for Big Machine Label Group. Rick has a desire to share the knowledge he has gained over the past 25 years in a way that is brutally honest, thought-provoking, and valuable. Key Highlights: ⇾ The importance of asking the right questions⇾ Rick’s journey through the music industry⇾ Rick’s work as a successful music consultant  Time Stamps01:19 - Who Rick Barker is and his expertise in artist development02:53 - Rick’s love of music that stems from listening to the radio as a child04:21 - How Rick turned his life around after following the wrong path05:33 - The radio station job that started Rick’s career08:08 - Rick’s journey with Taylor Swift that shifted the future of his career11:57 - How the music industry is changing with internet marketing  Connect with RickContact: [email protected]

Social media is the most powerful tool available to rising artists today. There’s no need to pour money into a world tour just yet when you can reach almost every corner of the earth by simply pressing a button. Today, Rick addresses just how artists can get involved with their followers in order to make the most out of what’s already in your hands. Why you need to see platforms like Facebook Live videos and Instagram Live videos as huge blessings and not a chores.  “If you put HATE in front of anything, it will not grow.”- Rick Barker   Key Highlights ⇾ Discover how to create your own engaging social media content⇾ Changing your mindset to see social media as the powerful tool it is⇾ Utilizing social media to learn about your fans’ interests, and create content that's relevant and entertaining for your fans  Time Stamps 01:40 - The importance of utilizing social media as a tool  02:19 - The cost of touring vs having a worldwide audience at your fingertips  03:23 - Learn to stop dreading social media, shifting your mindset from chore to massive opportunity 06:16 - Picking the right platform for you, why you need to focus on where you can provide value, and avoid being anything but mediocre  07:53 - Getting involved in conversations with your fans through social media    Connect with RickContact: Rick[at]Rickbarker.com