0
Category

Motivation

Sep 29
Love2
Zion I

RIP Zumbi (Zion I): 9 Things Artists Can Learn From His 20+ Year Independent Career

By Motivation, Music Business No Comments

The most influential artist that got me interested in the independent music scene 20 years ago as a college student and ultimately led to the creation of this blog, passed away in August of 2021. Zumbi (Stephen Gaines) was also a former client of mine.

As a big fan and supporter since 2001, it was an honor to get to work with him and to know him more personally during that period. I’ve been to so many shows and financially supported them anyway I could. He was truly an artist of the people and will be missed as one of the cornerstones of independent hip hop in the Bay Area.

Because of the importance he had for my passion in music and my career in this industry, I wanted to write a blog to honor him as well as share what other independent artists can learn from his legacy, even if you’re not familiar with his music. Read More

Oct 03
Love4
Russ Forbes 2018

Forbes Under 30: Russ on Dominating with DIY Marketing (Video)

By Motivation, Strategy, Video No Comments

For this month, I wanted to share the story of Russ for aspiring artists because I believe he really epitomizes the marketing strategy and DIY mindset needed to make it in the music industry, or at least improve your chances.

I had the opportunity to attend the 2018 Forbes Under 30 Summit in Boston where he performed and did a 20 minute talk to entrepreneurs on the factors that contributed to his success. I managed to record the entire thing so this was perfect to share.
 

Here’s the video of his talk on October 1, 2018:

Read More

Jun 11
Love3

Going Viral: 6 Important Lessons Artists can Learn from the Rise of Hobo Johnson

By Branding, Going Viral, Motivation, Social Media, Strategy No Comments

Hobo Johnson
 
With all the events that have recently transpired for this young artist, the name of his latest album, “The Rise of Hobo Johnson,” couldn’t be more appropriate.

In the last 3 months, Hobo Johnson has:

  • Reached 700k+ Facebook followers (up from a few thousand)
  • Gained 256k+ Youtube Subscribers
  • Sold out shows all over the U.S. and U.K.
  • Reached #11 on Billboards Heatseeker’s Chart
  • Had at least 4 of his songs at the same time on Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 Playlist
  • Booked his first big festivals – Bumbershoot in Seattle and Outside Lands in San Francisco

In the world of virality and mainstream artists, this is relatively impressive. But to the average independent artist, this is an astronomical feat for a 20 something-year-old adult from Sacramento.

How did he do it? Read More

May 03
Love3
Bond Conference in San Francisco

10 Quick Reminders for Musicians From Successful Creatives [Bond Conference]

By Motivation No Comments

Back in March of 2018, I attended a new, intimate conference hosted in San Francisco that focused on how creators / creatives make a living through the internet. Music artists and musicians are included in this bunch. For a blog recap, click here.

There was a lot of great stuff discussed, so I took some notes on specific points and reminders that I think will help all creatives, including music artists like yourself. Also, I want to emphasize the importance of community and the value of attending conferences like this. Read More

Jan 10
Love4
Gary Vee Music Artist

Who is Gary Vee and Why Music Artists Should Follow Him

By Motivation, Strategy 2 Comments

There are two people that ultimately inspired me to start D4 Music Marketing. Gary Vaynerchuk (or Gary Vee) is one of them.

For those who don’t know, Gary Vaynerchuk is a successful American entrepreneur, marketing expert and online personality. When it comes to entrepreneurship and the current climate of attention, Gary’s rhetoric and outlook are spot on.

As a music marketer, my core approach to my blog content and developing my personal brand is heavily influenced by Gary Vee. Although his marketing strategies and approach to business are not unique to him, Gary does an excellent job of communicating it in such a clear and practical way that I believe all artists should listen to what he has to say if they want a good chance at making it in the music business.

In a way, this post is a tribute to him and acknowledgment of his role in the creation of my blog, but also to convince artists like yourself why you should listen to what he says.
Read More