Your Weekly Guide to Artist and Business Development

One Music Production Resource...

Music production can feel like learning a whole new language. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed; even experienced producers are constantly learning new tools and plugins. The key is to take it one step at a time. For the next few weeks, we’re going to focus on one new tool a week to help you build an understanding of audio engineering. First up: compressors—the fundamental tool every producer needs to know!

One Songwriting Prompt…

Write a song honoring the women in history or in your family who broke barriers and helped shape the path you’re on. Think about the challenges they faced, the strength they showed, and the ways their actions inspire you today.

Try it out: When you’ve finished, consider submitting it to our upcoming THINK Women campaign, which focuses on empowering women through music. All genders welcome!

Heads up: Demo submissions to THINK Earth, THINK Women and THINK Pride are now open to everyone!

One Performance Quote...

“You've got to have the song, then you create a record. I think it's the same with a live performance. If the material is strong, you're already 90% there. I always tell young people it's all about the music, the songs. Work on the songs, work on the songs, work on the songs.” — Tom Petty

Try it out: Strip your songs down to just your voice and clap the rhythm. If they still feel powerful and engaging in their rawest form, they’re guaranteed to shine live! Think of artists like Tracy Chapman or Ed Sheeran, whose songs connect with a whole stadium even when performed completely solo. If your song is strong on its own, everything else you add will only make it stronger.

One Marketing Tip...

Social platforms change all the time, but email gives you a direct line to the people who care about your music. Email lists might feel outdated, but they’re one of the only ways to communicate directly with your fans without relying on algorithms. You don’t need to send them often. Just when you’ve got something exciting to share, like a new song or an upcoming show.

Try it out: Set up a free pre-save campaign for your next release (or even a demo) and connect it to an email sign-up. Let friends and early listeners know it’s the easiest way to hear from you without the algorithm getting in the way. Keep your messages personal.

Bonus: When teasing new music, add your sign-up link to your link in bio and offer subscribers a sneak peek as a thank you for signing up.

One Business Idea...

Don’t be caught off guard when opportunities come knocking. Make sure you always have a one-sentence introduction and a short bio at the ready for promoters, blogs, and venues. Preparing these in advance will allow you to respond faster to opportunities and eliminate overthinking, so you can focus on making music while still presenting yourself professionally.

Try it out: Write your one-sentence intro that explains who you are, where you’re from, and what you do. Then expand it into a short bio that includes your influences and what your songs are about. For the last sentence, mention your current focus, like your latest release or upcoming tour, and update it as needed. Save it in your Notes app for easy access.

See you next week!