Stay Independent

Today we're sitting down with Walker Burroughs to talk about his journey as an artist - from feeling miserable after appearing on American Idol to being fulfilled as an artist today. Follow Walker Burroughs : Instagram TikTok Timestamps : 0:00 - Walker's experience on American Idol 6:45 - "Who are you" conversation and finding fulfillment 20:00 - Finding out what makes you "you" as an artist and a...

You might know The All-American Rejects most recently from their viral House Party Tour and opening for the Jonas Brothers' stadium tour this year. What's fascinating is how Tyson's been speaking out about the independent artist grind lately. While major label artists are struggling with traditional models, he's been vocal about new approaches to building sustainable careers in music. The perspect...

So you've built up a pretty big following on Instagram and TikTok -  what's next? Today we're sitting down with Kate Cosentino to talk about her approach to content strategy and what to do once you've built up an audience on social media. Interested in your own artist content strategy audit? Take our Brand Archetype Quiz (5 min) then schedule a time here: https://know-name.involve.me/artist-brand-...

Today we're sitting down with Emily Rose to debunk some of the biggest myths about being a mom and having a career in the music industry. Timestamps : 0:00 - Intro 0:41 – Lie Number 1 4:33 - Lie Number 2 10:25 - Lie Number 3 15:23 - Lie Number 4 23:02 - Lie Number 5 Check out our Instagram! Check out our TikTok!

It can feel virtually impossible to find an audience starting out as an independent artist. So today we're sitting down with Rachel Rose to talk about leveraging different content formats on Instagram and TikTok to connect with an audience. Interested in your own artist content strategy audit? Take our Brand Archetype Quiz (5 min) then schedule a time here: https://know-name.involve.me/artist-bran...

Ever wonder why your posts on TikTok and Instagram aren't getting the traction you're hoping for? Today we're sitting down with Aisley Autumn to talk about leveling-up your social media posts to connect with your audience - no matter what size that might be. Interested in your own artist content strategy audit? Take our Brand Archetype Quiz (5 min) then schedule a time here: https://know-name.invo...

Today we're starting a new series with our first guest Menna. Kirk and Menna sit down to discuss her music and branding, and explore different ways to communicate those through her social media. Follow Menna on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mennanation Listen to Menna on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kLvMAFanr3jQ7iuciSCuM?si=fWAqBLPKTYuqd07QCsghsg Timestamps : 0:00 - 20 Songs...

Creative burnout is difficult to navigate, especially in the music industry. So today, we're talking with Nashville songwriter Allison Morris about 3 specific ways that creatives can avoid burnout. Timestamps : 0:00 - Burnout in the Music Industry 4:08 – Step 1 15:39 - Step 2 26:40 - Step 3 32:09 - Final thoughts Check out our Instagram! Check out our TikTok!

Why do we all hate networking, yet are constantly being told to network to thrive in the music industry? Our guest today is Mark Maxwell, author of "Networking Kills: Success Through Serving" - and we're defining what success in the music industry looks like, and breaking down a better alternative to networking.   Timestamps : 0:00 - Defining Success in the Music Industry 2:38 - The Problem with N...

Today we're walking through the top 5 most common branding mistakes made by new artists. Our guest today is James Muriel, a brand consultant who comes from the branding agency world in London and worked on CeCe Winans' Grammy Award Winning Album "Let Them Fall in Love."   Timestamps : 0:00 - Why Branding Matters 5:03 - Defining Brand and Brand Positioning 13:26 - Red Bull Branding 16:37 - Branding...

Today we're walking through how to scale from $0 to $100,000 per year on social media as an artist. To help us navigate this journey, our guest is a talent manager for 30 content creators with a combined 4 million followers. She specializes in managing micro-influencers and turning their platforms into profitable businesses.   Timestamps : 0:00 - Intro 1:44 - Starting from $0 on social media 10:07...

Today we're sitting down with Spencer Crandall as he enters his 10th year as an independent artist - currently with over 500 million streams and more than 3 million followers on TikTok. We're walking through Year 1 to Year 10 of his career to learn how he got to where he is now, and how you can use his strategies to level-up your career as an artist today.   Timestamps : 0:00 - Intro 2:17 - Year 1...

Let's talk about one of the strategies that artists use to make some serious money that you might not know - sync licensing. Today we're diving into the world of sync licensing and exploring its significance as a growing revenue stream for independent artists. What do these deals look like, and how can artists leverage them in their careers?   Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - Understanding Revenue...

Nordista Freeze has played more than 850 shows as an independent artist - and he's aiming for at least 1,000 soon. So today we're talking about the importance of live performance in today's music industry, and what it looks like to build community and impact culture through music.   Timestamps : 0:00 - Intro 03:34 - The Road to 1000 Shows and the Importance of Live Shows 9:45 - The Secret to Self-...

Meet the man who has helped change the country music landscape over the last several decades. Today we're sitting down with the legendary music industry expert John Marks, whose 55-year career spans terrestrial radio, SiriusXM, Spotify, and helping launch country artists like Florida Georgia Line and Kelsea Ballerini. Join us as we dive into what it takes for artists to stay independent and succee...

Canaan Cox recently turned down a $250,000 record deal - something he never would've imagined doing when he first started on his journey to become a successful independent artist. So why did he do it? And how did he amass over 120 million career streams on Spotify? Today, we sit down with Canaan to talk about turning down label offers, building a sustainable career, and what it really means to be...

Welcome to Stay Independent - a space for artists to discover tangible and actionable ways to grow an independent career. Join us as we deep dive into music industry secrets with independent artists, tastemakers, and industry leaders. Hosted by Kirk Brandenburg, founder and director of Know Name, a music media company based out of Nashville that helps artists all over the country grow independent...