Have you ever thought to yourself, “If I could just meet the right person with the right connections, I could go a long way.” Rick explains why that is not the right mindset to have in today’s music industry. Plus, tune in to find out how YOU can be a guest on the Music Industry Blueprint podcast!   “Connections can get you in the door, but what you have done leading up to that is going to keep in the door.”-Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! ***Want to be a guest on the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast?*** Send an email to podcast@musicindustryblueprint.com With the following information: Name, website, social handles, questions you would like to ask Rick and contact information   Time Stamps: 1:42 You are not too old to apply these current strategies 3:44 Rick’s top advice to artists that he works with 4:20 Connections can get you in the door, but what keeps you there? 5:38 Why you must adjust to the industry trends 6:53 What is going to make you successful 8:29 What’s next for the MIB podcast | You don’t want to miss this! Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com Contact: podcast@musicindustryblueprint.com for a chance to be a guest on the MIB podcast show

Looking for more ways to monetize your music? Then you don’t want to miss this episode! Rick sits down with Tony Van Veen, CEO of CD Baby and Disc Makers. Together they discuss the fundamentals of what makes indie artists successful. They also share great ideas for bundling and pricing, and how to get creative with the merch you offer.   “You are never too small to start connecting with fans.”-Tony Van Veen   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Time Stamps: 1:22 The history behind Tony Van Veen, Disc Maker and CD Baby 7:30 The business side of indie music 8:40 How CDbaby can help monetize your music 10:28 The fundamentals of success for the indie artist 12:00 Are physical CD’s a lost cause? 16:00 Creative pricing ideas 19:30 Let’s talk merch costs 30:21 The secret to why some people are more successful than others 39:23 The DIY Musician conference Resources: merch.ly CD Baby.com CD Baby| Facebook Page DIY Musician Conference 2018 discmakers.com Connect with Tony: Twitter Facebook Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

Goal setting, we all know we should do it but how many of us actually write them down and follow through? On this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick shares questions you should be asking yourself when figuring out your music business goals. Grab a pen and paper and hit that play button now! “Make sure you have got your goals written down and don’t be afraid to start over.”-Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Time Stamps: 1:48 Goal setting and what to do if you miss your goal 2:42 Questions to answer when writing your goals 4:36 What you need to have done before you go into the studio 5:42 Tips for solo artists 6:17 Tips for building your audience on social media 7:07 The importance of writing down your goals Resources: On Stage Success- Tom Jackson Michael Hyatt Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

Today on the Music Industry Blueprint Rick explains the one mental mindset shift that will allow you to make massive progress in your personal development. For many, the one thing that is stopping them from taking the leap is the cost. However, changing how you view the cost of a coach, or a training course from an expense to a solution will allow you to take the leap you may be scared to make right now.   On this episode, Rick shares a new way to look at the cost of investing in yourself, and the recent investment he has made in himself that was actually less than he expected!   “Start looking at things as solutions”-Rick Barker     What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Time Stamps: 1:40 What the noise in the latest episode, on time management for artists 2:23 Sudio Headphones. Sudio.com use MIBpodcast for 15% off 7:00 $20,000 for 8 hours. 8:50 Looking at products and services as solutions 9:33 The best thing that ever happened to Rick   Resources: Sudio Headphones. Sudio.com use MIBpodcast for 15% off Take the Quiz! The $150,000 Music Degree [FREE BOOK]   Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

“I don't have the time!” is an excuse so many of us make. When in reality we all have time, we just don’t know what to do with it. On this episode Rick joins us live from the backstage of a Trent Harmon concert in Chicago. He shares practical tips on how to maximize your time to get the things that matter most to your career done. “We all have time, the problem is you just don’t know what to do with it.”-Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Time Stamps: 2:49 Figuring out how much time you really have 4:10 Tips on how to get you practice in 4:40 Dedicating time for education 5:15 Tips for scheduling social media 6:00 Why it’s so important to have a schedule Resources: NASI Songwriters Program Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

On today’s episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick is happy to talk about the changes in The Four - the TV talent show. He will speak about the changes that have happened and his opinion on the show’s contestants. Tune in to find out more and see if you share Rick’s view. “That’s not how the music business is today.”-Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Time Stamps: 1:22 - Opinion on The Four talent show 4:10 - This year’s show changes 6:02 - Not about the judges anymore 7:55 - For those of you who want to do the shows Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

On today’s episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick interviews Michael Warner, the founder, and curator of Work Hard Playlist Hard. Michael has been in the music industry for more than 15 years and he has made his site in order to help new artists get more exposure through many popular playlists. Tune in to learn about his business, the submission process on the site, the best ways to improve yourself as an up-and-coming artist, and much more.   What I found with Crosshair is that there is a number of curators on there, and that’s the only way that you are actually going to be able to submit music to them. They don’t have time to go through 400 emails every day. -Michael Warner   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Time Stamps: 3:12 - Introducing Michael Warner and his company Work Hard Playlist Hard 9:04 - The submission process on Work Hard Playlist Hard 12:48 - Sound and production quality needed for submission 17:41 - Start from the bottom, don’t shoot for the biggest names in the industry 24:10 - Submission fee and what’s it for 28:46 - You can build relationships with curators, or you can pay someone who has them 32:58 - How Michael’s Work Hard Playlist Hard ebook came to be 38:31 - Best practices and realistic numbers for artists and playlists Resources: Sudio headphones - put in the code MIBPODCAST at checkout and get 15% off your order! Crosshair Music Work Hard Playlist Hard e-book LANDR - Creative Tools for Musicians Connect with Michael Warner: Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Michael’s own Twitter account Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube

On today’s episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick dives deep into the feeling of entitlement many artists have in today’s age. He will explain how no one has the right to feel entitled, in the music industry and life in general, and how to do it right. Tune in to hear Rick’s opinion on the matter and find out how to act in this current music era if you really want to be successful.   With the internet, you can put out new music every single day. You don't have to wait for anyone's permission. -Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here!   Time Stamps: 2:30 - The inspiration for this episode - entitlement 4:19 - Do you have the right to feel entitled to something? 6:47 - Get in the game, don’t wait for it 8:15 - We are in collaboration mode, you can’t keep praising yourself 9:56 - A lot of people are winning, but only for a short time Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

On today’s episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick will answer some of your questions about the music industry. Do you need to be wealthy to start a music career? How to build your audience and get them to connect with you? How to avoid management scams? Rick will attempt to answer these questions in full detail, so if you want to hear the answers and learn something new, tune in. Don't forget to put aside funding for marketing. - Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Time Stamps: 1:30 - Is it helpful to be wealthy when pursuing a successful music career? 2:55 - Are people relating and connecting to your music? 4:00 - How can artists figure out their audience and make the people pay attention? 6:00 - How do you know if a management team is a scam or legit? Are they even necessary? Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

On today’s episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick is joined by Colin Maher, an entertainment attorney in Nashville. Colin and Rick will talk about a lot of important things that you should know about when it comes to copyright issues. Tune in if you want to know more about these legal problems in the music industry, and learn about them directly from an entertainment attorney.   “The earliest pitfalls, if I were to make a checklist, the first one is make sure that you have the rights to your band name or artist name.”- Colin Maher   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Time Stamps: 1:55 - Colin talks about himself and his profession, about intellectual property and more 3:51 - The early pitfalls of artists 6:24 - The most common and easiest to obtain agreements 7:42 - Things people should be on the lookout for when signing a production 11:45 - Mechanical licenses, the easiest and safest way to get one 16:20 - Colin gives you legal advice 17:01 - The right time to hire and what to look for in an entertainment attorney 18:10 - The proper etiquette when discussing money with an attorney Resources: The Harry Fox Agency Connect with Colin: Website Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com