The Music Industry Blueprint Podcast

On this episode of The Music Industry Blueprint, Rick shares his experiences at the Canadian Music Week. He goes into depth on his key takeaways from a session with industry leaders. Also, stay tuned to hear critical press release advice from a well known Variety magazine writer.   “You are not going to take over the whole world if you can’t take over your own town. ”-Rick Barker   What do you want to hear from the Music Industry Blueprint Podcast? Tell us here! Time Stamps: 1:30 Rick’s weekend at  Canadian Music Week experience 3:04 Canadian government gives grants to artists 5:06 What is your story? 5:46 Know what you want when you approach decision makers 8:18 Why you need to become studious with all that you do   People Mentioned: Ebony Hailey Shirley Halperin   Resources: Songtradr The Canadian Music Week   Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

On this episode of The Music Industry Blueprint, Rick sits down with musician, author, and founder of the world's first and only all-Asian American dance-rock band, Simon Tam. They go into depth on what you should be focusing your time on as an “entrepreneurial” artist. Also, stay tuned to hear how Simon’s band won their Supreme Court Case against the US government for their right to be called “The Slants”.   “Social media is like the world’s biggest cocktail party. ”-Simon Tam 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!   Time Stamps: 3:28 The difference between an entrepreneur, business person, and freelancer 6:44 Are you spending too much time learning and not enough time doing? 7:50 How to discern what information is you need to be successful 9:49 What you should be posting on social media 12:54 Rick’s best advice for musicians 14:55 Having the right mindset to build a fan base 20:27 Things that have helped Rick grow his business 31:42 The Slant’s unique niches 32:15 All about The Slants Supreme Court Case   People Mentioned: Seth Godin Gary Vaynerchuk Rascal Flatts Dan + Shay

Do you find yourself blaming others because YOU haven’t reached your goals? Then this episode is for you. Rick shares how he came to the realization that he was hindering himself. Once it became clear that HE needed to go out and get the knowledge he was lacking, things began to change. Tune in to hear this inspiring story.   “If you don’t know it, learn 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:   ⇾Find out if you are the reason your career is not advancing ⇾Why you need mentors ⇾Discover the 3 things you need to be successful Time Stamps: 2:25 Are you blaming others for holding you back? 3:20 Why we need mentors and coaches 4:47 The 3 things you need to be successful: The Knowledge, The Tools, and The Team 5:30 The importance of being able to ask questions 7:39 Survey done on music students 8:03 Don’t hold yourself back because of your lack of knowledge   Resources: The Fan Base Blueprint   Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

On today’s show Rick is joined by Dave Cool from Bandzoogle. They discuss the importance of artists having their own website. Dave and Rick discuss new features from Bandzoogle as well as the necessities for a user-friendly, functioning website. Tune in to hear more about what features need to be included on your site.“If you have poor quality images on your site, people are going to make a judgment about your music before they even hear it. ”-Dave Cool   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:   ⇾Find out why you need a website ⇾The top 3 mistakes artists make on their websites ⇾Discover the “must haves” for your website features Time Stamps: 5:13 A little bit about Bandzoogle 6:29 Bandzoogle website features 7:11 Why you need a website 8:05 Dave Cool’s Backstory 10:20 Common mistakes artists make on their websites 16:00 Utilizing electronic press kits 18:04 The must-haves for a website 18:49 Bandzoogle email tools   Resources: Bandzoogle.com CD Baby Blog Ari's Take Gary V's Podcast Perpetual Traffic Sonicbids The Launch MailChimp

Every opportunity or investment may not be right for you. To save yourself time and money you should be analyzing the benefits that it will bring to you. In this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick discusses how he determines which opportunities and investments are right for him and how you can do the same. “When opportunities come to you, sit down and take a good look at the long-term benefits, if its a good investment figure out how to make it happen. ”-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:  ⇾ Find out the questions to ask when a vendor contacts you about an engagement ⇾ Learn how to determine if an opportunity will benefit you ⇾ The process you need to go through to analyze an opportunity Time Stamps: 1:54 Questions to ask when a vendor contacts you about an engagement 4:41 How to determine if an opportunity will benefit you 5:10 Rick shares how he analyzed a recent investment 9:00 Why you need to have good credit 9:35 The process you need to go through to analyze an opportunity Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com

“Just because you played well on the college level, doesn't mean you are ready for the NBA”.  You have to bring your “A” game to be considered by record labels. There are so many artists out there that the record labels are looking for reasons to turn you down, so don’t give them any. On this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick tells us exactly why you do not want to get discovered before you’re ready. And what you need to have to be considered by a label. “You are not competing against the other unsigned artists, you are competing for space. So the goal is to put yourself in a position to be able to compete”-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:  ⇾Find out why you don’t want to get discovered before you are ready⇾Understand what you need to have to be considered by a record company⇾Discover the best way to get in front of the right people in Nashville Time Stamps:2:55 Why I ask for help and hire professionals 4:46 Why you don’t want to get discovered before you are ready 5:40 What you need to have to be considered by a record company 6:47 What you are competing for when trying to get signed 7:19 The Nashville Process: How you get a deal in Nashville 9:49 Put yourself in the right position for the right time Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud

Have you ever been judged for something before you were given the opportunity to prove yourself? On this podcast, Rick shares his past trials and tribulations when he was Taylor Swift’s manager. He discusses the ridicule he got for approaching things differently. Rick also discusses the recent comments on Bobby Bones as the American Idol mentor. “Too many people have opinions but not many people have the research to back that opinion.”-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:  ⇾Find out some of the things that Rick went through early on as Taylor Swift’s manager⇾Understand why Bobby Bones is an amazing mentor and great fit for American Idol ⇾Discover why Rick makes all of his artists listen to the BobbycastTime Stamps:2:40 Rick’s experiences with being judged by others4:08 Bobby Bones strengths as a mentor on American Idol4:45 People questioning Bobby Bones as a mentor5:35 Rick’s experiences on American Idol6:11 Rick’s relationship with Bobby Bones6:56 Review of Bobbycast- Why Rick makes all of his artists listen to it7:31 Let’s show support and stop the negativity8:16 Trent Harmon’s new releases and return to American Idol   Resources: Bobby Bones The Bobby Bones Show on iHeartradio Bare Bones By Bobby B

Did you know that the majority of artists that are signed to labels are in debt? In fact, there are more independent artists making money than there are signed to labels. On this episode of the Music Industry Blueprint, Rick is joined by Greg Wilnau from the Musician Monster’s podcast. Tune in to find out how this independent artist went from working a job he hated to making money off of his music. "I realized that the only reason why I wasn’t making money from my music was because I was hoping that someone else would come along and do it for me."   -Greg Wilnau 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:  ⇾Discover why you may be better off as an independent artist ⇾Find out the 1st step to making income off of live performances ⇾Understand the mindset you need as an independent artist Time Stamps: 3:36 From a broke band drummer to business owner/world traveler 5:39 This is what you need to do if you want to get anywhere in life 6:45 Why you are better off being an independent artist vs signed to a label 8:40 Owning up to your decisions and stop being dependant on others 11:40 The 1st step to creating income from your music 13:57 Advice to musicians who do not like to ask for money 16:51 How Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to meet her 17:38 Breaking the ice with an honest story 21:36 The mindset shift that allowed Greg to live off of his music   Resources: Live Show Blueprint (Learn the steps to earn income at every live performance) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Airpods   Connect wit

“Don’t take things personally!” Sometimes that’s easier said than done. On today’s show, Rick gives us some insight on why we shouldn't take things so personally when it comes to the music industry. He shares some great information on how to get your music solicited, what expos you should be attending and why you should not act “out of character” on social media. If you have been trying to get off the unsolicited list and into the ears of a record label president, this one is for you. “When you are interacting with someone in the industry and something does not go the way you want it to go... don’t show a side of you... that someone will not want to work with, don't take it personal.” -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:  ⇾Rick share the best way to get off the unsolicited material list⇾Find out some great events for songwriters to get discovered⇾Understand why you can not take things personally in the music industry Time Stamps: 1:32 What is considered unsolicited material? And why 3:22 The best way to get solicited 4:12 Take the advice that people give you and educate yourself 5:50 The 2nd best way to get solicited 6:48 To get more knowledge you have to spend time or money or both 10:06 If someone has invested in me, I am obligated to invest in them 11:55 In the music industry you can NOT take things personally   Resources: Performance Rights Organization (PRO) ASCAP BMI SESAC SOCAN Events NSAI

It was once said that patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success. The same holds true in the music industry. On today's show, Rick talks about the importance of having patience when trying to build your career as an artist. So many people are trying to be discovered today, find out why that may not be such a good idea. “In my opinion, the biggest killer of careers is the lack of patience.”-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:  ⇾Find out Rick’s opinion of the #1 career killer⇾Understand what labels are looking for when they meet you⇾Realize the opportunities that are presenting themselves Time Stamps: 2:00 The # 1 career killer in the music industry 2:53 Understand what labels are looking for 3:57 Why you do NOT want to be the best-kept secret 4:47 Invest in the education that you need to prepare yourself 6:05 Do NOT rush the process 6:46 Are you realizing the opportunities that are presenting themselves?   Connect with Rick: Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Soundcloud RickBarker.com Contact: rick@rickbarker.com