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Industry Insider #3
Networking isn’t speed dating. Stop collecting ghosts.
Lance Marwood
September 17, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
This is Industry Insider: a weekly 5-minute brief with key news, interviews, advice, smart picks & follows, built for artists and industry folks alike.
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Table of Contents
☝️ ONE BIG THING
Networking has been rebranded so many times it should have a punch card. “It’s about who you know.” “No, it’s about showing up.” “Actually, it’s just sliding into DMs.” Depending on who’s selling the workshop, it’s either speed dating with name tags or a pyramid scheme in skinny jeans.
Here’s the part that doesn’t change: the only connections that matter are the ones that are real. Not clout-chasing. Not endless coffee chats. Just being decent, useful, and present. The music industry loves to pretend there’s a secret door you’re locked out of, but half the time the key is just not being an asshole.
If you want the receipts (and a playbook for building a network that actually works) scroll down to the Advice section. I’ve linked an article there that unpacks how one small act of kindness flipped my career and how you can start building connections that do more than collect dust in your inbox.
🗞 INDUSTRY NEWS
 | Independent Project Records (IPR) announced today that they have confirmed a two-night live show celebration in conjunction with the label’s 45th anniversary. |
 | Soundstripe, the premier music licensing platform, is announcing that experienced sync and music executive Jelena Grozdanich is joining the company as Sync Director. |
💬 INDUSTRY INSIDER INTERVIEW
 | Founder of Seattle-based boutique media relations firm Tiny Human, Ever Kipp joins us to discuss modern artist development. |
💯 INDUSTRY ADVICE
 | Networking isn’t about handing out business cards or begging for favors, it’s about real connections. One act of kindness changed my career, and it can for you too. From local shows to industry events, here’s how to build a network that actually matters—one that amplifies your music, expands your reach, and opens doors you didn’t even know existed. |
🎧 INDUSTRY PODCASTS
Tiriq Rashad discusses family, his poetry, and his music and offers wisdom on creativity, healing, and the music business.
💘 SUGGESTED FOLLOW
Jon Anderson
 | Jon started Two Story Media (and the Two Story Melody blog) to do what most PR folks pretend to: tell real stories around indie artists instead of spray-and-pray promos. He’s helped hundreds of artists get press, built fan communities, and driven millions of streams—without selling out the narrative. He also wrote How to Promote Indie Music, because yes, there is a manual (that doesn’t suck). If you want someone who walks the line between art and strategy, keeps things bloody useful, and cares about legacy over hype — follow Jon. |
Discover exactly what’s missing in your promo strategy and which lever will move the needle the most…
🎵 ADD YOUR MUSIC TO OUR PLAYLIST
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