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Industry Insider #5
Lance Marwood
October 01, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 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
Most artists think the real challenge of “making it” in music is “breaking through.” The harder truth I’ve seen over and over is staying alive long enough to even worry about that.
Streaming won’t pay rent (or for a falafel, for most you).
Playlists are rigged.
AI eats what’s left.
And contracts are written to confuse you (on purpose?
While that’s happening, you’re told to pump out daily content, sell yourself as a brand, and somehow not fall apart inside, it’s fine, this is fine, why are you crying?
This isn’t a broken system. It works exactly the way it was built to. Which means your best move is learning the rules well enough to stop being the mark. Find out where the money’s missing. Spot the trapdoors. Like the Wu once sagely advised, “you best protect ya neck.” (and if you didn’t get that reference please unsubscribe)
If you want a map of what you’re really facing (plus strategies to fight back) scroll to the Advice section. I’ve linked the full article there. It will not be cheerful reading. Neither is your royalty statement.
🗞 INDUSTRY NEWS
 | Swedish record label Nordvis Produktion has announced the opening of its North American office and webshop. |
 | Syntax Creative has announced a partnership with Hoopla Digital to bring its catalogue of independent music to libraries across the country. |
💬 INDUSTRY INSIDER INTERVIEW
 | Bob Bradley is an “Industry Insider.” A well-travelled musician and seasoned music publicist, boasting nearly 17 years of experience in PR and marketing. |
💯 INDUSTRY ADVICE
 | Think you know the music industry? Think again. Uncover the harsh truths, financial pitfalls, and strategic insights you need to survive and thrive in this cutthroat business. Dive in for a no-holds-barred look at the challenges every musician faces and how to conquer them. |
🎧 INDUSTRY PODCASTS
Dawn Jones is an Entrepreneur and Founder of Pressed PR, PressedFresh Collective, and FreshNoise Distro. She discusses family, community, and the entrepreneurial spirit, plus the challenges of balancing motherhood and work, and the significance of adaptability in overcoming obstacles.
Garrett Anthony Rice is an Irish songwriter whose upcoming album Equinox has already drawn early praise as one of the most ambitious debuts of the decade.
💘 SUGGESTED FOLLOW
Jesse Cannon
 | Jesse Cannon does too much. He runs Musformation on YouTube, edits Music Marketing Trends (the most-read marketing newsletter in music), and wrote Get More Fans, the DIY bible that professors now force their students to read whether they like it or not. His other book, Processing Creativity, is basically a survival manual for not hating your own music. Follow him if you want no-BS music biz advice from someone who’s actually been in the trenches — not another Twitter thread guru with a Canva template. And he is one of the four horsemen of the latest music marketing podcast that absolutely crushes, My .4 Cents. |
Discover exactly what’s missing in your promo strategy and which lever will move the needle the most…
🎵 ADD YOUR MUSIC TO OUR PLAYLIST
New single? We’re happy to consider adding your track to one of our obsessively curated Spotify playlists → Just reply to this email with the link…
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