The Music Entrepreneur

It has been four and a half years since the inception of this podcast. From David Andrew Wiebe Podcast to David Andrew Wiebe Interviews and Music Business Podcast to DAWCast: Music Enterpreneurship, it has undergone many changes as it evolved. Fundamentally, my mission to create value-adding content for independent artists, aspiring music industry workers and the industry at large has not changed. The show has featured a lot of fantastic people, from local to global, from Shawn David Evans to David Hooper. Before the podcast even existed, I interviewed the likes of Tommy Tallarico, Derek Sivers and Pete Lesperance. At first, the podcast simply existed to help me cross-promote my music career. However, in time, it has turned in to so much more than that. Many generous people have contributed their time, energy and thought to this show. This is what it has finally come down to: I need to know if there is actually an audience for what I am creating. I have often talked about the importance of consistency and commitment, but without a supportive audience and community, this is just me on a soapbox. That is not what I desire for the future of this show, even in the least. Please don't misunderstand what I am saying. I am more than willing - in fact, I would love to - continue this show in the capacity that I have been. I would even write a new theme song, create new bumpers and generally tighten up the production if that is something you want. I would also write more blog posts if you wanted to read them. In addition, I am also not saying that I intend to quit. What I am saying is that, if I can't generate any interest in this project, I may have to take a break from it for a while. I have many priorities to tend to, not the least of which is gainful employment. I would like to know - sooner rather than later - if you want this. There are a lot of fantastic personalities online, and there are a lot of great podcast shows out there. However, I am asking you to vote with your time (and your money if you see fit to do so) and let me know if this podcast is of value to you. If there's something else you'd rather see from me, I would love to hear your thoughts on that as well. The DAWCast: Music Entrepreneurship Patreon Campaign With everything I've just said, I think you can understand why I would be interested in running a crowdfunding campaign for the podcast. However, it isn't any ordinary crowdfunding campaign; it's a Patreon campaign. Patreon is a great platform for content creators, as it allows people to contribute any amount they want for every piece of content a creator produces. So, the way I have it set up, you can contribute an amount of your choosing for each podcast episode I produce. As you may already know, I usually create one show a week, and I don't really have any intention of exceeding that. So, just as an example, if you decided to give $4 for each episode I created, on most months, your outgo would not exceed $16. If you really wanted to, you could set a budget for the amount you want to contribute on any given month, so you will never exceed that amount. I would be eternally grateful for your support. Please click on the button below to view my campaign page: Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

David Andrew Wiebe discusses 20 ways to grow your podcast audience. If you are looking to increase your listenership, consider applying these 20 strategies. How to Grow Your Podcast Audience The 20 methods for podcast growth are outlined below: Add value: provide valuable content for your audience. Find a niche: be as specific as possible. Or, mix two niches together to come up with unique content. Define your target demographic: carefully consider what their needs are. Try to create content that serves them and helps them. Set goals: if you don't know where you're going, you can't get there. Period. Promote your show: Cliff Ravenscraft recommends a 30% content 70% promotion ratio. You still have to make great content, but you need to figure out how to get your show out there. Be entertaining: this is not college radio. Get comfortable talking. Be enthusiastic: show some passion. Prepare: be willing to spend as much time as it requires to prepare for each show. Engage your community: your community is the reason your show exists. Involve them! Use user feedback on your show: read emails or feature audio comments. Thank your community: gratitude precedes gratification. Always be thankful for your audience. Connect with industry people: they know more than you do; especially if they've been around a while. Leverage their expertise. Conduct interviews: interview experts and get their perspective on your industry. Make appearances on other shows: reciprocate interviews and offer to co-host on other podcasts. Make show notes: add in-depth, detailed show notes for each episode. Get the attention of the media: distribute press releases and Help A Reporter Out. Speak at events: give a presentation that exceeds expectations and your audience will grow like wildfire. Cross-promote: create ping-pong traffic between your media creations and other people who are doing the same thing. Submit your podcast to the major platforms and directories: make sure that your show is listed in all of the major distribution platforms and directories: iTunes, Zune, and BlackBerry. Consider uploading your audio to SoundCloud or re-purpose it for YouTube. Build your mailing list: your mailing list is made up of people that want to hear from you. Build your email list with opt-in offers and let them know when you have new content for them to check out. Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

If your past is getting you down, it might be that you're trying to fix it. While God may be able to go into your past and heal it, you do not have that ability. Relinquish your desire to change history, and begin to rely on God for the healing that you need. Moreover, bring yourself back to the present and enjoy every moment for what it is. Plan for today, and plan for the future, because that's where hope lies. Don't Try to Fix Your Past; Make Plans for Today and for the Future It seems like common sense, but many of us pull a page out of our past to dictate to ourselves what the future is going to look like. Sometimes, we even use the past as an excuse for present behavior. Though undoubtedly there will be challenges as you make the decision to move forward, you have to realize that your past has little to do with your present or your future; especially if you are on a journey of personal growth. As Joel Osteen says: The car you drive has a large windshield, but only a relatively small rearview mirror. The implication is obvious: What happened in your past is not nearly as important as what is in your future. Where you are going is much more important than where you've been. Though you may not see much of a change in yourself over the course of months, you certainly will after a year or two or three. If you've consistently invested in your personal development, you aren't even the same person anymore, whether you realize it or not. Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

Is podcasting as a medium really experiencing a renaissance right now? Can anyone start a show and grow their audience today? What will the future of podcasting look like? In this episode of DAWCast: Music Entrepreneurship, David Andrew Wiebe discusses how he sees podcast distribution changing in times to come. The Future of Podcasting Many expert marketers believe that there has never been a better time to be podcasting. While that may be true, there are still certain barriers to entry. Some variables, like the cost of gear, will likely remain in place. However, with new distribution models, I believe it may be possible to eliminate some beginner hurdles. If there were more web-based platforms for podcasts, content creators could potentially reach larger audiences. Not that there is anything wrong with iTunes, or the ability to reach their user base, but if podcasting was more widely accepted as a medium, it could be less intimidating for aspiring podcasters to get started. Moreover, with the right distribution model, there would be opportunities for more people to reach a bigger audience with their content. For example, a social media site that is focused exclusively on podcasting could be a worthwhile project. A site that allowed the user base to comment, 'like', and even share directly from the platform would be a huge improvement on the current forms of content delivery, which either relies on snagging a featured position on iTunes, organic traffic or a larger community base. In my experience, organic traffic is not a particularly good source of traffic. Therefore, there should be more ways for content creators to get their content out there and get a better sense of how people are responding to their show. Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

In episode 42 of DAWCast: Music Entrepreneurship, David and Anna discuss David Wong's 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person, and Digital Music News' I'm Charlotte Church. And This Is How Women Are Routinely Demoralized by the Music Industry... They also re-visit the topic of eReaders. 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person According to David Wong, these are the six harsh truths that, when understood, will make you a better person: The World Only Cares About What It Can Get from You The Hippies Were Wrong What You Produce Does Not Have to Make Money, But It Does Have to Benefit People You Hate Yourself Because You Don't Do Anything What You Are Inside Only Matters Because of What It Makes You Do Everything Inside You Will Fight Improvement People that desire to change may very well benefit from this article. People that have no reason to question their existence will merely be annoyed or hurt by it. For those who have yet to embark on a personal growth journey, Wong's article could serve as a starting point. If you've put your passions and hobbies on the back burner, it may inspire you to reignite your interests again. Some may prefer more of an inspirational approach to personal development, and that's totally fine. If that describes you, rather than focusing on the "harsh" truths, begin with the empowering truths about yourself. Show Notes: Anna mentions In the Name of Love Anna mentions Sexual Objectification: What It Is, Why It's Damaging, And How We Change It Credits: HOSTS: Anna Mae Alexander, David Andrew Wiebe MUSIC: “Dramatic Serenity”, David Andrew Wiebe © 2012 Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

In episode 41 of DAWCast: Music Entrepreneurship, David and Anna catch up and talk about music entrepreneurship, as well as Tommy Tallarico's TED talk, Video Games - Art in Disguise. Music Entrepreneurship To some people, music entrepreneurship means starting their own business and becoming a self-employed expert. It means earning money on their own terms. To others, music entrepreneurship describes how they already feel about their music career. They know and understand that music involves business, and they don't feel that there is a separation between the two. Still others might feel that music entrepreneurship is a bit of mystery. They don't feel as though the two words really belong together. No matter how you define it, it is quite simply the act of problem solving. Where some see problems, others see challenges, and thus opportunities. Entrepreneurs are hindered less by everyday obstacles that come their way. They are committed to their goals, and they find a way to make them a reality, even against dubious odds. Entrepreneurship often begins with value. If you can provide value to the world, money will find you. If you begin with money in mind, though you might earn some, you will have a harder time building meaningful relationships and a solid reputation. If you've ever wondered whether or not there might be more to playing music than just getting by, or just making a living, the entrepreneurship angle will fit you like a glove. If you want to take a 9 to 5 job and purse music in your nonproductive time, there is nothing wrong with that either. Credits: HOSTS: Anna Mae Alexander, David Andrew Wiebe MUSIC: "Ecstatic", David Andrew Wiebe © 2009 Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

As a musician, if the only social media sites you are using for your online marketing campaigns are Facebook and Twitter, you might be missing out on some serious opportunities. David Andrew Wiebe discusses other popular social platforms that can supplement your music marketing efforts. Social Media Marketing for Musicians If you're an active musician, chances are good that you've already realized how powerful Facebook and Twitter can be in your online marketing efforts. However, it doesn't necessarily need to stop there. In fact, in some cases, focusing on these two sites could be limiting your opportunities. It might even be holding you back. Though Facebook and Twitter are both great platforms, they are also crowded. Many people already utilize them to market their businesses, products, services, music, and personal projects. In short, it can be challenging to cut through the noise. Even if not for that, sites like Google+, LinkedIn and Pinterest could draw the interest of new followers. While it can be difficult to juggle and maintain your profile on each social network, if you have the time, the knowledge, the resources and the energy to do it, then you could be shortchanging yourself. If, on the other hand, you need more focus, then it's not necessary to indulge. However, you should still take some time to consider where to put your energies. You might be able to build a following faster on Google+ than you could on Facebook, depending on your interests and the style of music you play. Don't be too quick to limit yourself. Explore the options, then narrow it down. Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

David Andrew Wiebe discusses why the word marketing tends to put musicians in the wrong mindset as they seek to establish themselves in the music industry. Marketing Mindset How do you approach marketing? How does it make you feel? The reality is that marketing can sound like an intimidating word. It is a necessary part of a musician's working life, but it does not need to be compartmentalized. In other words, marketing is often seen as a means to an end; something that happens apart from one's "real" creative activity. However, it should be seen as a smaller part of the bigger whole. Marketing can be fun. It can be an extension of your music and your personality. It can come naturally. Notwithstanding, building connections and relationships is more important. Adding value to the world is more important. When musicians begin to view marketing in this manner, they will start to align themselves with a more congruent mindset. After all, you won't do what doesn't feel right to you. If it feels right and it feels good, you will do more of it. If it feels wrong, you will try to avoid it. Marketing shouldn't be avoided. However, seeing it in a new light might help you to get to the point where it becomes like second nature. If you've had some trouble wrapping your head around promotional activities and your end goals, shifting your perspective could prove worthwhile. Show Notes: David mentions The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

In this episode, David Andrew Wiebe interviews music consultant and author Christopher Knab from FourFront Media & Music. This interview provides insights into the structure of today's music industry. Christopher Knab - FourFront Media & Music Christopher Knab is a music business consultant based in Seattle. He's the owner of FourFront Media and Music, a service that helps musicians develop their marketing and career plans. He has also written a large number of articles for The Music Biz Academy, which was started by solo pianist and composer David Nevue, who authored How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet. Music Biz Academy features a large database of articles that were written with independent musicians in mind. Everything from entry-level issues, career development, retail and digital distribution, radio promotion, podcasting, record labels, to contracts, music law, copyright, promotion, publicity, songwriting, publishing, live performance and other subjects have been discussed in detail. When David Andrew Wiebe was first learning about music marketing and online business, he cut his teeth on the previously mentioned resources. Show Notes: GUEST INTERVIEW: Christopher Knab David mentions Music Is Your Business: The Musician's FourFront Marketing and Legal Guide by Christopher Knab & Bartley F. Day Not all products referenced here are necessarily recommended by David Andrew Wiebe or Anna Mae Alexander. For a list of tools, services and products that David Andrew Wiebe personally endorses, visit the resources page. Credits: HOST: David Andrew Wiebe MUSIC: "Ecstatic", David Andrew Wiebe © 2009 MUSIC: "Dramatic Serenity", David Andrew Wiebe © 2011 Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you keep running up against the same walls? In this reflection, David Andrew Wiebe explores why you can't do better, and how to solve this common problem. You Can't Do Better Low self-confidence is simply a problem of Awareness. Once you are aware of the Truth about yourself, you will be able to understand why you are the way you are and, most importantly, learn to love and accept yourself. - Robert Anthony Have you ever felt like you weren't living up to your full potential? Have you ever worried about not doing enough? This is a discouraging mentality. If you always feel like you're doing less than you're capable of doing, those thoughts are going to continue to expand. You will always feel as though you're disappointing those around you. On the other hand, if you can begin to adopt the idea that you are doing the best you can in your present reality, you will feel empowered. Until your consciousness expands, you really are doing your best. This may seem like a small thing, but if you can tweak your mentality around your personal performance, it could mean the difference between scarcity and abundance. Show Notes: David mentions: The Ultimate Secrets of Total Self-Confidence by Robert Anthony Not all products referenced here are necessarily recommended by David Andrew Wiebe or Anna Mae Alexander. For a list of tools, services and products that David Andrew Wiebe personally endorses, visit the resources page. Listeners: Feel free to leave a comment below. Send your questions and comments to comments@daw-music.com. We will use them on the show! Help us spread the word about this podcast by leaving a positive rating and review in iTunes. Help us spread the word about this podcast by posting a tweet.

David Andrew Wiebe discusses the importance of making a plan for the achievement of your goals, and five obstacles you might encounter on your journey. If you don't yet have a plan for your music career, you're definitely going to want to hear this...

David Andrew Wiebe discusses the importance of simplicity in business, entrepreneurship, and life. More often than not, the process towards our desires is simpler than we think. It's just a matter of steadfast consistency...

Have you ever put a lot of time, effort and resources towards a business or a project, only to receive a reward not in proportion to your work? In this bonus episode, David Andrew Wiebe discusses why results tend to come later - and sometimes - last!...

Everybody encounters obstacles in life. Sometimes, our struggles come in the form of addiction, compulsive behavior or unwanted habits. David Andrew Wiebe explores how these problems are overcome...

"Dig deep" can sometimes sound like a catch-all answer to common entrepreneur questions. In order to find the answers you're looking for, sometimes you have to go well below the surface and keep digging, even when it doesn't make any sense...