The Unstarving Musician

Robonzo (Roberto R Hernandez)

The Unstarving Musician features interviews with independent musicians, songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals who share their experience and expertise on recording, touring, marketing, the business of music, and more. This is all intended to help you, the independent music artists create a sustainable and profitable music career.

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Top 10 The Unstarving Musician Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Unstarving Musician episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Unstarving Musician for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Unstarving Musician episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

318 Music Business Essentials – A Musician's Guide to Copyrights, Contracts & Cash Flow

The Unstarving Musician

02/07/25 • 20 min

Music business fundamentals can make or break an artist's career sustainability. In this episode, we break down essential legal and financial practices that help independent musicians protect their work and build sustainable careers. From copyright registration and performance contracts to accounting basics and tax planning, we provide actionable steps for managing the business side of music while staying focused on creativity. Learn how to establish proper documentation, maximize royalty collection, and implement smart financial tracking that will serve your music career for years to come.

Episode links & resources

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support.

This episode was powered by Music Marketing Method, a program for independent musicians looking to grow their music career.

Music Marketing Method was created by my good friend Lynz Crichton. I’m in the program and I’m learning tons! I’m growing my fan base and learning about many ways that I’ll be earning money in the new year. It’s also helping me grow this podcast. How cool is that?

To lean more and find out if Music Marketing Method can help your music career, visit UnstarvingMusician.com/MusicMarketing.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Learn from the hundreds of musicians and industry pros I’ve spoken with for the Unstarving Musician on topics such as marketing, songwriting, touring, sync licensing and much more. Sign up for Liner Notes.

Liner Notes is an email newsletter from yours truly, in which I share some of the best knowledge gems garnered from the many conversations featured on the Unstarving Musician. You’ll also be privy to the latest podcast episodes and Liner Notes subscriber exclusives.

Resources

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income

Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Pardon the Interruption (Disclosure) Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support!

Visit UnstarvingMusician.com to sign up for Liner Notes to learn what I'm learning from the best indie musicians and music industry professionals.

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Twitter and Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

314 Lyrical Poetry – Tony Harrah on the Parallels of Book and Music Marketing

The Unstarving Musician

01/03/25 • 33 min

Independent musician and author Tony Harrah shares his lyrical poetry journey across the music and literary worlds. In this first of two parts, Tony discusses his realization that marketing books mirrors marketing music, detailing his experiences building writer groups (much like starting his blues jams) and developing grassroots promotional strategies. We explore his evolution from musician to author with works like "Boxing With God" and "Asking For a Playground Push, But Got a Schoolyard Shove," while discussing the arts' recovery in a post-pandemic landscape.

Since our last conversation in 2019, following the unexpected loss of his wife, Tony has navigated remarkable transitions - both personal and professional. Now remarried, he brings unique insights into building creative communities and finding new pathways to connect with audiences.

Stay tuned for part two next week, where we'll explore Tony's observations on the current state of music, his marketing strategies for his latest book, thoughts on working with industry professionals, and his decision to narrate his audiobooks. Plus, we'll get a preview of his upcoming platform, TheGreasyHedonist.com.

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support.

This episode was powered by Music Marketing Method, a program for independent musicians looking to grow their music career.

To lean more and find out if Music Marketing Method can help your music career, visit UnstarvingMusician.com/MusicMarketing.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Resources

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income

Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Visit UnstarvingMusician.com to sign up for Liner Notes to learn what I'm learning from the best indie musicians and music industry professionals.

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Twitter and Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

319 Musician Well-being: Breaking the Suffering Artist Myth for Sustainable Success

The Unstarving Musician

02/21/25 • 8 min

This episode explores musician well-being and challenges the persistent "suffering artist" myth. Drawing from recent examples of successful artists like Lizzy McAlpine and Ashe, Robonzo examines how prioritizing mental health leads to sustainable music careers rather than limiting them.

Discover practical strategies for setting boundaries, managing performance demands, and creating sustainable touring schedules that protect your creative energy. Learn why being transparent about mental health challenges can actually strengthen fan relationships rather than damage them.

Whether you're a touring musician, recording artist, or industry professional, this episode provides actionable insights for maintaining well-being while pursuing musical success. Subscribe to Liner Notes for more industry insights and join Liner Notes Insider for exclusive deep dives into building a sustainable music career.

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Resources

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income

Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Visit UnstarvingMusician.com to sign up for Liner Notes to learn what I'm learning from the best indie musicians and music industry professionals.

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Twitter and Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

317 Tour Planning – Essential Strategies for Independent Musicians' Success

The Unstarving Musician

01/31/25 • 14 min

Tour planning requires careful strategy and execution for independent musicians to succeed on the road. In this episode, I share key insights from Liner Notes Insider on venue selection, tour management, fan engagement, and revenue optimization. Learn practical approaches to building sustainable tours and get a glimpse of the exclusive content available to Liner Notes Insider subscribers. Whether planning your first tour or looking to improve your touring game, this episode delivers actionable tips for the independent touring musician.

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support.

This episode was powered by Music Marketing Method, a program for independent musicians looking to grow their music career.

To lean more and find out if Music Marketing Method can help your music career, visit UnstarvingMusician.com/MusicMarketing.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Mentions and Related Episodes

Find links to related episodes and various things mentioned in this episode at UnstarvingMusician.com.

Resources and Special Deals

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income

Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Visit UnstarvingMusician.com to sign up for Liner Notes to learn what I'm learning from the best indie musicians and music industry professionals.

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Twitter and Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

302 Music Composition & Master Recording Ownership, Royalties, And Income Opportunities

The Unstarving Musician

07/05/24 • 21 min

This episode dives into the complex world of music composition, master recording ownership, royalties, and income opportunities for independent musicians.

Discover the benefits of owning your compositions and the importance of master recording ownership in protecting your creative work.
Learn essential tips for navigating the music industry, from Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) to mechanical royalties and synchronization fees.
Understand how songwriters earn income from public performances, reproductions, and visual mediums.

The discussion covers the primary income sources for master recordings and emphasizes the importance of signing up with organizations like SoundExchange and a PRO to collect your well-deserved royalties. Further, I cover mechanical royalties for master recordings, components of the collection process, synchronization licensing for both composition and master recording owners, and the role of PROs in paying royalties to songwriters and publishers.

Join me as I unravel the music composition and master recording ownership, and royalties, empowering independent musicians to protect their creative works and maximize their income potential.

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support.

This episode was powered by Music Marketing Method, a program for independent musicians looking to grow their music career.

To lean more and find out if Music Marketing Method can help your music career, visit UnstarvingMusician.com/MusicMarketing.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Mentions and Related Episodes

Episode 278 Kayana – Drip Release Strategy, Self Forgiveness, Dating, a Short Film Commission, and a Creative Retreat that Gave Her the Theme and Outline for Her Forthcoming Album

Unraveled by Kayana

The Rain Song - Led Zeppelin cover by Chiara Kilchling

Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Unstarving Musician Mug

How to License Your Music as a DIY Musician

Music Publishing 101: How To Make Money With Your Music

Owning Your Master Recording: All You Need to Know

A beginner’s guide to performing rights organizations (PROs)

Leading by Example: How Taylor Swift Has Spotlighted Musician Rights and Ownership

Music Fairness Action Campaign Launches With Support Of Dionne Warwick

Resources

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make...

310 Creative Meets Commerce: A Musician's Guide to Revenue Stream Balance

The Unstarving Musician

10/25/24 • 22 min

This deep-dive episode explores how independent musicians can effectively balance their creative output with various revenue streams. From live shows and streaming to licensing and teaching, I break down the business focus and creative aspects of each income source. Learn practical strategies for time management, tools for productivity, and real-world examples from artists like Shannon Curtis, Bradford Loomis, and Dean Johanesen. Whether building a sustainable career or managing a passion project, discover actionable steps to maintain your artistic fulfillment while achieving financial stability. Based on insights from Liner Notes, this episode provides a comprehensive framework for integrating your creative and business mindsets.

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support.

This episode was powered by Music Marketing Method, a program for independent musicians looking to grow their music career.

To lean more and find out if Music Marketing Method can help your music career, visit UnstarvingMusician.com/MusicMarketing.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Mentions, Links, and Related Episodes

Automation Tips for Working With Audio and Video Files, by Anna B. Yang

Shannon Curtis – House Concerts, Building Connections, Community, Release Strategy And Her 2018 Album “Both At The Same Time” (Rewind Series Ep 243)

Building Community–Shannon Curtis and Jamie Hill (Ep 168)

Writing Music With Preparedness In Mind–Bradford Loomis (Ep 220)

Cutting Out the Music Business Middleman–Bradford & Kimberly Loomis

Circus Swing and the Transformation of Dean Johanesen

Dean Johanesen – Album Artwork, Song Reference Files, Record Release Mode, Balancing Creative Time, Arc Of A Thematic Album, Writing Press Releases, Release Campaign Framework, Heightened Creativity, Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival (Ep 246)

Lessons Learned for the Modern Freelancer—Mike Volkin (Episode 27 of the Morning Tempo podcast on YouTube)

Live Streamed Shows In Isolation —Dean Johanesen Part 2 (Ep 156)

The Obstacle Is The Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, by Ryan Holiday

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield

Kit – Email Marketing for Musicians

Resources

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience an...

The Music Industry is About Money, Not Talent – Rock Talk Podcast Host Sommer Sharon

The Unstarving Musician

02/09/18 • 49 min

In 2011 Sommer Sharon started a Facebook page and Twitter account for a music promotions project. It was a project born of sheer interest, but things started to get interesting when Joe Satriani followed her Twitter account. Satriani was her fourth follower. Her interest suddenly became a business.

Musicians and music industry pros started to take notice of her work. This lead to the development of a great music network that included bands and solo artists from around the globe, publicists, magazine owners, radio hosts, and promoters.

Among those who took notice was Screamer Magazine, which lead to a writing gig, and new acquaintances in music. Before she knew it, Sommer was booking a weekly concert series, festivals, shows all over the midwest, and entertainment for Harley Davidson events.

Sommer has since become host/creator of the Rock Talk Podcast. The podcast has become a platform where she's leveraging her digital marketing expertise and music journalism experience to champion women in the music industry and arts. Our conversation also digs into the state of Rock Talk the podcast, Sommer's interest and work in music, technology, and women's advocacy.

"The industry is about money, not talent.”

I believe it was Sommer who recently said to me, "The industry is about money, not talent.” Although she wouldn’t be the first to make this observation, we got a kick out of discussing it. It’s a sentiment that we tend to agree with on many levels.

When I asked her to talk about the beginnings of her music interest, she shares a childhood story involving a 3rd grade girl with crazy hair, a Care Bears radio, and an Iron Maiden cassette. It's a story that provided inspiration for the intro of her Rock Talk Podcast. Hear the full story in this episode.

SHOW NOTES Tom Tom Magazine Margo Z, Cover Artist of Van Halen’s 1984 Jay Vigon, Artist Designer @chickenfootjoe Joe Satriani on Twitter Screamer Magazine Bullet Boys Performer Magazine Revolver Magazine Royal Bliss The Brassy Broadcast with Jen Edds Greg Marra Iconoclast Music Podcast Mira Goto Susan Rogers Lori Lee Love Your Story Lisa Leuschner Andersen Kid Andersen Sleigh Consulting Libsyn podcast hosting Rock Talk Podcast Facebook Page Rock Talk Podcast on Instagram Rock Talk on Apple Podcasts RESOURCES FOR MUSICIANS

The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs ConvertKit – Awesome email marketing solution, something every musician needs! DreamHost – Been using this web hosting service forever. Love them, trust them! More resources – Deals on musician resources.

The Unstarving Musican – Trailer

The Unstarving Musician

07/07/17 • 1 min

Welcome to the Unstarving Musician

This podcast was created to help independent musicians better understand the marketing, business and creative processes that empower them to make music and make a living doing it. It's a podcast for musicians seeking insights and advice from their peers and music industry professionals.

Episodes feature insights from a wide array of guest interviews, covering topics such as songwriting, recording, release strategy, building an audience, music licensing and much more.

Thanks for tuning in! Sign up for our email newsletter Liner Notes!

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Twitter and Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

30 Mark Wenner on The Nighthawks, Performing, Recording, and Rock & Roll

The Unstarving Musician

12/22/17 • 57 min

Mark Wenner and his band The Nighthawks have been performing and recording for over 40 years. He did this with and along side an impressive list of blues and R & B note-worthies. Mark came up as a young man when rock & roll was perceived by older adults as the devil’s music. It was a time, he notes, when when Elvis was in army, Jerry Lewis was banned, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran were dead, Little Richard was immersed in church, Ray Charles was in jail, and Gene Vincent was crippled. It was at this time that Mark sensed a conspiracy of sorts, as radio began to market the likes of Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Older people hated rock & roll, and teachers would yell about its ills for an entire periods, Mark recalls. His response? He'd venture without the permission of his parents to DC's Howard Theater. Here he'd see The Motown Review, Otis Redding, James Brown and Marvin Gaye mentor Billy Stewart. It's no wonder that he fell in love with music, learned to play harp, and formed The Nighthawks in 1972.

Known as the hardest working band in America, the Nighthawks have performed with the Vaughn brothers, Greg Allman, George Thorogood, Warren Haynes, Muddy Waters, BB King and others. Everyone seemed to love the band. Greg Allman even talked about joining the band. In some cases, The Nighthawks helped propel their peers to fame. Big time fame unfortunately eluded The Nighthawks. They can at least take solace in the fact that documentary film maker Michael Streissguth took interest in them, and created the film Nighthawks on the Blue Highway.

As you can imagine, Mark has a lot of stories to tell. During our conversation he shares a few good ones for sure. He also breaks down how he consistently got his band into new venues in the early days. His strategy was all about relationships and asking for help. It’s a strategy that still applies today.

The Nighthawks have been labeled an American blues roots music band. I suppose that’s not too off the mark, but also imagine that Mark would say they’re simply a blues band. He’d be right.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Mentioned in this Episode

Nighthawks music on CD Baby Nighthawks music on iTunes Nighthawks.com Michael Streissguth Nighthawks on the Blue Highway documentary website Nighthawks on the Blue Highway DVD The Howard Theater

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Twitter and Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

304 YouTube's Hidden Payday: Tracking and Collecting Music Royalties

The Unstarving Musician

08/02/24 • 13 min

In this episode, I'm diving deep into the world of tracking and collecting music royalties on YouTube. As an independent musician myself, I know how complex and often confusing this topic can be. That's why I'm breaking down YouTube's intricate royalty system for you, from the basics to advanced aspects. I'll walk you through:

The four types of YouTube royalties and how to collect them
Requirements for joining the YouTube Partner Program
The crucial role of Content ID in protecting your intellectual property
Strategies to maximize your YouTube earnings
Common misconceptions about YouTube royalties

Whether you're just starting out or looking to optimize your existing YouTube presence, this episode provides actionable insights to help you turn your music videos into a reliable income stream. Discover how to navigate YouTube's royalty landscape and tap into your music's earning potential.

Plus, get access to a FREE companion guide with a detailed action plan and valuable resources. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your YouTube channel from a promotional tool into a hidden payday for your music career.

Support the Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support.

This episode is powered by Podcast Startup

Podcast Startup is a program designed for new podcasters. Did you know that most podcasts don’t make it past their first few episodes? That’s right, they start, they stall, and then they die. Sustaining a podcast ain’t easy. Lack of planning and misaligned expectations are a recipe for a fast burnout and fade-out for podcasters. This is exactly what Podcast Startup was designed to help with.

Start your podcast the right way with Podcast Startup! Visit UnstarvingMusician.com/PodcastStartup to learn more and to download a FREE Podcast Startup tip sheet.

This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes.

Mentions and Recommended Reading

Robonzo on Apple Music

Episode Companion/Resource Guide (FREE download)

Facebook Music Monetization

How Much Does Facebook Pay Per Music Stream

What's the difference between YouTube Music and YouTube Content ID?

What is YouTube's Content Management System (CMS)?

The Digital Music Royalties Landscape

How Artists Get Paid From YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and the Rest with Jamie Dee Hart

A musician’s guide to YouTube Royalties

How to Earn ASCAP Royalties for Your Music on YouTube