A guide designed to anyone releasing their own music or running a small record label. The things I learned, how each release did, different way of promoting music, sales figures and more.
Hi Brian, thank you for sharing this. As an artist and small label owner myself this is extremely interesting, and I can see a lot of similarities in my own experiences. We are all in it together. Best of luck for 2025.
Brian, kudos for sharing these honest insights into your year. Tbh I assumed you would be flying high, so it’s a little shocking to read of your experiences given your stature and quality of releases. The most important takeaway being make music for the music itself. Everything (anything) else is a bonus. You gave me one of my first bits of exposure by putting some of my work - Kitsissut - on the Ambient Flo radio station. Will always be grateful for that. It’s a struggle though, just didn’t think you’d be expressing that too. Wishing you a great 2025, and please just keep innovating and making interesting music which is appreciated and enjoyed over here.
Thanks Richard, yes it's funny what lifting the lid demonstrates compared to what we reveal on social media... I wonder how many people working in music experience something similar, or if it's just me! Good luck with your music
Thanks for these insights. I’ve got music I want to release and I’ve been putting it off for months. Reading your post affirms why I have been doing that. So much to think about and so much trying to tell the story while the story is happening. The main thing I take from this is not to do it for money but rather out of a desire to share my music. All the best for 2025!
Thanks Colin, that's nice to hear. It took me years to work out that the joy of making music is primarily for myself, everything else good that comes after is a bonus! Best of luck
Genuinely appreciate your honesty as I believe we all are feeling similar pressures on how to maneuver through the “dance”. Independent artistry isn’t for the faint of heart but I co-sign for everything you’ve stated. Do it for the love.
Artists talk about their follower counts on IG, but I think a lot of those numbers are bots or inactives. Engagement is throttled and/or dying, just like FB and typical social media. Check Insights to confirm. I abandoned IG a while back. The billionaires just want more money. I don't think you can beat a mailing list that an artist controls in terms of real engagement.
Licensing has been a positive thing for my catalog. Both in-app (Music Reports / Harry Fox Agency), sync, and stock. Sync and stock are a longer game.
I applaud anybody trying to produce physical media. Even CDs. Those are art objects for the superfans. Mailing anything anywhere, especially outside their country's borders, is prohibitively expensive. I think that's on purpose.
I gave up subscribing to Spotify in 2024 because of the threshold. Switched to Qobuz because of recommendations on Substack and love it. Bought a turntable for Christmas.
Not surprising that you got nothing after being in the legacy media. It's another dead end that artists should ignore. Newspapers ruined themselves a long time ago for a variety of reasons. Consolidation and lack of local ownership is always bad for any industry. So many examples.
Thanks for your insights Mark. I might try Qobuz! I signed with a publisher at the end of last year for the first time so will see if anything comes of that. Although licensing music for tv and media isn't really what i'm aiming to do..
Hi Brian, thank you for sharing this. As an artist and small label owner myself this is extremely interesting, and I can see a lot of similarities in my own experiences. We are all in it together. Best of luck for 2025.
Thanks Joe - I'm glad to hear this was interesting. Good luck to you too!
Brian, kudos for sharing these honest insights into your year. Tbh I assumed you would be flying high, so it’s a little shocking to read of your experiences given your stature and quality of releases. The most important takeaway being make music for the music itself. Everything (anything) else is a bonus. You gave me one of my first bits of exposure by putting some of my work - Kitsissut - on the Ambient Flo radio station. Will always be grateful for that. It’s a struggle though, just didn’t think you’d be expressing that too. Wishing you a great 2025, and please just keep innovating and making interesting music which is appreciated and enjoyed over here.
Thanks Richard, yes it's funny what lifting the lid demonstrates compared to what we reveal on social media... I wonder how many people working in music experience something similar, or if it's just me! Good luck with your music
Hey Brian, just discovered this excellent piece, thank you for writing it! Believe me, everyone is in the same boat.
Thanks for these insights. I’ve got music I want to release and I’ve been putting it off for months. Reading your post affirms why I have been doing that. So much to think about and so much trying to tell the story while the story is happening. The main thing I take from this is not to do it for money but rather out of a desire to share my music. All the best for 2025!
Thanks Colin, that's nice to hear. It took me years to work out that the joy of making music is primarily for myself, everything else good that comes after is a bonus! Best of luck
All of this resonates with me, it’s tough putting out music yourself but those moments of true connection mean the world.,
agreed! thanks for reading
Amazingly resourceful and insightful read Brian, thanks so much for taking the time to lay this out so clearly!
Thanks Mat!
Genuinely appreciate your honesty as I believe we all are feeling similar pressures on how to maneuver through the “dance”. Independent artistry isn’t for the faint of heart but I co-sign for everything you’ve stated. Do it for the love.
Thank you! Good luck with your own stuff
Artists talk about their follower counts on IG, but I think a lot of those numbers are bots or inactives. Engagement is throttled and/or dying, just like FB and typical social media. Check Insights to confirm. I abandoned IG a while back. The billionaires just want more money. I don't think you can beat a mailing list that an artist controls in terms of real engagement.
Licensing has been a positive thing for my catalog. Both in-app (Music Reports / Harry Fox Agency), sync, and stock. Sync and stock are a longer game.
I applaud anybody trying to produce physical media. Even CDs. Those are art objects for the superfans. Mailing anything anywhere, especially outside their country's borders, is prohibitively expensive. I think that's on purpose.
I gave up subscribing to Spotify in 2024 because of the threshold. Switched to Qobuz because of recommendations on Substack and love it. Bought a turntable for Christmas.
Not surprising that you got nothing after being in the legacy media. It's another dead end that artists should ignore. Newspapers ruined themselves a long time ago for a variety of reasons. Consolidation and lack of local ownership is always bad for any industry. So many examples.
Thanks for your insights Mark. I might try Qobuz! I signed with a publisher at the end of last year for the first time so will see if anything comes of that. Although licensing music for tv and media isn't really what i'm aiming to do..
Great read, the transparency is really appreciated - self releasing isn’t for the faint of heart but can be so creatively rewarding over the long term
thank you for reading!
Brilliant, illuminating piece. Thanks for being so transparent and taking the time to explain it all so clearly.
my pleasure, it's been nice to hear from people in a similar boat
A great read!!
Given the success of Green City, are you planning to repress? So you know, the current going request rate on discogs is over £100 per copy.
Thanks Darren! Yeah someone else pointed out the high Discogs price.. repress coming end of the month!
hey darren - repress is here! https://auntieflo.bandcamp.com/album/green-city-repress-in-my-dreams-club-versions
Thanks for the heads up. I snaffled my copy last year. Good luck on the next round of pressing. I hope she flys!