Episodes
What Actually Makes an Artist Legendary?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a nu-metal band asking a question most artists are afraid to say out loud: How do you become a legendary band not just another act that h...
Audience vs Community: What Artists Get Wrong
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who’s asking a question many artists quietly struggle with: What does it actually mean to “build a community”? This...
Losing Money on Every Music Release
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who’s doing everything “right” releasing consistently, investing in quality, tracking expenses and still losing mon...
Why 81% of Artists Feel Invisible on Spotify
In this episode of the Music Business Mewsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a frustrated artist and it cuts straight to the heart of what artists are actually struggling with. This artist isn’t asking for motivati...
Is the Music Industry a Scam?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an artist who has given up on the music industry and doesn’t hold back. He believes the industry is a scam. He believes most artists neve...
How Music Managers Get Artists Signed
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 24-year-old music manager who’s doing everything right but still feels invisible. He’s managing a band he truly believes in. They’ve re...
New Year’s Message for 2026
Happy New Year from Matthew Rix. No music Business in this video, just a message of grateful and thankfulness with a softball story in the mix. Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music indus...
Who Actually Makes Money in the Music Business?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who’s doing a lot “right” but still doesn’t understand how anyone actually makes money in the music business. He’s ...
Platinum in One Year… With One Song?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the most ambitious and honestly wild emails I’ve received in a while. A rapper based in New York City just finished his first official single, a...
No Contract. No Payouts. No Access. What Now?
Today’s episode of the Music Business Mewsletter with Matthew Rix is heartbreaking. Bob the drummer and unofficial manager of a long-running Swiss punk band reached out with a situation that feels like every independent artist’s nightmare. Here’s what...
AI Artists… Can unsigned Artists Succeed?
In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m responding to an overwhelmed independent artist who asked one of the biggest questions I hear right now: “How are indie artists supposed to compete?” H...
How Do You Get Taken Seriously as a Songwriter Online?
In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m reading an email from a 31-year-old former professional swimmer from London who’s trying to break into the Christian and country songwriting scene in N...
Can Introverts Still Succeed in Music?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the most honest and heartbreaking emails I’ve received in a while. A 26-year-old songwriter from Portland reached out because he feels like the ...
How Much Stage Presence Is Too Much for Small Artists?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 29-year-old singer-songwriter from Ohio who might…might be doing a little too much on stage. He’s been experimenting with a new “perfor...
How to Keep Going When You’ve Been Burned in the Music Industry
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the rawest, most honest emails I’ve ever received. A musician in his 30s tired, disappointed, and skeptical wrote in to vent. He doesn’t believe...
If You’re Overwhelmed by Social Media… Start Here.
In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m answering an email from a 25-year-old indie-pop artist who’s feeling crushed under the weight of social media expectations. He’s been releasing music s...
How Do You Chase Music When You Have No Time?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a mid-30s country singer who’s convinced he has the talent to become a star, if only he had the time. Between a full-time job, two kids, ...
Can You Change Your Music Style Without Starting Over?
In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m reading an email from a 27-year-old artist who’s torn between two completely different paths. On one side, he’s creating moody R&B that performs well, ...
Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam?
In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I’m answering a question that almost every independent artist runs into at some point: Is paying for PR or radio promotion a scam? He’s an artist out of Au...
One Bad Night Cost Them a Management Deal…Here’s Why.
In today’s episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a guitarist from Orlando whose band was this close to signing with a legitimate Los Angeles management firm. For months, everything lo...
Should You Record Your First Single for Free or Go Pro?
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from Sarah, a 22-year-old college student in Nashville who’s finally ready to record her first single but has no idea what a realistic budget ...
How to Find Paying Gigs as a Professional Musician
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a guitarist who’s been playing for 31 years and still can’t find a serious gig. He claims to be one of the best players in his area. He’s...
What To Do If Your Record Label Closes but You’re Still Under Contract
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a rapper from Birmingham, Alabama, who’s been carrying the weight of a bad record deal for more than a decade. Back in 2011, he signed wi...
How to Grow Your Music Career When You’re Broke
In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 20-something piano singer-songwriter who has been pouring his heart into open mics and coffeehouse gigs, and now he’s ready to take thi...