Episodes

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist wrestling with one of the most talked-about issues in the music business right now: What is Spotify actually doing for musicians and is it still worth the energy we put into it? This artist has listened to the Mattrix Minute for years, appreciates the realistic guidance, and now wants to go deeper on a topic almost every creator finds confusing and frustrating: • Spotify pays very little...

this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a female independent artist who’s starting to notice something most artists eventually run into: There’s the public version of the music industry… And then there’s what actually happens behind the scenes. She’s been doing the right things: * releasing music * building an audience * growing locally But now she’s being approached with “opportunities” in management conversations, label interest, and industry connec...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a singer-songwriter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin who’s being offered a record deal and something about it doesn’t feel right. Here’s what the label is asking for: • 50% of all royalties • 50% of publishing • Rights to re-release his already completed album • No upfront money • A 5-album deal (all company options, no artist control) • And recoupment on future recordings In other words… the artist takes on most of t...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who thought Bandcamp was the answer and ended up feeling burned. After committing to the platform for over a year, building out a full catalog, pushing fans toward direct purchases, and even launching merch drops… the results didn’t match the expectations. What went wrong? This artist shares real frustrations: • Lack of discoverability on the platform • The hidden costs of merch, shippin...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist in Wellington, New Zealand who believes he might be getting scammed by a music promotion company based in the United States. For the past two years, he’s been paying for services that promised: • Spotify playlist placements • US radio airplay • blog features and media exposure • industry connections in the American market But the results don’t seem to match the promises. Some playlists d...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an artist who realized something uncomfortable: For years, they treated music emotionally seriously but operationally casually. They waited for inspiration. They released inconsistently. They aimed for perfection. And nothing really moved. Then they made one shift: They started treating their music like a real project with structure, deadlines, and weekly execution. No overnight success. No viral moment. But ...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 20-year-old college student who is currently finishing his second year of college. He has been leaning hard toward switching his major to music business. He loves music, but he is realistic enough to know that being an artist isn’t the only way to be involved in the music industry. #musicbusiness #musicindustry #musicindustrysecrets #matthewrix #upcomingmusician Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Bus...

Today on the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I received an email from the laziest artist in music. If you have a question in the Music Industry that you would like me to answer, go to https://MatthewRix.com and give me as many details as possible. #musicbusiness #musicindustry #musicindustrysecrets #matthewrix #artists Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype. Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube

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 had a moment? They’re not looking to be a throwback. They’re not chasing nostalgia. They’re not satisfied with being “pretty good.” They want longevity, impact, and a legacy especially in a genre many people think already peaked. In this episode, we talk about: • What actuall...

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 artist has: • thousands of followers • consistent releases • people showing up occasionally But they’re realizing that numbers don’t always translate into real support. In this episode, we break down: • The difference between an audience and a community • Why engagement met...

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 money on every release. He’s spending $1,200–$1,800 per song, releasing every 6–8 weeks, and pulling in 20k streams per release. On paper, that sounds like progress. In reality, the numbers don’t add up. Streaming revenue barely dents the cost. Shows pay $100–$150. Expenses nev...

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 motivation. They’re questioning whether most music business advice even applies anymore. They point out realities artists talk about constantly online: • The majority of artists never cross 1,000 monthly listeners • Streaming feels invisible, not empowering • Promotion eats time a...

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 never had a real chance. And he believes people like me are just selling hope dressed up as strategy. He’s angry, disillusioned, and convinced that the system isn’t broken it’s working exactly as intended. This isn’t a feel good episode. In this conversation, we talk about: • Wh...

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 released music. They’ve toured regionally. They’re growing a small but engaged fanbase. But he’s running into the problem almost every young manager faces: How do you get artists noticed and eventually signed when you don’t have industry connections, money, or a roadmap? He’s ...

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 industry hype. Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube

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 29. He’s been releasing music for five years. He has 40,000 monthly listeners, songs with 500k+ streams, tours occasionally, sells merch, and licenses music for small projects. From the outside, it looks like success. From the inside, the numbers don’t add up. Streaming bare...

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, and he’s not asking how to release it or build slowly. His goal is obvious: Platinum record. One year. No excuses. He’s confident in the song, confident in himself, and fully prepared to force attention even saying he’s willing to drive to radio stations across NYC, New Jerse...

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...

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?” He’s watching major-label artists perform for 20,000 people, drop massive marketing budgets, release perfect visuals, and hire entire teams to manage their careers while he’s doing everything alone after work. But now there’s a new layer to the pressure: He’s not just competi...

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 Nashville. Her background has nothing to do with the music industry. She spent years competing, then built a successful fitness apparel business. So naturally, her Instagram is full of training clips, gym content, and old competition photos. Now she’s running into a strange p...

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 industry is leaving him behind. He loves writing music. He loves the craft. He’s spent years building his sound. But he absolutely shuts down the second a camera turns on. He hates filming himself. He hates watching himself back. And the constant pressure to become a full-ti...

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 “performance identity,” and it has spiraled into something between: • a youth pastor • a motivational speaker • and Mick Jagger if he tripped over a cable His band says he “moves like a glitching Sims character.” A bartender called him “a liability.” The sound guy said he’s “a haza...

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 I can help him. He barely thinks anyone can help him at this point. After years in music, he’s been: • Betrayed by close friends • Let down by bandmates who walked away • Ghosted by producers and managers • Fed promises that never turned into anything • Burned enough times ...

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 since 2020 and built a small but real foundation, with 3,500 monthly listeners and a couple of songs in the 10–15k range. However, lately, it feels like he is drowning in advice telling him he needs to be on every platform if he wants to grow. TikTok… Reels… Shorts… YouTube… ...