Episodes

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, a wife who wants him present, friends who expect him around, and a borderline-serious pickleball habit, he feels like he’s drowning. And now, the pressure to post constantly on social media is exacerbating the issue. He’s not lazy. He’s not unmotivated. He’s just overwhelmed...

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, with his songs hitting 40–60k streams, around 9k monthly listeners, and a sound that fits perfectly into what Spotify tends to push. On the other side, he’s writing raw singer-songwriter music that feels honest and personal… but doesn’t pull the same numbers. Now he’s stuck ...

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 Austin, Texas, who has been getting hit with emails and DMs from companies promising playlist placements, blog features, radio spins, and even label attention but only if he pays anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000, or signs up for a monthly retainer. On top of that, he’s already b...

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 looked real: -The company flew them out to L.A. -Put them up in nice hotels -Held meetings and even a showcase -Sent contracts to lawyers -All the signs of a serious partnership were there Then after their third trip, everything fell apart in one night. He and his lead singer ...

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 looks like. Sarah’s studying in Music City, where opportunities are everywhere, but so are the price tags. Some recording students at her college have offered to record her single for free, but the only available studio time is at night. Meanwhile, professional Nashville pro...

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 got over $600,000 worth of gear, decades of experience, and a professional-level skill set that most musicians dream of. But the only gigs he can find are with teenagers starting bands or 20-something artists who don’t want to pay. He’s done playing for “exposure” and bar t...

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 with a small indie label that promised him the world. The problem? They never paid for studio time, marketing, or production he made all his music at home on his own. By 2013, the label shut down completely, but no one ever sent him his release papers. Now in his 30s, he has b...

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 things to the next level. He’s built a small but loyal following: 8,000 monthly Spotify listeners, a few singles doing around 35,000 streams, and a dream of one day playing bigger venues with a full band and a real piano not just the keyboard he’s been lugging around. But here’...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 24-year-old from North Dakota who aspires to become a music interviewer. He didn’t find me through the Mattrix Minute he discovered my work through my artist interviews and now he wants to follow a similar path. He’s been reaching out to artists and managers, trying to land his first interviews, but so far… crickets. No replies. No callbacks. Now he’s wondering: 1. Should he move to Nashville, New York, or ...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read one of the funniest (and most painfully real) emails I’ve ever gotten from a touring band. A bassist, van-sleeper, and unofficial band therapist, wrote in about a problem every road warrior has faced: They drive 8 hours to a gig… unload the gear… walk into the venue… and find out the show’s been canceled. No text. No call. No warning. Just an empty stage and a crushed dream. To make matters worse, he admits the band doesn’...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I share one of the most heartbreaking emails I’ve ever received. It’s from Sarah, a pop artist who inherited $200,000 from her grandfather and wanted to use it to chase her dream. She recorded a full-length album in Atlanta, spent over $120,000 on production, and trusted a promotional company to help her reach real fans. Her songs hit 3 million streams on Spotify, but then came the nightmare. Spotify pulled her album for fraudule...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist whose band is ready to make the leap from the local scene to the big stage. They’ve been grinding for years pulling solid crowds in clubs, releasing music, and building a loyal following. They have around 18,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, 9,000 on Apple Music, and regularly play to 150-person crowds across Texas. Now they want to know: How do we get booked for bigger shows arenas, fes...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an Artist Manager who manages a pop singer just starting to gain traction. This manager has been approached by several “playlist promotion companies” on Instagram claiming they can get his artist’s music placed on major Spotify playlists for a price. Sound familiar? In this video, I break down: -What playlist pitching really is — and how it works behind the scenes -How to spot red flags and avoid scammy promo...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I respond to an email from a 16-year-old pop artist who’s starting to gain traction. She’s already built up 18,000 followers on Instagram and her first single has pulled in over 4,000 Spotify streams not bad for a brand-new artist. Now, a few small label reps have started reaching out, and she wants to know: Is it smarter to stay independent or try to sign with a label? It’s a question every developing artist faces and the answer...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I respond to one of the most passionate (and brutal) emails I’ve ever received. An artist called me out hard for my opinions on Bandcamp. He says I’m a “Spotify shill” and that if I truly cared about helping independent artists, I’d be telling them to stop giving their music away for free on streaming platforms and focus on Bandcamp, CDs, and direct fan support instead. He lays out some strong points, including: Bandcamp pays art...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I received an email from a 26 year old artist from Indianapolis who’s feeling stuck and burned out. Trey’s been grinding for years, posting freestyles, dropping songs, paying for promotion, and recording in his basement studio, but he feels like nothing’s changing. He’s starting to wonder if he’s just wasting his time chasing a dream that might never happen. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s something almost every artist has felt a...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I respond to an email from an artist. He is the lead singer of a band that has been grinding it out for 17 years without a record deal until now. After nearly two decades of shows, albums, and DIY hustle, a label finally reached out with a contract… but there’s a catch. Actually, there are a few. Here’s what the label is offering: Take full ownership of their entire back catalog 50/50 split on both album sales and publishing Min...

In this episode of the Music Business Newslettee with Matthew Rix, I respond to an email from an artist who says I don’t really help artists the way I claim to. He believes that if I truly cared about independent musicians, I’d encourage them to stop putting their music on streaming services and instead focus on selling CDs, vinyl, and Bandcamp downloads, where artists actually make money. It’s a fair challenge and one worth having. In this video, I talk about: The truth about streaming payou...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter, Matthew Rix responds to an email from an independent artist from the United Kingdom who’s asking one of the biggest questions new artists face: Should I start releasing singles one at a time, or wait to drop my first full EP? Jordan has recorded five songs that fit together as a project. Still, he’s heard that singles are better for building momentum, especially on streaming platforms like Spotify, and for growing on social media. It’s a question...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter, I respond to an email from a viewer, and let’s just say… It’s one of those emails that makes you shake your head and laugh a little. This artist has been making music for six months, has 312 followers, and one TikTok that hit 1,100 views and he wants to know why record labels aren’t paying him a salary to sign him. Yep, you heard that right. It’s funny, but it’s also a real look at how entitlement and expectations can derail artists before they ...

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter, I respond to an email from an up-and-coming artist who’s been offered a management deal but there’s a catch. The manager wants $500 a month upfront for representation. The artist says this manager is “exclusive,” representing only 19 artists, and promises to: Handle music distribution Make calls to record labels and agencies Help secure a record deal and a booking agent It sounds tempting especially for someone just starting out. But is it legit?...

In this episode of the Mattrix Minute Music Business Newsletter, I answer a listener’s question about songwriting and music licensing: Can you take instrumentals or melodies from famous songs, change the lyrics, and release them? Here’s what is covered: Why derivative licenses are almost impossible for new artists Why parody/fair use doesn’t protect lyric rewrites How original collaborations give you freedom and ownership Action steps to move from writing in your room to recording in the stu...

Music industry veteran in marketing and A&R Director Matthew Rix is excited to announce the next thing to help you the artist achieve ultimate success in the music industry with the Mattrix Minute: Music Business Newsletter. Matthew spent well over 25 years of his life working with artists for different record labels and since 2014 he has specialized in helping artists with his music business program “Mattrix Minute” and live speaking events, now it’s time to answer your questions in the music i...