Episodes
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...
Breaking Into the Music Industry as an Interviewer
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 ...
Drove 10 Hours to a Show That Didn’t Exist
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...
7 Million Streams…Then Everything Fell Apart.
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 i...
How Do You Go from small Gigs to Arenas?
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...
Spotify Playlist Pitching: Smart or Scam?
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 promotio...
Should You Sign a Record Deal or Stay Independent?
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...
Bandcamp vs. Spotify: Who’s Really Helping Artists?
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 “Spoti...
How Do You Know When to Quit Music?
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, droppi...
Should You Sign a 50/50 Record Deal? | Music Industry Breakdown
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...
Should Artists Stop Uploading to Spotify and Go Back to CDs?
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...
Should You Release a Single or Drop an EP First?
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 single...
Artist has 312 Followers and Wants a Record Deal? Let’s Talk…
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 ...
$500/Month for an Artist Manager?! Music Industry Scam
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 art...
Can You Rewrite Famous Songs and Release Them? | Music Licensing Expl…
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 t...
Mattrix Minute: Music Business Newsletter
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. ...