Being independent has never been more accessible—but it's also never been more misunderstood. In this episode of the Not Just Music Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the hard truths that every independent artist needs to hear. From the misconception that paying for distribution makes you a record label, to the dangerous belief that great music alone will find an audience, we break down why talent is only one piece of the equation. We also discuss why chasing viral moments without a real...

Think you need thousands of dollars to market your music? Think again. In this episode of the Not Just Music Podcast, we break down how independent artists can build momentum without breaking the bank. From creating engaging short-form content to building a loyal community, we're sharing real-world strategies that help artists grow using creativity instead of cash. We discuss why chasing viral moments isn't always the answer, how to repurpose one song into weeks of content, and why having ...

In today’s episode, we bridge the gap between text and melody! Join us for a fascinating conversation as we explore two of the most transformative frontiers in technology: AI Prompting and AI Music Composition. We are thrilled to welcome special guests Courtney Daniel and Candace Lee to the show. What to Expect: Mastering AI Prompting: We sit down with Courtney Daniel to demystify the art of prompting. Learn how to craft better inputs, get more accurate results, and unlock the true potent...

Beyond the Mic: Transitioning from Rapper to Entertainer On the Not Just Music Podcast, hosts discuss why simply being a great rapper is only the first step toward a sustainable career. This episode explores the vital importance of moving beyond lyrics to become a true entertainer who can command a platform and build a lasting legacy. Many emerging artists fall into the trap of imitating popular trends instead of carving out their own unique musical territory. By focusing on originality and i...

Using AI to Find Your Purpose: From Getting By to Taking Control On the Not Just Music Podcast, host Duan Barrino talks with Keisha Nicole, Emilia Felix, and the team from "The AI Pivot Group." This episode shows how AI can help people find their life's work and move from just surviving to truly being in charge of their own lives. Emilia Felix tells her story of how a health scare in 2024 made her stop living in survival mode. She says AI helps her brain connect ideas, turning messy thoughts ...

Moving Your Career into AI: Helping Everyone Succeed On the Not Just Music Podcast, host Duan Barrino talks with Aunt Candace Lee and Attorney Nicole Wylie Bell about their new "AI Career Pivot Group." This group helps people from all backgrounds learn how to use AI tools in their daily work. They explain how AI makes businesses run better. It helps with marketing, makes writing easier, and handles customer questions automatically. By using tools like Gemini, workers can quickly summarize lon...

Growing Your Career in the Music Industry In this episode of the Not Just Music Podcast, we discuss factors in everyday life that can change the course of trying to grow your music career. Building a sustainable path requires more than just talent; it involves navigating real-world technical and business challenges while providing a professional platform for your art. Success in the music industry is a balance between mastering the creative craft—maintaining dedication and authenticity—and pr...

Professional Guidance for Emerging Music Therapists Welcome to the NJMP podcast, where we answer your career questions about the music industry. Today, we're diving into a crucial question from our community regarding how much to charge for services fresh out of college. Tap or click the contact button to submit your own career questions. We believe in providing a professional platform for music professionals to share their perspectives on building a sustainable career path. This isn't just a...

Welcome to another episode of the Not Just Music Podcast, where we celebrate the history of independent recording while providing a professional platform for emerging artists. Today, we dive into the real-world technical problems that occur after the recording light goes off, focusing on the vital importance of file management. Building a community around authentic artistry requires the same technical discipline found in professional studios. Proper organization prevents software malfunctions...

Finding Your Unique Sound: The Cornerstone of Longevity Welcome to the NJMP podcast, where today we're diving into a critical pitfall that many "Beginner Music Artists Often Do," and more importantly, how to avoid it. The core mistake? Copying artists of the present or past. We believe that true, lasting success in the music industry isn't about fitting into a mold; it's about finding a sound that is unique for them. This isn't just about originality for its own sake—it's about creating a sus...

Picking up where we left off, this episode continues our discussion on budget-friendly studio setups. Introducing BandLab: Free, Mobile, and Cloud-Based DAW We will use BandLab, a powerful, free, cloud-based DAW available on mobile (iOS/Android) and desktop browsers. It's ideal for beginners with professional features and a low barrier to entry. BandLab GUI Walkthrough The Graphical User Interface (GUI) has five key areas: The Arrangement View: The central, timeline-based area for arra...

Welcome back to NJMP! This episode helps independent musicians budget for studio recording to achieve professional sound without high costs, covering both pro studios and DIY solutions. The Professional Studio Path Maximize studio investment by prioritizing preparation: Preparation is Key: Rehearse thoroughly, create detailed demos with click tracks, and provide clear track sheets to save expensive studio time. Negotiating Rates: Ask for discounted day rates, package deals for multiple...

History of Collaboration Music has always been about making art together. But today, the music business has made the process of working together much more formal. It's now a smart way to grow artistically and reach a bigger market, instead of just an unplanned jam session. Early Examples: Jazz and Classical Music Before pop music took over, mixing genres was key to new ideas. Jazz, for example, is naturally collaborative, relying on musicians talking to each other through improvisation. Class...

In this NJMP episode, we talk about Boddie Recording Studio, celebrating its huge importance as the first of its kind. It was started on their own by two great people, Thomas and Louise Boddie. The studio laid the foundation for making music independently. We discuss the studio's early days, its special way of recording sound, and how it became a key spot for R&B, Gospel, and Soul artists in Cleveland, Ohio. It gave a much-needed stage to artists that bigger record companies often ignored. Wh...

This NJMP episode summary centers on the long-lasting careers of jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. We start by highlighting their major historical win at the 1959 Grammy Awards, where they became the first Black artists to earn Grammys in the main, non-classical categories. This achievement was a huge moment for representation and recognition in the industry. We then use their success stories to teach modern songwriters how to build sustainable careers in music. The main takeaway i...

This episode of the NJMP looks closely at the real-world problems in making a podcast today. We talk about ways to fix tech issues when recording online, like when the audio doesn't line up, the internet is shaky, or the recording software acts up. We also go into the small, strict rules that music and podcast platforms, like Tunecore, demand when you upload. This includes getting the song titles and names just right, using the correct audio file types and length, meeting cover art standards,...

This NJMP episode talks about our wild journey of recording music, which has always had its good moments and bad moments. Start: We began recording in simple home spaces. We had lots of passion and creative freedom (good), but the equipment was cheap, we had technical problems, and the sound quality was low (bad). Funnily enough, these limits often caused "happy accidents" that shaped our early sound. Moving to the Studio: Going to real professional studios meant great sound quality (good)...

This NJMP episode is about how today's activists can become major cultural forces, similar to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. To have a lasting impact, they need to follow the main lessons from Sharpton and Jackson: being great at organizing protests, working with politicians, and using the media well. However, they must apply these lessons to the modern digital world. Today's major figures must change from using the "Pulpit & Protest" style to a "Platform & Policy" approach. This means usi...

In this podcast, we explore the history, present, and future of music production, focusing on how a distinctive sound is created. We're concerned that music is losing its unique "sonic fingerprint." The Power of a Signature Sound Historically, great producers defined eras with their unique sound: Berry Gordy's "Motown Sound": An intentionally curated, recognizable style defined by heavy reverb, prominent tambourines, and the musicians known as The Funk Brothers. It created an empire. L...

What's up, sports fans? On this episode, we're diving deep into two incredible athletes who just owned their missions—one finally nailed it, and the other just keeps on winning! Get ready to celebrate the huge accomplishments of Laila Edwards and Claressa Shields, two women who are seriously making history. Laila Edwards: Olympic Gold is Hers Laila Edwards just completed the ultimate goal, bagging her first ever Olympic gold medal. We're going to break down her amazing journey to the top: the...

The life story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a vital Civil Rights leader, is made complicated by claims made during FBI spying led by J. Edgar Hoover, who wanted to hurt King's reputation. The main claims are: Affairs Outside of Marriage: The FBI secretly recorded and kept records of many alleged affairs, sometimes using these records to try and pressure King. While people argue about how true the records are, historians admit it's hard to tell the facts from the government's strong eff...

This podcast episode talks about a huge moment in music and sports: Ella Fitzgerald's historic performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. As the "First Lady of Song," her appearance was a major step forward for Black artists. What Halftime Used to Be Like Before the big, flashy pop concerts we see now, Super Bowl Halftime Shows were simpler. They mainly featured local acts and marching bands. The Big Moment Ella Fitzgerald is famous for being the first Black woman to headline a Super Bow...

This episode is deeply important and special for everyone here at the Not Just Music Podcast. This year, we are joining the whole country in recognizing a huge milestone: 100 years of officially celebrated Black History. This moment is much more than just an anniversary; it marks a century since the start of what was called Negro History Week, created by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. This has since grown into the annual, month-long celebration we know now. The meaning of this 100th year is enormous....

Welcome to the podcast! Today, we're talking about Oscar Micheaux, the true start of Black movie-making. He was the first big African-American director to make a long movie. Micheaux (born 1884) didn't like the bad ways Black people were shown in movies made by white people. He was a writer who became a director so he could tell honest stories about how complex Black life really was. His most important movie, "The Homesteader" (1919), is seen as the first long movie written and directed by...