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 potential of AI tools in your daily workflow. The Future of Sound: The tables turn as guest Candace Lee steps into the interviewer seat, putting host Duan to the test. They dive deep into the world of AI music composition, discussing how algorithms are shaping the creative process and what the future holds for human-AI collaboration in music. Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a creative professional, or just curious about how AI is reshaping our world, this episode is packed with insights you won't wa…

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 intentionality, creators can develop a "sonic fingerprint" that resonates across all platforms, from the recording studio to the live stage. The team highlights that finding your unique voice is the pinnacle of success in an industry where technical polish often overshadows distinctiveness. Turning Influence into Innovation Achieving longevity requires a balance between mastering the creative craft and proactively learning the business side of the industry. We emphasize that successful artists …

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 into clear plans like her Sovereign PMO system. Using these tools helps people stop trying to prove they are useful and start knowing their own worth. Helping People Who Feel Left Out The group wants to make sure everyone—especially those who feel ignored or unappreciated—can speak up by using AI. Through Trajectory PMC, they manage projects in a way that puts people first, helping groups that care for children, the elderly, and those in need. By using technology to win back their time and pr…

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 long papers, understand data by just asking questions, and create pictures to help their business grow. Making Sure AI is Fair for Everyone The group wants to make sure AI helps people instead of hurting them. While AI can help people be creative and find new jobs, it can also be unfair if it isn't made correctly. The group works to stop these problems by teaching people how to build and use AI in a responsible way. Following the lead of tech experts like Marian Croak, the group helps its member…

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 proactively learning the business side, such as copyright, royalties, and contract literacy. Whether you are establishing your starting rates based on geographic demand or finding a unique sound to avoid imitation, these professional decisions are foundational to your long-term longevity. Managing Positivity and Focus Remember to find a way to manage positivity and stay focused on your music career goals despite the pressures of daily life. This includes managing complex schedules, such as stayi…

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 about set rates; it's about building a community that understands the financial value of professional music therapy. Factors Influencing Your Starting Rate Negotiating salary and benefits as a new music therapist requires understanding several variables that determine your initial earning potential. Geographic Location: Rates vary significantly based on regional cost of living and the specific demand for music therapy in your area. Setting and Scope: Whether working in a hospital, school, or …

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 and ensures your unique sound reaches listeners without the shaky quality caused by technical glitches. Why Backups Matter In the busy world of making music, your digital files are very important. If you don't have a good way to name, save, and store your work, you could lose everything to a computer crash or a simple mistake. At Not Just Music Podcast (NJMP), we suggest a "Rule of Three" backup plan: keep your main work on a fast drive, a copy on a second drive, and another copy in the cloud.…

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 sustainable identity that resonates deeply with an audience. The Problem with Imitation When an emerging artist attempts to replicate the style, voice, or production of a popular contemporary or a classic legend, they inherently set themselves up as a lesser version of the original. Diluted Identity: Your music becomes background noise, easily confused with the source material. Limited Shelf Life: Trends fade, and when they do, artists who merely chased them disappear. Loss of Authenticity: The a…

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 arranging music, loops, and recordings. Tracks: Horizontal lanes on the left for specific instruments or audio sources. Transport Controls: Standard Play, Stop, Record buttons, typically at the top or bottom. The Mixer: A panel for adjusting volume and panning across all tracks. The Library/Browser: Quick access to sounds, loops, virtual instruments, and effects. Key Features: BandLab supports Virtual Instruments (MIDI) for sequencing notes and Audio Tracks for recording/importing sounds. Each track ha…

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 sessions/albums, and off-peak hour rates. Mixing/Mastering: Save money by doing it yourself (if skilled) or hiring specialized, independent freelance engineers instead of using the studio's in-house rate. The DIY Recording Revolution Affordable home setups and software make high-quality recording accessible. Free Software: Utilize powerful, free tools like BandLab (cloud-based/mobile) and GarageBand (Mac/iOS DAW with instruments and effects). Essential DIY Gear: A small investment ($280 - $550) in a…

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. Classical music also often involves composers working closely with great players, creating pieces made just for those specific talents—a structured way to work together. The Start of the "Featured Artist" The idea of the "featured artist" became very important in the second half of the 1900s, especially in R&B, Soul, and Hip-Hop. This changed everything, making it official to bring an outside singer or player onto a recorded song. Collaborations Today: A Smart Business Move In today's world, a c…

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.Why Independent Studios Matter The groundbreaking work of Boddie Recording Studio naturally leads to our next talk: the great experience of recording in studios owned by artists today. We look at the clear and hidden benefits that these smaller, often artist-run places offer. We focus on the friendly, shared feeling that is very different from the cold setting of big commercial studios. Key points we discuss include: Creative Freedom: Artists can try new things without the pressure from record comp…

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 is that lasting success requires focusing on two equally important things: Mastering the Creative Craft: This means having a deep passion for the music (dedication), being able to change and stay relevant (adaptability), and making music that is truly authentic to you. Proactively Learning the Business Side: You must understand the practical aspects of the industry, such as knowing how to protect your songs (copyright and publishing), how to get your music used in movies or ads (licensing), how to…

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, and tagging explicit content properly. Finally, we share advice on how to handle the difficulty of making new content all the time. This covers ways to avoid feeling burnt out, planning your time better, and keeping a regular release schedule for your audience. More Labs’ Morning Recovery is the #1 alcohol recovery supplement that helps you wake up clear-headed and refreshed. Clinically proven and trusted by thousands, with 20M+ bottles sold and a 4.9-star rating, it works. Try it risk-free! E…

Take precaution to your life and act accordingly. New blog/vlog drop coming tomorrow morning at 5am. "Madness In March" #podcasters #podcastlife #podcast🎧 @quincymurdock @duanbarrinomusic

The NJMP Podcast 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), but it brought the pressure of time and money (bad). We had to get over feeling stressed in the studio and learn to be disciplined and work well with others. This made our music much better. Now: We mix things up. We use our home setup for demos to keep things relaxed and creative (good), and then we go to professional studios for the final, polished sound (good). The main "bad" part today is having too many digital choices, which leads to "over-thinking" and spending too much time changing small…

Just our opinions. New blog/vlog episode up at the site. "Dealing With Cultural Bullies" #podcast #podcaster #podcasting

Prioritize mental health! This needs to be said yet again. Our opinion. From newest blog/vlog episode "Dealing With Cultural Bullies" #podcast #podcasting

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 using social media and online streaming to control the message and create action through viral movements. True success means more than just being charming. It requires being real, knowing the details of policies, bringing different groups together, and building organizations that last. The people most likely to succeed are those who show staying power, can connect their cause with culture, and can grow their influence far beyond a small group. This episode will look at current figures who show these…

Rewind: OG's are dropping music for a reason. Pay attention to the lanes that are wide open in music currently. #podcasters #podcast🎧 #podcasting #podcaster

Rewind: We had a conversation about J. Cole. It went something like this... #podcast #podcaster #podcasting @NJMPBeats @quincymurdock

Rewind: It’s 2026 This is the perfect time to get back into creating and releasing your music. @NJMPBeats @quincymurdock

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. Lil Jon's Influence: His minimal, bass-heavy crunk sound, with its signature synths and vocal ad-libs, reshaped southern rap. Producers like him weren't just making tracks; they were designing movements. Has Production Lost Its Identity? We ask: Have we lost the ability to create a signature sound? The availability of modern tools (DAWs, sample packs) has democratized music, which is great. However, it's also led to a common problem: homogenization. When everyone uses the same software presets and…

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 must-see moments, the insane grind of her training, and the pure mental toughness it took to beat the best. This win isn't just a personal victory; it's a massive moment for her whole sport, lighting up the path for the next generation. We'll chat about the final match and what this gold means for her career moving forward.Claressa Shields: The Title Reign is Non-Stop The "G.W.O.A.T." (Greatest Woman of All Time), Claressa Shields, is not slowing down—her title run is still going strong. She…