The Music Biz Podcast

Billboard recently reported on a new scam involving independent artists who leverage the following of other independent musicians for personal gain. These performers upload songs to Spotify with other, larger artists tagged as featured on the music. That tag gets the attention of Spotify’s algorithm, which then takes the material and distributes it to the release radar of people who follow or frequently listen to the more popular artist (who—to be clear—is not actually on the track in question).

When fans realize they’ve been lied to, the artist perpetuating the myth has already earned another stream for their song. Multiply that by hundreds if not thousands of incidents, and deceptive musicians could easily see a sizable boost in their streaming revenue through continual use of this tactic.

There’s a related problem that also needs addressing. Major label artists do not have to worry about similar scams being attempted with their likeness. As Music Biz host James Shotwell details in his latest video, Spotify has a manual review process to ensure the top of the charts cannot be fooled by deceptive business practices. That forces us to ask: Why don’t independent artists get the same treatment?

A midyear report by US market monitor Luminate—the same company behind the Billboard charts—has revealed the alarming fact that “new”/”current” music is becoming less popular in the country, and this statement can be backed up by facts and statistics, as first reported by Music Business Worldwide.

In the first half of 2022, Total Album Consumption (all streams and downloads, as well as physical album sales) of “Current” music (which means released in the 18 months before being streamed or purchased) dropped by 1.4% when compared to 2021.

With 131.3 million album sale-equivalent units reported for this year, “Current” music dropped almost 2 million units from the first half of 2021, which means that new music is not only selling less but is also being less popular in terms of streaming platforms. There was a drop of 3.7 between 2020 and 2021, which officially makes this a downward trend.

This tendency is opposed to the Total Album Consumption for “All” music in the US, which grew by 9.3% in comparison with 2021, standing at 475.4 million units sold.

Even more surprising is the news that “Catalog” music, which includes any release older than 18 months, grew by 14% in the year’s first half.

The report also found that “Current” music’s on-demand audio streams dropped by 2.6% this year, with an even more drastic decrease of 10.4% in video streaming platforms versus a 19% increase by “Catalog” music.

In his latest update, Music Biz host James Shotwell examines the possible contributing factors to our declining interest in current music. As he touches on the inherent lucrative nature of legacy acts, he also ponders who—if anyone—will become the next generation of “timeless” musicians.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry's leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

**This episode is meant to be consumed in video form. If you are listening outside of Spotify, we highly recommend visiting our YouTube channel for the full experience. http://youtube.com/musicbiz**

TikTok has been celebrated as a revolutionary platform for music discovery and fan engagement. The video-sharing app has already helped over a hundred artists land on the Billboard charts, and it has made several more household names. In less than five years, TikTok has become one of the—if not the most—influential platform for artists looking to raise awareness for their talent worldwide.

But there's a catch. There's ALWAYS a catch.

When TikTok ushered in a new way for musicians to market themselves, the company unintentionally broke music marketing. It didn't happen overnight, and it wasn't intentional, but TikTok has created a space where the lines between fact and fiction blur in ways never previously thought possible. Users now question the legitimacy of everything, the good and the bad, which makes getting any message across increasingly difficult.

In his latest video, Music Biz host James Shotwell examines how we reached this point and what actions artists should take in response. Through numerous examples, James explains how misdirection and deception have fueled an age of discovery where every success story has another, often far less surprising, truth behind it.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry's leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

If you’ve ever received a DM from an individual promising something that felt too good to be true, this episode on scam artists is for you.

When I was beginning my career, my grandfather offered me advice that I carry to this day. “Wherever there are dreamers,” he told me, “there will be people looking to make a quick buck by exploiting that dream.” He knew scam artists were everywhere, but I’m not sure even my grandfather understood how prevalent such tricksters would be in 2022.

Every artist with an online presence has encountered a scammer. Maybe they posed as a fan to get friendly before trying to sell them special services, or perhaps they’re pretending to be a major record label exec. Either way, scammers are everywhere, and they target the hungriest artists because they know desperate people rarely think things through.

Ever since our first article on scam artists, musicians worldwide have contacted us regarding direct messages, emails, phone calls, and even business cards they’ve received from people they felt were trying to scam them. More often than not, those concerns were later validated when we uncovered the truth behind the false goods these individuals were promising.

We are still receiving messages from concerned artists. One musician, Jamal, even sent us screenshots and an in-depth description of their interactions with a scammer. We asked for permission to share their experiences with you, and thankfully, they agreed.

Music Biz host James Shotwell shares a step-by-step guide to understanding how scammers operate on social media in the video below. He shares Jamal’s experiences, including screenshots of his conversations, and even places a call to Warner Music Group.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Remember the day Facebook and Instagram went offline? For several hours, two of the biggest platforms for promotion and information disbursement were nowhere to be found, leaving social media managers, artists, and labels everywhere scrambling. These “borrowed lands” that we’ve come to depend on for engagement were suddenly gone, and nobody knew when—or if—they would return.

Building On Borrowed Lands examines the ongoing debate over where artists and their teams focus their community-building efforts. A panel of experts in marketing and publicity will discuss the ever-evolving challenge of reaching people in the digital space, including the best places for engagement, the value of owning your content, and the timeless tips for success that still work today.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

In this episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell chats with Rock The Cause Records' founder and Vick Vern award-winning educator Scott Herold about how Minnesota’s High School for Recording Arts Vocational Discovery program uses Haulix to teach students about the music industry.

Learn more: https://haulixdaily.com/2022/05/hsra-haulix

Ali Slater did not plan on becoming a musician. When the coronavirus pandemic began, she hadn’t as much as started a demo. Two years and several vaccine shots later, however, Slater is riding high on a wave of positive press from the release of her first EP. She’s become one of the most sought-after new stars of alternative music, and she’s done so largely from the comfort of her home.

Sitting in the center of a Venn diagram consisting of rock, pop, and alternative music, Slater draws influence from every corner of pop culture. She would probably tell you her home lies in the hearts of anyone who dreams of Vans Warped Tour returning, but I’d argue she’s not that easy to classify. Slater may sell herself as alt, but she’s a storyteller above all else, and her knack for engaging songwriting is making her a household name.

But getting to this point was never easy. Many artists launched projects during the pandemic. Most of those efforts came and went without much fuss if they ever got released at all. Consumers were overwhelmed by the amount of content promoted to them, not to mention their worries over the global pandemic, and most couldn’t find the time or mental space to care about music discovery.

But Ali Slater made people care. By utilizing skills she gained through working in the beauty field, Slater could maneuver social media with ease, which was helpful during a time when everyone was stuck at home on their phones. The world is opening up now, and Slater is preparing to meet her fans face-to-face, many for the first time.

In our latest ‘Fast Five’ interview, Music Biz host James Shotwell chats with Ali Slater about her quick rise through the alternative ranks. Slater explains her approach to marketing, how paid advertising helped her gain fans early on, and how she’s pivoting her promotional efforts as the world reopens. 

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

In 2022, there are more ways to discover music than ever. Listeners can utilize multiple streaming platforms, dive into artists’ playlists, enjoy algorithmic internet radio, find songs playing in public via Shazam, and—as always—exchange mixes with their closest friends. That doesn’t account for countless music blogs and publications, charts, and other social metrics one could use to learn who is hot in entertainment right now.

As the avenues for music discovery have increased and the barriers to accessing music decreased, the number of artists vying for your attention has reached an all-time high. That in itself isn’t bad. Everyone who desires to make and promote music should be able to do so easily. However, the impact of that demand for attention on consumers is something we still don’t fully understand.

Think about it for a second. As a consumer, you always want to find the next great thing. It’s instinctual. We cannot help being this way. It doesn’t matter if we’re discussing restaurants or bathroom cleaners; people want the best. The same is true in music. We love the artists we love and have preferences, but a part of us is always looking for the next song or album or person or group that can make us feel alive all over again.

So, consumers want the next thing great song or artist as fast as possible, and more artists than ever are promoting more songs than ever to meet that demand. What could go wrong?

In short, burnout. On both ends.

Artists are becoming so conditioned to the constant churn of the modern industry that they abandon material almost as soon as it is released. It’s as if the three-to-six-month promotional cycle that precedes an album’s release is the only push the songs will receive outside of the artist’s subsequent touring. When those shows end, they will release more music, and it too will be largely forgotten in a few months.

Meanwhile, listeners look to playlists such as Spotify’s New Music Friday and Discover Weekly as the go-to destinations for new music. If an artist doesn’t make it into one of the very limited spots on this list, they have to hope an influencer with a decent playlist following or a massive brand uses their song. Otherwise, it’s up to fate and luck and whatever good word-of-mouth that artist has been able to build.

But that is an incomplete picture of discovery.

Music discovery extends far beyond release week. The long tail of music promotion is never-ending, and the proof is everywhere. Catalog streams are on the rise, as are catalog sales. Industry professionals realize that all material has value in the digital age, and they are scrambling to find ways to promote the content they’d previously left to rust.

Before you fall victim to thinking your opportunity to be discovered has already come and gone, please remember these five cold hard truths about music discovery.

View the full guide, complete with examples: https://haulixdaily.com/2022/04/tiktok-for-artists-how-to-successfully-promote-your-music-in-2022

TikTok is here to stay. Within a few short years, the wildly successful video sharing platform has become one of the world’s most popular apps, surpassing Facebook and Instagram in 2021 as the most used app in the United States. TikTok has become known for its ability to take complete unknowns and catapult them in front of millions overnight, all thanks to an insanely well-tuned algorithm. For all the gripes and criticism people may have, TikTok seems to be the one place online where truly anyone can have a chance at digital success.

But let’s be honest. You’ve probably tried creating TikTok content with mediocre results, or you’ve avoided making anything because you’re unsure how to start. Either way, it’s fine!

Starting a new platform is scary, especially when you understand how beneficial that service can potentially be for your career.

First thing’s first—If you haven’t started posting to TikTok yet, now is the time.

Don’t know what you’re doing? No problem! Nobody does at first.

The only person expecting you to be a TikTok perfectionist is you!

Got it? Okay! Let’s begin.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

In the latest Fast Five interview, Music Biz host James Shotwell chats with UK rock band Stone Broken about how a constantly shifting marketing strategy has led to long-term success. The band’s third studio album, Revelation, arrives on April 15, 2022, through Spinefarm Records.

After bursting onto the international stage with 2020’s Lesions Of A Different Kind, Undeath quickly ascended through the metal underground with propulsive jams that expertly blend ultraviolent lyricism with equally brutal musicianship. The band toured as much as the pandemic allowed but spent most of their time crafting the material to carry them into the next chapter of their career.

That album, It’s Time…To Rise From The Grave, hits shelves this April with a cacophony of heavy themes and sounds sure to please and disturb in equal measure. It’s a fitting continuation for Undeath and one that leaves plenty of room for the band to explore on future releases.

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell chats with Undeath vocalist Alex Jones for the latest edition of our ‘Fast Five’ interview series. Jones speaks about music promotion, artist branding, merchandising, and more as a timer counts down. There’s even some discussion about the state of death metal today.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.  

Register for Music Biz 2022: https://musicbiz.org/events/music-biz-annual-conference/

Learn more: https://haulixdaily.com/2022/04/music-biz-2022 

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell shares an exciting update.

2023 will mark thirty years since the birth of Papa Roach. The California rock band has released eleven studio albums, nearly a dozen EPs, and two live records during this time. The group has also toured the world dozens of times, including headlining performances at virtually every rock festival known to man. Nobody can claim Papa Roach hasn’t put in the work to be as reputable as they are today, but we’d argue the band still doesn’t get the recognition or respect they rightfully deserve.

Think about it for a second. How many bands that shot to success around the end of the 1990s can claim they are still going strong in 2022. Sure, many continue to record and perform, but how many are still competing for spots at the top of the sales and radio chart? We’d wager it’s less than ten groups, possibly even less than five, and Papa Roach is—without question—one of them.

In the latest Music Biz update, host James Shotwell takes a look at the career of Papa Roach and how the band has managed to stay relevant while so many of their peers have not. He uses this understanding to develop five keys to success that can easily be applied to any genre of music. From songwriting to engagement, every artist will find something here that can help them grow their career.

A short time ago, Pedro Almeida sought a way to connect with his teenage son. A lifelong fan of metal, Pedro believed his son could similarly benefit from the genre, and together the pair launched an unassuming YouTube channel called A&P Reacts. A couple of years and hundreds of heavy metal reviews later, the channel boasts more than 76,000 subscribers and has yet to monetize. For them, it’s all about the music and the togetherness. Everything else is a distant second.

Now, the father-son duo is gearing up for their biggest adventure yet. In the coming month, Pedro and his son will be headed to Iceland to judge a battle of the bands in connection with the Wacken Music Festival. This is the second time the team has traveled internationally because of their channel, and we have a feeling it won’t be the last.

In the latest edition of our ‘Fast Five’ interview series, Music Biz host James Shotwell chats with Pedro Almeida about his channel, its growth, and where he sees reaction channels going in the future. Pedro’s goals for his videos are among the purest we’ve heard, but make no mistake—The Almeidas plan to see how big their channel can become.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Rivers Of Nihil exist in rarified air for metal musicians. With a decade of technical death metal under their belt, including several massive concept albums, the group has established a pocket in the metal community where they alone reside. Their fans are open to whatever wild ideas and experimentation the group wish to utilize, and they're patient with the creative process. It doesn't matter if the group takes one year to write a record or three. Rivers Of Nihil fans will wait because they know the final product will be great.

Rivers Of Nihil will release their long-awaited new album, The Work, on September 24. The ambitious LP explores the necessary regimen behind progress. The album is about doing 'the work' of being an artist in a very literal sense. There is no finish line or mountain top for a group such as Rivers Of Nihil, and their sole mission is to continue excavating the depths of their creativity until they die or run out of ideas. It's an endless pursuit for a group that is nothing more than a constant work in progress, and they wouldn't want it any other way.

On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell visits Rivers Of Nihil during a recent tour stop in West Michigan. Bassist Adam Biggs opens up about doing 'The Work,' returning to the road, and how songwriting works within the band. Biggs shares insight into how Rivers Of Nihil approach concept record, as well as the lessons he's learned trying to promote a unique sound in a cluttered music market. 

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

It finally happened! For the first time since March 2020, host James Shotwell recorded a new episode of Inside Music in the same room as the guest. The return of live music is providing new opportunities for connection, and we couldn't miss the chance to speak with one of our favorite fast-rising new groups.

While the world was isolating indoors, Undeath burst onto the international death metal scene with their blistering Prosthetic Records debut, Lesions of a Different Kind. The relentlessly brutal record combines influences from the genre's greatest acts with a modern approach to storytelling to create an engaging listening experience for fans of all ages. The band's following seems to confirm this, as it features people from all walks of life and every economic level. We're not saying modern death metal needed Undeath to exist, but their existence is helping the genre carry onward into a new decade with fresh talent and new listeners.

Undeath is currently touring America for the first time since Legions' release. The group serves as the act on The Black Dahlia Murder's fall headlining run, which features additional support from After The Burial, Carnifex, and Rivers of Nihil. Undeath is already rubbing shoulders with their metal peers in a big way, and they've got the added bonus of being the first band to welcome fans back to live metal shows. Their presence on stage sets the tone for everything that follows, and we're happy to report that they do not disappoint.

In this Music Biz episode, host James Shotwell chats with Undeath frontman Alex Jones about his band's return to the road. Jones recounts the band's efforts to remain creative during the pandemic, as well as the conversations that lead to their first shows back. There is even some discussion about the band's next release, which Jones claims is already written and ready to record.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

A seasoned industry veteran steering himself into a new musical lane, Graystar is making the music of the future. His songs offer an intoxicating mix of pop, rock, and saw influences, resulting in an altogether moving sonic experience. When we heard "Hazy," we knew we needed to meet the person behind the song. What we found is a hardworking dreamer inching closer to his destiny with each passing day.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Hot on the heels of their new album, Indisputably Carnivorous, The Day Of The Beast stops by Inside Music to talk all things heavy metal.

Every band needs something that sets them apart. For some, that thing is a lively frontman that commands stages of any size. Others find their niche in the precision of their instrumentation. But, for The Day Of The Beast, the one thing they do better than anyone else is telling stories.

Indisputably Carnivorous, the band’s brutal new record with a great name, is a compendium of all things dark. The relentlessly aggressive release channels the darkest corners of the human psyche into a macabre collection of horrific visions meant to elicit a strong response from listeners. It’s the kind of album that nightmares are made of, and we mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Indisputably Carnivorous is a brazenly imaginative and nihilistic metal record you have been unknowingly waiting for your entire life. Set aside some time to take this one in because once you start, you won’t be able to stop.

But is it enough? Competition for attention is at an all-time high, and being good is never good enough. The bands that emerge from the underground to take the world by storm have something else to offer. There is a dedication to craftsmanship that listeners can detect in every note and lyric an artist provides. That intangible “it” factor is the key to meaningful success, and lucky for The Day Of The Beast, that devotion is apparent in everything they create.

In this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell speaks with The Day Of The Beast guitarist Steve Redmond about the tremendous power of Indisputably Carnivorous. Steven recounts the album’s creation and the stories behind some of the group’s most infamous song titles. He also shares the story of how The Day Of The Beast joined Prosthetic Records and his advice for others hoping to do the same.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

When the world shut down, Urne got to work. One of the most exciting bands to emerge from England in recent years the group was nearly finished with their long-awaited new album when the pandemic changed everything. Facing a lack of touring and an inability to connect in studio, the band began piecing together the final elements of their record via Skype. It was a new and challenging experience for the trio, but it ultimately proved beneficial. The change of pace allowed for greater consideration and fine-tuning, ensuring that what comes next is precisely what Urne envisioned from the start.

Serpent & Spirit (out June 25) is a compendium of struggles and grounded optimism. It's a sprawling and aggressive collection of music that channels the frustrations of life into something altogether striking, which co-founder Joe Nally discusses at length during the latest episode of Inside Music.

"I had a bit of a bad patch for a few months," explains Nally, revealing the inspiration for the album's lyrics. "I'm absolutely fine now, but I drew on those two months where I just wasn't feeling great. I took that and wrote a story based about that. The actual track listing is done like that film Memento, where it's all in a different order. Maybe one day someone will listen to the lyrics and work out which order the story goes in."

He continues, "The album is called Serpent & Spirit. The spirit is the human experience and the serpent is the evil that tricks your mind. It's about getting pulled apart and trying to find yourself within all of that. So it's almost good and evil, and throughout the album it's about a person getting pulled from the light to the dark."

A video version of this podcast is also available on YouTube: HTTP://youtube.com/musicbiz

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup​ for details.

For more: http://haulixdaily.com​ 

Follow James: http://linktr.ee/jamesshotwell

Racquel Jones is a one-of-a-kind human. Part rapper, part painter, part model, and all heart, Racquel is on a mission to make us a more open and understanding world. Her art speaks to the need to do away with hesitation and embrace the fleeting nature of all things. She appreciates the limited time we have to do all that our hearts desire, and she hopes to encourage others to live their best lives whenever possible.

On April 24, Racquel's new album, IGNORANT, will be released. It's an absolutely powerful and mesmerizing record, covering topics ranging from the toxicity of Christianity/Catholicism, fighting against racism and sexism, as well as celebrating her accomplishments and beauty as a Black Jamaican woman in spite of her struggles. All of this is to the tune of aggressive and hypnotic beatwork, as well as catchy hooks that bring it all together. Racquel herself describes the record/her mission statement best.

In Her Words: 

"The voice of the record is addressing truth; in its raw blatant pure form void of the disposition of wrong or right. It’s my voice…along with the voice of anyone who has ever felt stereotyped. It may seem at times cynical, sarcastic, provocative and uncomfortable, but the anguish is palpable by intention. It’s a voice unique, but one that anyone can understand. It’s the voice of undiplomatic gritty intelligence, relatable to all cultures, transcending pop cultural vernacular and ‘waves’. It’s the voice of powerful women made to feel powerless. It’s the voice of black kings made to feel less than human. It’s the voice of sexual freedom in the face of misogynistic false standards for women. It’s the voice of a young Jamaican woman who’s seen the world and its parallel stereotype universes in all cultures. It’s the edgy voice of Jamaica, a rebel beauty queen, a fallen preacher’s child, the only sister among three brothers, four years in art school and a bachelor of fine arts. That’s me, I’m that voice. I’m Racquel Jones. I create music that’s conceptual, but not too esoteric; intelligent but dope, relatable yet deep, revolutionary and soulful, thoughtful in its words, learned in its language, but totally accessible. That’s me and I’m baring my soul for the world to see and hear.”

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

For more: http://haulixdaily.com

Follow James: http://linktr.ee/jamesshotwell

Horndal on Bandcamp: https://horndal.bandcamp.com/album/lake-drinker

The story of Horndal occurs countless times throughout history. Once a thriving town in Sweden, the local mill's closure sent Horndal on a downward spiral that irrevocably changed the fabric of a once tight-knit community. The population is less than a third as large as it once was, and younger generations often leave for places with more opportunities. Horndal is not yet a ghost town, but unless something happens in the years to come, it could quickly fade into history. 

Co-founded by brothers who witnessed the town's descent, the band Horndal keeps their hometown's spirit alive through song. The metal group tells the story of Horndal through their music, offering a new version of David and Goliath; only now the giant monster is the relentlessly destructive force of capitalism. They don't know if the alone can turn the tide of the town's slow decline, but they won't let their home disappear without a fight, and that sense of enduring pride reverberates through every note they play.

Lake Drinker, the band's new full-length album, imagines capitalism as a demon that feeds on natural resources and senselessly disposes of waste. Anyone who has witnessed corporations cut down forests and drain lakes will recognize the rage that echoes throughout the music. The members of Horndal call for people everywhere to battle the monsters that threaten to displace us from our towns in the name of profit. Lake Drinker is about recognizing that common enemy and joining together to defeat it before we're too late. 

In the latest episode of Inside Music, Horndal drummer and co-founder Pontus Levahn tells host James Shotwell about his work. The two share memories of their small-town childhoods and the forces that put both places on the path to decay. They also speak about how environments inform creativity and why the band is returning home for their first performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup​ for details.  

Every artist we know is facing a brave new world in 2021. After a year without performances, which is how many make a living from their music, musicians must embrace today's reality or risk extinction. That story is universal, but The Vaughns have faced more than a pandemic since their last album was released, and today they're sharing that journey with us.  

In this episode of Inside Music, recent Equal Vision Records signees The Vaughns chat with host James Shotwell about everything that led them to where they are today. They discuss the uncertain future of live music, processing heartache through song, and landing a deal with the legendary alternative label Equal Vision Records.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Have you ever heard an album and immediately knew that band was going to change the world? That's the way host James Shotwell felt the first time he heard Summoning The Lich. The Missouri-born death metal group combines heavy songwriting with expansive fantasy storytelling to encapsulate listeners inside a brutal world where anything is possible. He knew right away that he had to have the band on the show, and we're excited to share a conversation with vocalist David Bruno on today's episode.

In the age of COVID-19, listening to Summoning The Lich may be the closest any metalhead gets to an escape from their home for some time. The band's Prosthetic Records debut album, United In Chaos, arrives on February 26. Don't miss it!

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

Australia's Werewolves burst onto the international death metal scene in early 2020 with a ferocious debut album that quickly garnered praise from critics and fans alike. Unable to tour, the band focused their energy on creativity, writing enough material to fill six full-length albums. They also found time to record their second album, What a Time To Be Alive, which hits stores on January 29, 2021, through Prosthetic Records.

Some may say Werewolves is cursed. After all, production on the band's debut album coincided with history-making wildfires that burned across Australia. The COVID-19 pandemic almost immediately followed the release of the album. What A Time To Be Alive is arriving just weeks after the riots at the US Capitol and the recent discovery of a more infectious strain of the coronavirus.

But Werewolves have a different outlook on life. Perhaps the chaos surrounding us is the world trying to prevent the most exciting death metal group in recent memory from dominating the planet. Maybe the universe understands the righteous power the band possesses, and it is going to great lengths to prevent them from growing even stronger.

The truth is anyone's guess. On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell connects with Werewolves' bassist and lyricist Sam Bean to discuss his group's new music and his outlook on the insanity that is life in the modern age. Sam tells James about his writing process and even shares the hysterical truth behind some of the band's most iconic song titles.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

2020 was a disaster for most artists, but not American Teeth. The vision of musician Elijah Noll, American Teeth is a genre-blurring musical project that capped off a year of strong singles by signing with Fearless Records. 

Given his quick rise to fame and the potential for an absolutely massive new year, host James Shotwell called Noll while he was in transit amid a busy day in Los Angeles. Their conversation coincided with the riots at the US Capitol, which is a topic the pair discuss briefly in between a much longer talk about marketing, creativity, and preparing for an unpredictable year. Noll doesn't know what will happen in the months ahead, but he's an optimist, and his hopefulness radiates throughout our time together.

Inside Music is brought to you by Haulix.com, the music industry's leading promotional distribution platform. Join thousands of musicians, including Slipknot, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, I Prevail, and more, in promoting your new music with the world's most trusted service. Learn more and started your free, 30-day trial by visiting http://haulix.com/signup today!

The goal of every musician is to develop a singular voice. Being the best of all-time barely compares to being your true self. Authenticity is something you cannot package and sell, but it does more for your soul than analytics or sales figures ever can. It’s the kind of thing people spend their entire lives pursuing, and even then, only a select few pull it off.

Mina Caputo is a revolutionary voice in rock. For more than two decades, Mina has consistently released engaging and challenging music that is hard to classify yet fiercely relatable. She touches on the pains of existence without wallowing in the despair of being. She writes songs that tackle the topics that matter to her, and she’s historically unwilling to compromise.

Best known as the voice behind Life Of Agony, Mina is also a celebrated solo artist with numerous albums. These works provide Mina space to further explore her artistic capabilities while giving fans a steady stream of fresh content whenever LoA takes a break. It’s rare to find anyone capable of making two or more projects work, but Mina makes it seem easy.

Recently, Mina stopped by Inside Music to discuss her career, her critics, and how she became a vocal supporter of doing whatever you want with the limited time we have on this planet. Some may consider her views to be incendiary, but they are true to her feelings, which is what Mina aspires to achieve in every act of self-expression. Enjoy.

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If you don't know the name Frontiers, then you might be a fake rock fan. Few labels are betting on rock and roll the way Frontiers has for the last quarter-century, especially in 2020. The label is home to the best emerging and legacy acts in the industry, and they've somehow mastered a powerful marketing approach for both.  

In this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell speaks to Frontiers' Head of Marketing, Nick Tieder, about the company and his role in it. Nick shares the challenges of marketing amid a pandemic, his optimistic outlook for the future, and why AC/DC is the comfort listening all rock fans need right now.   Learn more on our blog: http://haulixdaily.com.