The Unstarving Musician
The Unstarving Musician features weekly interviews with independent musicians, songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals who share their experience and expertise on recording, touring, marketing, the business of music, and more. This is all intended to help independent DIY music artists better understand the marketing, business and creative processes that help us create sustainable and profitable music careers.
Episodes
Most musicians dream of stability. Johnny Thirkell built a 50-year career with David Bowie, Paul McCartney, George Michael, and The Who - starting from colliery bands and working men's clubs in the North East.
This isn't about talent. It's about the business systems that keep session musicians working for decades while others struggle after a few years.
Johnny shares the relationship-building frameworks that get you in the room wit...
What if the best business decision you could make is accepting your music is "unmarketable"? Not in the sense that nobody wants it—but that it won't compete for Spotify playlists alongside mainstream artists.
This episode breaks down the economics of niche markets for independent musicians. How rejecting the streaming-everywhere model can actually generate more revenue. How owning your niche creates competitive advantages algorithm...
Most independent artists release their albums everywhere immediately—Spotify, Apple Music, every streaming platform. But what if that's backwards?
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Welcome to 2026. In the last episode, I shared what I'm grateful for and the personal questions I'm sitting with. Today, I'm sharing the strategic side: what I learned in 2025 that changed how I work.
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Every year, I write up a gratitude list. This year, the list came easily - but it's mixed with what I'm learning, because growth and gratitude feel connected right now.
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Most independent artists have thousands of dollars in unclaimed royalties sitting in four separate collection systems—and a four-year window to recover this money before it's redistributed to major labels.
Independent musicians leave significant money on the table—not from lack of talent, but from unclaimed royalties and overlooked revenue streams. Amani Roberts, music business educator and author of the USA Today bestseller...
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Can your community become a creative collaborator without turning your art into committee-designed mediocrity? In this solo episode, I explore proven frameworks for involving your audience in the creative process while maintaining complete artistic control.
You'll discover how Amanda Palmer uses early-stage feedback on Patreon to gather emotional resp...
Music revenue diversification is essential for independent artists, but how do you actually monetize your community of superfans? This follow-up to episode 333's community-building strategies explores the practical side of...
As a musician podcaster who has built multiple successful shows over the past decade, Bree Noble represents what's possible when artists embrace podcasting as both a creative outlet and business tool. In this conversation, she shares her evolution from recording in her kitchen to becoming a recognized industry authority featured in Forbes.
Bree reveals the technical and logistical challenges she faced transitioning from Women of Su...
Most independent artists focus on building an audience, but the real power lies in developing a creative community. In this episode, I delve into the psychology behind transforming casual followers into passionate community members who view themselves as part of something larger.
Drawing insights from my recent interview with singer-songwriter Eli Lev and his "Levitators" community, I break down the key differences between audience...
Spiritual growth takes many forms for independent musicians. Folk artist Eli Lev has woven together influences from Jewish upbringing, Buddhism, and Navajo teachings into a unique artistic journey that took...
Musical listening is the secret that separates professional-sounding bands from technically correct but disconnected performances. This episode explores blues guitarist Kid Andersen's "50% rule" and why lis...
AI visual production is revolutionizing how independent artists create and present their work, and Steve Pasieka (Skulk the Hulking) is creating visual art at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode, Steve shares how he evolved from live performance art and noise rock to creating a multimedia project that seamlessly blends music, AI-generated visuals, and storytelling.
We explore Steve's unique background in hardcore ...
Legal mashups and studio management are critical skills that can make or break an independent music career. In this episode, George Ajjan (The ajjancy) shares his systematic approach to creating and distributing mashup covers within legal boundaries, plus his proven strategies for efficient studio sessions and sustainable creative scheduling.
George explains the complex world of music copyright, explaining the legal differences bet...
Multi-art creativity takes center stage in this conversation with Christian DeWild, a Folsom, California-based artist who seamlessly juggles music, literature, and visual art while working for an electrical contractor. Christian has just released his first single of 2025, "By Your Side," recorded on his analog Tascam system and he's the author of two published books including "Dead Flowers: Let's Get Married On Halloween" and "Some...
Game composition opportunities have transformed dramatically in recent years, creating new pathways for musicians to enter the video game industry. In this episode, I reconnect with Timothy Reid, a guitarist-turned-video game composer based in Osaka, Japan, for his second appearance on the show since our 2021 conversation.
Timothy shares his journey from session guitarist to working at a major AAA game studio, and how recent indust...
Music funding changed everything for Anmara. The Virginia-based singer-songwriter has secured over $75,000 through grants, crowdfunding, and her recent Chrome City Records deal.
Her Funding Journey
In this episode, Anmara shares her approach to financing ...
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