Songwriter vs. Producer vs. Artist vs. Publisher: Who Actually Does What? If you’ve spent any time around the music business, you’ve probably heard the words: Artist. Songwriter. Producer. Publisher. Sometimes those roles are all held by different people. Sometimes one person holds two or three of them. And sometimes one person is doing damn near […]
If you’ve ever registered a song with BMI or ASCAP and looked at the percentage breakdown, you may have had one of those “Wait…what?” moments. You agree with your co-writers that everybody owns 25%. Then somebody says, “I’m with BMI.” Someone else says, “I’m with ASCAP.” And suddenly you’re looking at numbers that don’t seem to match. […]
Why Independent Artists Need More Than a Great Song A great song can open a door. But what happens after the door opens? For independent artists, that’s where the real work begins. Writing and recording a great song is only one part of building a music career. Today’s independent artists are also navigating branding, content, […]
What Should an Independent Artist Have Before Releasing a Song? You finished the song. Finally. The vocals are recorded.The mix sounds good.The master is back.You listened to it approximately 847 times. You’re ready to hit release. Except… Are you actually ready? Because releasing a song is more than uploading an audio file to a distributor and […]
Why Thick Thigh Vibes Became More Than a Sticker Some phrases are just phrases. And then there are the ones that make you laugh, make you feel seen, and somehow become part of your personality. Thick Thigh Vibes™ started as one of those phrases. What began as a sticker from Houston-based women-owned entertainment and retail brand Southern […]
How to Build a Merch Collection Around Your Personality The best merchandise doesn’t feel like merchandise. It feels like you. It’s the sticker you put on your laptop because it says exactly what you were thinking. The candle you light because the name makes you laugh. The mug you reach for every morning because the phrase […]
From Southern Girl Ink to Southern Girl & Co.: The Story Behind the Brand Before there was Southern Girl & Co., there was Southern Girl Ink. And before there was an entertainment company, a growing merchandise collection, music projects, artists, creative ideas, and all the things Southern Girl is becoming today, there was a much simpler […]
Do You Need a Record Label? What Independent Artists Should Consider First At some point, almost every independent artist has the thought: “Maybe I need a record deal.” Sometimes that thought comes after a big song. Sometimes it’s after a frustrating release. Sometimes it’s because an artist is doing everything themselves and thinks a label […]
Split Sheets: The One Piece of Paper Independent Artists Shouldn’t Skip You just made a song with three other people. Everybody is excited. The beat is crazy. The hook is fire. Somebody says, “We killed that.” Everybody agrees. Then somebody says: “So… what are the splits?” Silence. 😂 Nobody wants to have that conversation when […]
Let’s say it out loud: You are an artist. You are not necessarily a TikToker. And that’s okay. TikTok has become one of the places where people discover music, artists, trends, sounds, performances, and personalities. For an independent artist, ignoring the platform completely may mean missing an opportunity to put your music in front of […]