the TrueFans AMP Issue 88

In This Issue...  14 pages (about 20ish minutes to read) You'll Get... 

• Recommends— Women-Led Music Organizations You Need To Know About from Symphonic

• the BIZ— Can You REALLY Make It BIG in the Music Industry in 2025? from MUBUTV

• the Greatest Singer Songwriters— Loreena McKennitt

• Guest Article— Has Spotify Killed The Album? by Rick Beato

•  in partnership with Rick Beato

• PS from PS— I Was a Fan and Albums Changed My Life. You Are a Musical Artist and They Will Change Yours, Too.

Here's the playlist

• Recommends— Women-Led Music Organizations You Need To Know About by Randi Zimmerman from Symphonic

These organizations are taking action to expedite equality and empower women to step up, fight back, and build a better future for all of us. 

The music business has a long way to go towards reaching full equality for all gender expressions, but these badass, women-led organizations are doing their part in changing the future of the music industry. Check them out, do your part, and get involved! ⚡️?

__________ 
 
Please tap Women-Led Music Organizations to read the un-edited original complete with hyper-links that will take you to each organization's website.

__________  

Women-Led Music Organizations You Need To Know About

We Make Noise Founded by Erin Barra, We Make Noise connects teaching artists with creative youth globally, advancing gender equity through music and technology. They provide training, community building, and career development opportunities to empower emerging talents in the music industry.

Women in Vinyl Women in Vinyl supports women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and marginalized individuals in vinyl production through mentorship, networking, and education. Their podcast and blog spotlight industry trailblazers, fostering inclusivity and visibility within vinyl pressing, mastering, and retail.

We Are Moving The Needle Founded by Grammy-winning engineer Emily Lazar, We Are Moving The Needle empowers women in audio engineering and production with essential education, equipment, and mentorship, addressing the industry's gender imbalance.

Audiofemme Since 2012, Audiofemme has championed women and non-binary creatives in music, offering sharp journalism, artist promotion, and community events. Their "My First Band" series adds personal storytelling, enhancing visibility for diverse voices.

Music Production for Women provides female musicians worldwide with comprehensive music production education, community support, and role models, empowering thousands to confidently navigate the music industry.

Black Girls Love Vinyl Celebrating Black women DJs, collectors, and creatives, Black Girls Love Vinyl builds vibrant communities through events and collaborations, amplifying underrepresented voices and reshaping vinyl culture.

WOMEN SOUND OFF Based in Oakland, WOMEN SOUND OFF celebrates creative women across music, media, tech, and art. They offer empowering platforms for women entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and amplify their voices.

She Shreds Media Founded by Fabi Reyna, She Shreds Media supports women and gender non-conforming guitarists and bassists through inclusive education and community-building, continuously redefining music culture's possibilities.

Women in Music promotes gender equality through global networking events, educational workshops, and resources supporting women at every career stage, fostering inclusive participation across the music industry.

Change the Conversation Led by industry executives Leslie Fram, Tracy Gershon, and Beverly Keel, Change the Conversation addresses gender inequality in country music, advocating for increased representation and opportunities for women artists.

shesaid.so https://www.shesaid.so/our-story is a global network advocating for women in music through local chapters, panel discussions, and their Alternative Power 100 Music List. They facilitate career progression, industry reform, and vibrant community connections.

Women of Substance The Women of Substance Podcast showcases female indie artists three times weekly, alongside a resource-rich website providing industry contacts and strategies for musicians to build their fanbase and professional skills.

__________  

About Symphonic
Symphonic Distribution, founded in 2006 by former music producer Jorge Brea, is a leading independent music distribution and marketing company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with a global presence in major music markets. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services to independent artists, record labels, and managers, including digital music and video distribution to over 200 platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and YouTube. Beyond distribution, Symphonic provides playlist pitching, release promotion, royalty collection, music marketing, catalog optimization, sync licensing, and more. Their mission is to empower the independent music community by providing powerful technology, personalized service, and access to additional revenue channels to help clients realize their full potential. 

To subscribe to Symphonic's newsletter and stay updated on industry trends, marketing strategies, and company news, you can visit their website and sign up directly here. Symphonic.

• the BIZ— Can You REALLY Make It BIG in the Music Industry in 2025? from MUBUTV™

The music industry is evolving rapidly, and according to experts Rich Ezra and Eric Knight from MUBUTV's Music Business Insider Podcast, success in 2025 means understanding new trends, adapting quickly, and focusing on building authentic audience relationships.

__________  

For the full deep dive and detailed insights, watch the complete 52min episode here: Can You Really Make It? 

__________  

A&R Today: More Than Viral Hits
The era of signing artists purely based on viral TikTok success is fading. Labels learned the hard way that viral moments don't always translate into sustainable careers. A genuine backlog of material, live performance capability, and artist development are crucial. A compelling live component is now essential— fans and labels alike demand memorable live experiences.

Super Fans: Quality Over Quantity
The industry's shift toward nurturing "super fans" [TrueFans] continues, with labels and artists increasingly aiming to deepen engagement with dedicated audiences. Artists must now consider offering unique experiences— beyond merch tables and meet-and-greets— that enhance fan relationships and justify higher spending.

Singles Over Albums: A Winning Strategy
In 2025, releasing singles is critical for new artists. Billie Eilish demonstrated this strategy's success by releasing multiple singles before an album, building a dedicated following first. Even established bands like Muse follow similar methods, strategically dropping singles ahead of albums to maintain momentum and fan interest. 

Sonic Branding: The Future of Recognition
Brands across industries are increasingly investing in sonic branding— distinctive sounds or jingles that instantly evoke their identity. Artists should recognize this trend, considering how sound identities could distinguish their brand and captivate attention in an increasingly noisy marketplace.

Touring: Challenges and Digital Alternatives
The post-pandemic touring boom created a saturated market that many artists struggle to navigate. With rising costs and economic pressures, more artists are turning to digital platforms, producing compelling at-home content to build their fanbase without expensive tours.

Content Creation: Less is More
There's a backlash against the relentless demand for social media content. Ezra and Knight advise artists to streamline content creation through pre-planning and batch recording, reducing stress and freeing more time for creativity and personal wellbeing.

Mental Health: A Critical Priority
Mental health awareness is becoming more prominent. Successful artists increasingly speak out about resisting unsustainable industry demands, advocating for balance, authenticity, and wellbeing.

AI: Revolution and Responsibility
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming music creation, mixing, and even resurrecting voices from the past. While offering groundbreaking opportunities, AI also brings ethical and legal challenges. Artists must stay informed and adapt strategically.

Legacy Acts & Cultural Staying Power
As legacy bands and iconic acts see renewed success through new media, current artists face the challenge of competing with established names. Innovative strategies, careful audience targeting, and creating memorable experiences are crucial to breaking through.

__________  

About Ritch Esra, Eric Knight, and MUBUTV™

MUBUTV™ (Music Business Television), co-hosted by industry veterans Ritch Esra and Eric Knight, is the definitive online network dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering music professionals. MUBUTV™ dives deep into every facet of today's music business, providing original, insightful, and practical content for artists, managers, and industry professionals alike. 

To learn more, tap MUBUTV™ https://www.mubutv.com/ and visit their website for a comprehensive masterclass in today's music business and subscribe to the MUBUTV™ Insider Newsletter for exclusive insights and updates.

• The Greatest Singer Songwriters— Loreena McKennitt: Bridging Celtic Traditions and World Music 

A Timeless Journey

"Loreena McKennitt's music is a bridge between worlds, a timeless journey that connects the ancient with the contemporary, the personal with the universal."
— New Music Lives™

Early Life and Musical Roots
Loreena McKennitt's artistic voyage began modestly in the prairies of Manitoba, Canada, where her deep roots in Irish and Scottish heritage laid the foundation for a career that would defy borders and genres. With an ethereal soprano voice and mastery of instruments including harp, piano, and accordion, McKennitt has created a distinctive musical landscape that seamlessly integrates Celtic traditions with global musical influences.

"Loreena McKennitt's voice is pure magic— she transports you effortlessly to distant worlds and deep emotional landscapes." 
— Sarah McLachlan

McKennitt first explored music during her university days in Winnipeg, initially intending to become a veterinarian. Captivated by Celtic and folk melodies, her passion quickly shifted towards music. By 1981, she relocated to Stratford, Ontario, where her contributions to the renowned Stratford Festival marked her formal entry into professional music.

Breakthrough and Musical Innovation
Her debut album, Elemental (1985), introduced the world to her innovative blend of traditional Celtic music with contemporary arrangements. This groundbreaking style became more pronounced in subsequent albums, such as To Drive the Cold Winter Away (1987) and Parallel Dreams (1989).

"There's an authenticity and depth to Loreena's music that makes it uniquely powerful. She truly honors her Celtic roots while bravely exploring beyond."
— Enya

The international spotlight truly found McKennitt with the 1991 release of The Visit, featuring songs like All Souls Night and The Lady of Shalott, earning her widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. The album won her a Juno Award for Best Roots/Traditional Album, solidifying her position as a musical pioneer.

Her subsequent releases, The Mask and Mirror (1994) and particularly The Book of Secrets (1997), propelled her even further. The latter featured the mainstream hit The Mummers' Dance, a global phenomenon that introduced her music to an expansive new audience. These works earned additional accolades, including multiple Juno Awards, Grammy nominations, and the Billboard International Achievement Award.

"Loreena McKennitt crafts songs that are cinematic and deeply moving. Her ability to blend history, poetry, and music is unparalleled."
— Peter Gabriel

Collaborations and Global Influence
Loreena's collaborations are equally notable. Her celebrated live album Nights from the Alhambra (2007) captured an enchanting performance at Spain's historic palace, showcasing the universality of her musical narrative. Her music, deeply inspired by extensive travels, literature, and global cultures, has established McKennitt as a trailblazer who continually explores and expands the boundaries of her musical heritage.

"Loreena McKennitt is an extraordinary storyteller. Her songs invite you on journeys that linger long after the music ends."
— Robert Plant

Personal Tragedy and Philanthropy
Beyond her musical career, McKennitt faced profound personal tragedy when her fiancé and two close friends died tragically in a boating accident in 1998. This deeply personal loss prompted her temporary withdrawal from recording and a subsequent commitment to philanthropy. She established the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Water Search and Safety, reflecting her dedication to societal welfare.

Activism and Advocacy
McKennitt's activism continues to evolve. Recently, she notably returned her Tesla vehicle in protest against data privacy concerns, highlighting her advocacy for individual privacy rights and ethical corporate responsibility.

"Listening to Loreena is like entering a sacred space. Her music resonates with a profound spirituality and timeless beauty."
— Annie Lennox

Legacy and Influence
Loreena McKennitt's lasting legacy lies not only in her extraordinary musical work but also in her unwavering commitment to authenticity, cultural preservation, and social advocacy. Her pioneering blend of Celtic music with global traditions has profoundly influenced numerous artists, inspiring them to delve deeper into their musical roots and explore innovative ways to express their art.

"Loreena's music transcends time and space. Her melodies are hauntingly beautiful, touching something deeply primal and universal."
— Sting

Loreena McKennitt's remarkable journey continues, her influence spreading far beyond traditional musical boundaries, making her an enduring figure in the pantheon of the greatest Singer Songwriters of all time....

In her own words...

"I've always felt music as a profound conversation, a dialogue between cultures, histories, and hearts. It's a quest for connection, understanding, and shared human experience."

• Guest Article— Has Spotify Killed The Album? By Rick Beato

I just came across this clip of Jack Antonoff talking about the importance of making full-length albums. Check out what he said: 

__________  

It's almost stunning that we still believe some of the myths.

Which myths are you talking about? 

Album isn't God. 

Album IS God. Period.

Always has been. There's no brilliant artist that's existed for a real period of time and changed things and has a real audience that isn't based on albums. They don't exist.

__________  

Jack thinks like I do, that in today's music landscape, which is dominated by quick hits, singles, and viral videos. It's even more important for artists to put out cohesive, full-length bodies of work. 

Think about your favorite records.

The singles you may come to the record for, you hear them on the radio, you hear them on Spotify, or they're suggested to you, however you arrive at them. But then you get the full-length record, and then you start realizing, you know what? These album tracks are really the songs that are the best ones on the record. You've all had that experience.

It's so common to come to a record based on a single and then realize, oh, that's not even close to being the best song on here. 

I remember reading an article with Rick Rubin where he says that an album offers a sense of cohesion, where you need the multiple or group of songs that explore a thread or a concept or a mood that lets the artist's voice really resonate. 

Another way of looking at it is that by weaving songs together under a unifying theme or sound, an album becomes more than just a collection of tracks.

Think of albums like Zeppelin IV, or Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, or Boston's first album, or Back in Black by ACDC, or The Chronic by Dr. Dre, or the Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem. These aren't just a collection of songs. They create a cohesive listening experience from beginning to end that can't be divorced from itself.

If you listen to a single, you might listen to it, you might put it in a playlist, but after it's over in three minutes, you may just move on to something else. But if you can engage your audience into a 30 or 60 minute experience, these are the things that develop that emotional connection between you and the audience. That's going to get people to come out to your shows.

That's going to get you your thousand TrueFans. They're going to help fund all of your projects. It's incredibly important for that.

Historically, music's been dominated by the album format. Think about iconic records like Fleetwood Mac Rumors, or The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper, or Michael Jackson's Thriller. These weren't just collections of hits. They were cultural touchstones that defined eras. Quincy Jones once said, when you talk about those albums, you're talking about milestones that change the game. 

It's not just one hit song. It's the entire journey that becomes legendary. 

Albums carry a weight and significance, good ones at least, that can shape an artist's legacy way more than a string of standalone singles ever could. When an artist releases a full-length album, it's not just about the music...

It's about creating a whole world around that record. The artwork, the music videos, the stage production, the merch, the interviews associated with it, all tie back to a central theme or identity. 

This era approach builds an ongoing dialogue with fans, which sparks excitement and anticipation that can last for months or years.

Album tracks are a place where artists can be even more experimental. If you think about The Beatles' Revolver album, the last track on there, Tomorrow Never Knows, which is a psychedelic masterpiece by John Lennon, is really a complete departure from anything The Beatles had done before. This showed The Beatles fans the band's willingness to push boundaries. This is a kind of freedom that The Beatles felt their audience was accepting of and helped the band continue to innovate. 

In the streaming era, many people worry, or should I say understand, that attention spans are shrinking. I think you've heard me mention that a couple times. But ironically, a well-sequenced album can actually thrive on streaming platforms. Listeners who love your music will binge the entire record and revisit their favorite tracks again and again. 

Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope, suggested in a BBC interview that a single is a quick fix, but an album can keep people coming back.

You give listeners more reasons to connect, more themes, more lyrics that resonate, and more layers to unpack. The best albums become evergreen, discovering new audiences over time, fueled by word of mouth and playlist features. 

Finally, from a career standpoint, albums function as milestones that mark an artist's evolution.

This is how fans track your growth through phases or eras that each album represents. Jack Antonoff put it like this, years down the line people might talk about your first album, or your breakout album, or your experimental album. Those chapters define you as an artist in ways that a playlist of singles can't.

Over time, that discography becomes the backbone of an artist's legacy, giving fans a roadmap through their creative journey. All these things I talked about honestly go for any genre of music. For people making fusion records, progressive metal records, rock records, pop records, hip-hop records, you should make full-length albums and not just focus on one song or two or even an EP.

Write enough songs so that you have enough songs to pick from to make a cohesive album. 

__________  

You can learn more about Rick right below...

in partnership with Rick Beanto

• PS from PS— I Was a Fan and Albums Changed My Life. You Are a Musical Artist and They Will Change Yours, Too.

I couldn't help but nod enthusiastically while reading Rick Beato's article on the enduring power of albums in our singles-dominated world.

When I was 14, I still remember the high-voltage anticipation all around Led Zeppelin IV. That was 1971. For six long months, before the late November release, the music world buzzed with expectation. What would follow their experimental album III? Would they return to their heavier roots? The mystery of that yet-to-be-named album— no title, no names on the cover— heightened the excitement.

When I finally held that record with its enigmatic symbols and haunting cover art in my hands, it wasn't just hearing Stairway to Heaven or Black Dog. It was about experiencing a completely new artistic statement. A journey from the folk-tinged Going to California to the thunderstorm of When the Levee Breaks. That immersive experience fundamentally changed me. It's when and why I dedicated my life to championing artists who craft magical musical worlds beyond sound.

The streaming age has fractured our attention into three-minute segments. But I believe this makes full-length albums even more valuable. Important. Even revolutionary. When you create a cohesive musical journey that holds your listeners for 40-60 minutes, you're not just sharing songs— It's a vision. A dream. And you're building the foundation for those 1,000 TrueFans who will support your entire career.

I've seen it happen. Artists who focus on crafting albums rather than chasing singles consistently develop deeper, more and better fan connections. Their supporters don't just stream a track; they become invested in the artist's evolution, story, and vision.

As Jack Antonoff so perfectly put it— the "Album IS God. Period." In a world of disposable content, there's something profoundly radical about creating work that demands complete attention and rewards deep listening.

So if you're on the fence about whether albums still matter... Yeah. They do. Now more than ever. In the words of a revered marketing guru: "When in doubt, be different." Today, an album is a most compelling different.

More than ever. Albums are not just collections of songs; they're the backbone of your  artistic legacy. The truest path to building sustainable connections with your audience. I think...

Fans listen to singles. TrueFans listen to albums.

TrueFans want to get to know you better. They want to know where your musical focus is. They want to join you on your journey. Explore with you. Grow with you. Succeed with you.

What was an album— or three— that changed your life?

Until we speak again...

Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback.

And PLEASE, if you've got any Singer Songwriter friends, pass the AMP on, because... It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time...