Helping Music Artists build real careers
— without selling their soul.
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“I want to hear words that get stuck in my head and that mean something to me personally, and on top of that I want to feel like the words mean something to the artist singing them”.
— Taylor Swift
Here are the posts that have appeared in the New Music Lives™ Group on Facebook this week 04/26— through 05/02.
04/26
04/27
• 3 Stunning Covers of Songs That Were More Successful Than the Original Versions— from AmericanSongwriter— Covers Can Be Gold. Everybody always wants to hear original music, but there’s something to be said for a good cover. Some of the most iconic songs in music history are covers. While some might argue that knowing who recorded the song first takes away the magic, there’s something to be said for it.
04/28
• Everything to Know About the Live Nation Verdict, What It Means for Fans, and What's Next— from Rollingstone— Just how big a win was this? The jury ultimately ruled against Live Nation, but how exactly this decision will affect the real world remains unclear. The judge overseeing the case still needs to decide remedies, and Live Nation has confirmed it will appeal. Still, a landmark decision is a landmark decision— here’s a complete guide to everything that happened, and what comes next.
• Johnny Cash -- His Final Live Performance (2003)— on YouTube— So very worth watching… In Hiltons, Virginia, a couple months before Mr. Johnny Cash's passing. Songs sung here include: "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk the Line," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Ring of Fire," "Angel Band," "Big River," and "Understand Your Man.”
04/29
• Paul McCartney: "I Can’t Read Music”— on YouTube— You've got to be kidding…
in partnership with Carlo Kiksen and The FanBase Builder
Carlo Kiksen is a freelance strategist passionate about music, creativity, and underground culture. He guides artists and creators away from algorithm-chasing tactics and toward emotionally resonant marketing that stops thumbs from scrolling and turns listeners into loyal fans.
The Fanbase Builder is Carlo’s weekly Substack newsletter— a concise, actionable strategy hub for artists, creators, and music professionals. Published each Tuesday at 10:00 AM CET, it delivers insights and tactics on branding, community-building, digital strategy, emerging tech, and more.
Here are two standout insights from Carlo’s recent work:
"Why Strong Artist Brands Matter to Fans, Too" highlights how a well-developed brand isn’t just good for the artist—it gives fans tools to express identity, feel seen, and find community. It creates social connection, trust, and authentic value beyond the music.
"How to Build a Fan Community That Lasts" explains the emotional mechanics behind belonging—from membership and influence to shared connection—offering a foundational roadmap for building lasting artist-fan relationships.
Why This Matters for TrueFans AMP™ In a world overflowing with content, strategy without soul fails. Carlo’s work reminds us: fans don’t just want music. They want places to belong, stories to share, and artists who see them. His thoughtful frameworks help artists rise above the noise—not by shouting louder, but by building deeper.
TrueFans AMP™ Tip:
Want help turning one of your To Be Done steps into a strategic fan connection engine? Carlo’s newsletter might just be your next creative ally. Tap here to learn more and subscribe: the FanBase Builder.
... and here's the more...
04/29
• for MUSIC ARTISTS— the TrueFans AMP™ Magazine 142
• Recommends— Michael the movie
• Your BIZ — The “Best Decade” Myth (And What It Really Means for You)
• Greatest Music Artist of All Time— Dave Mason: He Didn’t Chase the Spotlight. He Simply Shaped the Sound.
• in partnerships with Daniel Parris & Stat Significant
• TrueFans Feature— Is She… or Isn’t She? And Why It Matters More Than You Think
• P.S. from PS— The Bar Just Moved. No One Told You?
04/30
• How Taylor Swift Writes a Song, In Her Own Words— (Gift Article) Gift Article from the NYTimes— The writer Joe Coscarelli met with Swift in Los Angeles to talk about the craft of songwriting. In this 30-minute interview, Swift explains her process, the stories behind some of her biggest hits, her love of a “rant bridge” and how life in the public eye informs the stories she tells in her songs
05/01
• A musical duet with AI herself— from TED— ...Broadway legends Todd Almond and Donna Murphy (portraying the imagined character of AI) dig into our tangled relationship with artificial intelligence — blending wit and warmth with a touch of existential dread. This Broadway act, written exclusively for TED, is cabaret meets searing social commentary meets comedic gold.
05/02
• Proof of humanity as a marketing metric— from the FanBaseBuilder— Artists who can’t prove they or their fans are real are in trouble. Rapid AI developments are flooding streaming platforms with new music, and fraudulent use of that technology is surging alongside it. Deezer reports detecting 75,000 AI-generated tracks uploaded to its platform per day, while Spotify earlier removed over 75 million spammy tracks.
It’s a volume problem for established artists, and a discovery problem for emerging artists.
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And PLEASE, if you've got any Musical Artist friends, pass the TrueFans AMP™ on, because...
Thanks for reading. Give us your feedback.
And PLEASE, if you've got any Music Artist friends, pass the TrueFans AMP™ on, because... It’s Time... for a Change. Big Time. Past Time...