Helping Music Artists build real careers
—without selling their soul.
____________________
"You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July."
— Katy Perry, from the song Firework
Here are the posts that have appeared in the New Music Lives™ Group on Facebook this week 06/28—through 07/04
06/28
06/29
• David Clayton-Thomas, Lead Singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Dies at 84—Gift Article from the NYTimes—He was also the key lyricist of the Grammy-winning, genre-blending band, whose hits included “Spinning Wheel,” “And When I Die” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.” Clive Davis, who was then president of Columbia Records, wrote in his memoir about his first meeting with Mr. Clayton-Thomas:
“He jumped right out at you. He seemed so genuine, so in command of the lyric lines, a perfect combination of fire and emotion to go with the band’s somewhat cerebral appeal. He was almost animalistic.”
06/30
• June 24 Buzz To Bond Webinar REPLAY—from Ariel Hyatt—In this webinar replay, Ariel Hyatt walks you through the whole system: why streams and playlist adds and follower counts don’t add up to a real career, and what actually does. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” and still not breaking through, this is the part that explains why.
07/01
• The Black Church Sound Is Dying… But Who Killed It?—from Terence Fisher on YouTube—In 30+ years from the organ bench, I've watched the black gospel sound fade—the Hammond organ, the choir, the whole room singing together. In this video I put three suspects on trial for it, clear every single one, and reveal the thing that's actually replacing church musicians and erasing the tradition. It's not a villain. It's something nobody's looking at—and once you see it, you can't un-see it
• in partnership with Ariel Hyatt and Cyber PR Music
Ariel Hyatt is a seasoned digital marketer, author, and educator dedicated to empowering independent musicians. As the founder of Cyber PR, a New York-based artist development and marketing strategy firm, she has been instrumental in guiding artists through the evolving music industry landscape. Cyber PR specializes in crafting comprehensive marketing plans, executing effective publicity campaigns, and providing strategic guidance to musicians and music-related brands.
With over two decades of experience, Ariel has authored several influential books, including Music Success in 9 Weeks, Cyber PR for Musicians, and Crowdstart, offering valuable insights into social media, marketing, and crowdfunding for artists. Her commitment to education is evident through her speaking engagements across 12 countries, where she has shared her expertise with over 100,000 creative entrepreneurs.
Under Ariel's leadership, Cyber PR continues to innovate in the realms of digital PR, social media strategy, and artist development, providing musicians with the tools and knowledge necessary to build sustainable and impactful careers in the music industry.
Join over 20,000 musicians and industry pros— subscribe for solid advice, tips on navigating the music business and a host of free resources including a free Music Marketing Toolkit. Tap this link: CyberPR Music
... and here's the more...
07/01
• a TrueFans AMP™ Special Issue—Clive Davis 1932—2026
07/02
• Good News: The Hype Machine Is Dying—from joelgouveia on substack—People are waking up. Audiences are developing profound trust issues, not just in music, but with media, politicians, and massive corporations. We see right through the engagement bait. We know the comments are bots. We know the virality is engineered. When everything is fake, authenticity becomes the only scarce resource left.
07/03
• Rick Rubin - How to Build a Creative Career—on YouTube—Rick Rubin is a master of creativity and collaboration and has enjoyed an incredible creative career spanning numerous music genres and multiple decades. Here, Rick sits down with Rick Beato to share his wisdom regarding how to get started with your creative career, focus on what you do best, accept imperfections, use inexperience to your advantage, and innovate by combining old ideas in new and interesting ways.
07/04
• Happy Birthday America! As the nation celebrates its Semiquincentennial (250 years), millions are gathering for community parades, barbecues, and fireworks— and MUSIC!
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...
