284 JR Richards – Dishwalla, His Tenth Album Forthcoming, Email Marketing, List Building, E-Commerce, Touring, Adapting To Changes In The Music Business, Spotify Discovery Mode
Release Date: 10/20/2023
312 Chris Taylor – Creative Resilience Through Music and Storytelling
The Unstarving Musician
In this powerful return appearance, singer-songwriter Chris Taylor (episodes 65, 97) joins us for a deeply personal conversation as part of a storytellers series. A creative force in constant motion, Chris opens up about his journey while preparing to release an exciting new collection of music. Our discussion weaves through themes of artistic comparison, trust in creative instincts, and a transformative experience opening for Six Pence None The Richer. Chris shares intimate stories from his youth in San Antonio's bible belt, including his complex relationship with his father and the...
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311 - Musician Finance: Building Your Safety Net (It's Simpler Than You Think)
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310 Creative Meets Commerce: A Musician's Guide to Revenue Stream Balance
The Unstarving Musician
This deep-dive episode explores how independent musicians can effectively balance their creative output with various revenue streams. From live shows and streaming to licensing and teaching, I break down the business focus and creative aspects of each income source. Learn practical strategies for time management, tools for productivity, and real-world examples from artists like Shannon Curtis, Bradford Loomis, and Dean Johanesen. Whether building a sustainable career or managing a passion project, discover actionable steps to maintain your artistic fulfillment while achieving financial...
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309 Harmony in Hustle: Blending Creativity and Business for Musical Success
The Unstarving Musician
Ever feel like you're juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle when it comes to balancing your music career? This episode dives into the wild world of being an independent musician-slash-solopreneur. It explores the age-old question: Can you be both a creative genius and a business whiz simultaneously? (Spoiler alert: You totally can!) Get ready to unpack the challenges and surprising rewards of wearing both the artist and entrepreneur hats. Discover strategies for switching between your creative and business brains without getting whiplash. Plus, learn how to use your business smarts...
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308 Wearing All the Hats: A Guide to Balancing Your Music Career
The Unstarving Musician
Hey musicians! It's Robonzo here, and I've got a fresh episode for you that's all about the juggling act we call being an independent musician. In this episode, I'm diving deep into the challenges we face as music artists, marketers, managers, and producers all at once. I'm sharing real talk about the constant chase for education and income in our ever-changing industry. We'll explore how to find balance in this crazy journey, tackling everything from time management to the art of focusing on one task at a time. And yes, we'll chat about how AI is shaking things up too! I've got some solid...
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307 Joe Patterson – Navigating Music Career Transitions And The Changing Music Industry
The Unstarving Musician
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306 The Road to Success: Mastering the Art of Touring for Independent Musicians
The Unstarving Musician
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305 Tara Brueske – Booking Tips Every Musician Needs And Creating Educational Content
The Unstarving Musician
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304 YouTube's Hidden Payday: Tracking and Collecting Music Royalties
The Unstarving Musician
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303 Donations As A Monetization Option For Indie Musicians
The Unstarving Musician
This episode of The Unstarving Musician explores how independent musicians can effectively use donations as a viable income stream. The conversation covers: The historical precedent and modern relevance of fan support Crafting compelling donation requests Popular donation platforms and payment options Creating a dedicated donation page Offering incentives to encourage support Tips for successful crowdfunding campaigns Whether you're just starting out or looking to diversify your income, this episode provides practical strategies to engage your fanbase and help sustain your musical journey...
info_outlineOne of the best voices in rock has been used to describe J.R. Richards. He's the original singer of Dishwalla, one of my favorite bands to emerge in the 90s. Richards has sold millions of records, written some chart-topping hits and has toured globally. Perhaps his most noteworthy accomplishment was writing "Counting Blue Cars," which he performed and recorded with Dishwalla. That song won the Billboard "Rock Song of the Year" award in 1996 and two ASCAP awards for "Song of The Year" in 1997 and 1998.
Richards has also recorded a few solo albums and is on the cusp of releasing his next album, the 10th in his career. I only recently became acquainted with his solo work because I was looking for an acoustic cover of "Counting Blue Cars" for an acoustic 80s/90s covers project. I found an acoustic version, but when I saw the singer on that acoustic version, it occurred to me that it wasn't the original guy. Down the rabbit hole, I went. I don't know who the new singer is. He's good, but I'm definitely partial to Richards' voice. So I found his solo work, website and lots of other info about him that I never knew. I loved Dishwalla, but I'm not what you'd call a super fan. I lost track of the band after they stopped releasing new stuff.
But I am a big fan, so I was stoked when JR agreed to an interview. Speaking with him was kinda weird. The time passed so quickly! I spend most of our time nerding out with him about e-commerce, the importance of email lists and other topics I typically pursue on the podcast. I ended up with several questions that we never got to. The other thing is that he's a 'normal' person, a dad and husband; a very talented normal person, but just a guy.
I don't know what I expected, but I enjoyed speaking with him. Richards is as kind and humble as any other indie musician I've ever had on the podcast. We talked about Dishwalla, his forthcoming record, email marketing, e-commerce, touring, adapting to changes in music, Spotify Discovery Mode, SOME of his work as a producer, what he's got cooking in the near future, and more.
Find everything JR is up to at JRRrichardsMusic.com. Please enjoy my conversation with JR Richards, the original singer of Dishwalla.
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