338 Jesse Flores – Distribution Partnerships And Strategic Planning For Independent Artists
Release Date: 11/07/2025
339 Missing Royalties: Revenue Recovery Strategies with Amani Roberts
The Unstarving Musician
Independent musicians leave significant money on the table—not from lack of talent, but from unclaimed royalties and overlooked revenue streams. Amani Roberts, music business educator and author of the USA Today bestseller "The Quiet Storm," reveals the specific registration gaps costing artists thousands of dollars annually. In this conversation, Amani breaks down the four major royalty collection systems most artists fail to use properly: PRO registration for public performance royalties, SoundExchange for digital performance royalties, publishing royalties through services like...
info_outline
338 Jesse Flores – Distribution Partnerships And Strategic Planning For Independent Artists
The Unstarving Musician
Distribution partnerships can make or break an independent music career, but most artists don't understand what separates a good deal from a bad one. Jesse Flores, VP of Artist and Label Partnerships at Intercept Music and former Senior Director at Virgin Music Group, shares insider knowledge from over 20 years negotiating deals with major artists and independent labels. In this conversation, Jesse reveals the specific factors distributors evaluate when considering partnerships, the most common contract mistakes artists make (including the advance trap that costs artists future revenue), and...
info_outline
337 Ezra Vancil – Business Systems: From Marketing Day Job to Sustainable Music Career
The Unstarving Musician
After 10 years with the same band and launching his own label, Ezra Vancil has learned that sustainable music careers require business systems—not just passion. In this conversation, he reveals the productivity frameworks he's borrowed from his marketing day job and how they've transformed both his creative output and family dynamics. → subscribers get Ezra's complete "Music Career as Business System" framework + his pre-release strategy that sold an album for a full year before streaming. Key Topics Discussed The "fear as compass" approach that guides his creative decisions Why he...
info_outline
336 Community Collaboration: Turning Your Fanbase Into Creative Partners Without Losing Artistic Control
The Unstarving Musician
Can your community become a creative collaborator without turning your art into committee-designed mediocrity? In this solo episode, I explore proven frameworks for involving your audience in the creative process while maintaining complete artistic control. You’ll discover how Amanda Palmer uses early-stage feedback on Patreon to gather emotional responses (not technical critiques), how British singer-songwriter Lynz Crichton turned her entire EP creation into a 90-day collaborative project with her email and social media communities, and how Imogen Heap invited fans to contribute raw...
info_outline
335 Music Revenue Through Community - Moving Beyond Streaming
The Unstarving Musician
Music revenue diversification is essential for independent artists, but how do you actually monetize your community of superfans? This follow-up to episode 333's community-building strategies explores the practical side of turning deep fan relationships into sustainable income that goes beyond streaming pennies. Emerging direct-to-fan platforms like MySeat (highlighted by Dave Cool, formerly of Bandzoogle) allow artists to create branded mobile apps with multiple revenue streams - subscriptions, merchandise, live events, auctions, and exclusive content. Real case studies break down...
info_outline
334 Musician Podcaster Bree Noble – From Kitchen Recordings to Industry Authority
The Unstarving Musician
As a musician podcaster who has built multiple successful shows over the past decade, Bree Noble represents what's possible when artists embrace podcasting as both a creative outlet and business tool. In this conversation, she shares her evolution from recording in her kitchen to becoming a recognized industry authority featured in Forbes. Bree reveals the technical and logistical challenges she faced transitioning from Women of Substance streaming radio to becoming the speaking host of a podcast. She discusses why she wishes she'd front-loaded more episodes before launching and shares...
info_outline
333 How to Build, Name, and Nurture Your Creative Community
The Unstarving Musician
Most independent artists focus on building an audience, but the real power lies in developing a creative community. In this episode, I delve into the psychology behind transforming casual followers into passionate community members who view themselves as part of something larger. Drawing insights from my recent interview with singer-songwriter Eli Lev and his "Levitators" community, I break down the key differences between audience building and creative community development. You'll discover why community names matter more than you think, how to move beyond social media performance theater,...
info_outline
332 Eli Lev – Spiritual Growth: From 250 Shows to Finding Sacred Space in Music
The Unstarving Musician
Spiritual growth takes many forms for independent musicians. Folk artist Eli Lev has woven together influences from Jewish upbringing, Buddhism, and Navajo teachings into a unique artistic journey that took him through 250 shows last year alone. In this third appearance on the podcast, Eli opens up about the realities of intensive touring, the "entry and exit friction" that comes with constant travel, and how he maintains spiritual and personal well-being while building his Levatators community. We discuss this and his upcoming "Past Lives" EP, as well as his live video for "Where We...
info_outline
331 Musical Listening: The Art of Playing While Truly Hearing Your Band
The Unstarving Musician
Musical listening is the secret that separates professional-sounding bands from technically correct but disconnected performances. This episode explores blues guitarist Kid Andersen's "50% rule" and why listening should consume at least half of your mental bandwidth while playing. You'll discover the technical mastery paradox that traps countless musicians, practical strategies for developing dual awareness between your performance and your bandmates, and advanced applications, including how rhythm sections use listening skills to lead without taking over. We'll also delve into...
info_outline
330 Skulk the Hulking – Merging AI Visual Production, Music, and Performance Art
The Unstarving Musician
AI visual production is revolutionizing how independent artists create and present their work, and Steve Pasieka (Skulk the Hulking) is creating visual art at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode, Steve shares how he evolved from live performance art and noise rock to creating a multimedia project that seamlessly blends music, AI-generated visuals, and storytelling. We explore Steve's unique background in hardcore music and comedy improv, and how these seemingly different worlds inform his creative process. Steve discusses his pivot during the pandemic from live shows to...
info_outlineDistribution partnerships can make or break an independent music career, but most artists don't understand what separates a good deal from a bad one. Jesse Flores, VP of Artist and Label Partnerships at Intercept Music and former Senior Director at Virgin Music Group, shares insider knowledge from over 20 years negotiating deals with major artists and independent labels.
In this conversation, Jesse reveals the specific factors distributors evaluate when considering partnerships, the most common contract mistakes artists make (including the advance trap that costs artists future revenue), and what actually moves the needle for independent artists in 2025. He explains why having a team and release plan matters more than just great music, how to optimize your streaming profiles to attract partnerships, and why listening to your distribution partner's advice is the most overlooked strategy for success.
Whether you're self-distributing and considering a partnership or already working with a distributor, Jesse's insights on deal structures, streaming economics, and strategic planning will help you make smarter business decisions.
Topics covered:
- What distributors actually evaluate beyond your music
- The advance mistake that costs artists future revenue
- Distribution deal vs. label deal: Critical differences
- Which contract terms you can negotiate (and which you can't)
- Why releasing too quickly without a plan hurts your career
- How to optimize streaming profiles to attract partnerships
- Marketing tactics that actually work in 2025 (hint: not just playlists)
- International distribution strategy: Regional rollout vs. global release
- What artists consistently underinvest in that impacts partnership success
- The power shift between artists and labels in the streaming era
Support the Unstarving Musician
The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.
Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor
This episode of the was sponsored by Liner Notes Insider.
Get exclusive weekly insights drawn from in-depth research and conversations with hundreds of thriving musicians and industry pros. I dig deep to uncover proven strategies for building a sustainable music career, from marketing and touring to sync licensing and beyond.
- As an Insider, you’ll receive:
- Deep-dive analysis and actionable strategies from extensive industry research
- Expert interview breakdowns with step-by-step implementation guides
- Access to my curated resource library and tools
- Monthly Q&A sessions for personalized guidance
- Priority access to special events and workshops
- First look at new resources and research findings
Try Liner Notes Free
Start with our free edition featuring selected insights and latest episodes.
Upgrade anytime to Liner Notes Insider unlock full access.
This episode was brought to you by Podcast Startup.
Ready to launch your podcast or take it to the next level? Podcast Startup gives you the frameworks, systems, and insider knowledge to build a show that actually grows your audience and serves your goals.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your existing podcast, you'll get actionable strategies on equipment selection, content planning, audience building, and sustainable production workflows—without the overwhelm.
Learn more at UnstarvingMusician.com/PodcastStartup. Join podcasters who are building shows that last.
Mentioned in this Episode
Visit the show notes for this episode at UnstarvingMusician.com for links to things mentioned in this episode.
Resources
The Unstarving Musician’s Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo
Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.
Pardon the Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support!
Stay in touch!
@RobonzoDrummer on Instagram
@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube