Tdiii Talk

This is the definitive guide to SubmitHub, the only video you need to watch if you want to succeed at getting your song picked up by blogs, influencers, and Spotify playlisters through their platform.  I recently connected with the site's creator, Jason Grishkoff, via Skype, and he walked me through the entire submission process, providing one-of-a-kind insight into what curators look for, which options to choose when pitching your song, how to do your research the right way, and so much more.  If you want to maximize your chances for success on SubmitHub, this is the video for you.  Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

There are seemingly endless ways to make money online as a musician these days. A big come up for me has been SoundBetter. Whether you're a music producer, mixing engineer or a session musician, SoundBetter is the place to be for landing gigs and winning remote clients. As a premium provider for the past several years, I have earned over 200 five-star reviews and have worked with clients from every continent.  In this episode of Sounds of the Future, I'll tell you how you can set yourself up for the same kind of success by giving you 5 steps to make money online with SoundBetter. Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

I spent just over $1,000 on Spotify playlist promotion in 2019. In this episode, I break down where that money went, which services I used, how many streams I got, and how much money I earned as a result.  If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my video The Results of Using Playlist Push for some context. And you can also watch the video version of this episode on my YouTube channel.   Here are the services I used:  Playlist Push (Get 7.5% off your first campaign with the code: XTXL33Z  Are you a playlist curator? Use this link), SubmitHub, SpotiFLY, Soundplate, Indiemono, Klangspot, DistroKid (Get started with DistroKid using my VIP link and get 7% off your subscription for the first year), & Amuse.   Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

There are a ton of ways to get our music into the ears of new listeners, but how will we know what works and what doesn't if we don't try a few things? This week, I tested out a few options for music promotion on Fiverr, and though I came back with mixed results, I did learn a few important things that I think are worth sharing. Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

Recording interfaces have come a long way, specifically, the way we interact with our music and our controls throughout the recording process. But the increasing effectiveness of both touch screen and voice technology are changing the way we engage with our digital environment. If anything is primed to be disrupted by this trend, I fear it is our good friends the mouse and the keyboard. Where simple transport controls once ruled, I believe they are on their way to ruling once more, but this time, they'll be digital. Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

There are so many ways to earn revenue as a musician these days, it's silly to put all your eggs in one basket. Being an original artist doesn't prevent you from producing records for other people or from starting a YouTube channel. From sample packs to podcasts, the options for earning a living doing what you love are endless. Diversify your skills, diversify your efforts, and put all of the tools available to you to work. Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

Amazon Prime Day is right around the corner, and with it comes an internet-wide concert from Taylor Swift that is free to all Prime members. There is speculation that this single concert could break the viewership record of this year's SuperBowl. Sounds like a headline from the future, right? Well, it's real. This is happening now. Concerts are luxury not everyone can afford, but that doesn't mean everyone can't get access to their favorite bands and artists in a live setting. Streaming and VR are changing the way we interact with the music we love, and while live shows aren't going away, they are becoming much more accessible. Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

What is art if not exploration? Sticking only to what we know is not a recipe for creativity. For a long time, the business of music has encouraged artists to keep within the confines of "what they do", but I firmly believe the opposite to be true., especially in the free and digital climate of today. Some of the greatest artists and creators in history never would have given us the timeless works for which they are known had they played it safe. I recommend none of us play it safe either. Enjoying Sounds of the Future?  Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

Music ins't just about quality anymore. It's about quantity too. Unless you're a blue-chip, platinum-selling artist, annual release schedules and full-length records are a thing of the past. For all of us in the middle class of music, release frequency matters. It's not enough to be creating music. You have to be doing it consistently. And often. Enjoying Sounds of the Future? Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

Like beauty, failure is in the eye of the beholder. We can either choose to let our failures define us, or we can choose to see them for the educational opportunities they are. In this episode, I tell my own stories of failure, both perceived and actual, on my journey as a songwriter, producer, and ultimately, as an artist. My hope is that my failures might help you to minimize yours. Enjoying Sounds of the Future? Hit me up on Twitter (@tomdupreeiii) and let me know what you thought of this episode!

Artists and bands have traditionally been figures with a certain mystery to them. While making their music accessible to the world, they themselves have been somehow separate from the rest of society. And in keeping with that motif, the release cycles of albums and the scarcity of behind=the-scenes footage has supported that mysterious detachment. But the format is changing, accessibility is changing, and what constitutes an artist's persona and release schedule is changing as well. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode! 

So many companies, products, and services for music creation are embracing the technology of modeling analog sound in the digital space. It is, without a doubt, the democratization of accessibility to high-end gear for all musicians. And while we have come a long way with regard to modeling in the realm of input, much less seems to have been accomplished in the realm of playback. In this week's episode of Sounds Of The Future, I hypothesize as to why that might be, and I take things a step further into the realm of where I think this trend is going. As mentioned in the episode: Waves NX, Isone by Toneboosters, Reference 3 by Sonarworks. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode! 

The world is growing increasingly smaller with the advent of technology, making cross-border collaboration a reality now more than ever,. And though there are many digital audio workstations available that can be used to create music, I believe cloud-based systems are the next big step in recording. As mentioned in the episode: BandLab, Soundtrap, and Melosity. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode! 

It is now more important than ever to consistently deliver music and content to your audience as a musician. But, as many know, this can lead to burnout if left unchecked. The opposite to that is taking your time to such a degree that you become irrelevant or forgotten. I believe there is a balance between moving quickly to release new material and being intelligent and thoughtful about the moves you make. Speed does not need to come at the expense of a well-executed plan. From the episode: Check out my daily vlog on YouTube. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode! 

The music industry has a long and checkered past built around a select few holding most of the cards. And more often than not, those who have held the cards have not been those who have created the music to begin with. But times are changing. If the recent news of Spotify suing songwriters has shown us anything, it's that the 800 pound gorilla in the room isn't quite as strong when it bites the hand that feeds it. With technology comes transparency, and with transparency comes democracy. It's no mystery that there is now, more than ever, an opportunity to create a career in music without being held back by the powers that be, but I believe we are just getting started and that the next decade will likely redefine what it means to be a career musician. From the episode: Spotify suing songwriters and the practice of payola. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode! 

From Snapchat filters to mobile gaming, Augmented Reality, or AR for short, has already had a profound impact on how we engage with each other. But I think we have only seen the surface of what this technology will do in the coming years. We currently like to insert fabricated things into real life, but what about inserting real life into real life via AR? A music video on your coffe table, a concert in your living room, or a studio session without having to leave your home? I believe these are some of the possibilities of the future as musicians haness the power of this technology. As mentioned in the episode: Adam Savage tests Magic Leap augmented reality goggles on YouTube. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode!

After taking the last month off from TDIII Talk, I’m back with a bit of an explanation. In short, the existing format of talk, text, and video, all published twice per week, became a chore beyond my bandwidth. I’m now back with a renewed focus and a much more specific sense of purpose for the podcast. All in a manageable audio-only format.  As mentioned in the episode: The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly. This book changed how I think about the future. I cannot recommend it enough.  Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode!

Nobody plays the streaming game to win better than the lo-fi community. The most successful producers release more music than many other artists combined. But that's not all they do well. Song length is an important part of the equation too. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode!

So you want to get people to listen to your music, right? Here are three ways to help you do just that. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode!

Everyone knows Spotify is in the business of music. With over 80 million paid subscribers, they are the juggernaut of audio streaming. But Spotify's interests go much deeper than that if you ask me. Connect with me on Twitter (@TomDuPreeIII) and let me know what you think of this episode!