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Artwork for The Unstarving Musician

The Unstarving Musician

Robonzo (Roberto R Hernandez)
Independent Musicians
Music Industry
Music Marketing
Audience Engagement
Social Media
Merchandising
Touring
Youtube
Independent Artists
Email Marketing
Video Game Composition
Intercept Music
Social Media Marketing
Mental Health
House Concerts
Music
AAA Games
Indie Game Development
Direct Sales
Music Collaboration

The Unstarving Musician features interviews with independent musicians, songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals who share their experience and expertise on recording, touring, marketing, the business of music, and more. This is all intended to help you, the independent music artists create a sustainable and profitable music career.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes350Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessMarketingMusic

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Artwork for The Unstarving Musician

Latest Episodes

Most musicians think of wedding and corporate gig work as a compromise — something you do until your "real" music career takes off. Cory Wade flipped that script. As a vocalist and band leader with Hank Lane Music in New York, Cory has built a sustai... more

Most independent musicians are competing for the same shrinking pool of venue slots, hoping someone books them. House concerts flip that model entirely — and the artists who've figured this out aren't just playing more shows. They're making more mone... more

Most independent musicians trying to break into sync licensing are focused on the wrong problem. They're concerned about mix quality, metadata, and whether their instrumental version is ready. And those things matter. But according to Chris SD, found... more

Independent musicians with loyal fanbases are leaving significant revenue on the table by treating physical products as afterthoughts. Vinyl, CDs, and cassettes aren't nostalgia plays—they're strategic revenue channels when approached with the same r... more

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Recent Guests

Tom Meny
Self-described curator and advocate for house concerts, discussed building networks and Folk Alliance-era methods
House concert facilitator / organizer
Episode: 349 The House Concert Business Framework: How Independent Artists Create Their Own Market
Amy Killingsworth
Co-founded Amy & Gary's House Concerts in San Antonio, later Houston area; discussed hosting and promotion mechanics
Amy & Gary's House Concerts
Episode: 349 The House Concert Business Framework: How Independent Artists Create Their Own Market
Shannon Curtis
Artist who shifted from club touring to annual house concert tours and author of a book on the model
Independent musician
Episode: 349 The House Concert Business Framework: How Independent Artists Create Their Own Market
Nicole Wagner
Austin-based singer-songwriter; discussed Patreon/talent strategy and hands-on host/guest dynamics
Independent musician
Episode: 349 The House Concert Business Framework: How Independent Artists Create Their Own Market
Chris SD
Founder of Sync Songwriter, specializes in connecting indie songwriters with music supervisors
Sync Songwriter
Episode: 348 Why Sync Licensing Is a Relationship Business – with Chris SD of Sync Songwriter
Thom Skarzynski
Founder of Happiness Marketing, physical-first music strategy consultant
Happiness Marketing
Episode: 347 Physical Products That Actually Make Money – Thom Skarzynski
Christal Hector
Founder and CEO of TuneHatch
TuneHatch
Episode: 346 Christal Hector – How Independent Venues Actually Evaluate Artists
Abe Partridge
Band leader, composer, singer, and songwriter living off niche music.
Episode: 344 The Economics of Niche Markets for Creatives
Ezra Vancil
Musician and songwriter known for his innovative music release strategies
Episode: 343 The Pre-Streaming Revenue Model: Dollars Before Pennies

Host

Robonzo
Host of The Unstarving Musician; focuses on independent music, marketing, and business strategy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Fantastic Resource for Musicians!!

    This is a fantastic podcast for independent musicians! The music world seems to be constantly changing, and it’s difficult to keep up sometimes. Roberto does a incredible job with this program keeping us informed in this crazy music business. He has a wide range of expert guests that offer valuable, practical information on everything from marketing, licensing, and networking, to touchy topics like burnout and writers block. His own expertise shines through in a warm, friendly way that makes the... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PlayitagainChris
    United States3 years ago
  • Roberto is a delight to listen to

    Roberto knows his stuff and interviews some of the most fascinating people in the industry. Excellent podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Max Branding
    United States6 years ago
  • One of the best music podcasts available

    Fantastic show with a fantastic host. Robonzo is doing great things for any musician by hosting this podcast. I’ve learned so much from it and have applied so much that I’ve learned to my own career and band. If you love music and want to learn more, discover new artists and do more to advance your career, listen to this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jaraorah
    United States8 years ago
  • Extremely Useful

    After years of not playing guitar, "things" happened that gave me a kick in the ass. I've started playin again and want to make a left turn career-wise.

    This podcast has given me - and I'm certain will still deliver - many pieces of advice and direction for my new path.

    Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stickybones Jackson
    Belgium8 years ago
  • just the right tone

    i make $20k a year playing piano...i have a day job...i would like to expand my music business. this podcast does just that. not a lot of glam...not so technical that i need an electrical engineering degree. it’s conversations about tools, strategies, techniques, and fun that will actually help my business grow.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tony467429
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for practical, actionable guidance and a warm, approachable host.
The host is viewed as credible and easy to listen to, offering a mix of strategy and inspiration.
Guests are described as fascinating and knowledgeable, with a focus on real-world industry insights.
Audiences appreciate discussions that balance marketing tactics with the realities of independent music careers.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

346 Christal Hector – How Independent Venues Actually Evaluate Artists
Q: Walk me through what a venue owner's actually looking at when an artist reaches out. What is their evaluation process?
They look for two main things: can the artist draw a crowd appropriate for the venue and will the artist be easy to work with. Beyond that, professionalism and organization, like having an EPK and an already-booked lineup, signal that the show will be well planned and successful.
345 The Session Musician's 50-Year Career Blueprint with Johnny Thirkell
Q: How do you structure your rates as a session musician?
I have a flat rate for tracks and offer unlimited overdubs to avoid making musical decisions based on money.
345 The Session Musician's 50-Year Career Blueprint with Johnny Thirkell
Q: How does a session musician actually get in the room with top artists?
Building relationships with contractors and having a good reputation are essential for getting opportunities with major artists.
339 Missing Royalties: Revenue Recovery Strategies with Amani Roberts
Q: What percentage of revenue should a sustainable independent music career come from?
30% from performance, 30-35% from direct fan platforms, 10% from streaming, and additional revenue from merchandise and private events.
339 Missing Royalties: Revenue Recovery Strategies with Amani Roberts
Q: What do you think the biggest misconceptions are that artists have about royalty collection that end up costing them money?
The misconception that most income comes from streaming rather than from public performance and mechanical royalties.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Unstarving Musician

What is The Unstarving Musician about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show spotlights independent musicians and industry partners who share practical, revenue-minded strategies for building sustainable careers in music. Across episodes, topics frequently center on direct-to-fan sales, live performances, and smart distribution choices that maximize earnings outside of streaming. Listeners encounter real-world tactics—from monetizing fan communities and building email lists to reclaiming royalties and negotiating distribution deals—alongside candid conversations about the craft, touring realities, and the mental and logistical hurdles of running a music business. A few episodes stand out for practical frameworks (pre-streaming revenue models, royalty audits, and community-driven monetization) and for featur... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Unstarving Musician:

1. Fresh Air

How many episodes of The Unstarving Musician are there?

The Unstarving Musician launched 9 years ago and published 350 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Unstarving Musician?

Recent guests on The Unstarving Musician include:

1. Tom Meny
2. Amy Killingsworth
3. Shannon Curtis
4. Nicole Wagner
5. Chris SD
6. Thom Skarzynski
7. Christal Hector
8. Abe Partridge

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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