What does it really take to build a band from scratch, keep it alive through financial hardship, and land a record deal on your own terms?

In this episode of Backstage Money, host Jason K. Powers sits down with Jennifer Benson, founder and lead singer of Ignescent, a female-fronted hard rock band out of Chicago signed to Frontiers Music. Jennifer shares the raw story of building the band herself with no manager, no budget, and no roadmap, getting rejected by Frontiers the first time, nearly shutting the whole thing down, and then getting the email that changed everything. She also talks co-writing with Clint Lowery of Sevendust and Sameer of Flyleaf, the real economics of merch and touring, and what she would tell any young musician just starting out.

If you have a dream and you are not sure how to make it real, this episode is for you.

Topics include:

• Building a band from scratch with no manager and no budget
• Getting signed to Frontiers Music after years of rejection
• What the label deal looks like from the inside
• Co-writing with Clint Lowery, Sameer of Flyleaf, and New Year's Day
• The near-breaking point that almost ended the band
• Why merch is still the most reliable income stream for working musicians
• The bad advice that cost money and what she learned from it
• Advice for young musicians, especially women, trying to break through
• The flying porta potty story from Rockfest

Follow Jennifer Benson and Ignescent

Website: https://ignescentmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/180259632048244

Instagram (Band): https://www.instagram.com/ignescentmusic

Instagram (Jennifer): https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbenson_ignescent

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X (Twitter): https://x.com/jasonkpowers

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