Épisodes

  • What Actually Makes an Artist Legendary?

    What Actually Makes an Artist Legendary?
    Jan 29 2026
    In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a nu-metal band asking a question most artists are afraid to say out loud:
    How do you become a legendary band not just another act that had a moment?
    They’re not looking to be a throwback.
    They’re not chasing nostalgia.
    They’re not satisfied with being “pretty good.”
    They want longevity, impact, and a legacy especially in a genre many people think already peaked.
    In this episode, we talk about:
    • What actually separates legendary bands from successful ones
    • Why talent alone never creates legacy
    • The role of identity, culture, and mythology in heavy music
    • How bands stay relevant without chasing trends
    • Why some genres never really die — they just evolve
    • And what artists misunderstand about longevity
    This isn’t about streams or virality.
    It’s about building something that lasts beyond cycles and algorithms.
    If you’re in a band that wants more than momentary success this episode is for you.
    Have a question about the music industry or building a career?
    Go to https://MatthewRix.com and include as many details as possible.
    #musicbusiness #musicindustry #upcomingmusician #musicindustrytips #matthewrix


    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    18 min
  • Audience vs Community: What Artists Get Wrong

    Audience vs Community: What Artists Get Wrong
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who’s asking a question many artists quietly struggle with:
    What does it actually mean to “build a community”?
    This artist has:
    • thousands of followers
    • consistent releases
    • people showing up occasionally
    But they’re realizing that numbers don’t always translate into real support.
    In this episode, we break down:
    • The difference between an audience and a community
    • Why engagement metrics can be misleading
    • How real fan connection is actually built
    • Where online platforms help and where they fail
    • When artists should stop chasing growth and start deepening relationships
    This isn’t about tricks or hacks.
    It’s about sustainability.
    If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still missing something real this conversation will resonate.
    Have a question about the music industry or your career?
    Send it to http://MatthewRix.com. Include as many details as possible your experience might help someone else too.


    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    18 min
  • Losing Money on Every Music Release

    Losing Money on Every Music Release
    Jan 13 2026
    In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who’s doing everything “right” releasing consistently, investing in quality, tracking expenses and still losing money on every release.
    He’s spending $1,200–$1,800 per song, releasing every 6–8 weeks, and pulling in 20k streams per release. On paper, that sounds like progress. In reality, the numbers don’t add up.
    Streaming revenue barely dents the cost. Shows pay $100–$150. Expenses never stop.
    And the hardest part? Everyone keeps telling him he’s “doing well.”
    In this episode, we break down:
    • Why streaming numbers don’t equal sustainability
    • The dangerous myth of “consistent releasing”
    • When investing in quality actually works — and when it doesn’t
    • How artists confuse progress with momentum
    • The difference between building leverage and burning cash
    • When to slow down, reassess, and change strategy


    This is not a motivational episode. It’s a reality check for artists who are serious about the business side of music.
    If you have a question about the music industry and want me to answer it not just to help you, but to help other artists in the same situation head over to https://MatthewRix.com and send it in. Please include as many details as possible so the answer can be useful to others.

    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    17 min
  • Why 81% of Artists Feel Invisible on Spotify

    Why 81% of Artists Feel Invisible on Spotify
    Jan 7 2026
    In this episode of the Music Business Mewsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a frustrated artist and it cuts straight to the heart of what artists are actually struggling with.

    This artist isn’t asking for motivation.
    They’re questioning whether most music business advice even applies anymore.

    They point out realities artists talk about constantly online:
    • The majority of artists never cross 1,000 monthly listeners
    • Streaming feels invisible, not empowering
    • Promotion eats time and money with little return
    • Support systems like distributors and royalty services are hard to reach
    • Artists do the work while everyone else takes a cut

    And the big question underneath it all:

    Are we being honest enough about how few artists actually “win”?

    In this episode, we talk about:
    • Why most artists feel invisible no matter how hard they work
    • The gap between strategy advice and real-world outcomes
    • Why “just keep releasing” isn’t a plan
    • Where business advice breaks down for artists without leverage
    • What realistic success actually looks like today
    • And how artists can make informed decisions instead of chasing myths

    This isn’t about killing dreams.
    It’s about replacing vague hope with clarity.

    If you’ve ever felt like the music industry advice you hear doesn’t match reality this conversation is for you.

    Have a question, critique, or experience from the music business you want to share?
    Send it to https://MatthewRix.com. Honest conversations help artists more than hype ever will.



    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    16 min
  • Is the Music Industry a Scam?

    Is the Music Industry a Scam?
    Jan 5 2026
    In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an artist who has given up on the music industry and doesn’t hold back.
    He believes the industry is a scam.
    He believes most artists never had a real chance.
    And he believes people like me are just selling hope dressed up as strategy.
    He’s angry, disillusioned, and convinced that the system isn’t broken it’s working exactly as intended.
    This isn’t a feel good episode.
    In this conversation, we talk about:
    • Whether the music industry is actually “winnable”
    • Why do so many talented artists feel used and discarded
    • The difference between education and hype
    • Whether the strategy actually changes outcomes
    • Who really benefits from streaming, content, and constant output
    • And where artists cross the line from optimism into delusion
    I don’t dismiss his frustration.
    I don’t mock it.
    And I don’t pretend the system is fair.
    But I do challenge the idea that understanding the business is the same thing as selling false hope.
    This episode is for artists who feel burned, skeptical, tired, or angry, and for anyone who’s questioning whether continuing is worth it at all.
    Have a question, criticism, or strong opinion about the music business?
    Go
    To https://MatthewRix.com. Honest disagreement is welcome the real conversations matter most.
    #musicbusiness #musicindustry #musicindustrysecrets #matthewrix


    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    20 min
  • How Music Managers Get Artists Signed

    How Music Managers Get Artists Signed
    Jan 2 2026
    In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from a 24-year-old music manager who’s doing everything right but still feels invisible.
    He’s managing a band he truly believes in.
    They’ve released music.
    They’ve toured regionally.
    They’re growing a small but engaged fanbase.
    But he’s running into the problem almost every young manager faces:
    How do you get artists noticed and eventually signed when you don’t have industry connections, money, or a roadmap?
    He’s hearing the same advice over and over:
    “Network more.”
    “Build relationships.”
    “Get in front of the right people.”
    But no one explains how to actually do that when you’re young, unknown, and trying not to look amateur in rooms full of veterans.
    In this episode, we break down:
    • What labels actually look for before they sign artists
    • Why most young managers focus on the wrong metrics
    • How managers build credibility without a resume
    • When chasing a label makes sense — and when it doesn’t
    • The difference between artist development and industry validation
    • How to avoid burning bridges early
    This episode is for:
    -young managers
    -self-managing artists
    -bands wondering why “being good” isn’t enough
    Have a question about the music business?
    Please send it in at https://MatthewRix.com include as many details as possible so the answer helps others too.
    #artistadvice #artistmanager #musicbusiness #musicbusinesstips #matthewrix


    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    26 min
  • New Year’s Message for 2026

    New Year’s Message for 2026
    Dec 31 2025
    Happy New Year from Matthew Rix. No music Business in this video, just a message of grateful and thankfulness with a softball story in the mix.

    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    14 min
  • Who Actually Makes Money in the Music Business?

    Who Actually Makes Money in the Music Business?
    Dec 26 2025
    In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from an independent artist who’s doing a lot “right” but still doesn’t understand how anyone actually makes money in the music business.
    He’s 29.
    He’s been releasing music for five years.
    He has 40,000 monthly listeners, songs with 500k+ streams, tours occasionally, sells merch, and licenses music for small projects.
    From the outside, it looks like success.
    From the inside, the numbers don’t add up.
    Streaming barely covers costs.
    Shows are inconsistent once travel is factored in.
    Merch only works in the right rooms.
    And every opportunity seems to come with another percentage taken off the top.
    Managers.
    Agents.
    Distributors.
    Marketing.
    And the question that keeps nagging him:
    Is the music itself ever supposed to be the main source of income?
    Or is that just something artists are told early on?
    In this episode, I break down:
    • Where money actually comes from for independent artists
    • Why “looking successful” doesn’t equal being sustainable
    • When building a team makes sense financially — and when it doesn’t
    • Why do so many artists survive on adjacent income
    • How to avoid building a career that stays busy but never builds leverage
    • What a realistic, grown-up music career actually looks like
    This is a practical conversation, not about fame or blowing up, but about stability, clarity, and understanding the business before it’s too late.
    Have a question about the music industry?
    Go to https://MatthewRix.com. Include as many details as possible so the answer can help you and others in the same situation.


    Listen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.
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    22 min