How Do Independent Musician Make Money?
Hi Friends,
Last year when I began writing this newsletter, I was having a blast sharing everything I’ve learned in my 20 years in the music industry.
In broad strokes: You don’t need to be on social media to build a dedicated fanbase. You don’t need to play the corporate record industry’s game. You don’t need to be famous to get paid well for releasing and performing your original music.
But I kept getting the same message from you all:
Cass, all this is great info. But how do I put it all together? Where do I even begin?
So, despite having a general distaste for structured learning and unmedicated ADHD (not related in any way), I began putting together a framework for everything I believe artists need to know in order to build a successful independent music career.
I tested this coursework in real time with the guinea pigs incredible, patient artists in my Music Career Incubator and updated it almost daily over the last ten months…
Anyway, it’s finished now.
I’m so proud to introduce you to my complete Music Career Development Coursework. Here she is:
Artist Development & Branding
If you can’t make a room full of 20 people lose their minds, no amount of promotion will make your music career take off. Tune out the noise. Tap into the emotional charge of your work. Become the artist you were born to be.
Once your artist purpose is dialed, creating an instantly-recognizable and undeniable brand becomes easy and fun!
In this course, you’ll:
Identify your true artist archetype (one that's actually connected to your art)
Easily design an unmistakable artist image
Wield your pain and creative joy to write songs people fall in love with
Write an effective industry-class artist bio in under an hour
Craft your artist brand voice so writing social posts becomes easy and fun
Take highly expressive artist photos
Finally understand your true core offering as an artist
Get the workbook now for only $40!
Independent Music Career Protocol
You’re sick of social media and streaming, but how do you build a real independent music career in 2025??? This four-part protocol includes the following:
Get Organized
Build a great EPK and learn to send industry-standard emails. This level is a primer that prepares you for the work you’ll do in the following three sections.
Grow Your Audience
Build your regional draw through strategic booking. Open for bigger bands, grow your email list, sell tickets and merch. No time off work required.
Promote Releases
Develop systems for getting the word out as you level up through building and leveraging long-term relationships with local and regional media outlets.
Monetize Your Audience
Harnessing the energetic value of your music, you’ll learn to create opportunities for fans to support your business. Build easily-maintained fan communities, make merch people can’t wait to buy, and learn how and when to sell to your audience.
Get this practical, step-by-step course for only $40 and don’t waste another moment burning out on social media or fretting over your streaming stats.
Again, I’m so proud and happy to be able to make this available to all of you. I’ve wanted for so long to be able to just download my experience into the brains of artists I love and now that’s a reality!
Can’t wait to see all the magic that you make with this work.
Sending an insane amount of love,
Cassidy
