Category: sethwCategory: sethw

From “Gen Z’s College Radio Revival:”

“I’m 21. I grew up in the age of algorithms. The way music is right now scares me because of the rise of AI. Not even AI made music (I hate it) but even just ‘Daily Mix, 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5.’ It’s not made by someone. It’s made by an algorithm. I wish more of that stuff was person curated.”—Mari McLaughlin, WHRW (Binghamton)

“What attracts a lot of people to college radio is the idea of putting somebody on. Showing them a new song they haven’t seen before, outside of the algorithmic nature of streaming.”—Aidan Greenwell, WRFL (Kentucky)

I wrote “A Blackened Death Metal Band Has A College Radio Breakthrough” back in 2023:

“My understanding is, so the college radio stations started playing us and then one of these kids have like, graduated college and then started their own web radio stations. And so then they’re playing us on those, and then other people hear about it, and they’re playing us on their stations. And then some like real legitimate, like the one local radio station here, the Big Rock one has played us multiple times on it, which makes no sense to me.”

College radio will endure because the experience of music is youthful, it is life. I believe this because I see kids in Nirvana shirts, or hear them jamming Pearl Jam covers. Youthful zest isn’t flowing into Spotify, or other streaming music services, it’s a dead scene driving only by increasing profits for shareholders, and absolute race to the bottom. Meanwhile, “the kids” are still picking up guitars, playing with loop stations, setting up house shows.

Streaming music companies don’t stand a chance.

From a recent round of Email Guidance, talking to someone about how to get their music featured in video projects:

My buddy Nolan Green writes about one of his songs being used in a Netflix show, “Twenty-one years after the track was recorded.” Over TWO DECADES, and all because someone working on the show was a fan of his work.

Get your work featured in projects that are at your current level. Learn how to email the video makers and game creators who’ve only been at it for a year or two.

Learn how to communicate and work with the people at your current level.

Social media has us believing that if we start something, with enough finesse and cold emails and crossing our fingers people will be begging to work with us, but the fact is so many people working on the big projects already have people in mind, and chances are you’re not one of them.

So go work on projects with other people. It’s not “fake it til you make it,” it’s “do the work you want to get hired for.” Prove you can do it by already doing it.

Great question from Evolet Yvaine via Substack.

Q. I’m just curious if any of your interviews are with fiction authors. Or if you’ve had clients who are fiction authors and how they’re navigating getting off social media.

A. Honestly, no, but I bet if I had some more conversations with fiction writers we’d get a little closer to the answer. Like, there is just so much to explore in this area, and so many beliefs to bust through, and so many ideas to bat around, but it takes time, trust, and some good old faith to see it through.

If you’re interested, you can get a 30 day trial for just $10 and join any of my 3+ weekly Escape Pod Zoom calls to talk about this sort of stuff with other creative folks!

A friend of mine got a promotion at work. Talked to another friend who got a “word of mouth” referral, and it meeting a new client tomorrow. A local business owner is moving to a new location, and we talked about the headaches involved (and the return of their delicious chocolate chip cookies).

Was chatting with another friend who has wanted to start doing 1:1 client work, and they just got their first booking. Had a Zoom chat with someone I met on an Akimbo workshop call back in 2019, and we bounced around good vibes and stellar energy.

The more I think about Social Media Escape Club, the more I realize it’s all about the personal connections. It’s not just about the conversations, the encouragement, the support, the regular check ins, but the depth of those interactions.

Social media promotes more views, impressions, likes, and replies. It’s the glut of “happy birthday” comments left on those automated LinkedIn and Facebook posts, instead of the warmth of someone who texts or calls you on your big day.

Lots of well paid people sit in meetings all day plotting new ways to keep us exhausted and tied to the idea that without social media we’re nothing. Their livelihood (and two summer homes) depend on you making another post, using another hashtag, editing another vertical video.

They want you lugging a mic stand into the woods instead of playing a gig on a Tuesday night.

If you’re not spending time on their platform, why would they help you promote your gig? That’s why they want your “native uploads.” You’re rewarded with likes and “views” from people you don’t know, can’t meet, and maybe don’t even exist.