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Hosted by DEMO · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 25 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Welcome to the podcast for grown-up musicians. This is your creative playground — a space for any artist ready to build (or rebuild) a music career on their own terms.If you're balancing your music dreams with a day job, a family, or a full life, consider this your permission slip to ditch the grind-culture gurus, stop chasing algorithms, and start making smarter moves that actually fit your world.Hosted by Chris Robley — veteran music marketer, critically praised songwriter, and award-winning poet — with 18+ years at the forefront of the indie music industry (CD Baby, BandLab, The DIY Musician Podcast, and more).Scratch Track delivers short, sharp episodes packed with practical music promo strategies and no-BS advice. Because you don't have to hustle harder or play by broken rules. Trust your own damn path, and take fearless steps toward the career you deserve.Season 1 (released in 2025) is called "Muting the Noise: what actually works for grown-up musicians." Season 2 (comi
DEMO hosts SCRATCH TRACK: Build a Fearless Music Career, a music show with 25 episodes published.
A friend sent me a one-minute video he'd made about one of his musical influences. His delivery was natural. The vibe was cool. Nothing was "wrong" with it. But... it was gonna flop. Not because of anything in it, but be
Is it insane to release a full album these days? Probably. Smalltown Poets did it anyway — and guitarist Kevin Breuner sat down to explain why. Kevin's band has been putting out records since the 90s: major label, then i
For months now, everyone has been sharing this performance by Angine de Poitrine. And honestly? I get it. It’s strange, impressive, memorable, and impossible to ignore. But the music marketing world immediately turned it
The music industry is shifting fast — but are these changes actually helping independent artists? In this episode of Scratch Track: Reality Check , we break down the latest headlines shaping the musi
There’s a promo tactic floating around right now that promises buzz, engagement, and momentum. It’s called astroturfing . Fake fan accounts. Manufactured hype. Staged controversy. And while it might work for artists with
I see it almost every day — musicians accidentally posting their own songs as “Original Audio” on TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. It seems harmless enough. But it means your videos aren’t connected to the official tra
Is music distribution about to change... again? Is Spotify really on life support? And who is SXSW even for anymore? Welcome to the first edition of Reality Check , a new Scratch Track series where we take the biggest mu
Most musicians spend endless time worrying about tactics. Should you run ads? Post more on TikTok? Release singles instead of albums? But there’s a deeper question most artists quietly avoid. Not because it’s unimportant
There are three lies that keep showing up for musicians who are 35+. The first lie says there’s a universal marketing strategy that works for everyone… if you just find the right expert, the right blueprint, or the right
Season 2 of Scratch Track is all about making a simple but dramatic shift in your music career — unearthing your core TRUTH before you decide on specific promotion tactics. That's the theme: Truth Before Tactics! The mus
AI promises to save musicians time — but at what cost? In this episode, we look at the anxiety buried inside each AI opportunity, and how to tell which AI tools will serve your artistry, and which are quietly dulling you
All streaming platforms pay crap . But some crap is crappier than other crap. In this episode, I break down how much Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other streaming services actually pay "per stream" (
Every time a fan clicks something, your link shouldn’t just suggest a destination — it should open a world. Great links build loyalty. Lesser links risk losing attention — sometimes for a moment, sometimes for good. Most
Music distribution was supposed to be the great equalizer. Instead, it’s become a source of headaches, hidden fees, broken promises, and disappearing songs . Indie artists are asking: is the system itself broken? In this
If you’re sharing "plain" Spotify track links, you’re losing streams . A Spotify deep link is the smarter way to promote your music: it lets you flex your playlist placements and boost plays for your specific track. Lear
You stare at a blank screen. The cursor blinks. You know you should email your fans… but what the hell do you even write about when you don’t have a new song, tour, or video? That’s exactly what we’re tackling today. In
Let's put two real artist newsletters under the microscope for a “music email makeover.” With just a few simple tweaks, these emails could’ve gone from forgettable to fan-building gold. Unfortunately, they already arrive
Your emails shouldn’t read like random diary entries you toss into the void. They also shouldn't read like the front page of a newspaper. They should feel like treasure maps —leading your fans step by step from curiosity
Relying on Instagram likes and algorithm roulette isn’t a music career strategy — it’s a trap. In this episode, we’ll show you how to move your fans off social and onto an email list you actually own. You’ll learn how to
You’re sitting on a marketing goldmine — and you’re probably ignoring it. While social media dangles likes and algorithmic reach, this tool quietly outperforms it… by a lot. In this episode, I’ll show you the tool you sh
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SCRATCH TRACK: Build a Fearless Music Career is hosted by DEMO. The show is categorised under music (interviews) and has published 25 episodes.
SCRATCH TRACK: Build a Fearless Music Career has published 25 episodes.
SCRATCH TRACK: Build a Fearless Music Career regularly covers music, interviews, business. It sits in the music category, with a interviews focus.
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Episodes of SCRATCH TRACK: Build a Fearless Music Career average 24 minutes. a focused format where a clear narrative arc and tight preparation matter most.
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