Episode 36: Beyond Vanity Metrics: Monetizing Music with Lil Cross

For the entire transcript of the interview, please click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Our special guest for today is a rapper and producer from Detroit, Michigan. He is known for his songs such as "DTW", "No Cap" and "Money Moves". He has collaborated with artists such as Big Sean, Tee Grizzley, and Sada Baby. He is the founder and CEO of the company  Dead to the World. They empower artists to take control and create careers for themselves in the music industry through education. They’ve helped dozens of creatives transition into becoming full-time and offer services that assist in doing so.  What You’ll Learn In this episode, Lil Cross shared value bombs about vanity metrics and how ROI is the top priority. He will also make us face the reality that the work of soothing and providing value to clients is not music. It is not making music. It is making content. It is communicating and creating products and services that are money grabs but are genuinely beneficial to the clients. Things We Discussed A vanity metric refers to a measurement or statistic that may appear impressive or give the illusion of success but doesn't provide meaningful insights or contribute directly to achieving specific goals. Vanity metrics are often surface-level indicators that don't necessarily reflect the true value or impact of a business or endeavor. Instead, they focus on numbers that might make someone look good or popular without necessarily translating into tangible results or profitability. Examples of vanity metrics in the context of music streaming could be the number of followers, likes, or streams without considering the actual revenue generated or the engagement and loyalty of the audience. Connect with Lil Cross Website Facebook Instagram Apple Music SoundCloud Spotify Connect with Jason Tonioli Website  Facebook YouTube  Instagram Spotify Pandora Amazon Music Apple Music