Is It Insane to Still Make Albums?

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 indie, then EPs and holiday releases, remixes, and more. That's four decades of watching how albums get made, marketed, heard, and measured. So we used that vantage point to ask the bigger question: what is an album even FOR in 2026? We get into how the whole game has changed decade by decade, and then into the real stuff — finishing a record when life shows up hard (distance, loss, a kid in a car accident, a band scattered across the country), the strange job of speaking for a whole band when you're the one person holding the phone, and why he's chosen slower, story-driven promotion over chasing platforms his fans don't actually use. If you've ever wondered whether a real album is still worth the effort — creatively, financially, emotionally — this one's for you. 🎧 Scratch Track is a podcast for busy, middle-aged musicians who still take their music seriously — people still making good work, who don't want to chase trends, go broke, or burn out. 🎧 5 Artist Branding Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) If you want a clearer artistic identity and message, grab the guide here: → https://www.musicdemo.org/branding Ready to go deeper? My course Unbreakable walks you step-by-step through the process of defining your artist identity, clarifying your message, and turning listeners into lifelong fans with a future-proof brand. Learn more here: → https://www.musicdemo.org/unbreakable About to release some new music? 👉 Get the "Music Release Checklist Your Distributor Hopes You'll NEVER Read" → https://www.musicdemo.org/music-release-checklist Want help brainstorming a great lead magnet for YOUR music? 👉 Get the free list: "25 proven list-building ideas for musicians" → https://www.musicdemo.org/list-building Thinking of removing your music from Spotify? 👉 Use our decision-tree first → https://www.musicdemo.org/leave-spotify