Artist Coaching Podcast

Every number online can be bought now, streams, views, followers, even comments. So what can you still trust? We get into the one signal that doesn't lie: a real room reacting to a real DJ. It starts with a Sonar weekend where a friend didn't even notice three DJs change, until one of them shifted the whole room. From there we get into the James Blake post about a faked industry, AI training on artists' music, how bookers really value you, and why Thailand is pulling the biggest festivals right now. If you've ever felt behind because of someone's numbers, start here.Chapters:(00:00) Intro(00:37) Ibiza, Sonar, and the recap(03:37) Good DJ vs filler DJ(06:46) Just a filler for the night(08:51) Afro House and energy(13:06) AI training on artists' music(16:03) The James Blake post(18:41) Ads, boosts, and bought views(20:05) The dancefloor doesn't lie(20:52) How bookers value an artist(22:30) Tomorrowland Thailand(30:11) Heading to the Discord

SoundCloud just cut its connection to Hypeddit, and the follow-for-download trick a lot of producers leaned on is gone. We get into what happened, why nobody's sure of the real reason, and the bigger lesson underneath it: if one platform can break your growth overnight, you never really owned your audience. Then we get into the genre problem in electronic music, why there are now so many genres nobody can find anything, and why that might actually be a good thing. Honest talk for artists building something that lasts.(00:00) Intro and new format(03:51) What SoundCloud did to HypeEdit(05:40) Why you shouldn't depend on one platform(08:53) The real reason behind the change(12:36) Bootlegs, remixes, and music rights(17:49) Focus on originals and own your audience(21:26) The genre problem nobody can solve(27:28) Defining your own lane as an artist(31:16) Does Beatport or the artist decide?(32:27) Wrapping up

This week, it's a full community Q&A with Ralph from Bassjackers. We get into why going viral didn't convert to streams or listeners, how to think about social media when you don't have shows, and what to post when you're building from scratch. Ralph also talks about the mental weight of following up Mush Mush, whether he could rebuild his career from zero with only his skills, and how long it actually takes to shake off an old artist image. Honest answers to real questions from the Artist Coaching community.(00:00) Intro(05:50) Genre talk and the current state of dance music(19:00) Social media consistency and stress(22:00) Does going viral actually convert(28:10) Posting for the algorithm vs posting with purpose(35:40) What it takes to headline a main stage(37:00) The hardest period after your biggest track(38:50) Could you rebuild from zero(41:00) Shaking off the big room image(44:00) The show that changed Ralph's career(46:00) Fan questions and wrap up

Joey and Jay Hardway talk about the gap between online success and real career traction. Why does so much music and content feel the same right now? They break down the Purple Cow theory and what it actually means to stand out as a DJ or producer in 2025. Plus: content fatigue, why studio videos don't bring bookings, Jay's process for releasing music, and why the biggest skill might be knowing who not to listen to.(00:00) Intro and Jay's engagement news(03:45) Nameless Festival Italy(06:00) Posting every day(08:25) The Purple Cow theory(12:10) Nostalgia content and why it misses the point(26:20) Does comedy content lead to gigs?(31:20) Streams, support, and still sitting at home(46:00) Learning production through remakes(49:10) Jay's release process(55:00) What is music without any outside input?

Tiesto is going back to trance, and it might be the realest creative decision he's made in years. Joey and Jobke break down what that move says about authenticity and creative longevity, then get into Dom Dolla's content strategy, the Spotify and Universal AI deal and what it actually means for your music rights, and your questions from the Discord. Including how to find vocalists, whether hashtags still matter, and the production habits that shape your sound over time.(00:00) Intro(02:36) Joey ditches Spotify for YouTube Music(10:15) Dom Dolla's content strategy(19:00) Tiesto goes full trance(22:45) The Spotify and Universal AI deal(30:49) Community questions(31:28) How to find unique vocalists(37:35) Are hashtags still relevant(40:35) Production habits that define your sound(47:01) Which genre is trending next(51:00) Music cycles and the golden era(56:27) Outro

Are labels still relevant in 2026? Joey, Ralph (Bassjackers), and Jobke (Jay Hardway) dig into the real power shift happening in the music industry and what it means for working DJs and producers. They break down why traditional A&R is basically a spreadsheet job now, when a label still makes strategic sense, and why cool-by-association is still a real thing. Plus: does releasing music every single month for five years actually build a career? And how much does your environment shape the artist you become?(00:00) Intro(14:00) The death of the record deal(19:00) Labels lost their five core functions(21:00) When labels are still worth it(25:00) Modern A&R is a spreadsheet job(44:00) Releasing music every month for five years(47:00) The proximity effect

Fresh off the Artist Coaching Retreat, Joey, Jobke, and Ralph break down what actually stuck. The conversation covers why having a career vision matters more than most artists realize, what an A&R session revealed about the gap between good production and a real career, and how far ahead of the curve is too far. Plus: how to warm up for a headliner without burning the crowd out, what to do when a booking does not fit your sound, and the debate over how much of a DJ set should be pre-planned.(00:00) Intro and retreat recap(03:30) What we took away from the retreat(07:00) The production gap is smaller than you think(13:30) Why every artist needs a vision(18:00) Is vision something you develop or something you have(24:00) How different is too different(31:00) Warming up for a headliner(38:00) Pre-planned vs on-the-fly DJ sets(47:00) When the venue does not fit your sound(51:00) Masked DJ acts and branding(54:00) Retreat sign-ups and close

Every artist knows they need to release music. So why does the track keep sitting in the folder? This week, Joey and Ralph get into the real reasons behind procrastination and perfectionism and why the insecurity around releasing never actually goes away, even after 20 years in the industry.Plus a Diplo clip on the future of nightclub culture, and community questions on getting your first gig, approaching bigger artists, and what clubs actually look for when booking a DJ.(00:00) Intro(07:30) Why artists procrastinate on releasing(12:00) How to decide if a track is worth finishing(18:00) The insecurity that never disappears(24:00) Diplo on the future of nightclubs(31:00) Boiler room setups: trend or new standard?(38:00) Approaching artists you want to work with(44:00) How to get your first DJ gig(58:00) Clubs requiring 30k followers to book(01:00:00) Niche vs all-round DJ: what gets you booked?

Does it matter who actually made the music? In this episode, Joey, Ralph, and Jay get into the ghost production debate, the gap between what DJ sets look like online versus in the room, and how social media has replaced Spotify as the place where music actually gets discovered. Plus: tips on promoting a release for brand awareness, making the most of DJ support, and a retreat announcement with two heavyweight A&Rs.(00:00) Intro(07:18) AI in music: Claude on Spotify and Splice(09:50) How artists find new music in 2026(21:53) Instagram vs. reality: the DJ Levi clip(34:13) Is ghost production more common than ever?(42:23) Promoting a release for brand awareness(54:21) Getting support from Timmy Trumpet(57:46) Retreat