Why the Indie Artists With a Team Move Faster (and How to Build Yours) | Neue.Indie Ep. 20

The artists moving faster than you aren't more talented, and they don't have more time. They just aren't doing it alone. In Episode 20, Deraj and Frank Bentley get into how to build the right circle around your music, on purpose. A Dominican University study found people who wrote their goals down, shared them and checked in weekly hit about 76% of them, compared with 43% for those going it alone. And per a Music Support survey, 77% of people who make music for a living say they regularly feel lonely. They cover three honest truths. One: a DIY career is lonely by design. Solitude makes the work, but isolation stalls the career. Two: followers aren't your friends. Five real ones will move you further than 50,000 followers. Three: community won't happen by accident. Build your circle like you're hiring for a role, set a standing rhythm, network laterally instead of chasing the 100K artist, and fill your gaps with people whose strengths cover your weak spots. Your move this week: reach out to five artists on your level, ask for nothing, and be a fan first. Plus: a Heat Check on four comedy classics, audiobook bundling and your royalties, the Street Fighter trailer, the iPod's return without Apple, the GTA radio stations, and games bringing in real artists. 🎙 Hosted by Deraj →   / justderaj   🎙 Co-hosted by Frank Bentley →   / itsfrankbentley   📲 Follow the podcast →   / rep.indie   Subscribe →    / @rep_indie   Join rep.indie → http://repindie.club/ Got a win or a question? → https://forms.clickup.com/8589472/f/8... --- Chapters 0:00 77% of people who make music for a living feel lonely 1:13 Welcome to Episode 20 and who we are 2:29 Coming up + check-ins 4:22 Three honest truths about a lonely career 5:28 Truth 1: A DIY career is lonely by design 7:03 Go fast alone, go far together 8:33 Introverts, extroverts and the writing room 10:31 You were invited into the room for a reason 12:41 Solitude vs the echo chamber 14:05 Truth 2: Followers aren't your friends 15:25 Five real ones beat 50,000 followers 17:07 A million followers and no sales 18:24 The impromptu mastermind 21:28 When online connection becomes real 23:11 Real relationships start when you can't benefit them 24:55 Truth 3: Community won't happen by accident 25:54 Build your circle like you're hiring 27:00 Stop networking up, build laterally 28:05 The YouTube Formula mastermind story 30:45 Value looks different at every level 32:32 Fill your gaps on purpose 34:14 One intro from a friend 35:49 Barter your gaps: producers, photographers, video 37:12 Finding collaborators: a directory for indie artists 39:43 Indie doesn't mean alone 40:39 Your move: reach out to five artists 42:03 Just be a fan first 44:59 The team you build is the story 46:06 Heat Check: one comedy for a whole year 53:46 Are music royalties in trouble? 59:37 The pivot is ownership 1:01:33 Film: the Street Fighter trailer 1:05:12 Culture & tech: the iPod is back without Apple 1:14:09 Gaming: GTA radio stations revealed 1:21:46 Sync: games are bringing in real artists 1:26:49 Outro --- Resources Mentioned Music Support survey: 77% of people who make music for a living regularly feel lonely Dominican University goals study (Dr. Gail Matthews): 76% vs 43% The YouTube Formula by Derral Eves Instagram broadcast channels, used to bring fans closer SoundBetter, for finding producers, engineers and collaborators Claude, used by Deraj to build apps Heat Check movies: Step Brothers, The Hangover, Tropic Thunder, This Is the End --- #NeueIndie #IndependentArtist #MusicBusiness #MusicCareer #ArtistCommunity #Networking