The Helping Musicians Podcast

The person at Meta who scrolls through emerging artists’ feeds deciding who to work with 👀Today’s guest is the brilliant Christina Theodoropoulou - job title 'Music Artist Global Partnerships @ Meta' - the person busting artists’ Instagram myths over coffee at the office.We get into all sorts of value on this show - why repeatable beats viral, trial reels straight from the source, plus the Facebook audiences most artists are sleeping on...OUR INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/Episode Features:Why chasing a viral hit is the wrong goal, and how to find a format you can repeat by digging through your last few months of postsHow to go wide with crowd-pleasers and deep with the small stuff (soundchecks, pre-show rituals) that feels mundane to you but fascinates fansWhy you need to actually post your music, and what Christina thinks when she’s five posts deep on your profile and still hasn’t heard a songThe music sticker trick that gets your carousels into the Reels tab on ExploreWhy mystery is overrated when you’re an emerging artist, and how Yungblud stays cool while posting constantlyWhy she’s never once seen an artist post too much, and the quick test that proves even your biggest fans miss half your postsWhy Facebook might be the platform you’re sleeping on, from monetising your page to an artist getting stopped in the street in IndonesiaThe two smartest ways to use trial reels, including how one artist used them to pick up a whole wave of Greek followersWhy an artist singing while pushing a bike up a hill is the perfect visual hook, and why you might be overthinking your text onesHow to use your three pinned posts properly, and why your release from three years ago shouldn’t still be up thereNew episodes every Monday x

A manager who slid into his TikTok DMs, and a jar of salsa that rotted under a van seat for seven weeks 👀Today’s guest is the brilliant Marlon Funaki - singer, songwriter, freshly signed to a major (and seeing the positives of it), and all round cool dude.We get into all sorts of value on this show - why he took his time signing that label deal, how to build a team you can actually trust, plus why you should never, ever leave food in a tour van...MARLON FUNAKI INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/marlonfunaki/OUR INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/Episode Features:- Why making the music you actually like beats making music to please a crowd, cos people see right through it- Why “make it as an artist or bust” is a myth, when scoring films and producing for others are proper careers too- Why Marlon spent two and a half to three years signing his major label deal, and the one thing he wouldn’t budge on- How handing the admin to a label (accounts, bookings) can give you more creative time, not less- The manager who slid into his TikTok DMs while working in commercial insurance, and how he earned Marlon’s trust- Why Marlon sold his own merch for nearly two years, and when it was time to bring help on the road- Why you should pick your tour van crew like you’re moving in with them, cos you basically are- The seven-week-old salsa jar that stunk out an entire tour, and the van rule it created- Why stepping away to go fishing or play golf is what gets Marlon writing again when overwhelm kills the inspiration- What kept him going through the “did I lose my touch?” days, and why pushing through is what separates the artists who make it

No guest this week. Turns out everyone blocked us 💀Sam and Mark here, back w our first solo show in about a year.We get into all sorts of value on this one - Sam on getting trial reels right, Mark on how to stop AI music doing your head in, plus why the Musicians’ Union once tried to get synths banned...SAM INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/samnahirny/MARK INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/markdel1l/OUR INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠Episode Features:- What trial reels actually are, and why testing on total strangers beats feedback from your mates and your mum- Why posting a song you believe in 200 times isn’t as mad as it sounds, once every variation and cross-post counts- The “encore reels” hack everyone abused when trial reels launched, and why Meta shut it down fast- The one-button edit (and a couple of others) that gets a variation through as a brand new video- Why just changing the on-screen text doesn’t cut it anymore, and how many trial reels a day is pushing your luck- How to write on-screen hooks for people who’ve never heard of you and are one thumb-flick from scrolling past- Instagram Plus explained - why the top tier at nearly £500 a month is a hard no, and the few-quid option that nearly tripled Sam’s story views. NAHIRNY CORRECTION: Meta Verified is the name of the more expensive ones.- Why paying to reach your own followers is annoying but still cheaper than buying your mate a pint to come to your gig- Radio, cassettes, synths, Napster - the long list of tech that was going to “kill music”, and what actually happened- Mark’s AI survival manifesto for new artists, and why nobody’s queueing 10 hours outside Knebworth for a Suno trackx

Today's guest is the wonderfully honest Jake Minch - a seriously special songwriter and a proper artist's artist, the kind other musicians can't stop sharing.We get into all sorts of value on this show - how to spot the "parasites" whose advice comes with an agenda, the importance of staying honest, plus why you can smell it when someone walks into a session wanting something...JAKE MINCH INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/jakeminch/OUR INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/Episode Features:- Why keeping a "horribly honest" journal might be the most useful career tool a young artist has- How listeners can smell when they're being sold to, and why over-explaining your songs on TikTok kills them- What making his first album with Tony Berg taught Jake about staying curious ("the smartest people you know know nothing")- How to tell gut instinct from the little devil on your shoulder when the advice starts flying- Why walking into a session wanting something is the quickest way to ruin it, and when to go get lunch instead- The three tests every Jake Minch song has to pass before it comes out- How Jake wrote about the heaviest thing in his life for himself first, not for an audience- Why the golden buzzer sob story era is "tired" and what honest songwriting sounds like instead- Why a really good day usually means a mid show, and the post-show crash nobody warns you about- Why Jake would rather "assume he's poor and submerge in art" than read his own press

Today's guest is the endlessly wise Pat Kirch - drummer and founding member of The Maine, and the brains behind some of the smartest fan-community moves in modern music.We get into all sorts of value on this show - building a fan base that actually cares, the truth about the 1000 true fans theory, plus why the band edited every music video on their latest album two days before release...THE MAINE INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/themaineband/⁠OUR INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠Episode Features:Why 50 people buying tickets and 15 of them grabbing a t-shirt is a proper career starting point, not a failureHow the famous "1,000 true fans" essay plays out in real life, 20 years into a band's careerWhy trying to reach everybody means connecting with nobody - and what going deep with a small fan base actually looks likeHow MySpace messages and post-show dinners with fans grew into 8123, a community with its own festival and tattoosWhy fans connect harder when they get to watch you evolve, and why looking a bit DIY early on works in your favourHow building each album into its own era, colours and all, helps fans tie your music to chapters of their own livesWhy every music video from the new album was edited two days before it came out, and why that's the whole pointThe Tour Next Door - why the band's tenth album tour skips the big cities and plays the towns next door insteadWhat playing free shows in mall car parks did as a thank you for ten years of fan supportWhy nothing in your career is as make or break as it feels in the momentNew episodes every Monday x

girli signed her first record deal at 17. She got told she'd be mega famous within a few months, then watched that label try to smooth all the messy, punky bits out of her. Ten years in she runs her own show, and she's very open on here about what she'd do differently.Loads in this one about picking a team who actually get you over the team with the biggest names on their roster.Plus how to build an artist world out of lyrics you've already written, and why merch is the only reason her tours don't lose money. And the best merch idea we've had on the show yet, involving ten Polaroids and a broken drum head.GIRLI INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/girlimusic/OUR INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/Episode Features:What girli wishes she'd known on the day she signed her first deal at 17Why the only person who can ever be an expert in you, is youHow to work out what "sticking to your guns" means when you're still figuring yourself outWhy the people around you work for you, not the other way roundHow big promises and impressive rosters distract you from finding the right peopleThe case for a hungry manager over a famous oneBuilding an artist world without forcing it, by writing first and finding the themes afterWhy "brand" doesn't have to be a horrible corporate wordHow asking your fans questions gives you real insight and pulls them closer at the same timeWhy being open about your goals, wins and struggles turns listeners into people who are rooting for youWhat makes merch sell to someone who doesn't even know your music yetWhy limited, weird and one-off merch beats a logo slapped on a t-shirtNew episodes every Monday x

Manila Killa doesn't stay in one box. 👀He went from Hotel Garuda to making outrageous Euro dance techno as Chromebodies, and rn he's deep in his drum and bass era. No rules to any of it, which is kind of the point.The upward trend you see online is a highlights reel with all the friction edited out, and he's v open about that. He signed things early on he probably shouldn't have. And he'll still tell you to get a good manager before a lawyer, which is the opposite of what a lot of our guests say.We talked about how to actually get in a room with someone you rate. Turns out he reads his DMs. Most people do. The message just can't be copy paste.Then touring, where he gets blunt. Promoters are booking a brand, not just a producer. And the 4am hotel room after the high wears off is coming for everybody, so have a plan for it.Also in here: building a character so the comments can't reach you, why the song you love flops and the one you're unsure about flies, the LA driving set, and why replying to every message is the whole community strategy.MANILA KILLA INSTA - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/manilakillamusic/?hl=enOUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Features:- Why success in music is never a straight line, even when someone’s career looks effortless from the outside.- How to work out what “success” actually means for you when there are so many different ways to build a life in music.- Why choosing the right manager can completely change your career, and what Manila Killa learned from signing the wrong things early on.- How to get over the fear of collaboration, protect your ego less, and focus on what’s actually best for the song.- Why cold DMs genuinely can work, and what makes Manila Killa actually want to reply to a new artist.- How trying totally different genres and side projects helped him grow creatively instead of boxing himself into one sound.- Why good music alone is no longer enough to sell tickets, and how branding and personality affect whether people actually want to see you live.- How creating a “character” around an artist project can make branding easier and protect your mental health from online criticism.- Why once a song is released, it no longer belongs to you, and how to stop letting streams decide whether you’re proud of it.- How simply replying, participating and actually talking to people can turn an audience into a real community.New episodes every Monday x

An epic show this week - Sammy Rae of Sammy Rae & The Friends joins us to break down how you build a fanbase of proper diehards - the money you actually need saved before going full-time, and why getting paid to play keys for kids was one of the smartest industry moves she made.We also get into the Discover Weekly night that kicked everything off (26,000 streams while she slept, zero marketing plan) and the album she cut at the iconic Sun Studios in Memphis - live takes only, no editing allowed. Her advice is blunt in the best way: you're the only person who can't fail at being yourself, so stop trying to be anyone else.If bums in seats matter more to you than follower counts, this one's a beaut.SAMMY RAE NSTA - https://www.instagram.com/sammyraemusic/?hl=enOUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Features:- Why having some money behind you early on can help you pay collaborators, rehearse properly and build a team that wants to grow with you.- How to know when it is finally time to quit the day job and go full-time in music.- Why your “in-between” job should ideally still build useful skills, contacts or community around your real goal.- How buying someone a coffee and asking to pick their brain can be more valuable than chasing mythical industry connections.- Why authenticity beats blindly following short-form trends, and how fake-feeling content can actually work against your career.- The difference between building big follower numbers and building fans who actually buy tickets, travel to shows and stick around.- Why artists should stop wasting time trying to become a weaker version of somebody else and commit fully to what only they can do.- How Sammy Rae & The Friends used the limitations of Sun Studios to create a raw record with no endless editing, punching in or perfectionism.- Why a great live show is an exchange of energy, and how to make every person in the room feel like you are looking them in the eye.- How the band built a sustainable career by prioritising community, authentic expression and putting actual bodies in seats over chasing vanity metrics.New episodes every Monday x

Sometimes, when trying to describe these episodes for ya, it is easiest just to use one of the taglines the artist has, and this is one of those examples: "The Happiest Band on Earth" - The 502s are today's guests.So many fun, interesting topics covered on this one - the importance of being proud of the music you make, why if you truly love a song, you'll never get bored of it, the importance of community. PLUS why having a TikTok alarm might be really good for you. 👀THE 502s INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/the502s/ OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Features:- How The 502s built a world fans understand almost instantly.- Why writing songs you’re genuinely proud of matters more than chasing “the one”.- How finding the right bandmates can completely change the journey.- Why “the happiest band on earth” became more than just a good tagline.- How to promote your music without feeling like you’re selling your soul.- Why 'Your Nonsense Makes Sense' connected.- How one clear idea, “your weird best friend”, gave fans a reason to share.- Why posting the same song again and again is not the crime artists think it is.- How replying, hanging out, and showing up builds real community.- Why enjoying the little moments might be the thing that keeps the whole career alive.New episodes every Monday x

Arguably one of the most interesting episodes we've ever had on the show - todays guest has made a living from the music world in lots of fascinating ways - and is very open about those income streams and what you can learn from those in this episode.Robot Koch - who we speak to today as part of his Foam & Sand Project - is an incredibly talented musician - and one of the most important names in ambient / experimental music He's also worked alongside some of the most important names in the neuroscience/ mental wellbeing in music space, and that's just a teeny tiny insight into the cool experiences he talks about on todays show.FOAM & SAND INSTA - https://www.instagram.com/foam_and_sand/ OUR INSTA - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/helpingmusicianspod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Features:- How to stay curious enough to find the version of music that actually fits you- Why your career should be an expression of your life, not something that destroys it- What burnout from late-night club shows taught Robert about building a healthier path- How he turned planetarium dome shows into an immersive new live format and revenue stream- The difference between making music for sync briefs and getting your own artist music placed- Why music supervisors often want to feel like they discovered you, not like you spammed them- How side projects can give you freedom to experiment without overthinking your main artist brand- Why collaborations can help streaming algorithms understand where your music belongs- How to think strategically after you’ve made something honestly from the heart- Why his new album Quieter is intentionally built to calm the nervous system in a noisy worldNew episodes every Monday x