top of page
MusicBiz News

Inside Kato’s Private Briefing With Spotify: What Indie Artists Need to Know
In a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Spotify engages with creators, producer-entrepreneur Kato the Producer joined the No Labels...


At SXSW, Industry Leaders Break Down the Future of Music Monetization
At the 2024 SXSW festival, a group of industry insiders gathered for a timely conversation on the evolving role of technology in...

From Piracy to the Metaverse: Napster Plots Its Crypto Comeback
Napster, the notorious peer-to-peer file-sharing service that once upended the music industry, has been acquired by digital media and...

UnitedMasters’ Blueprint AI Helps Artists Plan, Promote, and Perform
Independent artists are taking more control of their careers than ever before, and UnitedMasters is making that process even more...

Streaming Success or Industry Scam? Spotify Exec Talks Royalties, Playlists, and AI
In an era where streaming dominates the music industry, transparency around artist payouts and platform policies remains a hot-button...


SXSW: From Streaming to AI: Legendary Music Lawyer Donald Passman on Music’s Evolution
At this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, one of the most anticipated discussions in the music sector was the featured session,...

Snoop Dogg Walks Away from Spotify, Embraces Web3 with Tune.FM
Snoop Dogg has never been afraid to shake things up, and his latest move proves just that. The hip-hop mogul and tech-savvy entrepreneur...

Blacc Sam Talks Nipsey Hussle’s Unreleased Music & the Marathon’s Next Chapter
Blacc Sam, brother of the late Nipsey Hussle and co-founder of The Marathon brand, sat down with Power 106 LA to discuss major business...

How Social Media and Streaming Keep Some Songs Alive Forever
The world of music streaming has brought some unexpected surprises. While fans might assume that Michael Jackson or Prince dominate...

How to Promote Your Song for $1,000: No Labels Necessary Breaks It Down
For independent artists trying to break into the industry, budgeting for promotion can be tricky. A $1,000 marketing budget might seem...

SpaceyMusic.com Just Launched, and It’s Redefining the Way Artists Buy Beats
In an industry where producers and artists are constantly looking for ways to connect and monetize their work, a new platform is changing...


How Ashley Ventura Builds Superstars, One Tour at a Time
Ashley Ventura has built her name in the world of touring, navigating the high-stakes, fast-moving industry as one of the most...

DJ Mustard: No Gimmicks, Just Music—Inside His Biggest Year Yet with BigBoyTV
DJ Mustard sat down with BigBoyTV to discuss his role in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, the meteoric rise of “Not Like Us,”...

Editorial: Why Suno’s CEO Doesn’t Get Musicians—And Why That Matters
When I first heard Suno CEO Mikey Shulman’s comments about music-making not being enjoyable, my first thought was: this guy has never...

R&B Singer Kennedy Ryon’s Self-Funded Tour Proves the Power of Fan Support
Independent artist Kennedy Ryon is rewriting the playbook for rising musicians. In a time when touring costs are skyrocketing, the...

Kendrick Lamar Reflects on Music, Identity, and the Super Bowl Moment
Getty images Kendrick Lamar doesn’t do many interviews, so when he sat down with Nadeska and Ebro Darden ahead of his Super Bowl...

Kanye West and the Future of AI in Music: A New Creative Revolution
Kanye West has never been one to follow the rules. Whether it’s redefining the sound of hip-hop, reshaping fashion, or challenging the...

UMG and Spotify Strike a Deal: What Does it Mean for Independent Musicians?
Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) recently announced a new multi-year agreement that promises "better payouts for artists and...

Fanbase CEO Calls Out Black Media, Champions Content Creators as the New Media
Isaac Hayes III, the CEO of Fanbase, recently joined B High ATL for a candid and in-depth conversation that transcended the typical tech...

Rakim Launches AI-Powered Fintech Platform for Indie Artists
Rakim, a name synonymous with hip-hop royalty, is breaking new ground in the world of finance. The legendary MC, known for...


No Labels Necessary Offers 4 Music PR Strategies for 2025
The No Labels Necessary team released a quick video outlining four music PR strategies for 2025. These strategies include mic drop...

SoundCloud Exec. Drea Jackson Offers Indie Artists a Blueprint for Success
Drea Jackson, Senior Manager of Artist and Label Relations at SoundCloud, recently joined the "One More Time" podcast to discuss the...

From Indie Hustle to Major Deal: Zillionaire Doe Signs to CMG
Dallas-born rapper Zillionaire Doe is making major moves, officially signing to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG). The 23-year-old...

Timbaland Breaks Down How A.I. Is Shaping His Future on No Labels Necessary
Timbaland is no stranger to innovation. From creating iconic beats for Missy Elliott and Aaliyah to shaping the sounds of Justin...

The Evolution of Timbaland: Embracing AI and Redefining Creativity in Music
Timbaland, the legendary producer who has crafted hits for decades, continues to redefine his career and the music industry by embracing...

Indie Artists Are Turning to Fanbase as Social Media Shifts
With the looming potential of a TikTok ban in the U.S. and a growing focus on monetization in the creator economy, Fanbase is positioning...

How to Break an Artist in 2025: Insights from No Labels Necessary
Breaking an artist in today’s music industry isn’t just about getting streams—it’s about embedding the artist into the cultural...

KP’s DatPiff Story: Building the Mixtape Platform That Defined an Era
Introduction: A Mixtape Era Staple For countless fans, DatPiff wasn’t just a website; it was a gateway to a golden era of hip-hop. I...

Hip Hop, R&B, and NFTs: A New Era of Creative Control
“The Boss” Gold Death Row Lil Bitcoin. Courtesy of Crypto.com In 2025, the intersection of music and NFTs continues to transform how...

Inside Empire: A Day in the Life of a Label Content Producer
It’s not every day that we get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what goes on at a record label—even more so when it’s one as cool and...

Streamed Out: The Struggles of Indie Artists on Spotify and DistroKid
The world of independent music is facing a storm of challenges, and recent revelations from Curtiss King TV have shed light on the...

Music Industry Rallies to Support Those Impacted by Los Angeles Wildfires
In the wake of the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, the music community has mobilized to provide much-needed relief...

Lupe Fiasco's AI-Powered Radio Station: Endless Innovation or Cultural Betrayal?
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping every creative industry, hip-hop stands at a unique crossroads. At the center of...

Spotify's AI-Powered Future: Innovation, Exploitation, and the Independent Artist Dilemma
As streaming giant Spotify embraces the era of artificial intelligence (AI), a stark divide is emerging between those who see the...

No Labels, No Excuses: 7 Marketing Mistakes Artists Must Avoid in 2025
In an era where the music industry evolves daily, independent artists face constant pressure to market themselves effectively. Enter No...

Independent Artists Push Back Against Spotify’s New Royalty Rules
Spotify's updated payout terms, set to take effect, yesterday actually, Jan 2, 2025, have reignited long-standing frustrations among...

Natalie Prosper talks the Dedication Required to Manage a Grammy-Winning Artist like Lucky Daye
Belief in an Artist Natalie Prosper first met Lucky Daye at Harmony Samuels' studio in Los Angeles in 2010, where he was working as a...

Data, Dollars, and Deals: Sherrese Clarke Breaks Down the Future of Music Rights at Trapital Summit
At the recent Trapital Summit , industry leaders, investors, and innovators gathered to discuss the evolving landscape of music rights,...

SoundCloud CEO Discusses Profitability, Superfans, and the Future of Music at Trapital Summit
In a candid conversation at the Trapital Summit, SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton offered a deep dive into the platform's journey from...

Def Jam CEO Tunji Balogun on Leading the Iconic Label into the Future and the Current State of Hip Hop
In an illuminating conversation at the Trapital Summit on the state of hip-hop, Def Jam CEO Tunji Balogun opened up about his journey,...

The New Rules of Music: Curtis King on Doing It Yourself
In an era where the music industry often feels dominated by algorithms and major label politics, Curtis King is charting his own course....

Eva: Transforming the Way Artists and Entertainers Connect with High-Paying Gigs
For many independent artists and entertainers, the path to sustainable income can feel elusive. Enter Eva, a groundbreaking platform...

Fanbase: Where Engagement Meets Earnings for Creator
Isaac Hayes III, the founder and CEO of Fanbase, recently joined Earn Your Leisure (EYL) to share his vision for creators’ empowerment....

Turning Your Voice Into Instruments: Imitone Makes Music Creation Seamless
In a groundbreaking move to bridge the gap between human expression and digital music production, Imitone is revolutionizing the way...

Musiversal: Empowering Artists and Musicians in the Digital Era
In an industry where access to professional-grade music production can often feel out of reach, Musiversal is flipping the script....

How Canvas Makes the SoundsLikeWater A.I. P.R. Tool an Artist's Best Ally
At The Wave , we understand how crucial storytelling is for artists, producers, and music managers striving to make their mark. In...

OpenAI's Sora and Canvas Updates: Game-Changing Tech for Independent Artists and Producers
OpenAI recently unveiled two groundbreaking tools that are set to redefine the creative landscape: Sora, their video generation software,...

Why Every Song Deserves 30 Pieces of Content, According to No Labels Necessary
On an episode of the One More Time Podcast , the No Labels Necessary team, led by music marketing experts Sean "Brandman" and Jakori,...

DJ Hed breaks down the Science behind a Hit Records
While on the set of Figgmunity World, DJ Hed delved into the intricacies of crafting a hit record and shared his personal philosophy on...

Lessons for Indie Artists from Drake's Potential Independence: Streaming, Branding, and Label Dynamics
In the latest episode of the No Labels Necessary Podcast, the hosts dive into a compelling thought experiment: what would happen if Drake...
bottom of page