MusicBoost

This week, we lost an absolute legend and titan of the music business.

Dolly Parton is the gold standard for building a career in music. 🦋

Not just because she was an extraordinary songwriter.

Not just because she could write a song like “Jolene” or “I Will Always Love You.”

But because she understood the business.

She started writing songs as a child. Built her career from the ground up. Started her own publishing company. Held onto her copyrights. Built businesses far beyond music.

And when Elvis Presley wanted to record “I Will Always Love You” but his manager wanted a piece of the publishing?

Dolly said no.

It broke her heart. She cried all night. But she kept her copyright.

As she put it: “You have to take care of your business.”

And honestly, that might be one of the biggest lessons any musician can take from her:

🎵 Write your songs.
📚 Understand your rights.
💰 Know where your money comes from.
📝 Read the contracts.
🏷️ Own what you can.
💼 Build beyond the music.
❤️ And never lose sight of why you started.

And here’s the bit I really love…

Dolly never confused being kind with giving away what she worked for.

She was one of the most generous people in music, giving more than 300 million free books to children through her Imagination Library.

She didn’t have to choose between being generous and being smart about business.

She did both.

She understood that protecting what you create doesn’t make you greedy. It gives you the ability to build something bigger, help more people and actually have control over your own career.

She proved you can be an artist AND understand the business.

You can be generous AND protect your work.

You can build something successful AND stay true to yourself.

She didn’t just build a music career.

She built a life around her work, protected what she created, and used her success to give back.

For generations of musicians, Dolly Parton wasn’t just a star.

She was the blueprint. 🦋

What does it actually take to make it in music?
We put that question to David “Beno” Benveniste - the man behind System of a Down, Korn, Deftones and Avenged Sevenfold, and one of the most influential managers in the game.
His answer wasn’t streams or follower counts. It was something a lot harder to fake.
We covered what he looks for in an artist, the red flags that make him walk, and what actually separates the ones who last from the ones who fade.
Full interview - link in bio. 🔗
Save this one.

Olivia Rodrigo announced a festival.
All-women lineup.
Sold out in 30 minutes.
And people are acting surprised.
Like she didn’t spend the last 4 years making fans feel like her songs were written specifically for them, alone in their bedroom.
That’s it.
That’s the whole game.
Not virality.
Not algorithms.
Belonging.
Make people feel like your music understands them and they won’t just stream the song. They’ll show up for everything after.
Festival.
Merch drop.
Tour.
Random Tuesday post.
Everything.

Ed Sheeran is now an independent artist. 🚪
After 15 years, 170 million album sales, 126 billion streams, 38 billion YouTube views, and 14 tracks in Spotify’s Billions Club…
He quietly walked away from Warner Music Group last month.
No drama. No bad blood. Just an artist who decided it was time to do things differently.
•••
Let that sink in:
The man behind some of the highest-grossing tours of all time just left the major label system.
If he’s choosing independence…
That tells you everything about where the industry is heading.
•••
The gatekeepers are losing their grip.
The tools exist. The contacts are accessible.
The only thing standing between most artists and real momentum?
A clear plan and the right support.
👇 That’s exactly what we’re here for. Link in bio.

Musicians: this is the room you want to be in. 👀
Most artists spend hours worrying about streams, playlists, and algorithms…
But the people shaping the future of artist careers?
They’re all gathering in NYC on June 8.
•••
🎤 What’s on the table:
AI, streaming royalties, artist rights, music licensing, artist development – the 2026 essentials.
•••
The keynote alone is worth it.
Danny Goldberg – the legend who managed Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Bonnie Raitt, and The Allman Brothers Band – is breaking down artist management, career growth, and how to actually navigate today’s industry.
No motivational fluff. Just real-world experience from the highest levels of the business.
•••
If you’re:
✅ A self‑managed artist
✅ Building your own career
✅ Trying to understand the business side
✅ Ready to make smarter moves in 2026
You should seriously consider being there.
•••
Most independent artists focus on making music.
The artists who build lasting careers? They learn how the industry actually works.
👉 Space is limited. Link in bio for tickets.

MusicBusiness NewYorkEvents MusicNetworking

CAA will fly you out, put you in a room with music executives, and it won’t cost you a single dollar.
The Hubb. Free. Competitive. Life-changing for the right person.
→ Professional development workshops
→ Direct networking with industry power players
→ Pipeline into CAA internships and beyond
→ Travel + accommodations covered
For college juniors, seniors, and recent grads serious about the business of music.
Applications close May 22.
Two days left. Link in bio.
Tag someone who needs this. 👇

TikTok just dropped something musicians need to see 👀
In the last 12 months alone…
🎵 6 BILLION songs were saved from TikTok directly to Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming apps.
People aren’t just hearing songs anymore. They’re:
• saving them
• replaying them
• adding them to playlists
• turning them into streaming numbers
• turning them into chart success
•••
Artists ignoring TikTok are getting left behind.
TikTok isn’t replacing Spotify.
It’s feeding Spotify.
It’s where discovery happens first.
And the artists who get that? They’re building audiences way faster.
•••
The biggest shift:
TikTok now captures the exact moment someone connects with your song… and pushes them straight to a stream.
That’s insanely powerful for independent artists.
•••
Your next fan won’t discover you from a playlist.
They’ll discover you on TikTok first.
Then they’ll stream your song on Spotify.

Vinyl just hit $1 BILLION in U.S. sales. 💿💸
That’s not a comeback. That’s a revolution.
The top 5 albums?
Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish.
Here’s what musicians need to hear:
People are hungry for physical, offline, real things.
Vinyl feels authentic. It’s tactile. It’s not a screen.
The trend is “retro innovation” – old stuff made new again.
So if you’re an indie artist…
Vinyl isn’t just for the majors anymore.
Fans will buy it if you make it special.
Limited colors. Handwritten notes. B‑sides.
Make it collectible.
Are you pressing vinyl yet? If not… why not? 👇



musicmarketing

TikTok = where songs break now. 🎵
2026 Grammys: all 8 Best New Artist nominees started there.
84% of Billboard hits? TikTok first.
Still getting zero views?
You’re missing what works.
⬇️ Free download (link in bio):
✅ 7 Secrets to Go Viral
✅ 7 real indie examples you can steal
(hooks, captions, formats)
No BS. No complicated junk. Just what works in 2026.
Get it now.