The Unstarving Musician Podcast
1) 345 The Session Musician's 50-Year Career Blueprint with Johnny Thirkell
Most musicians dream of stability. Johnny Thirkell built a 50-year career with David Bowie, Paul McCartney, George Michael, and The Who - starting from colliery bands and working men's clubs in the No...Show More
2) 344 The Economics of Niche Markets for Creatives
What if the best business decision you could make is accepting your music is "unmarketable"? Not in the sense that nobody wants it—but that it won't compete for Spotify playlists alongside mainstream ...Show More
3) 343 The Pre-Streaming Revenue Model: Dollars Before Pennies
Most independent artists release their albums everywhere immediately—Spotify, Apple Music, every streaming platform. But what if that's backwards? Ezra Vancil sold his last album exclusively to hi...Show More
4) 342 What I Learned in 2025
Welcome to 2026. In the last episode, I shared what I'm grateful for and the personal questions I'm sitting with. Today, I'm sharing the strategic side: what I learned in 2025 that changed how I work....Show More
5) 341 Gratitude, Growth, and What I'm Learning (Holiday Edition)
Every year, I write up a gratitude list. This year, the list came easily - but it's mixed with what I'm learning, because growth and gratitude feel connected right now. In this holiday edition, I ...Show More
6) 340 How to Conduct a Personal Royalty Audit and Recover Missing Money
Most independent artists have thousands of dollars in unclaimed royalties sitting in four separate collection systems—and a four-year window to recover this money before it's redistributed to major la...Show More
7) 339 Missing Royalties: Revenue Recovery Strategies with Amani Roberts
Independent musicians leave significant money on the table—not from lack of talent, but from unclaimed royalties and overlooked revenue streams. Amani Roberts, music business educator and author of th...Show More
8) 338 Jesse Flores – Distribution Partnerships And Strategic Planning For Independent Artists
Distribution partnerships can make or break an independent music career, but most artists don't understand what separates a good deal from a bad one. Jesse Flores, VP of Artist and Label Partnerships ...Show More
9) 337 Ezra Vancil – Business Systems: From Marketing Day Job to Sustainable Music Career
After 10 years with the same band and launching his own label, Ezra Vancil has learned that sustainable music careers require business systems—not just passion. In this conversation, he reveals the pr...Show More
337 Ezra Vancil – Business Systems: From Marketing Day Job to Sustainable Music Career
1:26:03 | Oct 24th, 2025
10) 336 Community Collaboration: Turning Your Fanbase Into Creative Partners Without Losing Artistic Control
Can your community become a creative collaborator without turning your art into committee-designed mediocrity? In this solo episode, I explore proven frameworks for involving your audience in the crea...Show More