This episode was previously published on the Profitable Musician Show.
Ryan Waczek, the founder of Indie Music Academy, shares his journey from a musical background to marketing. Growing up as a band kid, he pursued a BA in classical music with an emphasis on audio recording and sound design. His goal was to become Hans Zimmer and a film composer. After graduating, he learned pro tools and wrote and recorded songs, playing guitar, and using them to record his own music. However, he realized that his music degree had not prepared him for business, as he had no clue how to market himself, get clients, and grow a following as a songwriter.
Ryan’s music degree left him with a lack of knowledge about marketing and how to get clients. He ended up working as a barista at Starbucks, which he loved, but also had a second job as a video editor at a surgery center. Despite having a degree in music, he barely made music during this time. He took a break from music for multiple years and took his releases down from Spotify, focusing on other aspects of his life.
Ryan explains that he didn’t have any strategy, just making music and uploading it. He realized that he needed to focus on marketing and rebrand his music to gain more attention and success. This experience taught him the importance of marketing and the importance of focusing on one’s goals and passions.
Links mentioned in this episode: