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PODCAST

The Wholesome Music Podcast

Cameron Ljungkull & Augustus Watkins

The DIY podcast about DIY music. Hosts Cameron Ljungkull and Augustus Watkins meet weekly to talk shop about indie music, the creative process, and the music industry.

music music commentary

All Episodes

69:36

State of the GRAMMYs / Rap embraces art / YouTube vs...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2026/01/08

We're back for 2026 with a look at the Grammy's. Are they still relevant? What's it take to get nominated? Is being part of the Grammy's something indie artists should aspire to? Next we look at how rap is embracing the visual art world. YouTube is set to stop reporting to Billboard because of a disagreement between the two organizations about how free streams should be counted. Finally, Spotify has been hacked! Who did it, what did they steal, and how can you get in on it? Plus we're adding...

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14:04

All About Christmas Music

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/12/25

Send us a text Kids, mom and dad love you very much, but things got a little hectic this holiday season, so we just got you something small... a Christmas mini-episode! We talk about holiday music strategy, trends in Christmas music—including why it starts so early now—and how and why musicians choose to do so many Christmas songs. It may be a little late for this year, but we'll set you up to succeed for next year. LinksOPINION: Modern Christmas music doesn’t hold up by Ashley Ragone for T...

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44:17

Gene Simmons testifies before Congress / iHeartRadio...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/12/17

Send us a text They say politics make for strange bedfellows, and that's never been more true than when The Wholesome Music Podcast is forced to give props to Gene Simmons (who is gross). He recently testified before US Congress, urging them to close the loophole that lets radio stations not pay for music. Next, we catch up on iHeartRadio's efforts to brand themselves as "Guaranteed Human," and finally we look at investments Jay Z is making in K-pop and "K-culture" and what that could mean fo...

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46:39

Is Spotify Wrapped cooked? / Vinyl sales still...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/12/11

Send us a text Are you sure that Spotify actually knows what your musical taste is? And do you really want to outsource your opinions to a profit-driven algorithm? It's Spotify Wrapped season! Next, we look at 2025 vinyl sales trends. Vinyl is on the rise, but why? And what do you need to know about vinyl for your own career? Finally, we talk songwriting: mega-songwriter Dan Wilson shares great tips on songwriting, and we discuss natural language, why it's dominating the charts, and how you c...

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57:09

The Nostalgia Episode: Are Bands Obsolete? / Phone...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/12/04

Send us a text This episode has a decidedly backwards-looking approach. Did you know the last time a band had a #1 song on the US charts was all the way back in 2001? We dig into why are there so few bands in the charts these days. Next we look at two retro trends and discuss if they're linked as well as what they say about tech backlash in the music industry. Finally, we talk about why local music is in decline in Australia, why that matters globally, and what can be done about it. LinksAre ...

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64:58

Copyrighting Your Music / Gratitude / Major 3 AI...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/11/26

Should YOU register your music with the copyright office? Our final installment on How Musicians Get Paid has answers! Next, in the spirt of Thanksgiving we talk about what we're grateful for in our music careers this year. After that: a major spate of music industry and AI collaborations were announced... but what does it actually mean? We discuss the backlash to Tidal's new upload program, then look at a few hip hop artists still making moves in 2025 (Hip Hop is not dead!). Be sure to chec...

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76:08

How Performers Get Paid / TIDAL's New Upload Feature...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/11/20

Part three of our "How Musicians Get Paid" series zeroes in on how performers get paid, including the ins and outs of distribution, SoundExchange, and a couple little-known revenue sources for session musicians. We look at TIDAL's new direct upload feature and what this means for indie musicians and the culture. We profile a recent Spotify acquisition and their new efforts to offer more robust credits and discuss SUNO's new fundraising. Finally, we react to "Walk My Walk," the new AI-generate...

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61:52

How Songwriters Get Paid / Publishing Deals /...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/11/13

Part two of our "How musicians get paid" series dives into how songwriters make money, followed by a discussion on publishing deals. Then we break down Spotify’s new “payola” lawsuit, look at Ireland’s universal basic income for musicians, and talk about Kanye West’s recent public apology. A lil’ music-biz, a lil’ legal tea, and a whole lot of game for songwriters trying to level up. LinksHow Songwriters, Composers, and Performers Get Paid by Copyright.gov Class Action Lawsuit Ac...

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66:52

Origins of Music Copyright / No Rap In Top 40 / PRO's...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/11/05

For months we've been promising you a breakdown on how to get paid in the music industry, and we launch part one of this discussion with a quick overview on the history of music copyright, to help us understand why music copyright is so convoluted. After that, we look at why there are no rap songs in the Billboard Top 40 — the first time since 1990. In AI news, ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN have announced new plans to accept some kinds of AI authorship. Next, we cheer on Billie Eilish for calling out...

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58:33

Creative Restrictions / Billboard Tweaks / Lizzo Sued...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/10/30

Can you place creative restrictions on yourself and actually grow as an artist? We use a fun blog post as a jumping off point to discuss how "doing less" can actually fuel your process. Next, we look at how Billboard is tweaking its "Hot 100" charts, and what that means for who will chart (or not). Lizzo—no stranger to lawsuits—is facing another one about an unreleased song, presenting an interesting wrinkle in how samples are monetized. We celebrate Chappell Roan's Midwest Princess Project w...

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62:23

Crushing It On Gig Day / SoundExchange AI Registry /...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/10/22

Finally it's gig day! After all the rehearsals and promotion, it's time to jump on stage and show the crowd what you've got. How do you make the best of this day, make sure it goes smoothly, and get the most of your opportunity? We'll share some hard-earned experiences and lessons. Next, we look at SoundExchange's new global AI registry, what it does (and doesn't) do. Then, our first villain Timbaland (see ep. 3 for more) returns with a new AI artist called Tata Taktumi, and we react to "her"...

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85:57

Pitching Yourself / Handling Rejection / Live Nation...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/10/15

We break down how to pitch yourself as an artist — from telling your story and defining your “why” to stating your artistic pedigree. Next we also unpack Bob Brody’s piece “Stay True to Yourself – and Fly Closer to the Sun” and his lessons from 50 years of rejection. Then we look at how Portland’s music scene stood up to Live Nation–Ticketmaster, and dive into Spotify’s new ChatGPT integration that’s changing how artists get discovered. Finally, we briefly dunk on Drake for losing his lawsuit...

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72:05

Marketing Masterclass / AI Music Detection /...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/10/09

We discuss a marketing masterclass to help you cut through the noise and get your music heard. Then we look at the newest AI detection measures from Spotify, Universal, and Sony Music. We share Ed Sheeran's plan for his posthumous album. Then we deploy our dueling hot takes about ticket prices. Finally, we look at the new D4VD updates (with a CW for violence and grooming). LinksSymphonic Masterclass Recap: Fueling Your Next Release with Marketing Drivers by Randi ZimmermanSpotify has delete...

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58:38

Cover Songs / Coachella Booking / Avoiding Burnout /...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/10/02

We answer one of the most commonly asked questions in music: how do I legally cover other people's songs? Hint: it's easier than you think! Then we take a deep dive into all the agencies, labels, artists, and genres behind this year's Coachella, and what the data reveals about the state of the music industry. Next we discuss tools and strategies for avoiding burnout when it comes to the business side of your career. Then some news about Kate Hudson, Green Day, and songwriter Julia Michaels' n...

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52:33

Reaching Gatekeepers / Bad Bunny Skips America / 21...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/09/25

Like it or not, gatekeepers are a part of the music industry. We talk about some ways to connect with gatekeepers, and help you get a "Yes!" Next, we discuss how Bad Bunny is protecting his audience from ICE by skipping America on his upcoming world tour. We look at 21 Pilots' lawsuit against Temu, what King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are doing on Bandcamp, get juicy with the D4VD gossip, and round it out with a Kanye West's Donda Academy — who could have possibly expected Ye wasn't up to ...

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41:28

Beating the Algorithm Blues / Musicians Unions /...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/09/18

Everyone's talking about AI and algorithms but there are still plenty of people and places to find human-curated music, so we highlight a few places to look. Next we profile UMAW — United Musicians and Allied Workers — who have been doing great work to support indie and DIY musicians. We talk about some tools designed to automate your music marketing, and go over the latest on tariffs and vinyl. LinksWhy Local Radio Is The Antidote To Your Algorithm Blues by Elliott Nielson for Mixcloud Blo...

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72:46

Running a DIY Space / SEO for Musicians / Fully...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/09/11

We talk about what we've learned from years of running DIY spaces, events, and groups, and how you can apply these lessons to your own career. Then we go over some great tips for SEO and discoverability for musicians. On the AI front, we discuss a new generative AI model that claims to be fully licensed (and how we might be wrong about AI slop), look at the latest developments on Suno's indie artist lawsuit, and how a lawsuit in the book publishing industry could impact musicians. Finally we ...

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74:56

Email vs Social Media / Monetizing Superfans /...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/09/04

We discuss the the pros and cons of email marketing vs social media. Then we highlight an artist who has quit social media and streaming entirely. We discuss the new ASCAP and BMI rate increases for radio, go over a service to promote live events on YouTube, and discuss how the streaming economy is unflattening as streaming services look to capitalize on superfans. We talk about Lil Nas X, Taylor and Travis, Chance The Rapper's comeback, and finally Apple Music's new LA studios. LinksPromotin...

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61:59

Music Lawyers / The Truth About Recoupment / Fair Use...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/08/27

Are music lawyers the biggest secret in the music industry? How do major labels ACTUALLY recoup your money — the math is worse than you think! What is "Fair Use" and how is it impacting YouTube? How songwriters are adapting to the new rules of the music industry. Also, Cameron drops his Chappell Roan hot take. LinksFair Use: https://copyright.wp.musiclibraryassoc.org/statement-on-the-copyright-law-and-fair-use-in-music/More Fair Use: https://digitalpromise.org/initiative/360-story-lab/360-p...

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63:04

Artists Leaving Spotify / Standing Up Against the...

The Wholesome Music Podcast ·

2025/08/20

A number of established artists are leaving Spotify. Should you? Should we? How artists support each other as they stand up against the genocide in Gaza. Yung Thug and the RAP act. The collective building the next Bandcamp. We have an update on Super Fans. We spotlight ONErpm. What's YouTube doing to combat AI slop on their platform? And how can artists use AI to help their careers — without generating songs? LinksMassive Attack, Kneecap, Brian Eno, Fontaines D.C. announce formation of musici...

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28 results

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