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 North East.

This isn't about talent. It's about the business systems that keep session musicians working for decades while others struggle after a few years.

Johnny shares the relationship-building frameworks that get you in the room with major artists, the professional standards that ensure callbacks, and the economic strategies that survive massive industry changes - from the 1970s studio system to today's remote recording reality.

Whether you're building a session career or any sustainable music business, the principles are the same: systematic relationship management, clear professional standards, and strategic adaptation to industry shifts.

Topics covered:

• How session musicians actually get hired by major artists
• The relationship maintenance framework that creates repeat clients over decades
• Pricing strategies for session work
• Professional studio standards that ensure callbacks
• Adapting to 50 years of technology and industry changes
• Why "Blown It!!" became a book instead of staying as stories
• Career longevity principles that transfer to independent artists

Show Notes

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

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This episode was brought to you by Podcast Startup.

Ready to launch your podcast or take it to the next level? Podcast Startup gives you the frameworks, systems, and insider knowledge to build a show that actually grows your audience and serves your goals.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your existing podcast, you'll get actionable strategies on equipment selection, content planning, audience building, and sustainable production workflows—without the overwhelm.

Learn more at UnstarvingMusician.com/PodcastStartup. Join podcasters who are building shows that last.

The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Pardon the Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support!

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Instagram

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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 artists.

This episode breaks down the economics of niche markets for independent musicians. How rejecting the streaming-everywhere model can actually generate more revenue. How owning your niche creates competitive advantages algorithm-dependent artists will never have. And the framework for deciding which platforms actually serve your music versus which ones waste your time for pennies.

Drawing on insights from multi-instrumentalist Abe Partridge, we explore the deliberate choice some artists make: keeping certain projects off major streaming platforms because the economics don't work—and focusing instead on direct sales, live performance, and owned audience relationships.

Topics covered:

• The streaming paradox for niche artists (why being everywhere means being nowhere)
• How to evaluate whether streaming platforms serve your music
• Revenue comparison: streaming vs. direct sales vs. live performance
• Abe Partridge's strategic approach to platform selection
• Owning your niche vs. competing with the entire music industry
• The role of professional representation in niche careers
• Framework for making strategic distribution decisions
• Building direct sales infrastructure (physical and digital)
• Creating owned audience relationships independent of algorithms
• When to abandon streaming entirely vs. selective streaming
• This isn't about being anti-streaming—it's about being strategic. Understanding where your music fits in the market and building your business model around that reality instead of fighting it.

Show Notes at UnstarvingMusician.com.

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor

This episode was brought to you by Podcast Startup.

Ready to launch your podcast or take it to the next level? Podcast Startup gives you the frameworks, systems, and insider knowledge to build a show that actually grows your audience and serves your goals.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your existing podcast, you'll get actionable strategies on equipment selection, content planning, audience building, and sustainable production workflows—without the overwhelm.

Learn more at UnstarvingMusician.com/PodcastStartup. Join podcasters who are building shows that last.

The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Pardon the Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support!

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube

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 his email list for an entire year before releasing it to streaming platforms. His new album? He's using a hybrid approach: limited streaming presence while keeping the full album direct-only.

The math is stark. One direct sale at $10 nets you $8-10 after platform fees. To earn that same amount from streaming, you need 20,000-25,000 plays. If your average listener streams your 10-song album twice—that's 20 streams per person—you need 1,000-1,250 listeners to equal one direct sale.

This episode breaks down the pre-streaming revenue model: how to capture direct sales from your email list first, then add streaming revenue second. You'll learn the hybrid access strategy, pricing frameworks for digital and physical products, and the step-by-step implementation process for 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month pre-streaming windows.

Topics covered:

• Why streaming-first leaves money on the table from fans ready to pay directly
• The four-component framework: email list foundation, pre-release window, hybrid access, direct sales mechanism
• How Ezra's monthly singles strategy creates discovery while protecting direct revenue
• The 8-step implementation process from email list foundation to streaming transition
• Pricing strategy for digital albums, physical products, and deluxe bundles
• When to transition from direct-only to full streaming availability

If you have an email list—even 100-200 engaged people—this strategy can generate significantly more revenue than releasing to streaming platforms first.

Links to related episodes and things mentioned in this episode.

The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers.

Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor

This episode was brought to you by Podcast Startup.

Ready to launch your podcast or take it to the next level? Podcast Startup gives you the frameworks, systems, and insider knowledge to build a show that actually grows your audience and serves your goals.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your existing podcast, you'll get actionable strategies on equipment selection, content planning, audience building, and sustainable production workflows—without the overwhelm.

Learn more at UnstarvingMusician.com/PodcastStartup. Join podcasters who are building shows that last.

The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

Pardon the Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support!

Stay in touch!

@RobonzoDrummer on Instagram

@UnstarvingMusician on Facebook and YouTube