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Music Marketing Insights

Data-driven strategies for independent artists navigating the modern music industry

Adam Barito
Adam Barito
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The Truth About Waterfalling in 2026: What Actually Changed (Spoiler: Nothing)

If you've been on music Twitter or TikTok lately, you've probably seen videos claiming waterfalling is 'dead' or that Spotify changed something that makes releasing singles before an album a bad strategy. Here's the reality: nothing has changed.

Music MarketingSpotifyRelease StrategyWaterfalling
Adam Barito
Adam Barito
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Stop Paying for Playlists. Build Your Own Instead.

Playlist pitching services charge $500-5K for temporary placement. Smart artists build their own playlists they own forever, train Spotify's algorithm, and create compounding discovery. Here is the exact strategy.

Spotify GrowthPlaylist StrategyMusic MarketingDIY MusicAlgorithm Training
Adam Barito
Adam Barito
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Why Early Physical Pre-Orders Won't Hurt Your Release (And Why They Might Save It)

Artists worry that selling CDs before their streaming release will hurt their numbers. The data says otherwise - and early physical campaigns might be the best way to build an audience that actually cares about your release day.

Physical MediaMerchPre-OrdersMusic MarketingStrategy
Adam Barito
Adam Barito
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From Lab to Studio: Why I Left My PhD to Fix Music Marketing

I spent years optimizing materials at the molecular level. Now I apply those same scientific principles to help musicians grow their careers without getting scammed.

Music MarketingEntrepreneurshipData ScienceStory
Adam Barito
Adam Barito
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Case Study: How Proper Youth Grew 340% in 6 Months (With Full Numbers)

From 5,579 to 24,516 monthly listeners with $13,820 in ad spend. Here is exactly how we did it - with every number, every strategy, and every learning.

Case StudyMusic MarketingSpotify GrowthResults