The Music Lens Podcast
Two friends with mics, talking all things life in the music scene through the lens of independent artists.
The Music Lens Podcast is a vital weekly resource and commentary show for current and aspiring independent artists. Join hosts Alex and Katie—both successful indie musicians themselves—as they offer candid, boots-on-the-ground insights into the culture, history, and most importantly, the business that shapes the modern music landscape.
Tune in to learn how to navigate the industry:
- Music Business 101: Decoding topics like record label contracts, publishing rights, and licensing deals.
- Creator Economy: Examining the impact of AI artists, streaming royalties, and parasocial fan culture.
- Industry Commentary: Breaking down the latest Grammy buzz, news roundups, and music history deep dives.
If you're an indie artist looking for honest talk and practical tools to build your career, this is the community and conversation you need.
Episodes
81 episodes
Widening The Lens: Korie Burton Rott
In this installment of our Widening The Lens series, we're welcoming Korie Burton Rott from One Writer To Another onto the podcast!Born and raised in South Carolina, Korie moved to Music City at the age of 18 to attend Middle Tennessee S...
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Episode 81
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39:12
Sylvia Robinson and Mother Maybelle Carter - Women's History Month
Happy Women's History Month! We're celebrating two women who were both deemed mothers of their genres: Sylvia Robinson and Mother Maybelle Carter. Join us as we discuss these two pioneers and how Hip-Hop and Country wouldn't be what they are to...
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Episode 80
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31:04
New Music: March 2026 Edition
February (and end of January) was filled with new music! Join us as we discuss our favs!New Music:Ella Langley: "Dandelion" and "Be He...
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Episode 79
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47:51
D'Angelo and The Black Opry - Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! We're taking the time to highlight Black voices who have been trailblazers in the music industry. Join us as we learn about the pioneer of neo-soul, D'Angelo, as well as the Black Opry, a movement to raise awareness f...
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Episode 78
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42:02
Widening The Lens: Kristian Veech
In our second episode of our Widening The Lens series, we welcome Kristian Veech to the podcast!Taking a songwriter-centric to production, Kristian Veech is a Nashville based producer, and mixing & mastering engineer whose work cover...
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Episode 77
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44:58
Grammy Awards 2026
It's time again for our annual Grammy Awards episode! Join us for a recap and review of this year's looks, performances, and awards!
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Episode 76
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51:41
New Music and Music News: February 2026 Edition
We’re kicking off February with a roundup of new music we enjoyed from January, along with a few industry headlines, including the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees and a recent copyright case involving Drew Barrymore.Resources:<...
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Episode 75
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35:26
Producing Pioneers: Joe Meek and Sam Phillips
Before producers were household names, Joe Meek and Sam Phillips were quietly (and sometimes chaotically) changing the sound of popular music. In this episode, we explore how Meek’s DIY experimentation and Phillips’ work at Sun Records helped l...
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Episode 74
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34:38
Widening The Lens: Sammy Kay
Welcome to our new monthly series, "Widening The Lens", where we invite guests onto the pod to broaden our perspectives about different aspects of the music industry. Our guest for the inaugural episode is our good friend and collaborator, Samm...
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Episode 73
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42:05
How to Build an EPK
Welcome back to the latest part in the Artist Inventory series, a dive into how to build an EPK. EPKs are essential tools for artists looking to book gigs, gain press, and showcase their work to potential industry collaborators. Join us for a d...
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Episode 72
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40:13
2026 Kickoff
Happy New Year, everyone! We're kicking off our first episode of 2026 with a chat about new music and music news, including the Songwriters' Hall of Fame Induction nominees and more!Resources:
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Episode 71
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37:13
Year in Review: The Music That Moved Us
For our final episode of the year, we’re hitting pause and looking back on the music that defined it for us. We talk favorite albums and songs, artists we loved seeing live, shows we played ourselves, and the moments that made this year unforge...
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Episode 70
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34:13
From MTV to TikTok: The New Purpose of Music Videos
In this episode, we kick things off with a run-through of the history of music videos from technical invention to MTV to YouTube before getting into why they still matter today, just for totally different reasons. We talk branding, storytelling...
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Episode 69
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43:25
AI Artists
AI “artists” showing up on charts? Yeah… we have thoughts. We run through a few of the names popping up, why it’s frustrating to see them take up space, and why the chart they landed on isn’t even that important. Plus, we get into why AI can’t ...
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Episode 68
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34:33
Roll Call: 2026 Grammy Nominations
ICYMI, the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards were announced last week! Join us for a discussion on who's nominated, who should've been nominated, and more!
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Episode 67
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46:30
The Parasocial Paradox
We're diving into the world of parasocial relationships — those one-sided bonds fans form with artists, celebrities, or even fictional characters. From the rise of Stan culture to the pressures it puts on independent musicians, we expl...
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Episode 66
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31:33
The Deluxe Dilemma: Worth It or Worn Out?
Deluxe albums: marketing genius or creative overload? We break down the history of the deluxe release, the songs we love that wouldn’t exist without it, and whether they still serve a purpose in today’s music industry.
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Episode 65
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37:37
Latest Music & News Roundup: Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, and more
We’re back with a new roundup of the latest music and news! From fresh tracks by Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, and more, we’re sharing what we’ve been loving—and what’s left us on the fence. Plus, we dive into deluxe albums: are th...
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Episode 64
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47:06
We're Back! Summer Recap
Guess who’s back?! After a little summer hiatus, we’re kicking off the pod again. In this episode, we’re catching up like old friends—swapping stories from our summer, sharing some behind-the-scenes updates, and talking about what’s next for th...
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Episode 63
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41:41
Pride Month 2025 - Ma Rainey and Jobriath
Happy Pride Month!We're spotlighting two groundbreaking LGBTQ+ artists who helped pave the way for generations to come. First, we dive into the legacy of Ma Rainey, the “Mother of the Blues,” whose bold lyrics and unapologetic...
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Episode 62
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36:48
CMA Fest 2025: Weather Woes, Puppy Cuddles, & Country Gold
We’re recapping our CMA Fest experience—from stormy setbacks to sweet puppy snuggles and, of course, nonstop country music. Tune in as we share the highs, the lows, and everything in between from one of the biggest weekends in country music!
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Episode 61
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45:07
Record Label Contracts 101
After a recap of Eric Church's one-of-a-kind show at The Pinnacle, we're diving into the basics of a record label contract. Join us as we break down the basics, from key beginner terms to a few advanced ones that every artist should understand ...
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Episode 60
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36:44
Laurel Canyon: The Hills That Sang a Generation
Step into the hazy hills of Los Angeles and uncover the story of Laurel Canyon — the unlikely neighborhood that became the epicenter of a musical revolution. In this episode, we dive into how this tucked-away enclave in the Hollywood Hills tran...
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Episode 59
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32:48