Steppa
@steppa.bsky.social
🎵 | Artist × DJ
👊 | Hang In There • All Storms Pass
▶️ | New Human Made Music: ⏬️
https://linktr.ee/steppamusic
👊 | Hang In There • All Storms Pass
▶️ | New Human Made Music: ⏬️
https://linktr.ee/steppamusic
Full analysis:
• Post-Andromeda campaign structures
• Persona × Desire × Awareness test framework
• Platform comparison (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Spotify budget realities)
• Why FB Pixel + Conv API is mandatory
iqmgmnt.com/facebook-ads...
#metads #musicsky #independentmusicians
• Post-Andromeda campaign structures
• Persona × Desire × Awareness test framework
• Platform comparison (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Spotify budget realities)
• Why FB Pixel + Conv API is mandatory
iqmgmnt.com/facebook-ads...
#metads #musicsky #independentmusicians
Facebook Ads for Musicians 2026 - IQ Artist Management
Meta's December 2024 Andromeda update stopped interest targeting for music ads. Learn the new broad targeting strategies, creative testing frameworks, and realistic budgets (£100-900) that work in 202...
iqmgmnt.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Full analysis:
• Post-Andromeda campaign structures
• Persona × Desire × Awareness test framework
• Platform comparison (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Spotify budget realities)
• Why FB Pixel + Conv API is mandatory
iqmgmnt.com/facebook-ads...
#metads #musicsky #independentmusicians
• Post-Andromeda campaign structures
• Persona × Desire × Awareness test framework
• Platform comparison (Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube/Spotify budget realities)
• Why FB Pixel + Conv API is mandatory
iqmgmnt.com/facebook-ads...
#metads #musicsky #independentmusicians
What actually works? 1 campaign, 1 ad set (broad 18-65+), 8-15 fundamentally different video concepts
BTS studio footage consistently outperforms polished music videos 3-4x. We've seen £0.18/stream (raw footage) vs £0.67/stream (professional videos) repeatedly.
Authenticity beats production value.
BTS studio footage consistently outperforms polished music videos 3-4x. We've seen £0.18/stream (raw footage) vs £0.67/stream (professional videos) repeatedly.
Authenticity beats production value.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
What actually works? 1 campaign, 1 ad set (broad 18-65+), 8-15 fundamentally different video concepts
BTS studio footage consistently outperforms polished music videos 3-4x. We've seen £0.18/stream (raw footage) vs £0.67/stream (professional videos) repeatedly.
Authenticity beats production value.
BTS studio footage consistently outperforms polished music videos 3-4x. We've seen £0.18/stream (raw footage) vs £0.67/stream (professional videos) repeatedly.
Authenticity beats production value.
Our January 2025 testing across 14 artist campaigns revealed minimum budget requirements increased 2-3x (from £10/day pre-Andromeda to £15-30/day post)
Reason: Algorithm requires 50 conversion events within 7 days to exit learning phase. Lower budgets trap campaigns in perpetual suboptimal delivery
Reason: Algorithm requires 50 conversion events within 7 days to exit learning phase. Lower budgets trap campaigns in perpetual suboptimal delivery
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Our January 2025 testing across 14 artist campaigns revealed minimum budget requirements increased 2-3x (from £10/day pre-Andromeda to £15-30/day post)
Reason: Algorithm requires 50 conversion events within 7 days to exit learning phase. Lower budgets trap campaigns in perpetual suboptimal delivery
Reason: Algorithm requires 50 conversion events within 7 days to exit learning phase. Lower budgets trap campaigns in perpetual suboptimal delivery
The paradigm shift: interest targeting ("fans of Arctic Monkeys") either doesn't exist or performs 20-40% worse than broad targeting.
Andromeda's AI analyses hundreds of thousands of behavioral signals. Your manual targeting just gets in the way.
Creative diversity became the targeting strategy.
Andromeda's AI analyses hundreds of thousands of behavioral signals. Your manual targeting just gets in the way.
Creative diversity became the targeting strategy.
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
The paradigm shift: interest targeting ("fans of Arctic Monkeys") either doesn't exist or performs 20-40% worse than broad targeting.
Andromeda's AI analyses hundreds of thousands of behavioral signals. Your manual targeting just gets in the way.
Creative diversity became the targeting strategy.
Andromeda's AI analyses hundreds of thousands of behavioral signals. Your manual targeting just gets in the way.
Creative diversity became the targeting strategy.
Full analysis: Platform comparison (fees, infrastructure, venue networks), "unavoidable fees" ambiguity the Govt hasn't defined, why 25 venues closed, fan comms strategies.
30 years managing artists. Not legal advice, practical navigation:
iqmgmnt.com/uk-ticket-re...
##musicindustry ##ukmusician
30 years managing artists. Not legal advice, practical navigation:
iqmgmnt.com/uk-ticket-re...
##musicindustry ##ukmusician
UK Ticket Resale Ban 2025: What Independent Artists Need to Know - IQ Artist Management
The UK ticket resale ban changes everything for independent artists. Platform choices, fan policies & tour planning from 30 years artist management experience.
iqmgmnt.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Full analysis: Platform comparison (fees, infrastructure, venue networks), "unavoidable fees" ambiguity the Govt hasn't defined, why 25 venues closed, fan comms strategies.
30 years managing artists. Not legal advice, practical navigation:
iqmgmnt.com/uk-ticket-re...
##musicindustry ##ukmusician
30 years managing artists. Not legal advice, practical navigation:
iqmgmnt.com/uk-ticket-re...
##musicindustry ##ukmusician
Grassroots platform realities (after watching 3-month adaptation):
DICE: Built-in resale, mobile-first. Trade-off: smaller venue network
TWICKETS: Face value only. Trade-off: separate platform (awareness problem)
TICKETMASTER: Largest reach. Trade-off: higher fees, questionable practices.
DICE: Built-in resale, mobile-first. Trade-off: smaller venue network
TWICKETS: Face value only. Trade-off: separate platform (awareness problem)
TICKETMASTER: Largest reach. Trade-off: higher fees, questionable practices.
December 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Grassroots platform realities (after watching 3-month adaptation):
DICE: Built-in resale, mobile-first. Trade-off: smaller venue network
TWICKETS: Face value only. Trade-off: separate platform (awareness problem)
TICKETMASTER: Largest reach. Trade-off: higher fees, questionable practices.
DICE: Built-in resale, mobile-first. Trade-off: smaller venue network
TWICKETS: Face value only. Trade-off: separate platform (awareness problem)
TICKETMASTER: Largest reach. Trade-off: higher fees, questionable practices.
Timeline paradox worth examining:
Law passes mid-late 2026 (after King's Speech). But venues book 6-9 months ahead. Platform decisions needed months before tickets on sale.
Artists can't wait for legislation. Fan expectations form NOW during transitional period.
Law passes mid-late 2026 (after King's Speech). But venues book 6-9 months ahead. Platform decisions needed months before tickets on sale.
Artists can't wait for legislation. Fan expectations form NOW during transitional period.
December 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Timeline paradox worth examining:
Law passes mid-late 2026 (after King's Speech). But venues book 6-9 months ahead. Platform decisions needed months before tickets on sale.
Artists can't wait for legislation. Fan expectations form NOW during transitional period.
Law passes mid-late 2026 (after King's Speech). But venues book 6-9 months ahead. Platform decisions needed months before tickets on sale.
Artists can't wait for legislation. Fan expectations form NOW during transitional period.
Within 72hrs of ban announcement, 11 artists I manage (200-500 cap venues) asked: "What platform should I use?"
Context: Most never had touting problems. Margins too thin. But Coldplay/Sheeran campaigns trained ALL fans to expect face-value resale as standard.
Context: Most never had touting problems. Margins too thin. But Coldplay/Sheeran campaigns trained ALL fans to expect face-value resale as standard.
December 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Within 72hrs of ban announcement, 11 artists I manage (200-500 cap venues) asked: "What platform should I use?"
Context: Most never had touting problems. Margins too thin. But Coldplay/Sheeran campaigns trained ALL fans to expect face-value resale as standard.
Context: Most never had touting problems. Margins too thin. But Coldplay/Sheeran campaigns trained ALL fans to expect face-value resale as standard.
What independent artists can do now: Add audio watermarking. Document release dates + unique style elements. Build email lists/subscribers. Find the musical niche AI can't replicate.
Full analysis (30 yrs artist management): iqmgmnt.com/what-the-war...
#aimusic #independentartists ##musicindustry
Full analysis (30 yrs artist management): iqmgmnt.com/what-the-war...
#aimusic #independentartists ##musicindustry
What the Warner Suno Deal Means for Independent Artists - IQ Artist Management
Discover what the Warner Suno AI deal means for independent artists. A music manager with 30 years experience explains the two-tier system, missing details from press releases, and three strategic pos...
iqmgmnt.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
What independent artists can do now: Add audio watermarking. Document release dates + unique style elements. Build email lists/subscribers. Find the musical niche AI can't replicate.
Full analysis (30 yrs artist management): iqmgmnt.com/what-the-war...
#aimusic #independentartists ##musicindustry
Full analysis (30 yrs artist management): iqmgmnt.com/what-the-war...
#aimusic #independentartists ##musicindustry
But AI can't replicate what actually matters: your authentic story, direct fan relationships, lived creative experience. One artist we manage positioned as "human-created" music—40% Bandcamp sales increase over 6 months. There's a market for supporting actual humans making music.
December 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
But AI can't replicate what actually matters: your authentic story, direct fan relationships, lived creative experience. One artist we manage positioned as "human-created" music—40% Bandcamp sales increase over 6 months. There's a market for supporting actual humans making music.
The two-tier system: Warner artists who "opt in" get revenue streams (percentage undisclosed) + protection from unauthorised AI voice use. Independent artists get: no licensing pathway, no collective bargaining power, no enforcement mechanism. You negotiate alone, if at all.
December 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The two-tier system: Warner artists who "opt in" get revenue streams (percentage undisclosed) + protection from unauthorised AI voice use. Independent artists get: no licensing pathway, no collective bargaining power, no enforcement mechanism. You negotiate alone, if at all.
Suno admitted in Aug 2024 court filings it trained on "essentially all music files of reasonable quality accessible on the open internet." Your Spotify/Bandcamp/YouTube uploads trained their algorithms. Warner got legal settlement. Indies got scraped, no retroactive compensation.
December 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Suno admitted in Aug 2024 court filings it trained on "essentially all music files of reasonable quality accessible on the open internet." Your Spotify/Bandcamp/YouTube uploads trained their algorithms. Warner got legal settlement. Indies got scraped, no retroactive compensation.
Seven revenue streams: Email marketing, Patreon/Ko-fi/Bandcamp, live streaming, sync licensing + mechanicals, teaching income, international platforms, crisis management.
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/how-independ...
#independentmusicians #musicindustry #ukartists
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/how-independ...
#independentmusicians #musicindustry #ukartists
How Independent Musicians Make Money in 2025: Revenue Streams Beyond Streaming - IQ Artist Management
UK music manager with 30 years experience explains how independent musicians make money in 2025: Patreon, email marketing, live streaming & international platforms.”
iqmgmnt.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Seven revenue streams: Email marketing, Patreon/Ko-fi/Bandcamp, live streaming, sync licensing + mechanicals, teaching income, international platforms, crisis management.
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/how-independ...
#independentmusicians #musicindustry #ukartists
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/how-independ...
#independentmusicians #musicindustry #ukartists
International platforms bypass Western saturation:
Anghami (120M MENA users), Boomplay (95M African users), regional platforms with lower competition. Client got Anghami playlisting → 45,000 streams in 3 months. Discovery impossible on Spotify UK (100K+ weekly releases).
Anghami (120M MENA users), Boomplay (95M African users), regional platforms with lower competition. Client got Anghami playlisting → 45,000 streams in 3 months. Discovery impossible on Spotify UK (100K+ weekly releases).
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
International platforms bypass Western saturation:
Anghami (120M MENA users), Boomplay (95M African users), regional platforms with lower competition. Client got Anghami playlisting → 45,000 streams in 3 months. Discovery impossible on Spotify UK (100K+ weekly releases).
Anghami (120M MENA users), Boomplay (95M African users), regional platforms with lower competition. Client got Anghami playlisting → 45,000 streams in 3 months. Discovery impossible on Spotify UK (100K+ weekly releases).
Alt revenue streams:
Mech royalties: £350+ unclaimed annually. Collection societies hold this money, redistribute to registered creators. Not claiming? You’re funding other artists’ payouts.
Bandcamp Friday: Revenue share waived monthly. Client: £840 generated vs £60-80 typical weeks.
Mech royalties: £350+ unclaimed annually. Collection societies hold this money, redistribute to registered creators. Not claiming? You’re funding other artists’ payouts.
Bandcamp Friday: Revenue share waived monthly. Client: £840 generated vs £60-80 typical weeks.
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Alt revenue streams:
Mech royalties: £350+ unclaimed annually. Collection societies hold this money, redistribute to registered creators. Not claiming? You’re funding other artists’ payouts.
Bandcamp Friday: Revenue share waived monthly. Client: £840 generated vs £60-80 typical weeks.
Mech royalties: £350+ unclaimed annually. Collection societies hold this money, redistribute to registered creators. Not claiming? You’re funding other artists’ payouts.
Bandcamp Friday: Revenue share waived monthly. Client: £840 generated vs £60-80 typical weeks.
Direct fan funding outperforms streaming at smaller scales:
One £5 Patreon supporter = 1,250+ Spotify streams in revenue value. To earn UK min wage (£25,396/year) from Spotify requires 7.93M streams annually (22K daily)
100-125 Patreon supporters at £5 = £500-625 monthly income you control
One £5 Patreon supporter = 1,250+ Spotify streams in revenue value. To earn UK min wage (£25,396/year) from Spotify requires 7.93M streams annually (22K daily)
100-125 Patreon supporters at £5 = £500-625 monthly income you control
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Direct fan funding outperforms streaming at smaller scales:
One £5 Patreon supporter = 1,250+ Spotify streams in revenue value. To earn UK min wage (£25,396/year) from Spotify requires 7.93M streams annually (22K daily)
100-125 Patreon supporters at £5 = £500-625 monthly income you control
One £5 Patreon supporter = 1,250+ Spotify streams in revenue value. To earn UK min wage (£25,396/year) from Spotify requires 7.93M streams annually (22K daily)
100-125 Patreon supporters at £5 = £500-625 monthly income you control
Data from 30 years artist management, recent roster analysis:
Email marketing: 39-42% open rate vs Instagram’s 8% organic reach. Client saw 847 pre-saves from 3,200 email subscribers vs 163 from 28,000 Instagram followers (same single).
You don’t own your social audience. You own your email list.
Email marketing: 39-42% open rate vs Instagram’s 8% organic reach. Client saw 847 pre-saves from 3,200 email subscribers vs 163 from 28,000 Instagram followers (same single).
You don’t own your social audience. You own your email list.
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Data from 30 years artist management, recent roster analysis:
Email marketing: 39-42% open rate vs Instagram’s 8% organic reach. Client saw 847 pre-saves from 3,200 email subscribers vs 163 from 28,000 Instagram followers (same single).
You don’t own your social audience. You own your email list.
Email marketing: 39-42% open rate vs Instagram’s 8% organic reach. Client saw 847 pre-saves from 3,200 email subscribers vs 163 from 28,000 Instagram followers (same single).
You don’t own your social audience. You own your email list.
UK AI copyright consultation closed Feb 25, 2025. Results: Spring 2026 earliest. Legislation: Late 2026/2027.
Can't wait for regulatory clarity. Positioning decisions in next 3-6 months will define your 2026-28 trajectory.
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/ai-music-str...
#aimusic #independentartist
Can't wait for regulatory clarity. Positioning decisions in next 3-6 months will define your 2026-28 trajectory.
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/ai-music-str...
#aimusic #independentartist
AI Music Strategy for Independent Artists UK 2026 - IQ Artist Management
AI music positioning guide from Ron Pye (30 years experience). Real 2025 client data, three frameworks, post-UMG analysis. For UK session musicians, songwriters, producers navigating AI displacement.
iqmgmnt.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
UK AI copyright consultation closed Feb 25, 2025. Results: Spring 2026 earliest. Legislation: Late 2026/2027.
Can't wait for regulatory clarity. Positioning decisions in next 3-6 months will define your 2026-28 trajectory.
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/ai-music-str...
#aimusic #independentartist
Can't wait for regulatory clarity. Positioning decisions in next 3-6 months will define your 2026-28 trajectory.
Full analysis: iqmgmnt.com/ai-music-str...
#aimusic #independentartist
Three positioning strategies emerging:
Human-Only: Distinctive style, premium pricing, audiences who value craft
AI-Assisted: Supervised workflow, transparent about human vs AI roles
Flexible: Transitional, case-by-case evaluation
Strategy choice depends on income structure, not ideology
Human-Only: Distinctive style, premium pricing, audiences who value craft
AI-Assisted: Supervised workflow, transparent about human vs AI roles
Flexible: Transitional, case-by-case evaluation
Strategy choice depends on income structure, not ideology
November 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Three positioning strategies emerging:
Human-Only: Distinctive style, premium pricing, audiences who value craft
AI-Assisted: Supervised workflow, transparent about human vs AI roles
Flexible: Transitional, case-by-case evaluation
Strategy choice depends on income structure, not ideology
Human-Only: Distinctive style, premium pricing, audiences who value craft
AI-Assisted: Supervised workflow, transparent about human vs AI roles
Flexible: Transitional, case-by-case evaluation
Strategy choice depends on income structure, not ideology
But here's the pattern I've observed across 30 years managing through tech disruptions (DAT tapes, Napster, streaming, AI):
Technology never kills music. It suppresses business models dependent on pre-technology scarcity.
Premium human artistry always retains value. Commodity work gets automated.
Technology never kills music. It suppresses business models dependent on pre-technology scarcity.
Premium human artistry always retains value. Commodity work gets automated.
November 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
But here's the pattern I've observed across 30 years managing through tech disruptions (DAT tapes, Napster, streaming, AI):
Technology never kills music. It suppresses business models dependent on pre-technology scarcity.
Premium human artistry always retains value. Commodity work gets automated.
Technology never kills music. It suppresses business models dependent on pre-technology scarcity.
Premium human artistry always retains value. Commodity work gets automated.
IQ Artist Management client data through 2025 shows immediate economic impact:
→ Session work: 10-20% income declines in budget segments
→ One musician lost £7K in 10 months (18% YoY decline)
→ Sync: AI alternatives now negotiation leverage
This isn't speculative. This is November 2025 reality.
→ Session work: 10-20% income declines in budget segments
→ One musician lost £7K in 10 months (18% YoY decline)
→ Sync: AI alternatives now negotiation leverage
This isn't speculative. This is November 2025 reality.
November 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
IQ Artist Management client data through 2025 shows immediate economic impact:
→ Session work: 10-20% income declines in budget segments
→ One musician lost £7K in 10 months (18% YoY decline)
→ Sync: AI alternatives now negotiation leverage
This isn't speculative. This is November 2025 reality.
→ Session work: 10-20% income declines in budget segments
→ One musician lost £7K in 10 months (18% YoY decline)
→ Sync: AI alternatives now negotiation leverage
This isn't speculative. This is November 2025 reality.