Would you license your music to AI for just $5 a song? That's one of the biggest questions facing independent artists today, and it's only the beginning of this conversation. In this episode of The Indie Unplugged, B. Vaughan, Tye Huntley, and special guest Kandice tackle LANDR's new Fair Trade AI program, debate whether gatekeepers actually made the music industry better, and discuss Rico Love's comments about artist development in today's independent music landscape. They also dive into why so many artists stop promoting their music too early, the importance of honest feedback, and whether great music alone is enough to build a successful career.

The conversation takes another turn as they unpack the controversy surrounding Yung Miami's hit "Spend Dat" and asks some difficult questions. Does music shape culture, or does it simply reflect it? Should artists be held responsible for the messages they put into the world? Are women in hip-hop judged differently than men? If you're an artist, producer, songwriter, manager, or music fan who cares about where the industry is headed, this episode delivers thoughtful perspectives on the biggest conversations happening in music today.

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.