Is ANYTHING real on the Internet? How did a small-time musician's observations about music promotion blow up the entire world of social media marketing? We trace a story that begins with the band Geese, travels to a little-known SXSW talk, and ends with us rethinking the entire landscape of social media marketing.

This story contains a ton of helpful tips for how to get your music to more people. It ALSO contains food for thought that might make you wonder if ANYTHING is real online?

Links

• The Fanfare Around the Band Geese Actually Was a Psyop by John Semley for Wired
• Fake Fans by Eliza McLamb, on her Substack "Words from Eliza"
• The Secret to How a Song Goes Viral on TikTok, With Digital Marketing Agency Chaotic Good by Billboard On The Record

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

Don't make these mistakes! What's it take to stay safe and still have a good time during festival season? Our friends at No Creeps Movement and Gritty In Pink share some tips on how to get the most out of your festival tickets by ensuring the safety of everyone you came with.

Links

• No Creeps Movement https://instagram.com/nocreepsmvmt
• Gritty In Pink https://instagram.com/grittyinpinklife
• Stay Aware During Festival Season: Ways to Stay Safe While Still Having a Good Time by No Creeps Movement and Gritty In Pink https://www.instagram.com/p/DW10uNuicAY/

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

The end of ticket gouging? Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, has been found guilty of operating an illegal monopoly and overcharging fans. Could the company be broken apart? Will this decision make it easier for musicians to operate successful tours? Will concert prices get cheaper?

Links

• Ticketmaster-owner Live Nation ran a monopoly and overcharged fans, jury finds by Archie Mitchell and Kali Hays for BBC
• Live Nation and Ticketmaster lose antitrust trial: What happened, what it means, and what comes next by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

CW: Murder, Child Abuse Reports and online speculation have been circulating around singer D4vd following alleged developments tied to an investigation in the Hollywood Hills.

We break down everything currently being reported — what’s been confirmed, what remains unclear, and how this story has evolved over time. We also take a closer look at the potential legal implications.

This is a developing situation. Details may change as more verified information becomes available.

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

Do YOU want to play Coachella? It takes more than luck to play the big festivals. We discuss how to think strategically about your goals and approach your career with intention.

Links

• So You Want a Set at Coachella? by IG: @beatcave.ca https://www.instagram.com/p/DXEy0uYjUck/

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

$10M to surf YouTube! Justin Bieber promised his Coachella performance would be an exciting comeback, then stunned audiences and critics with his laidback set, whose highlights included watching memes on YouTube. What does the Canadian superstar's new era of laidback stagecraft have to say about culture, stardom, and the passage of time?

Links

• Justin Bieber negotiated $10M fee without an agent, highest paid artist in Coachella history by IG @themailcart and IG @assistantsvsagents
• Coachella 2026: Justin Bieber launches a major comeback in the desert by Benjamin Lee for The Guardian
• Justin Bieber at Coachella review – pop’s troubled prince mostly hits right notes in low-energy set by Adrian Horton for The Guardian
• At Coachella, Justin Bieber spends half an hour surfing YouTube by Timothy Karoff for SFGate

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

We react to Kanye's comeback, his $33M SoFi Stadium performance, Anthony Fantano's reaction to "Ye's" new album "Bully" and updates on the backlash and evolving situation with cancelation of prominent UK "Wireless Festival"

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

We talk boundaries! Cameron shares the reason why he says "no" first, and we talk about how establishing boundaries in your personal and professional life and help your creative career flourish. Next, TikTok and iHeartMedia are forming an unholy alliance, and generating some decent promo ideas in the process. What can you learn from their new partnership? In news, we discuss ElevenLabs' new Music Marketplace, get an update on TaTa Taktumi "signing" to Ne-Yo's Pacific Music Group, as well as discuss an exciting update for Artist Corporations, which represent a brand new way for artists to monetize and own both their work and their labor.

Lastly, our Take It Or Leave It Advice is about building career momentum.

• 5 Boundaries Every Artist Needs to Set by @kristinerapohina IG
• TikTok Radio launches on iHeartRadio, as TikTok ends SiriusXM partnership by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide
• iHeartMedia and TikTok say they developed ‘a new blueprint for artist launches’ with Bruno Mars’ ‘The Romantic’ by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide
• Having paid $11M to voice creators to date, ElevenLabs launches Music Marketplace to let its users monetize their AI-generated tracks by James Hanley for Music Business Worldwide
• TaTa Taktumi, Timbaland’s AI Artist, Signs to Ne-Yo’s Label, Pacific Music Group by Harry Levin for New Industry Focus
• Colorado to introduce A Corps by @artistcorporations IG
• ArtistCorporations.com

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Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/