Last chance: Free UAD plugin (ends Dec 31)
Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists
Tuesday edition - 2 min read
Another UAD Plugin Steal
What’s Up
UAD is taking Christmas seriously this year. Remember the Black Friday giveaway? Yeah, they’re giving you one more chance to grab one of ten free premium plugins. Use code HOLIDAYFREEBIE at checkout. Offer ends on December 31.
So What
It must have sucked missing their Black Friday giveaway, right? Lucky for you, UAD is giving you one more chance to take advantage before the year ends. For those folks who caught it the first time around, congrats, you get to grab another free plugin.
Now What
Get your plugin before December 31. You'll need a UA Connect app and a free iLok account. Yeah, you have to deal with iLok (gross, I know), but for a free $199 plugin? It’s worth the headache.
[Read more on Bedroom Producers Blog]
Instagram Rolls Out Two New Promo Features
What’s Up
Believe it or not, Instagram launched two new features… and they’re actually useful. You can now reshare any public Story to your own, even if you weren’t tagged. Plus, they're testing Early Access Reels that let followers see content before everyone else does.
So What
Did venues forget to tag you in an announcement? Problem solved. Just reshare the announcement yourself. On top of that, you get real follower incentives with Early Access. Think exclusive merch links, early tickets, and behind-the-scenes drops before they go public.
Now What
Story reshares are live now, so use them. Early Access is still rolling out, though. When it arrives, use it only for your most engaged content, not every post.
Your TikTok Strategy Isn't Enough
What's Up
We all want that one magic hack to blow up. But a survey of 5,000 Americans from Bain & Company found something pretty obvious: no single app dominates when it comes to discovery. DSP playlists are still the heavyweights, topping at 56%. Social media is a close second (43%). And if you're targeting Gen Z, social is officially the #1 discovery engine.
So What
Your SubmitHub-only or TikTok-only strategy won't cut it. Discovery is fragmented. Even younger fans use multiple channels.
Now What
Stop looking for the silver bullet. Prioritize playlist pitching AND social content, but don't forget word-of-mouth. Multi-channel doesn't mean doing everything; it just means not betting everything on one platform.
While You Were Making Music...
🤷 85% of indie labels hurt by Spotify’s 1000-stream rule [Spotify’s response: basically a shrug]
😐UMG offers to sell Curve to close Downtown deal [major labels playing Jenga again]
Today's edition by Jordan F.
For indies who ship music, not excuses.
Related News & Guides
Albums aren't dead + free promo you haven't tried
A Luminate report funded by Instagram finds 58% of music superfans use the platform, with active artists seeing a 10% increase in streams. Artists like Charli xcx and Bad Bunny demonstrate that fully realized albums still generate months of cultural conversation in a singles-dominated market. PassPass for Artists launches a free submission program offering independent artists placement in nationwide scavenger hunt events, claiming 100 million monthly song plays on Instagram.
AI fakes are targeting artists + rethink your merch
AI-generated impersonator tracks are flooding streaming platforms, with Sony requesting removal of 135,000 deepfakes and Deezer reporting 60,000 AI uploads daily. A new survey finds 27% of younger fans bought vinyl and 40% want affordable merch variety beyond t-shirts, including posters, pins, and jewelry. SoundCloud launched Follower Exclusive Releases for Artist Pro subscribers at $15.99 per month, letting independent artists lock tracks behind a follow to grow audiences before wide release.