Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists

Monday edition - 2 min read

Bundles Over Singles

The Drop

Still waiting on people to buy your digital album? Yeah… unless your name is Drake or Taylor Swift, they’re probably not going to. The name of the game now is bundling. Start selling your music with physical goods and bam, it’s not a cheap $10 digital album anymore; it’s a $50 "experience."

The Ripple

It’s Retail Psychology 101. Think about it. A T-shirt + Vinyl + Mug feels like a steal compared to buying them separately. The trick is in the branding: don't just call it "Bundle A." Give it a theme. It’s easier to sell a good story than a good product. Did you really buy your iPhone just because it was a good phone?

The Take

It’s 2025. Hardly anyone's going to buy a single digital album. Remember: one $40 bundle sale equals about 12,000 Spotify streams, so stop chasing pennies and sell the box.

[Full story at Hypebot]

Everyone's Using AI - Stop Feeling Guilty About It

What’s Up

The cat’s out of the bag, guys. A new LANDR study of 1,200 artists shows that 87% are using AI in their workflow. But they’re not using it to replace themselves; they're just broke (no offence, we all are). Of that 87%, 29% use it to generate specific instrument parts, and 80% use it to help with self-promotion.

So What

One respondent said it best: "I use AI as a band of session musicians." Not a hint of shame. That’s because they're using it as leverage. In case you didn’t notice, hiring a photographer, graphic designer, or bassist isn’t cheap.

Now What

As long as you’re not one of those “AI artists” who think typing everything makes them Stevie Wonder or something, you’re fine. Use AI for the boring stuff. If other artists are using AI to get ahead, now’s not the time to be a purist.

[Full Story at Hypebot]

Companies Will Deepfake You If You Let Them

What's Up

Read the fine print. Except, reading the fine print isn’t enough. You have to read what’s not there. Most current brand deals are being written without AI protection clauses.

So What

Brands love cutting costs. If they can replace you with a deepfake of you, they will. Nope, this isn’t an episode of Black Mirror; this is actually happening. Unless your contract explicitly says "No," you’re probably letting companies take control of your digital identity.

Now What

Do not sign anything until you have an AI clause in your contract. Write it yourself if you don’t have a lawyer: "No AI-generated content using my likeness without separate written consent." Protect your most valuable asset - you.

[Read more on Music Ally]