A little while ago, I got a message from a mum.
She said her daughter had just picked up the guitar.
She wasn’t sure how to guide her, but she’d heard I had some thoughts on busking — and was wondering if I could share some advice.
So I sent her a short blog post I’d written and a simple PDF guide I’d put together: honest, no-BS tips for how to get started playing music in public.
No fluff. Just real-world stuff that’s worked for me and others.
I wasn’t expecting much — maybe she’d have a go at busking, maybe not.
But what happened next surprised even me.
Her daughter not only read the advice.
She ran with it.
She hit the streets and started busking regularly around Brighton, UK
At first, just covers.
Then gradually, her own songs.
She didn’t wait to be “ready” — she just showed up.
Now, about a year later, she’s:
■ Written six original songs
■ Recording her debut album
■ Teaching herself piano
■ And — most remarkably — been scouted twice by record label reps while she was busking
Let me say that again: while she was busking.
Not on TikTok.
Not on Spotify.
In the real world.
On the street.
With nothing but a guitar case and a voice.
That’s the power of visibility.
That’s the magic of momentum.
I’ve had zero official role in her career — I’ve just been watching, quietly proud, from the sidelines.
But it’s reminded me why I believe so strongly in what I teach.
You don’t need a viral moment.
You don’t need to wait for permission.
You don’t need to be “discovered.”
What you need is the courage to show up, again and again — especially when no one’s watching yet.
So here’s the lesson:
The music industry still responds to energy.
To movement.
To people doing the thing.
If she hadn’t gone out busking — if she’d waited until she “got better” or “had more songs” — she wouldn’t have caught anyone’s attention.
But because she started before she was ready, she now has opportunities most people chase for years.
And all it took was a street corner and a bit of nerve.
I’m sharing this not to pat myself on the back — but to remind you that the old ways still work.
Busking still works.
Showing up still works.
Playing in front of real people still works.
If you want the exact same advice I gave her — the blog post and PDF that helped her take that first step — just reply to this email with the word “busking” and I’ll send it over.
Want my eyes on your music career?
If you’re serious about building real momentum — whether that means getting more gigs, more fans, or more opportunities — I offer a Power Hour where we map out your next steps together
This Week’s No-Brainer: Radio Airplay That Pays You
A lot of musicians waste money on marketing that doesn’t pay back.
Radio does.
It’s real people hearing your music. It’s real royalties hitting your account. And it’s far cheaper than you think.
Let’s crunch some numbers so you can see how this actually works.
How Much Can You Make?
Let’s say your song gets played on 2,000 of the 5,000 stations in this package.
Each station plays it twice a week.
That’s 4,000 spins per week.
The average royalty payout varies, but let’s go super low at $0.10 per spin (it’s often higher).
$0.10 x 4,000 spins = $400 per week.
If your song stays in rotation for just 4 weeks, that’s $1,600.
And that’s assuming only 2,000 stations pick it up. If more stations spin your track? The numbers go up.
If they keep playing it for months? Even better.
How Many People Will Hear Your Music?
Let’s be ridiculously conservative here.
Say the average station has 50,000 listeners (many have way more).
If 2,000 stations play your song, that’s 100 million potential listeners.
Let’s assume only 1% actually notice your song—that’s still 1 million listeners.
Now, if 1% of those 1 million become actual fans? That’s 10,000 new fans.
And that’s just one campaign. You can run multiple campaigns for different songs.
Why This is a No-Brainer
✔️Affordable: A couple of gigs will cover the cost of this package.
✔️Industry Clout: Imagine listing “Played on XYZ Radio” in your bio. It makes you stand out for festivals, gigs, and PR.
✔️Personal Connections: You’ll get direct contacts with DJs who might champion your music.
✔️Completely Passive: You don’t need to lift a finger—we handle everything.
✔️Works Alongside Everything Else: You can still push Spotify, TikTok, YouTube—this just adds fuel to the fire.
Here’s What You Get
Your song pitched to 5,000 radio stations worldwide.
Guaranteed airplay—not fake streams, not bots, just real radio.
You get paid royalties (instead of shelling out for useless ads).
Potential for bigger features—Record of the Week, interviews, or DJ endorsements.
Massive credibility boost—because “We’ve been played on 200+ stations” sounds a lot better than “Check out our Spotify.”
This is the smartest money you can spend on your music.
It’s not some pay-to-play scam.
It’s a real, scalable way to grow your career while getting paid.
Now here’s the part you really want to know…
How much is it?
Well if I told you it was less than decent acoustic guitar would you be suprised?
Yes this deal is super affordable for you the working musician
$600 is the one-time, upfront price and includes everything above.
If you have a radio-ready song that you want to promote the heck out of then this is definitley for you.
Genres: Rock, Pop, Country, Folk, EDM, R&B (sorry no Rap or Hip Hop)
It’s time to get some serious airplay!
Start your own online Vinyl distribution ElasticStage is the worlds first online vinyl store. As a partnership with them I can highly recommend their services. This can actually be a game changer for independent artists and can add a lot to your income.
(I also receive a very small commission if you sign up)
Final thoughts
What’s your challenge as a musician trying to grow your audience?
Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to help you tackle it!
Remember:
Rejection is correction. Ridicule is fuel. Keep thriving.
Until next time,
Spence C