We Still Believe (Artist & Songwriter Music Business Workshop Launch)
2026-05-30 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
We Still Believe: Artist and Songwriters’ Music Business and Marketing Workshop
Saturday, May 30th, 10am – 3pm
East Nashville (private address provided upon registration)
$75 – Discounted to $50 (includes lunch) for the first 15.
Limited to 15 Seats
What We Will Cover:

How to FULLY monetize your compositions and recordings

Registering with PROS (ASCAP, BMI, etc) and navigating splits, conflicts, differences, etc.
Taking advantage of Sound Exchange, the MLC, and other organizations that help artists and writers collect royalties.
How do Producer Points work in the streaming era (and how could they)

How is Artificial Intelligence impacting the business of independent and developing artists? Can we AI-proof ourselves and our careers? (And are there new tech-based tools that might help us accomplish our human-based artistic goals in ways we could not just a couple of years ago?)
How can independent or developing artists find an audience in today’s algorithmically driven industry? How has “Social Media” redefined the artists-audience dynamic? And what about playlists, podcasts, and people actually BUYING music? We will talk specifics – and provide space and time for you to DO the stuff we discuss (with other artists.)
What else is on YOUR list to discuss?

Developing negotiation skills and understanding contracts?
Finding and applying constructive feedback as you develop?
How does “networking” work in an online world? (and do I care?)
Understanding budgeting, business expenses, and tax issues related to your work?
What is the best way to distribute your music?
When and how should an attorney be called? What do they charge?
Should indie songwriters be paid (and paying) each other mechanical royalties for co-written songs on indie releases that are making no money? What are the pros and cons? What happens if a song breaks through?

And while I, “Professor Thompson,” am the Director of Music Industry Studies at Lipscomb University, this time will be much more interactive than lecture-based. We expect the room to be full of working artists and writers with their own perspectives, stories, and wisdom. Expect a structured and focused conversation informed and directed by many voices and guided with intention by someone who wants to see everyone in the room thrive. We won’t have time to fully explore everything in our first 5-hour meeting, but we will cover 2-3 things in depth, we will generate a comprehensive list of topics for future gatherings, and everyone WILL leave with a TANGIBLE product: an electronic workbook with links, resources, and an action plan to help them make progress toward their own personal goals for their music.
Expect to learn a lot, to come away empowered and directed, and to meet new friends who are as serious about taking their craft and business to the next level as you are.
We believe music still matters. We believe there is a heart still beating here. And while the music industry continues to grow and expand, raking in more money than ever before, many artists and writers have resigned themselves to a life on the outside of the “content machine” that shares in most of that growth. We believe that revenue growth in music shows that people still value this stuff. Songs are still worth something. And while money has never been WHY most of us make music, it is HOW we do. Come learn with us and explore what might be a world of new opportunities.
We still believe.
-JJT

Note: This first gathering will also explore (and define) the mission and scope of an ongoing monthly gathering like this. We are developing a full curriculum and agenda, and the attendees of this first meeting will play a major role in shaping it. We also expect future events to have higher monthly registration costs, but those who attend the first one will lock in a lower rate for the first year as a member of the founding cohort. Members of this group will also have access to additional one-on-one consulting time for a greatly discounted rate if needed or desired.
