Longing for the day ...

This site is about MUSOS MAKING MUSIC. On their own terms and in their own way - Independent.

Thanks for reading this. I am Dr Huge: a journeyman of media and entertainment. Independent musician, Australian Songwriters Association Regional Coordinator, music business strategy consultant, and author of "How the record industry got it so wrong" and "The Step-by-Step Music Career".

As an Independent musician I perform solo as Huge with my band The Genre Benders via my publishing business, Hugemusic. I played in Bun' Ber E Celtic Bands for 11 years and I blog about my progress and experiences here.

After 20 years as a frustrated part-time session musician and singer/songwriter (and full-time journalist, public servant, teacher ... all sorts of other things), I decided to find out what works for other people as well as me. I designed a PhD project in which I wrote and recorded an original album in my garage and then set up a tour of the US and Canada. If you want to know how to maximise the benefits of sticking music up online (or anything else about turning your love of music into a living), ask me. I'm inspired by talented people and passionate about helping them reach their goals. Initial consultation is free as long as you buy the coffee :-)

I live to help independent artists achieve the recognition their efforts deserve and to develop sustainable creative lives. My vision is of a more creative and inspiring world, which will benefit the economy as well as our collective soul. Personally, I aim to write and perform songs that connect with people and make their lives better - I hope you enjoy them and I'd love to see you at a show some time.

I spent four years studying Independent music business strategies for a PhD at QUT and in the process founded Musowiki (now archived) - a crowd-sourced directory of services that help musicians. I used my own music as a research tool and I still write, play, produce, and sing, but I now help other Musos who'd like take the next step in building a satisfying musical career.

Specifically, I help you:

• Define clear, achievable goals
• Write better songs
• Make the most of every gig - on and off stage
• Build and manage a dedicated fan base
• Tap every available source of income
• Develop a cost-effective marketing plan
• Manage your budget
• Produce and release recordings to attract attention AND sales
• Develop kick-ass marketing materials and channels
• Expand your networks at appropriate stages, and
• Correctly set up and tap social networks

Music? What music? Where?

My music is quirky and many-splendid.

That means I can relate to anyone's music and give you sound advice.

I've played in theatre musicals and orchestras. I've played in top-40 covers bands and originals bands. I've played death metal and jazz, rock, reggae and Celtic folk music. I've worked on hip hop collaborations and movie scores. And I love it all! My musical philosophy is that songs best tell stories in their own groove, so genre is the focus of marketers, not artists. My media materials are here.

My musical output includes The Genre Benders and Bun' Ber E (retired 2008). Unlike most other "consultants" I have lived this reality for more than 20 years so I know exactly how what I say affects Musos personally, creatively, professionally and financially. I'm still teaching at QUT, reasearching where I can, and I'm still active as a songwriter, performer and producer, so I'm up to date with the latest developments in the world of Independent music.

My recordings are all available for free download from one of these sites, though if you like it and want to support my efforts it would mean a lot to me if you bought something from CDBaby, Cafepress and other places spelled out in my output page. You'll need to subscribe (see the box just below the top left corner of the page) to hear about my thoughts, shows and writings directly.

A chat about what you can do will cost a cup of coffee. If you'd like me to examine your business and write you something ... like a business plan ... I cost real money. If you want me to implement some of it for you things get more complicated but I can always be encouraged to work harder or cheaper with things like CDs of great music, t-shirts or tickets ... :-) Just drop me a line.

This blog, and my books "How the record industry got it so wrong" and "The Step-by-Step Music Career" are all free - help yourself. I'd love to help you in person at one of our workshops some time. I'm a journalist, having edited On Line Opinion for five years before starting my PhD, so I'm happy to talk to people from other creative industries as well as music. My ideas and activities are worth what you pay for them ... and that's a very powerful concept.