Eleven Years of Making a Scene: Still Independent, Still Publishing, Still Building the Future
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A Milestone Worth Making Noise About
On May 1, 2026, Making a Scene celebrates eleven years of continuous publication, and in the fast-moving world of independent music media, that is no small thing. Websites come and go. Blogs burn bright and disappear. Social platforms change the rules. Algorithms bury good work under noise. But Making a Scene has kept showing up, posting new content virtually every day and building one of the most active independent music archives on the web.
The Live Show Is Not Just a Night Out. It Is the Front Door to Your Whole Music Business.
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For too long, indie artists have been taught to think of the live show as a single transaction.
A fan buys a ticket. The artist plays the set. Maybe somebody buys a shirt. Everybody goes home. The venue sweeps the floor, the bartender counts the drawer, the band loads out, and the whole night disappears into the fog of tired backs, ringing ears, and gas station coffee.
The Hidden Economics of Being an Indie Artist in 2026: A Survival Guide to Lower Costs, Increase Revenue, and Own Your Fans
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For years, independent artists were sold a dream. The pitch was simple and powerful. You no longer needed a label. You no longer needed permission. You could record at home, upload your music worldwide, build an audience online, and create a real career on your own terms. Compared to the old days of expensive studio time, manufacturing costs, and gatekeepers controlling radio and retail, it sounded like freedom had finally arrived.
Content That Adapts: Using AI to Personalize Posts for Different Types of Fans
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There is a quiet little lie baked into modern music marketing, and most artists have been trained to accept it. The lie is this: one post is supposed to do everything.
It is supposed to hype the hardcore fans, introduce the new people, move tickets in one city, sell merch everywhere else, wake up dead email subscribers, impress the algorithm, and somehow still sound human. Then when it does not work, the artist gets blamed. Maybe the hook was weak. Maybe the image was wrong. Maybe the timing was bad. Maybe you just need to post more.
No. The real problem is simpler than that. You are trying to talk to different people as if they are the same person.
Delay vs Reverb: When to Use Each (and Why Most People Overuse Reverb)
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There is a sound you have heard a thousand times, even if you never knew what caused it. A singer enters on the first line of a chorus and suddenly feels larger than life. A snare drum explodes through the speakers and seems to live in its own perfect room. A guitar line trails into the horizon after the phrase ends, creating emotion long after the note is gone. Space is one of the secret weapons of recorded music, and two tools have shaped that space more than any others: delay and reverb.
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Making a Scene celebrates its 11th anniversary on May 1, 2026, marking eleven years of continuous publication and daily dedication to the independent music community. With more than 9,500 posts, over 2,200 artist interviews, more than 4,200 release reviews, and a newsletter reaching over 25,000 subscribers, the publication has become a trusted home for indie artists, fans, writers, engineers, producers, and supporters across genres. This anniversary feature honors Making a Scene’s history of championing independent music through thoughtful reviews, deep artist interviews, and consistent coverage, while also celebrating its redesigned site and renewed mission to help build a music industry middle class. By focusing on music business education, AI, Web3, recording, fan data, direct-to-fan revenue, artist-owned communities, and practical tools for sustainable careers, Making a Scene is not just documenting the indie music world — it is helping artists build the next version of it.
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“Breaking Chains” is a timely and insightful exploration of how decentralization is reshaping the music industry. Richard L’Hommedieu draws on deep industry knowledge to examine the shifting balance of power between artists, labels, and digital platforms. The book offers both a critique of the traditional music business and a roadmap for musicians seeking independence in a rapidly evolving landscape. With clear explanations and practical strategies, L’Hommedieu empowers readers to understand blockchain, streaming economics, and new models of ownership. More than just a guide, it’s a call to artists to reclaim control of their work and careers. A must-read for musicians, managers, and anyone curious about the future of music."
