Eleven Years of Making a Scene: Still Independent, Still Publishing, Still Building the Future
Listen to the Podcast Discussion
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 Indie Artist Flywheel: How to Build a Music Career That Feeds Itself
Listen to the Podcast Discussion
Most independent musicians are stuck in a cycle that feels like it never ends. They release a song, promote it, play a show, post on social media, sell a few shirts, send a few emails, and then start all over again from zero. Every release feels like a brand-new mountain to climb. Every show feels like a separate event. Every post feels like it disappears in a few hours.
That is not because indie artists are lazy. It is because most artists are working without a system.
Why Every Indie Artist Needs an Owned Community Forum
Listen to the Podcast Discussion
Social media made indie artists believe they had a direct line to their fans. For a little while, that felt true. You could post a song, share a flyer, drop a behind-the-scenes video, and talk to people who cared. Then the platforms changed the rules. Reach dropped. Algorithms got stingier. The same fans who chose to follow you stopped seeing your posts unless you paid to reach them. The platform still collected the data. The platform still sold the ads. The platform still controlled the room.
That is the problem. Most indie artists are building communities on land they do not own.
There is one of the most dangerous lies in modern music marketing, and independent artists hear it every day.
It goes like this: if you can just get more followers, everything else will take care of itself.
More followers means more opportunity. More opportunity means more growth. More growth means more money. That is the fantasy.
Why the Mix Does Not Come Alive Until It Starts Moving
A lot of indie mixes do not fail because the artist used the wrong microphone, the wrong preamp, the wrong compressor, or the wrong $29 plugin they bought during a midnight sale while questioning every life choice that led them into home recording. Most indie mixes fail for a simpler reason. They sit still.
Don’t send your fans to other platforms. Capture their data with the Making a Scene WordPress Plugin and automate a 4-email follow-up series from your own website.
Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Jackson, Mississippi, whose sound carries the deep lineage of the blues while pushing it forward with soul, funk, gospel, reggae, and modern blues-rock energy. Critics have praised his “masterful” musicianship and his mix of Bobby “Blue” Bland sophistication with Freddie King–style bite, placing him in the company of blues greats.
Tired of streaming pennies while gatekeepers cash in?
It’s time to take back control.
🔥 Now Available in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover.
⚡ Exclusive Collector’s Run: Only 50 hand-numbered, signed editions exist. When they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
👉 Claim your copy today—and take your place in the future of indie music.
“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."