Finch Bergling on playlists, ads, music marketing, and how to actually grow as an independent artist in 2026.

In this episode of The Racket House Podcast, Jon sits down with Finch Bergling, a music marketing expert and playlist curator who helps independent artists get heard. Finch runs some of the most active independent playlists on Spotify, manages ad campaigns for artists, and hosts his own podcast, More Than Streams. Oh, and we recorded this in Da Nang, Vietnam, because that's just how we live now.

We get into what playlist campaigns actually do for artists, and what they don't do. We talk about why so many independent artists are burning money on marketing without seeing results, and what to do instead.

Finch also shares his take on AI-generated music flooding the industry, how to think about ads vs. playlists, and what separates artists who build something real from those who chase numbers.

If you're an independent artist trying to grow your audience and stop guessing, this one is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations with artists, operators, and industry professionals.

📷 Instagram: @therackethouse and @racketclubbb
💿 Work with me: https://www.therackethouse.com
📬 Newsletter: https://the-racket-house.kit.com/newsletter
🌙 My own tracks: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hbZuTiNFxMjhgrt9AJKzT
🕺🏻 Free downloads & live sets: https://soundcloud.com/racket-club
💕 More on Racket Club: https://www.therackethouse.com/racket-club

Mia Moore & Rufus Blaq on building a label, running a music business as a couple, and what it really takes to win in this industry.

In this episode of The Racket House Podcast, Jon sits down with Mia Moore and Rufus Blaq, the husband and wife team behind Silent Success Entertainment, an independent label out of Philadelphia. Rufus is a 30-year industry veteran and songwriter with credits including Destiny's Child, Salt-N-Pepa, and Faith Evans. Mia is his partner in business and in life who left a stable career to create with purpose, using her son as motivation.

We get into what it actually means to build a vision, surround yourself with the right team, and move with intention in an industry full of noise and shortcuts.

Rufus and Mia share real talk on why artists fail when they try to do everything alone, how to build a team that believes in the vision before the check, and why loyalty is an operating model, not just a value.

We also dig into the creative process, the business of running an independent label as a couple, and why AI will never replace the emotion behind great music.

If you're an independent artist trying to build something that lasts, this one is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations with artists, operators, and industry professionals.

📷 Instagram: @therackethouse and @racketclubbb

💿 Work with me: https://www.therackethouse.com

📬 Newsletter: https://the-racket-house.kit.com/newsletter

🌙 My own tracks: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hbZuTiNFxMjhgrt9AJKzT

🕺🏻 Free downloads & live sets: https://soundcloud.com/racket-club

💕 More on Racket Club: https://www.therackethouse.com/racket-club

music marketing podcast, independent label, artist development, music business podcast, independent artist strategy, music industry advice, record label, songwriter, how to build a team, music promotion, artist mindset, loyalty in music

#MusicPodcast #IndependentArtist #MusicIndustry #ArtistDevelopment #TheRacketHousePodcast #RecordLabel #MusicBusiness

Mikul Wing ( @AutografMusic ) on building 500M+ streams, touring globally, and growing a music career in 2026.In this episode of The Racket House Podcast, Jon sits down with Mikul Wing of Autograf, a global electronic trio with 500M+ streams, major festival performances, and brand deals with Louis Vuitton and Nike. He's also the founder of The KINN in Venice, CA which is a membership community of entrepreneurs and creatives. We break down how Autograf built momentum from the SoundCloud era, transitioned from remixes to original music, and stayed relevant for over a decade in a constantly changing music industry.Mikul shares real insight on what actually drives growth today, from social media and content strategy to touring, sync placements, and building a fanbase that shows up in real life.We also get into the business side: building community, launching The KINN, and why artists need to think like operators if they want long-term success.If you’re a DJ, producer, or independent artist trying to grow your audience, get booked, and build a real career in music, this episode is for you.Subscribe for more conversations with artists, operators, and industry professionals.📷 Instagram: @therackethouse and @racketclubbb💿 Work with me – 1:1 artist development, advertising, playlist campaigns, curation, social content, email marketing, and more: https://www.therackethouse.com📬 Newsletter: https://the-racket-house.kit.com/newsletter🌙 My own tracks: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hbZuTiNFxMjhgrt9AJKzT🕺🏻 Free downloads & live sets: https://soundcloud.com/racket-club💕 More on Racket Club: https://www.therackethouse.com/racket-clubmusic marketing podcast, electronic music podcast, DJ podcast, artist development, music business podcast, independent artist strategy, DJ growth, producer marketing, grow your fanbase, music promotion, social media for artists, how to get gigs, music industry advice#MusicPodcast #ElectronicMusic #DJLife #ArtistDevelopment #MusicIndustry #TheRacketHousePodcast