The label promo trick that made me sick...

There’s a promo tactic floating around right now that promises buzz, engagement, and momentum.

It’s called astroturfing.

Fake fan accounts. Manufactured hype. Staged controversy.

And while it might work for artists with teams behind them… it can quietly drain your time and energy (and self-respect) if you're a mid-life musician.

And I'll bet time and energy are your scarcest resources right now.

In this episode of Scratch Track, we break down:

What astroturfing actually is

The “sock puppet” playbook

The real costs of fake momentum

A simple 3-part filter to evaluate any promo tactic or tool before you waste time on it

Because the goal isn’t to do more. It’s to build something real.

If you’re balancing music with work, family, and real-life responsibilities, this episode will help take a breath and focus on what actually moves things forward.