Reality Check: Buzzworthy or B&ll$h!t?

Is music distribution about to change... again?

Is Spotify really on life support?

And who is SXSW even for anymore?

Welcome to the first edition of Reality Check, a new Scratch Track series where we take the biggest music industry headlines, drag them into the light, and ask:

is this actually useful… or just more overhyped nonsense?

Every week, there’s a new “game-changing” tool, trend, or strategy promising to revolutionize your career—usually from people who don’t live your life, don’t have your constraints, and definitely don’t have your calendar.

Or to put it simply: What's good for the music industry is often a very different thing than what's good for you, an individual artist.

In this episode, we break down three recent stories and deliver the only verdict that matters: Buzzworthy or Bullshit?

Because if you’re a working musician juggling music with, you know, life, you don’t need more noise—you need clarity. The goal here isn’t to keep you up-to-date for its own sake. It’s to keep you sane, focused, and spending your limited time on what actually matters.

This week's panel of skeptical judges includes: Erika Parr (co-founder of Demo), Chris Robley (host of Scratch Track), and our special guest Darryl Hurs (Indie Week).

Free guide: 5 Artist Branding Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

If you want a clearer artistic identity and message, grab the guide here: