In today's music landscape, where everyone seems obsessed with going viral on TikTok or landing that one big playlist placement, it's refreshing to hear from someone who's been in the game for three decades and has a completely different perspective.
Enter Cryptic One — a New York-based hip-hop producer who's been making beats since 1989. As a founding member of the legendary underground collective Atoms Family (alongside Company Flow and other NYC hip-hop pioneers), he's watched the industry transform from analog to digital, from record stores to streaming, from street teams to social media.
In our latest ProducerHead episode, Cryptic shared wisdom that flies in the face of today's instant-gratification culture. His message? Play the long game. Build real relationships. And for the love of hip-hop, stop abandoning your back catalog.
Episode Chapters:
* 00:00 - Introduction to the Long Game in Music Production
* 02:58 - The Importance of Past Work and Marketing Strategies
* 06:02 - Creative Approaches to Marketing Music
* 09:01 - Understanding Social Media Algorithms
* 11:57 - Navigating the Digital Landscape for Music Promotion
* 14:55 - The Necessity of a Marketing Plan
* 18:08 - Building a Sustainable Music Career
* 23:54 - The Value of Engagement Beyond Social Media
* 24:54 - Exploring Physical Music Formats
* 26:46 - Building an Audience and Direct Connections
* 29:17 - The Importance of Email Lists
* 33:05 - Providing Value to Your Audience
* 37:07 - Perception vs. Reality in Music Marketing
* 40:44 - Embracing Authenticity and Risk in Content Creation
Support ProducerHead
If you value ProducerHead and want to support the show, consider a premium subscription (just $6 per month). Your contribution directly supports us maintain and grow the show while keeping the core content free for everyone. Subscribe at ProducerHead.substack.com
Get full access to ProducerHead at producerhead.substack.com/subscribe