How Artists Can Validate Fan Demand Before Booking Shows

13-Jul-2026 By Meagan Clements

Independent musician Taylor Hanson performs at The Hotel Cafe,
an intimate, 250-capacity venue in Los Angeles, Calif. on March 20.

Published: July 2026 | Reading Time: 8 minutes | For Independent Artists, Managers, Booking Agents & Touring Musicians

Introducing the youbloomConnect audience validation pilot:

Artists spend thousands of dollars and countless hours trying to figure out where they should play next.

What if fans could help answer that question?

That’s the idea behind youbloomConnect, a new platform that helps artists identify where genuine audience demand exists before committing to venues, travel costs or tours.

youbloom supports:

Independent Music
Venues in the 50-500 space

Part 1: The Problem

youbloomConnect Pilot

youbloom is inviting a small number of artists — roughly five to 10 — to participate in a youbloomConnect pilot focused on turning fan demand into real, confirmed shows. The pilot reduces booking risks, identifies stronger markets and supports smarter routing decisions.

youbloom CEO Phil Harrington is optimistic about new things on the horizon.

The only way that artists can make money at the moment in any consistent way is playing live, he said.

The pilot is designed to help artists, managers, and booking agents better identify where meaningful audience demand exists before committing to shows, travel or venue costs.

Part 2: How the Pilot Works

The Power Within the Fans

The concept is simple. Fans request the cities where they want to see an artist perform. As demand builds, artists gain visibility into audience interest by city, fan engagement levels, sharing activity and local momentum and potential early ticket intent.

Harrington thought for a moment.

Artists are very, very stuck to be able to get gigs and tours, he said.

Where strong demand exists, fans may later be invited to place a refundable pledge toward a potential event. The purpose is not crowdfunding, but rather validating genuine purchase intent before moving forward with a show.

Part 3: Why it Matters

Reducing Risk

Harrington weighed in on the importance of the pilot in reducing risk.

What we’ve got for [artists] is gold dust, he said.

Picture this — you’re a German hard rock band signed to an independent label. You have fans in The States, but you don’t know where demand is strongest. Why guess when you can see where fans are actively requesting a show? Momentum is building. Before committing to venues and travel expenses, let youbloomConnect solve your touring dilemma.

In a recent blog aptly titled, A Sit-Down with Sam Lewis on Career Longevity and Creative Control, the independent songster praised youbloom and the upcoming pilot.

“There’s a great place right now for youbloom and what it has to offer,” Lewis said.

Part 4: Who Should Apply

We Want You!

Youbloom is interested in speaking with artists who have an engaged audience, are currently touring or planning to tour, are open to actively engaging fans during the pilot and see value in audience and market validation tools.

Harrington paused.

We just have to communicate clearly [to artists] what we’ve got for them, he said. They’ll do the rest themselves.

The pilot will involve a small number of selected artists and campaigns over approximately six weeks.

Part 5: About youbloom

Building on Experience

youbloom has spent years working with artists, audiences, showcases, festivals, and live events internationally. This pilot builds on that experience and explores new ways to connect audience demand with live event opportunities.

Harrington reflected on the current state of the music industry, speaking to concert promoters, tour managers and booking agents.

They need to get the picture that [touring] is the biggest problem that artists have at the moment, he said.

Once demand is validated through youbloom’s pilot program, artists will need to prepare their performance — check out youbloom’s Ultimate Concert and Live Show Planning Guide for step-by-step tips on how to deliver a great show.

Interested in participating in the youbloomConnect pilot and discovering where demand already exists? Apply for the free youbloomConnect Audience Validation Pilot by July 31. Selected artists will test fan demand by city before committing to shows.

Apply for the youbloomConnect Pilot.

Guerilla Marketing for Independent Artists and Why It Matters

06-Apr-2020 By Tanay Mulukutla Leave a Comment

“Independence” implies a sense of autonomy, and for an artist, it can mean creative freedom: to find themselves express their inner thoughts in the most uninhibited fashion. Something to think about is why be inhibited about getting your music heard? While it can get competitive for emerging artists who want to get their music out, guerilla marketing for independent artists can stand out. It’s an approach that you can align your values with whilst being just as quirky as your vivid imagination.

The central objective behind carrying out a guerilla marketing activity is to obtain a sense of visibility for you as an artist, but what’s unique about it is that it’s cost-effective and highly impactful. While a strong online presence is essential, what’s also equally important is how you shape your presence offline, and that’s where your DIY ethos will come into play. As consumers, we have an eye for things that look and feel different, so the curiosity and sense of mysticism that comes with guerilla marketing stands out. To top it over, it is also a sign of effort made on your part that agents and promoters will most definitely notice.

Guerilla marketing has its traditional footings in doing things in the most unperturbed fashion, where the simplest of music promotion chores can have a quirky spin to them: imagine, for example, giving out your band stickers with a limited download code for your music online. These marketing collaterals act as great talking points within your community where you are instrumental in encouraging people to create a buzz around your music. One of the many advantages of this is that all the activities you carry in a fully offline space will lead to will make their way online through word of mouth. The next time you are dropping a new song or an album, go the guerilla way, make that personal connection with your fans. Those types of kinships that you establish early on for you and your music go a long way!

youbloom is a platform that helps you as an artist to grow, sign up here and find out more: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/

After a Brief Hiatus, Griffin Anthony to Release New Album, Refuge

22-Feb-2018 By Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Griffin Anthony, after taking a brief break from touring, is releasing his first full-length album since 2015’s, “Making of A Man”.

The album is set to be released this summer on Big Eye Records. During Anthony’s hiatus he has composed film scores for the Woodstock Film Festival selected documentary, Catskill Park and HBO’s I Wanna See You and Call to Action, amongst others.

“Scoring was invaluable to my evolution as a songwriter”

“Scoring was invaluable to my evolution as a songwriter”,says Anthony, “but I grew to miss writing the stories that I wanted to tell.”

Since scoring music for various films, Anthony became anxious to get in the studio and return to his first love, writing songs connecting to people emotionally. His new album, Refuge, was recorded at the Bomb Shelter in East Nashville with producer Jon Estes (Kesha, John Paul White, Steelism), in collaboration with Andirja Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Margo Price, Langehorn Slim).

Truly returning to his musical roots, Anthony recorded Refuge live to two–inch tape. He completed the recording of the album over 6 days in October 2017. Given the opportunity to listen to Anthony’s new album prior to his release and sitting down with him at his home in Ridgefield, CT, Anthony went into depth over his thoughts on his new music and how it is different from his previous works.

“I just aimed to write songs you can trust,” Anthony said. “I took a bigger swing on this record. The tunes have some heavier themes.” Never preachy or fussy, Anthony’s unwavering vocals and pointed lyrics deliver on the nine-song LP. Starkly more nuanced than his previous work, Refuge, offers character-driven narratives ripe with perspective and humility that sneak up and grab you by the throat. This album is a return home for Anthony and provides a hopeful feel through risk.

“From time to time, we all have to take great risks in order to find safety. These songs explore the risks, failures, and steps towards finding our safe-haven.”

Refuge is set to be released later this summer.

https://open.spotify.com/user/griffinanthonyofficial/playlist/1moQbmpMfjpPHP2FiQruaS?si=fpuhIAjpRWakuplEJ-wHMQ

Author’s bio: Gabe Crawford has been a music and vinyl enthusiasts for over 20 years. Although originally from Oklahoma, he currently resides in New York with his 1200 vinyl albums.

youbloom’s Top 10 of 2017

22-Dec-2017 By Josey Dunbar 1 Comment

In 2017, independent artists from across the globe came together in Dublin and Los Angeles for a weekend of master classes, collaboration, and performance. Youbloom artists have been hard at work pumping out fresh sounds all year long. To wrap up this 2017 we thought we’d share some of our favorites. Tune in everyday for a new featured artist.

10. Shivan

Music Box is one of three singles released by the solo artist Shivan in the last year and it was a tough choice picking which one to feature. In Music Box, Shivan meshes silky smooth vocal harmonies with sparse synth tones of bells and plucked strings culminating in an airy atmosphere. This spacious intro gives way to a head-bobbing interlude powered forward by Shivan’s hocketing voice put through a vocoder. Shivan’s sound in general is clean, at times funny (take a listen to Manta Ray), and never lacking in innovative catchiness. You can check out more of his music on Spotify and SoundCloud.

9. We Bless This Mess

In their new single, Ocean, We Bless This Mess brings their soulful, raw fervor to a new level as Nelson Graf Reis leaves off the bass and drums to create a more stripped-back level of intimacy. The track starts with the sound of waves, barely audible and gently lapping. The waves quickly give way to Graf Reis’ soulful solo voice waxing sweetly against the brittle strumming of his guitar. Occasionally his own voice is subtly layered by vocal harmonies while at other times, it all falls away completely and were are left alone with Graf Reis’ beautiful, wailing words reminding us: “Step by step, you breathe the same air as eye.” If you want to see the music video that accompanies Ocean you can find it here on youtube. And to see what else We Bless This Mess has cooked up, find them on Spotify or follow them on Twitter to see when they’re playing near you.

8. The Magnettes

https://youtu.be/iqK2B6UPR4o
Ugly Youth, the newest album by the Suisse duo The Magnettes, is full of catchy songs that quickly hook listeners. The captivating and distinct sound of the Magnettes is fun and similar to that of Madonna. Their June release can be found on sites such as Soundcloud, and iTunes. Killers in a Ghost Town, the leading song on the album incorporates a wide variety of instruments in coherence with a more modern techno style.

7. OSIYM

OSIYM has been making a lot of noise this 2017, dropping 3 new singles and with music videos to match. Youbloom is excited to name one of these singles, the party anthem FLEX, as #8 on our countdown of 2017 releases. With its infectious beat and slick bravado, FLEX is a hot addition to your party playlist. The rap duo Nova and Charlie Black have become synonymous with the boom bap and trap scene in their hometown of Toronto and thanks to their witty word-smithing and on-stage charisma, OSIYM’s music has spread the continent. While there’s a lot of exceptional talent spilling out of Toronto right now, OSIYM is in no danger of being drowned out. Take a listen on Spotify or Soundcloud, and see what we mean.

6. Royal Prospect

Royal Prospect started 2017 off strong with the March release of Hearts. Hearts beautifully displays the group’s lyrical ability as well as the amazing vocal capacity of lead singer Oscar Reingsdahl. The song begins with a slow taste of the chord progression that later speeds and evolves as the mood of the song changes. The overall lyrical message is both relatable as well as captivating to the listener. Hearts can be found on iTunes and Soundcloud and check out their music video on Youtube. The group followed up Hearts with the September release of I Feel Alright. Unlike Hearts, which is a very vocally heavy song, I Feel Alright places great emphasis on the instrumental abilities of Gustav Reingsdahl (Guitar), Hannes Tingfors (Bass) Oscar Reingsdahl (Guitar) and Hannes Pennsäter (Drums). See what you’re missing and check out Royal Prospect!

5. Hannah

In her new EP, Blossom, Hannah swishes together a cocktail of jazzy piano accompaniment, chill-step hip-hop beats, and her soulful voice to create a mesmerizing piece of poetry. Originally from Chicago, and now making noise in Los Angeles, Hannah’s sound is unique and colored by the iconic cities she’s lived in. Blossom, on the surface, is a mellow set of Rap and R&B charts to chill out to. Listen a little closer, and it’s a story of Hannah’s life, her experiences, and finding her identity in a world off-kilter. Take a listen to Blossom on SoundCloud or Bandcamp.

4. Ivy Nations

Ivy Nations has undoubtedly had a successful 2017 with the release of two new singles and accompanying music videos. In early April, the group released the soothing track Live By Design. The steady and notable rhythm of this single immediately pulls in the listener as it sets the tone for the song’s entirely. The music video, which can be found on Youtube, beautifully captures the mood of this unique and unforgettable song. Check it out on Soundcloud and iTunes. Following Live By Design, Ivy Nations released the single Sentimental Hearts. This song has a happy and upbeat tone portrayed by the swift major chord progressions and catchy lyrics. You can catch Sentimental Hearts on Soundcloud and iTunes. Also, don’t forget to check out the new music video on Youtube!

3. The Fontaines

Choosing to feature The Fontaines on our Top 10 was easy. Deciding what to feature was the hard part. With 5 singles and 2 EPs out this year, the LA-based band has been pumping out breezy indie-pop ballads and New-Wave rock charts like you wouldn’t believe. In the end, we settled on Evaporate. We know what you’re thinking! Choosing the single that garnered the group 100,000 streams on Spotify and hundreds of new fans isn’t exactly bold but if you go ahead and press play, you’ll see why we just can’t stop listening. Comprised of funky guitar riffs, retro synths, and eerily sweet vocals, Evaporate gives off an air of old-school cool that’s hard to come by. You can hear more of what The Fontaines have been cooking up on Bandcamp or SoundCloud but of course nothing beats a live show and you’re in luck, they’re playing at the Troubador in West Hollywood on January 11th.

2. Cider Wasps

Cider Wasps’ 2017 featured the release of their EP Ethereal. This album was a compilation of five tracks, some of which had been previously made into music videos in 2016 such as their hit Hummingbird. Thirty seconds into this song and you’ll be dancing along. Hummingbird displays Cider Wasps’ ability to simultaneously rock-out while maintaining steady control over their sound and producing quality music that’s as catchy as it is artful. The band’s unique style is also portrayed through the vocal layering in Magic Beans. Check out Magic Beans, Hummingbird and the rest of the EP as well as upcoming tour dates on Cider Wasps’ Website.

To anyone who loves early 2000s rock, your year is about to get a whole lot better: check out Cider Wasps on iTunes, and Soundcloud!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7SPSBRhcFA

1. Faulkner

The bi-coastal band Faulkner is back with their sanguine new single, Hot Streak. In style with the bouncy alt-rock ballads and sleek production present in their previous EP, Revanchist, Hot Streak manages to hook and groove, while still delivering in substance. Between lead singer Lucas Asher’s visceral imagery sung in punchy verse, and the soaring synths that sound unmistakably of The Killers, Hot Streak has a flavor you won’t want to put down. It’s no surprise since the group collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and worked with producers like JP Bowersock (The Strokes) and Mark Needham (The Killers). Bash into the new year with this New Wave cut on Spotify and see why it was youbloom’s #1 in our Countdown to the New Year! Faulkner will be gracing the Peppermint Club in LA on February 8th, 2018.

How to Choose the Right Drums for You

12-Nov-2017 By Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

As a beginner drummer, not only do you give the lesson provider a problem but also the drum set you will be working with. The former is not really something which should bother you because availing drum lessons in Melbourne is not that difficult given that a lot of establishments offer this service within the area. As for the latter, buying the right drums could indeed be both a confusing and exciting moment for a newbie drummer.

Although drum teachers or tutors usually provide a drum set within their facilities wherein they teach newbies, many still prefer buying their own drum set so that they can practice at home. If you prefer to have a set of your own, it is highly suggested that you invest time and effort in researching about various drums which can satisfy the needs of a beginner while taking into consideration the price, features, and suggestions of your drum lesson provider. Drum teachers can help you in choosing the right drum set because they can basically give pointers on what a beginner should look for when buying your first drum set.

Before getting into detail as to which to choose, it would be best to be knowledgeable of the basic components of a drum set. It is composed of the bass drum, snare drum, and toms. For more sophisticated ones, it may include cymbals and hardware. Since there are a lot of possible configurations for a drum set, you should narrow it down to the configuration which fits a beginner. For newbies, the basic 4-piece drum set if recommended. It includes a snare drum, a bass drum, a floor tom and a mounted tom. These four components can provide for all the basic sounds needed. Aside from this, a 4-piece set only requires minimal space, portable, and highly affordable. All of these without compromising the sound produced for this basic set works well with either jazz or rock styles.

The tricky part in choosing the right drums for you is when you assemble seemingly different pieces into your own set. This includes the hardware like the stand and pedals making the drum set more complicated and more sophisticated. However, the hardware should not be confused with mere holders for toms. Choosing your drum hardware can be challenging but is made less complicated by the fact that it can come in “shell packs.” This pack is composed of a hi-hat stand, a bass drum pedal and stand for the snare drum. Some packs include two cymbal stands. Buyers should be wary on whether or not the drum set being bought includes a hardware pack already so there will be no need for additional expense for a shell pack. It might be hard to believe but most of the drum sets do not include the sticks. You generally separately buy it.

There is a wide range of drum sets you can choose from but you can narrow it down based on either the components or the needs you have to meet (the genre of songs you need to cover or play). However, you should not be discouraged. Shops or drum lesson teachers can be of great help in choosing the perfect drum kits which not only give off a good sound but also match your current capability as a drummer and of course your budget.

Author Bio:

Darren Perkins is a drummer at and the owner of Red Drum Music Studio. A studio that teaches drum lessons to the people of Melbourne, Australia. He shares his knowledge and expertise through teaching and writing articles.

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