Kevin Breuner explores how artists can build lasting careers in an ever-changing music landscape. As SVP of Engagement and Education at CD Baby and a founding member of Grammy-nominated Smalltown Poets, Kevin has lived through the major-label era, the rise of indie distribution, and the streaming revolution. In this conversation, he shares candid lessons on sustaining creative work while navigating new platforms, technologies, and monetization models.
From Major Labels to Indie Empowerment
Kevin reflects on starting out in Smalltown Poets, the realities of label life, and why independence offered new possibilities. His journey to CD Baby reveals how the company grew from a small online store to a global distribution leader, helping artists connect directly with fans and monetize music across platforms.
Thriving in the Streaming Era
We unpack the shift from CDs and downloads to streaming, and what that means for artist revenue and strategy. Kevin shares insights on balancing passion with data, leveraging tools to reach niche audiences, and why understanding platform economics is critical for today’s musicians.
Balancing Creativity and Business
Throughout his career, Kevin has combined artistry with marketing and education. He offers practical advice for grassroots promotion, partnering with tech platforms wisely, and developing a long-term creative vision that can weather industry changes.
Listen to the full interview for a grounded, inside look at what it takes to be an artist in the modern music industry.
Highlights
- “Helping artists monetize their music on all these places is at the core of what we do.”
- “Independent music means a lot of things to different people now.”
- “I’ve seen a lot of companies come and go, and the BS detector is pretty big these days.”
- “Balancing creative passion with business strategy is key to sustaining a career.”
Guest: Kevin Breuner, CD Baby’s SVP of Engagement & Education
CD Baby’s SVP of Engagement & Education, Kevin Breuner, has spent over 25 years working in the music business, both as a recording artist and an industry professional. A San Diego native, Kevin went east to attend Belmont University in Nashville, TN where he studied Music and Music Business. After college he joined the Atlanta-based band Smalltown Poets who later signed a recording contract with a major label under the EMI umbrella. Their self-titled debut album received critical acclaim, selling over 200,000 copies and landing the guys with a Grammy nomination, plus multiple Dove Award nominations. Over their career, Smalltown Poets has amassed ten Top 10 songs on radio, with two reaching the coveted #1 spot.
Now residing in Portland, Oregon, Kevin heads up CD Baby’s content marketing efforts and hosts their popular DIY Musician Podcast, with the goal of helping artist understand the vast opportunities they have in this new music economy.
“I’m very passionate about helping artists understand that they can have a career on their own terms,” says Kevin. “I’ve been on a label and I’ve released music independently; I know what it feels like for an artist to pour their heart into a project and then send it out to the world.”
Smalltown Poets (smalltownpoets.tv) recently celebrated the release of their 10th album titled NWxSE. Kevin has also had songs used by the NFL, Peacock, ABC, Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and countless indie film productions.
What are you most passionate about with your current work? : Helping artist understand how they can build a career on their own terms.
Mentioned Links:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbreuner
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbreuner
- DIY Musician Podcast: https://podcast.cdbaby.com/
- DIY Musician Blog: https://diymusician.cdbaby.com/
- CD Baby: https://cdbaby.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-breuner-a512938
- EDM article: The Changing Role of a Music Distributor in 2022: https://edm.com/industry/the-changing-role-of-a-music-distributor-in-2022
- Small Town Poets: https://smalltown-poets.lnk.to/LITO and https://smalltownpoets.tv/
