This Is Your Freestyle Blast #55

Success begins with connection... online, on stage, and with the fans who make it all possible.

Jul 15, 2026

Welcome to Issue #55 of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter, where once again we take you behind the music, behind the business, and into the heart of the Freestyle community.

This month, we’re diving into two topics that affect every artist, no matter where they are in their career. First, it’s “Social Media... And Your Music Career,” where we explore why your online presence has become just as important as your live performance, and how understanding today’s social media landscape can open doors you never imagined. Then, in our second featured titled,“Returning the Love,” we shift our focus to the people who have kept us in business for nearly four decades, the fans. We’ll discuss why acknowledging their loyalty isn’t just appreciated, it’s essential.

It’s also time for another Blast Off! And yup, Lanah Skye returns once again to defend her title. But something tells me that her two new challengers, might give her a bit of a tussle. We’ll see, so make sure to cast your vote and help decide who will be featured as next month’s champion.

And as always, don’t forget to visit our Freestyle Club & Concert Calendar, packed with upcoming shows, club appearances, festivals, and events from across the country. Whether you’re planning your next concert road trip or simply looking for a night out close to home, this month’s calendar is your guide to where Freestyle is happening.

Thank you everyone for continuing to make The Freestyle Blast Newsletter part of your month. Now sit back, and let’s get into Issue #55.

😏👉 Oh, and one more thing. The Freestyle Blast Newsletter will always be free. We don’t ask for donations, contributions, or tips. Instead, we ask for something even more valuable... your engagement.
Every Like, Heart, Comment, and Share helps us reach more Freestyle fans, grow this incredible community, and just as importantly, lets us know that the time, passion, and effort we pour into every issue truly matter.
Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us keep the music as well as the memories alive.

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SOCIAL MEDIA… AND YOUR MUSIC CAREER

I get calls from artists all the time pitching me their craft for representation, and one of the first things I ask is, are we connected on Social Media…

Their delayed answer is usually a sign that we are not, followed by, “ I’m not really into the whole Social Media thing.”

I remember when Social Media first started making its rounds. Yes, I left some pretty big gaps in my own involvement as well. In fact, it always seemed like it was during one of my breaks that a platform would suddenly explode in popularity.

I even had pages with huge followings (for the time) that were eventually shut down, like my first YouTube channel. Yeah, that one hurt.

But as I dove deeper and gained a better understanding of Social Media, and more importantly, the purpose behind it, I learned to appreciate it more than ever.

Building a following has never been easy, and at times, it’s been downright discouraging. Still, I’ve learned a few key principles that have helped me remain present, even if it’s within our relatively small Freestyle community.

Social Media isn’t nearly as one-sided as it sometimes appears. Take that dirty little word that so many people either fear or don’t quite understand... the algorithm.

The algorithm isn’t the villain it’s been made out to be. In fact it’s actually your friend and your protector if you understand how it works and simply let it do the job it was designed to do.

I’ve had family members and friends who have almost no presence on Social Media, especially Facebook, tell me they don’t like it because of all the negative things they see, not realizing that they’re the actual reason they’re seeing it.

Think of the algorithm as your own personal note-taker sitting quietly in the background with a pen and pad. It notices the posts you slow down for but keep scrolling, the ones you stop to read, the ones you like, comment, and share, as well as the ones you scroll right past.

Those little note-takers report back to Team Zuck, and your feed begins adjusting itself to match those interests. If you regularly stop to read political posts, you’ll start seeing more about politics and things related to it. If you spend your time watching reality TV clips, guess what? You’ll get more of that too. It’s really that simple.

The algorithm wants to serve you content you’re most likely to enjoy because it wants you to stay on the platform longer. Which brings up another question... Why? and the answer is, Advertisers! Yes, that’s how Social Media makes it’s money.

The longer you stay on a platform, the more advertisements you’ll see, and the greater the chance you’ll eventually buy something. So the algorithm isn’t just finding content you like, it’s also trying to match you with ads you’re more likely to respond to.

If you’re a truck mechanic who spends hours watching videos about engines, tools, and diesel trucks, chances are you’ll never see an advertisement for leather patent high heels... unless, of course, that’s something you’re into as well.

Think back to when television was the center of entertainment in our homes, before computers and smartphones. If you watched Saturday morning cartoons, what commercials did you see? Toys. Games. Those colorful sugary cereals.

Then Mom would watch her daytime soap operas, and the commercials shifted to laundry detergent, dish soap, groceries, and household appliances. Hence the term “soap opera.”

So what does all of this have to do with Freestyle? Everything. Because of Social Media, the playing field between Freestyle and today’s larger genres has been leveled. The gap between independent artists and major labels has also narrowed, giving everyone an opportunity to compete.

Sure, the majors still have much bigger budgets, but that’s more about speed than reach.

Organic content, meaning posts that aren’t boosted with paid advertising, may start with a smaller audience. But compelling content, whether paid or organic, still has the potential to spread. Organic growth simply takes more time.

If your organic content generates little or no interest, don’t expect paid advertising to magically fix it. Before spending money boosting a post, make sure people are already responding to it. Throwing good money at weak content can become a very expensive mistake.

Here’s something else everyone needs to understand. Your Social Media has become your new résumé. Or, if you’re an artist, your new press kit. Handing someone a one-sheet or even an EPK still has its place, but before any of that gets opened, the first thing they’re going to do is Google your name., and from there, they’ll check your Social Media.

As of this writing, Facebook and Instagram are still the first places most people will look. If you’re on the executive side of the business, they’ll probably check LinkedIn as well, so make sure those platforms tell the story you want them to know.

If you’re an artist and all they find is food porn, tasteless memes, or endless photos of your kids and grand kids, don’t expect the phone to ring. Seriously.

Post your live performances. Post your studio sessions. Post your rehearsals. Post your touring. Post your accomplishments. Sure, throw in the occasional food photo because you played a show in an amazing city and wanted to try the local cuisine. That’s part of the journey.

Career-related posts aren’t about bragging. They’re about branding. They’re about showing people you’re active, committed, and working. And if you’re hooked on posting personal content, that’s perfectly fine. Just create a business page, formerly known as a fan page, and keep the two separate.

I’ve written quite a bit about this topic over the past several months, and whether people want to admit it or not, I am seeing more artists starting to post professionally. And though I’d love to think that The Blast might’ve had even a small influence on that, the important thing is, it’s happening.

We’re now halfway through the year. Start thinking about your campaigns for the next six months. Don’t just post for the sake of posting. Post with intention. Post with purpose. Post with a goal. And here’s one final piece of advice. Stop watching the numbers.

Don’t keep checking every few minutes to see who so far engaged with your post, because there’s a good chance the numbers won’t impress you. Instead, think about the people who probably viewed it, and use that as motivation to create the next post.

I share all of this because I truly understand how important Social Media has become to our genre. Having just a handful of artists staying active online isn’t enough to move Freestyle forward. We need everyone contributing., otherwise, even the artists who are doing a great job will eventually see it all slow down.

If this article resonated with you in any way, I’d love to hear your thoughts, so whether you agree with me or not, please leave a comment below, because your opinion does matters.

RETURNING THE LOVE

As a manager and booking agent, my love and appreciation for the fans isn’t much different than the love the artists have for them. After all, they’re just as important to my career as they are to the artists’.

We’ve all seen those videos online where an athlete or celebrity walks through a crowd of excited fans with a straight face. No smile. No wave. No acknowledgment. Just looking dead ahead as if the people cheering for them don’t even exist.

Maybe it’s because I’ve never experienced that level of fame, but I simply can’t imagine not acknowledging the very people who helped get you where you are.

I also love that famous speech by Snoop Dogg where he said, “I want to thank me.” It’s become a classic, and he absolutely earned the right to say it, so long as those on the receiving end are not forgotten. Because no matter how talented you are or how hard you work, if no one is listening, watching, buying tickets, or supporting you, your career would only go so far.

It’s like the old question: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? You can sing the greatest song ever written with the most incredible voice imaginable, but if no one is there to hear it, applaud it, or share it with others, then you’ve only performed for yourself.

Freestyle music is approaching its 40th anniversary. Many of our artists were teenagers when their careers began. So were many of the fans. They’ve all literally grew up together.

Those fans requested your songs on the radio and in the clubs. They bought your records, cassettes, CDs, and now they stream your music. They’ve purchased your merchandise, traveled to your concerts, and today they continue supporting you with likes, hearts, comments, and shares.

So how do we return that love? Well, it starts with something very simple. Be gracious! Smile. Wave. Say hello. Sign the autograph. Take the selfie, or as the legendary Baby Bash says... “Don’t be a dic... take the pic.” And he is absolutely right.

I’m not only a manager and booking agent. I’m also married to Angel, lead singer of The Cover Girls, and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing some truly beautiful interactions between her and her fans. She always makes sure that they know that they were the one’s who made her journey possible, and that kind of gratitude leaves a wonderful and lasting impression.

Of course, showing appreciation goes beyond a photo or a handshake. One of the greatest ways to thank your fans is by giving them everything you’ve got when you step on stage.

Thankfully, Freestyle has always been a genre filled with artists who genuinely care about their performances. That’s something that should never be taken for granted.

Their fans are growing older right alongside them. They understand that none of them are twenty anymore, and many don’t expect them to look or even move the same. But what they do expect is that same passion, that same excitement, and that same magical feeling they experienced the first time they saw them perform.

That doesn’t mean every show needs fireworks or a circus. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a huge impact.

Look at your show with fresh eyes. Is there something you can improve? A different outfit? Better lighting? A new intro? Updated show tracks? More interaction with the audience? Even small changes can make a familiar performance feel fresh again.

If we’re willing to keep taking the stage, then we should also be willing to keep growing. It’s one of the greatest ways we can thank the people who’ve stood beside us for all these years.

And finally... Before you walk off that stage, use a few seconds of your allotted time to simply say, “Thank you.” Those two words may be the most memorable part of the entire performance.

So here’s a question. How important do you think it is for artists to acknowledge and interact with their fans? Share your thoughts in the comments. We’d love to hear it.