A free field guide for the musician with a song and no budget. Walk in, ask anything, take what you need.
How do I record a song for $0?Ask
Grants, contests, playlists and residencies you can actually enter — found and checked every week, then sent to you. Free, like everything else here.
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General information, not legal or financial advice — but it is a good place to start.
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Gear at every level, picked and labeled. If you’re buying anyway, coming through here keeps this whole thing free.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Tools and rates change — verify current details. Answers are AI-generated.
Hundreds of millions in royalties sit unclaimed at SoundExchange and The MLC. The free ten-minute check — here’s how.
WPLN NashvilleIf AI trained on your songs without asking, these suits are how independent artists get a seat at the table.
Bandcamp / OnesToWatchEvery upload there is now human-made by rule — and on those Fridays the platform waives its cut, so fans’ money goes straight to you.
American SongwriterThe US mechanical rate is climbing year by year. Small money, but it’s your money.
Xposure / MIDiAA 2025-26 industry survey says most indies still earn under $15K/yr from music — and indie market share keeps growing anyway. Both true. Plan accordingly.
From the houseOur own plain-language guide to who owes you money and how to collect it.
Written and recorded alone over one winter in a Wisconsin hunting cabin on borrowed gear, self-released, and it changed everything for him. The other famous proof that the room doesn’t matter — the song does.
Listen on YouTube → Listen on Spotify →
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NO-MONEY TOOLSA chart builder, a split sheet, a release checklist. The working paperwork — runs on your device.
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NO-MONEY STUFF134 tools, sites, and organizations — sorted and labeled.
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NO-MONEY GUIDESTwo dozen straight articles on recording, releasing, and getting paid. No fluff, no gatekeeping.
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THE VIDEO LIBRARYHand-picked YouTube tutorials, sorted by shelf. They play right here — you never leave.
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NO-MONEY GEARBudget picks that earn their keep, and which upgrade actually matters first. Some links pay us a cut at no cost to you — details below.
Gear at every level, picked and labeled. If you’re buying anyway, coming through here keeps this whole thing free.
Some of the gear links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the store pays this site a small cut. Your price doesn't change. There's also a tip jar.
I don’t know everything. But if you want some things that line up and you have no money — it’s a start I wish I had had. So use it.
