In March 2026, David was invited to conduct interviews at the Music Pro ’26 conference at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.

From sitting in up close and personal sessions with the likes of Steve Vai and T Bone Burnett, to catching up with friends like Justin Longo and Sunavana Grace. The three-day music conference brought with it highs and lows, excitement and disappointment, and even crucial realizations.

In this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Podcast, we start at the very beginning and take you all the way to the end. From pre-conference preparation to post-conference reflections, this episode features the complete Music Pro ’26 journey.


In This Episode:

- What David was told to do just one week before the conference began


- Why David’s experience at the Music Pro ’26 wasn’t all a bed of roses


- Why David ended up making a new T-shirt design in anticipation of the conference


- What David was looking forward to most at the conference


- The people David had the opportunity to interview and connect with


- The surprise opportunity David ended up finding at the event


- The swag David brought back from the conference


- David’s “unacceptable” behavior at the event


- Why you ought to seize the moment when opportunity presents itself


- Why how you show up matters


- The passion David ended up returning to

Key Resources:

- Printful: print-on-demand merchandise (affiliate link)


- Kit: email marketing platform for creators (affiliate link)


- What I’m Taking Away from Music Pro ’26: David’s blog post that was published shortly after the conference

David’s 5 Lessons from Music Pro ‘26


At the end of this episode, David shared his top five takeaways from the Music Pro ’26 conference. Here, we’ll unpack these lessons and look at how they can apply to your career or business.


Be Grateful for Every Opportunity


When all was said and done, David expressed his gratitude for being invited to the Music Pro ’26 conference and for taking the time to visit Hollywood for the occasion.

We all receive invitations, and perhaps there are some you’d rather not respond to. Or, there are those you’re a little unsure or skeptical about.

There are times when the answer should be “no.” But there can also be times when the answer is going to be a begrudging “yes.”

Much has been said about being “paid in exposure,” but even unpaid opportunities can have their perks. It’s well worth taking the time to evaluate each opportunity independent of income, as there are occasions that pay off in other ways.

When an opportunity has been accepted, dive in with both feet, and regardless of what happens, express gratitude for the invitation.


Opportunity Likes Speed


David made some connections at the conference on Day 1, with whom he’d hoped to schedule an interview on subsequent days. But not only did those individuals not return to the conference, but David hasn’t been able to get in touch with them since.

The best plan? Seize the moment, because it may not come around again.

You may hope for better timing or better circumstances, but sometimes they never come around. You might even be nervous to make the ask, but even if the answer is “no,” you’re no worse or better off for having asked in the first place.

Next time an opportunity shows up for you, act with speed. It may not be how you’re used to doing things, but if you do it enough, you’ll gain practice, and soon, it will become habit.


How You Present Matters


To the best of your ability, show up to conferences looking and feeling your best.

Sometimes it’s a tricky balance to strike, because you don’t want to be on either extreme of aloof or arrogant (unless these are specifically part of your shtick), but you want to find that middle ground where you’re both relaxed and confident.

You can sometimes find that sweet spot by pretending you’re a celebrity – someone people want to meet, but someone who also has the responsibility to value the people around them and act with humility.

David mentioned that, as he’s becoming more recognized as an emerging public figure/celebrity, he is more mindful of how he shows up in every situation.


Preparation Precedes Triumph


Although Music Pro ’26 was an unpaid opportunity for David, he still wishes that both he and the conference were better equipped for the role he was meant to play (interviewer).

Ultimately, David still captured quite a bit of footage and conducted five interviews, but given the right circumstances and access to equipment, David feels he could have done a lot more.

Whatever you’ve been asked to do, prepare for the opportunity. Make a checklist and ensure that you’ve got the tools you need, or that the tools will be available at the destinations you visit.

Note: David is available to be a (paid) interviewer at your event, whether it’s to capture the vibes of the conference, talk to attendees, gather testimonials, glean insights from presenters and celebrities, all the above, or otherwise. Contact us for more information.


Music: The Passion That Won’t Die


David doesn’t necessarily regret the meandering journey he’s been on, as he’s aware that virtually every successful person goes on the same kind of adventure to get to where they’re going. The journey to success is rarely a straight line, as has often been said.

But David didn’t really know that he would be returning to music (both as a studio musician and a musician coach) in a more concerted, intentional way. In fact, if he had known, he says he might not have taken some of the detours that he did.

What this underscores is the cruciality of staying locked in. Sometimes, it’s so easy to deviate from the path you’re on. What at first appears to be micro adjustments can actually be unintended pivots that take you away from doing what’s needed to get to escape velocity.

David is surprised by what he’s been able to accomplish just by staying locked in for the last three months. He does anticipate additional opportunities arriving, but more than ever, he’s appreciating the value of staying steady, as he’s enjoyed some early benefits.


You’re Invited to Subscribe!


Thank you for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show, please take a moment to subscribe for free. You will receive email notifications about new episodes, along with powerful music career tools to help you achieve your dream life. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/?p=28846

How would you like to see the Music Pro ’26 conference through the eyes of an attendee?

Well, you’re in luck, because while in Hollywood, CA, at the Musicians Institute, David caught up with Linda Blaise to have her share about her experience at Music Pro ’26, the sessions, the celebrity musicians, her takeaways, and more.

Be sure to take a moment to thank her for her time!


In This Episode:

- The truth about music royalties


- How “professional” Music Pro ’26 conference really was


- The cool thing that happened at Paul Reed Smith’s session


- The qualities that Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Erick Walls exudes


- What Linda would like to see at future Music Pro conferences


- What the ideal release schedule is


- Why Linda believes people need time to absorb your new music

Key Resources:

- Kit: email marketing platform for creators

The Music Pro ’26 Conference


David attended the Music Pro ’26 conference from March 27 through 29, 2026 at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA.

While there as a “token interviewer,” he had the opportunity to connect with Justin Longo, Mitch Glazier, and Tiamo De Vettori, among others.

The sessions were wide ranging. Here are but a few of the highlights:

- Opening keynote with Steve Vai (interviewed by BandLab’s Kevin Breuner)


- Paul Reed Smith’s session on Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony (featuring Tim Pierce, Curt Bisquera, and Alex Al


- What the Music Directors Want with Dory Lobel


- Stop Chaing Viral. Start Building a Career with Kevin Breuner


- The TikTok Wizardry of Kira Lise presented by Shure


- A Fireside Chat on Digital Distribution with DistroKid’s Mike Fink


- Closing keynote with T Bone Burnett

With concurrent sessions, there was no way for David to attend all or meet everyone, but his coverage of the conference is one-of-a-kind.

Conferences will be eager to hire David to interview attendees, staff, organizers, volunteers, celebrities, and panelists in the future, to capture the authenticity and aliveness of their events.


You’re Invited to Subscribe!


Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show, we have more on the way. Please take a moment to subscribe. You will receive weekly email notifications about new episodes, along with other powerful music career tools to take your passion beyond. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/?p=28839

What if you could make $15,000 per gig, without being a celebrity, without being polished, without even having to build your own audience?

In this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show, David passes the mic with Musicpreneur Academy’s Tiamo De Vettori at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, at the Music Pro ’26 conference.

Covering the unique concept of keynote concerts, Tiamo introduces an exciting opportunity to play at conferences for an adoring, supportive audience and earn a substantial income.


In This Episode:

- Tiamo’s story of struggle and burning out on endless gigging


- Why keynote concerts offer disproportionately higher income


- Why singing and speaking are the unique value proposition


- Why you don’t have to become a celebrity to command higher fees


- Why Tiamo believes anyone could get started with keynote concerts


- Why being relatable is more important than trying to be a polished speaker


- How Tiamo realized he could teach other musicians how to do keynote concerts


- How keynote concerts lead to diversified income streams


- The surprising leap the conference market is set to make in the next two to three years


- What Tiamo and David both believe about the value of human connection moving forward


- Why starting small is a valid option, especially if you’re validated

Key Resources:

- thrivingmusician.com: Tiamo’s free webinar


- Tiamo Keynote Concerts: See Tiamo in action


- Kit: email marketing platform for creators

The Advantages of Keynote Concerts


Here’s how keynote concerts compare to the grind-it-out traditional model most independent artists find themselves pursuing:

- You can earn $15,000+ per conference for an hour of work


- You can inspire a captive audience with your stories and music


- You get the celebrity/rock star treatment as a keynote speaker


- You don’t have to be a celebrity to play conferences


- You don’t have to be a polished speaker (this could actually inhibit engagement)


- On top of the fee you’re paid as a keynote speaker, there are opportunities to earn from album sales, merchandise sales, custom songs, private concerts for VIP guests, and sync licensing opportunities


- One keynote concert per month could help you earn a great living


- The conference market makes $890 billion annually, but is projected to grow to $2 trillion in the next two to three years


- It’s currently a low-competition space

You’re Invited!


Thanks for tuning in. If you enjoyed this episode, we have more on the way. Please take a moment to subscribe to the show. You will receive weekly email notifications, along with other powerful music career tools to take your passion beyond. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/?p=28826

Now for something a little different…

While at Music Pro ’26 in Hollywood at the Musicians Institute, David caught up with his friend and collaborator Sunavana Grace (of S.H.I.N.E. TV Global Network) to talk about relationships and love.

Whether you’re in a relationship now or want to be, this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show offers an opportunity for you to reflect on how you’re connecting with yourself, your significant other, and the world.


In This Episode:

- The spontaneous California adventure Sunavana went on


- Musician Institute’s proximity to Hollywood Boulevard


- Sunavana’s collaboration with Andrew Michael Houghton of Extraordinary Men’s Network


- The funny thing Andrew did while going live on Zoom


- The biggest challenge people are facing in relationships


- How uncovering your true self is the pathway to love


- Why Sunavana left her husband


- Why Sunavana believes forgiveness is the hardest part


- How time plays a role in getting to know someone


- How you can end up repeating relationship patterns you don’t recognize

Key Resources:

- Spark Infinity


- S.H.I.N.E. TV Global Network


- Extraordinary Men’s Network


- Kit: email marketing platform for creators

Key Insights from Sunavana


Here’s a recap of some of the insights Sunavana shared with us regarding relationships:

(Remember – you can just as easily apply this to band communication, pitching to bloggers, asking for the gig, etc. Doing internal work can also help prepare you for new opportunities.)


Believe in Love


Many people feel like they’ve been burned and have a hard time believing that they can love again. Working through childhood challenges and trauma can help you remove the masks you’ve been wearing (to survive) and drive down to the core of who you are.


Forgiveness is Key


Forgive others. But also forgive yourself for being the kind of person who attracted, or said “yes” to someone you regret saying yes to. As Sunavana adds, unforgiveness is like drinking poison, and forgiveness is like drinking the remedy.


Communication Improves Through Time Together


It can be hard to read someone when you’re first getting to know them. But quality time can help you learn their idiosyncrasies, which may not be the red flags you’ve envisioned them to be.


You’re Invited!


Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll be pleased to know we have more on the way. Please take a moment to subscribe to the show. You will receive weekly emails notifying you of the latest episodes. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/authentic-connected-relationships-with-sunavana-grace/

Now for something a little different…

While at Music Pro ’26 in Hollywood at the Musicians Institute, David caught up with his friend and collaborator Sunavana Grace (of S.H.I.N.E. TV Global Network) to talk about relationships and love.

Whether you’re in a relationship now or want to be, this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show offers an opportunity for you to reflect on how you’re connecting with yourself, your significant other, and the world.


In This Episode:

- The spontaneous California adventure Sunavana went on


- Musician Institute’s proximity to Hollywood Boulevard


- Sunavana’s collaboration with Andrew Michael Houghton of Extraordinary Men’s Network


- The funny thing Andrew did while going live on Zoom


- The biggest challenge people are facing in relationships


- How uncovering your true self is the pathway to love


- Why Sunavana left her husband


- Why Sunavana believes forgiveness is the hardest part


- How time plays a role in getting to know someone


- How you can end up repeating relationship patterns you don’t recognize

Key Resources:

- Spark Infinity


- S.H.I.N.E. TV Global Network


- Extraordinary Men’s Network


- Kit: email marketing platform for creators

Key Insights from Sunavana


Here’s a recap of some of the insights Sunavana shared with us regarding relationships:

(Remember – you can just as easily apply this to band communication, pitching to bloggers, asking for the gig, etc. Doing internal work can also help prepare you for new opportunities.)


Believe in Love


Many people feel like they’ve been burned and have a hard time believing that they can love again. Working through childhood challenges and trauma can help you remove the masks you’ve been wearing (to survive) and drive down to the core of who you are.


Forgiveness is Key


Forgive others. But also forgive yourself for being the kind of person who attracted, or said “yes” to someone you regret saying yes to. As Sunavana adds, unforgiveness is like drinking poison, and forgiveness is like drinking the remedy.


Communication Improves Through Time Together


It can be hard to read someone when you’re first getting to know them. But quality time can help you learn their idiosyncrasies, which may not be the red flags you’ve envisioned them to be.


You’re Invited!


Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll be pleased to know we have more on the way. Please take a moment to subscribe to the show. You will receive weekly emails notifying you of the latest episodes. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/authentic-connected-relationships-with-sunavana-grace/




Does AI pose an existential threat to artists and humanity? Does it spell certain doom for original creativity? Are there any legal protections or policies going into place to protect the independent creator?

In this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show, David wrangles RIAA CEO Mitch Glazier into a conversation at Music Pro ’26 about AI technologies and their broader implications for artists and the music industry.


In This Episode:

- What the RIAA has identified as the major issues surrounding AI


- How AI disclosure is becoming essential


- Why Mitch feels AI represents a major opportunity for artists


- Why the AI literate will be positioned to take advantage of more opportunities


- How the music industry has adapted and thrived through multiple significant shifts


- Why AI policy is crucial for protecting creatives, especially now


- What Mitch thinks of David’s MRCT framework


- Why the fans are in control and how to avoid an authenticity backlash


- How Mitch describes the artist model for 2026


- Why David doesn’t believe in outsourcing his brain to AI


- How Hypebot suggests creators utilize AI (great quote!)

Key Resources:

- Recording Industry Association of America: advocating for the music ecosystem through policy


- Kit: email marketing platform for creators

David’s Best Tips for Leveraging AI


AI can be a blessing or a curse (or both, or even something in between) based on your understanding and context of how it works. And this isn’t something we can get across in a paragraph.

What we can offer, however, is a high-level view of how you can effectively leverage AI in your creative work. Here’s David’s framework:


Study Prompt Engineering


If you want to get better outputs from AI chatbots, you must speak their language. That’s the essence of prompt engineering.

You don’t necessarily need to become a professional prompt engineer. Taking a couple of Udemy courses should prove more than enough to get started.

Subscribing to newsletters like Superhuman AI for ongoing inspiration.


Experiment Broadly


Before wholesale adopting and implementing AI in your ecosystem, experiment. Try a variety of things, from researching relevant topics to analyzing a dataset.

AI is seductive in its appeal. But you can’t look at its work through rose-tinted glasses, or you will be in danger of believing everything it does is great. Reality check – it isn’t.

You’ve got to push its limits and question its outputs. Notice what it does well and notice where it fails. Then, learn how to steer it towards useful generations.

This part doesn’t come together overnight. Experiment broadly, and make level-headed observations.


Determine Where AI is Most Useful and Effective


Also see the previous point. As you experiment, identify where AI can be of productive assistance to you. This will vary from creator to creator, but it’s crucial to determine where it can and cannot provide efficiencies before committing to its outputs.

David uses a mix of tools to create social media posts, podcast transcripts, short videos (clips), podcast show notes drafts, and more. But he doesn’t use AI for any of his writing.


Create Frameworks


Creating repeatable processes makes it possible to generate more consistent and predictable results.

Using the same chat for the same tasks is a good start, but crafting a prompt that works every time is the real flex.

Document and store the frameworks that boost your efficiency and make your life easier.


Establish a Central Repository


While AI can go beyond your prompt and search the web for additional information, it still hallucinates and digs up useless and inaccurate reference points.

A better strategy is to create a central repository (in Google Drive) for key contextual information (style guides, audience research, frameworks, etc.) and give your AI model access to this information.

Keep in mind, though, that you need to keep your repository up-to-date, or chatbots will assume earlier context.


Be the Final Reviewer and Decisionmaker


There are things AI can provide and those it cannot.

This James Schramko video explains it very well:

To summarize, AI can provide structure, discipline, consistency, and speed. But you’re the only one who can provide taste, context, authority, experience, and final calls.

Whatever you’re generating, use your filter of taste, context, authority, experience and final calls to improve outputs.


Be Real


Disclose AI use. Let people know when and where you’re utilizing it, especially where it’s likely to become a legal requirement (e.g., creator platforms).

AI hate is strong and growing. You have nothing to gain and everything to lose by hiding your use of AI.

And if you’re still one of the real ones creating real content, be proud of this fact and let your audience know.


You’re Invited!


Thanks for listening. How would you like to keep up-to-date with the podcast? Please take a moment to subscribe. You will receive weekly emails notifying you of the latest developments. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/ai-and-the-music-industry-with-mitch-glazier/




Have you ever thought about predicting music trends and earning income from them?

Perhaps not, because this is still an emerging idea. But it’s a very interesting one, particularly for independent artists looking to diversify their income streams.

In this episode of The David Andrew Wiebe Show, David catches up with Justin Longo of MarinNation in Hollywood, CA, while attending the Music Pro ’26 conference.

Besides getting an update on Justin’s progress on his still-in-development skill-based music prediction market platform, the two also touch on how AI is changing the music industry landscape and strategies modern artists can adopt to ensure their human advantages are properly leveraged.


In This Episode:

- What Justin noticed about David after meeting him for the first time


- How MariNation shifted from an investment platform to a skill-based music prediction platform (and what that means)


- The real story behind Justin’s entrepreneurial and musical journey


- How Justin suggests supporting yourself while growing your hustle


- The secret formula David learned from Andrew Dubber


- David’s framework for human-driven independent music success


- Justin’s experiments with TikTok and what it has taught him about content volume


- Why Justin believes people will never buy music again


- What Steve Vai said about utilizing AI in music


- How David views current news headlines concerning AI developments


- The contentious ideas David thinks musicians need to start “shaking hands” with

Key Resources:

- MariNation: Justin’s music prediction platform


- Kit: email marketing platform for creators

David’s MRCT Framework for Human-Driven Independent Success


The MRCT Framework lays out the advantages that humans have over AI. Now that AI can produce convincing-sounding pop music, which creates a new skill floor for musicians, musicians must emphasize human connection.

This framework, of course, could work with the assistance of AI. But that part is key – with the assistance of. Use AI to enhance working processes and scale viable opportunities, not enhance mistakes and scale insanity.


M – Message


The core of your artistic identity. What do you stand for? What are you about? What’s your mission? These might not be easy questions to answer, but the sooner you can figure this out, the sooner you can organize your activity around a singular purpose.

Your Message should drive your brand, your image, everything you do. It should inform your musical choices, lyrics, stage costumes, merchandise, and fan conversations.

A great band without a message might make great music, but that’s not a differentiator or a competitive advantage. Plenty of artists make great music. What will attract people to you is a meaning they can rally behind.


R – Relationship


A fan base grows stronger through Relationship. People want to feel like they belong. They want to feel like they’re part of a movement. They want to feel good about themselves and to share that with like-minded others.

You can offer this to your fans, particularly in the early going. You can learn everyone’s names, send them a text every week or two, maybe even organize a wings night now and then. Read How to Win Friends and Influence People while you’re at it. It will help!


C – Community


At some point, Relationship will become unscalable. It’s still a good idea to get to know your fans and stay connected to them, to the extent possible, but at some point, you’ll need to transition to building your Community.

You can introduce new fans to old fans. Heck, you can make your old fans the leaders of the community. You can teach and instill in them in the values that built the culture.

And you can start doing things that will scale for a long time to come – play birthday parties, organize album signings, do live streams.


T – Taste-making


You can introduce your fans to things you enjoy. They are bound to trust your recommendations, and assuming you share quality things, they will keep returning to you for more.

This positions you as the go-to person for entertainment and fun. People will want to talk to you, just because you know about the coolest lounges, restaurants, bookstores, and so on. This will also lead to more gigs, because people will want to book you for their personal events.

AI can only make suggestions. You can be a tastemaker!


You’re Invited!


If you want to keep up with podcast updates and support the show, please take a moment to subscribe. You will receive weekly emails notifying you of the latest. https://davidandrewwiebe.com/music-prediction-markets-with-justin-longo/