The Wholesome Music Podcast

Cameron Ljungkull & Augustus Watkins
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY

The DIY podcast about DIY music. Hosts Cameron Ljungkull and Augustus Watkins meet weekly to talk shop about indie music, the creative process, and the music industry.

  1. 2D AGO

    Activism at the 2026 GRAMMYs

    Plus, how can you keep your venue safe from ICE? We have a checklist that will help you prepare. Also, Spotify and the major labels are suing activist and archive group Anna's Archive for 13 trillion dollars (that's "trillion" with a "T"). Then, which musicians are in the Epstein files so far? Finally, this week's Take It Or Leave It advice helps your songs get more radio play. LinksWomen Won Big at the Grammy Awards and Used Their Platform for Good by @amplifyhervoice Bon Iver Talks about the Whistle on His Jacket" by @rollingstone "You give America color" by @revolt This is what Using Your Platform for Good Looks Like... by @naacp The Queer Artists Who Won At the 2026 Grammys by @soundfynd Preparing for Immigration Enforcement: Keeping Music and Performing Arts Venues, Staff, Artists, and Audiences Safe by Tamizdat Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas by Immigrant Legal Resource Center Spotify, Major Labels Sue Anna’s Archive for $13 Trillion by Rod Yates for New Industry Focus Jay-Z, Harvey Weinstein and Pusha T mentioned in latest batch of Epstein files released to public by Poppy Burton NME  Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    1h 3m

  2. JAN 28

    What's your 2026 music release strategy?

    It's a new year and many of us are thinking about how to plan out our music drops. How should you plan your year? And what about your music video strategy? We look at how music videos remain relevant—and how they don't. Next, a major shift has taken place in the social media landscape with the transfer of TikTok to its new (rightwing billionaire) American owners. What does this mean for the future of the platform, and your fans out there who rely on it to connect with you? Scott LeGere is a major name in the Minnesota music industry, and his recent blog post about the future of music education in light of ICE raids gives us a lot to unpack— from the decision on where to begin your music career, to whether or not music even matters in the face of growing authoritarianism. In news, we look at a new deal between Udio and Merlin, and then yet another Ye apology. Gee, guys, do you think he means it this time? LinksThe Best and Worst Months to Release Music in 2026 by Randi Zimmerman for Symphonic Do music videos still matter in 2026? by IG @shesaid.so Are New Owners Censoring TikTok? Top Democrats, Influencers, Celebrities Raising Concerns by Conor Murray for Forbes TikTok users freak out over app’s ‘immigration status’ collection — here’s what it means by Sarah Perez for TechCrunch Can My Minnesota Classrooms Still be About Opportunity?  By Scott LeGere on his Substack Udio Signs New AI Licensing Agreement with Merlin by Harry Levin for New Industry Focus To Those I've Hurt By Ye Formerly known as Kanye West Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    1h 17m

  3. JAN 22

    Bandcamp Bans AI Music

    Bandcamp recently announced, "music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp." But what does that mean, and how will they enforce it? We dive in. In good news, we share a fundraising effort by Fender and Habitat for Humanity to raise money for housing in LA by auctioning custom guitars made from trees affected by last year's fires. Then we discuss a new global initiative by Universal Music Group to empower music education. Is it a good thing, or just another corporate cashgrab? Stay to the end for this week's Take It Or Leave It advice, which has to do with doomscrolling. LinksKeeping Bandcamp HumanAI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage by Cory Doctorow for The Guardian Fender Is Turning Fire-Damaged Trees Into Custom Guitars To Help Rebuild Altadena After The Eaton Fire – Here’s How by Sarah Nash for Secret Los Angeles GiveButter - Altadena Telecaster Universal Music Group Launches 'Sound generation' Education Pilot in the UK by Rafaela Fornitani for Music Business Worldwide  Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    49 min

  4. JAN 15

    Minneapolis & ICE

    We have roots in Minneapolis, and felt we couldn't have just a regular episode given the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis at the hands of ICE agents. What can musicians do in times like this? We read Renee Good's wife's statement in its entirety, as a way of honoring her memory and life's work. Next: Spotify has said they're no longer running ICE ads but it's not because of a moral stance. We talk about how independent journalism is a form of resistance, and what lessons we can learn as musicians from the fracturing news media landscape—and what they could learn from us. In news, we look at one company (Bose) making some pro-consumer moves, discuss Elon's lawsuit against music publishers (how much money is enough for this guy?), and finally look at a class action lawsuit claiming that Ticketmaster is surveilling its customers illegally. This week's Take It Or Leave It advice has to do with how to set up your vocal chain when recording. Note, we recorded this episode January 12, 2025 and the situation is rapidly unfolding in Minneapolis. LinksBecca Good, Wife of Renee, Releases Statement: "We Had Whistles. They Had Guns" by Samantha Riedel for Them Spotify won’t say it’s done with ICE by Casey Epstein-Gross for Paste How independent journalism is a form of resistance: ‘I’m not answering to anyone’ by Mallory Carra for The Guardian Bose is open-sourcing its old smart speakers instead of bricking them by Stevie Bonifield for The Verge Elon Musk's X sues music publishers, alleges industry 'collusion'  by Tim Ingham for Music Business Worldwide Ticketmaster faces lawsuit over allged website tracking and 'surveillance' tools  by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    1h 9m

  5. JAN 8

    State of the GRAMMYs / Rap embraces art / YouTube vs Billboards / Spotify hacked

    We're back for 2026 with a look at the Grammy's. Are they still relevant? What's it take to get nominated? Is being part of the Grammy's something indie artists should aspire to? Next we look at how rap is embracing the visual art world. YouTube is set to stop reporting to Billboard because of a disagreement between the two organizations about how free streams should be counted. Finally, Spotify has been hacked! Who did it, what did they steal, and how can you get in on it? Plus we're adding a brand new weekly segment called "Take It Or Leave It" where we drop some quick knowledge for you to take or leave as you please. Stick around to the end to hear it! LinksThe Data Behind The 2026 GRAMMY Awards by New Industry Focus 2026 GRAMMYS Nominations: Record Of The Year Nominees 21 Savage & Slawn Kid Cudi Reinvents Himself as Scotty Ramon, a Visual ArtistA$AP Ferg Painted His Album CoversArt is Back on Album Covers in 2025 YouTube removed from Billboard charts by Resident AdvisorPirate Activist Group Spotify Hack By Mitchell Peters for Billboard Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    1h 10m

  6. 12/25/2025

    All About Christmas Music

    Kids, mom and dad love you very much, but things got a little hectic this holiday season, so we just got you something small... a Christmas mini-episode! We talk about holiday music strategy, trends in Christmas music—including why it starts so early now—and how and why musicians choose to do so many Christmas songs. It may be a little late for this year, but we'll set you up to succeed for next year. LinksOPINION: Modern Christmas music doesn’t hold up by Ashley Ragone for The SignalIs Christmas Starting Earlier and Earlier for the Music Industry? by Ashley King for Digital Music News  Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    14 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    Gene Simmons testifies before Congress / iHeartRadio 'guaranteed human' / Jay-Z invests in K-Pop

    They say politics make for strange bedfellows, and that's never been more true than when The Wholesome Music Podcast is forced to give props to Gene Simmons (who is gross). He recently testified before US Congress, urging them to close the loophole that lets radio stations not pay for music. Next, we catch up on iHeartRadio's efforts to brand themselves as "Guaranteed Human," and finally we look at investments Jay Z is making in K-pop and "K-culture" and what that could mean for the future of music. Links'That's Called robbery': Gene Simmons Urges US Congress to End Loophole That Allows Radio Stations Not To Pay for Using Recordings By Daniel Tencer for Music Business Worldwide iHeartRadio Exec Says Company Won't 'Play AI Music' or Use 'AI Generated Personalities' in Staff Memo by Billboard Jay-Z’s MarcyPen Capital eyes $500m Korean culture investment fund in partnership with Hanwha Asset Management by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide Gene Simmons testifies at Senate hearing about American Music Fairness Act | full video Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    44 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Is Spotify Wrapped cooked? / Vinyl sales still growing / Dan Wilson's songwriting tip

    Are you sure that Spotify actually knows what your musical taste is? And do you really want to outsource your opinions to a profit-driven algorithm? It's Spotify Wrapped season! Next, we look at 2025 vinyl sales trends. Vinyl is on the rise, but why? And what do you need to know about vinyl for your own career? Finally, we talk songwriting: mega-songwriter Dan Wilson shares great tips on songwriting, and we discuss natural language, why it's dominating the charts, and how you can use it in your songs! LinksThis Spotify Wrapped season, don’t outsource your love of music to AI by Liz Pelly for The Guardian Vinyl Sales On Track to Grow for the 19th Year in a Row by FraimNaturalistic Language from Dan Wilson  Send us a text Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The DIY podcast about DIY music. Hosts Cameron Ljungkull and Augustus Watkins meet weekly to talk shop about indie music, the creative process, and the music industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Cameron Ljungkull & Augustus Watkins
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Wholesome Music Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Wholesome Music Podcast