Sometimes the algorithm works. A few weeks back, a YouTuber I’d never seen before showed up in my feed. His name is John Huggart, and his YouTube channel, Indie, Over 50, checked two of my boxes: I’m dyed-in-the-wool indie, and I’m a couple of years over fifty. What’s more, his channel is full of useful advice, encouraging words, and dry humor that’s right up my alley.

Tell me a little bit about your YouTube channel. What’s the idea behind Indie, Over 50, and what inspired you to take the plunge, as it were, and get the channel started?

I released my first song on Spotify in 2021 at the age of 57.  This has been a reboot of a long term passion as an amateur or semi-professional songwriter and muso.  And I have had to learn so much since so much has changed from my first release, in Vinyl, back in 1988.  During my journey I have had the opportunity to meet other independent artists who are continuing, or coming back, or just getting started with releasing new original music later in life.  I have met many of us through Facebook groups, and in real life.  And we are all navigating this new landscape, technology and amazing opportunities in this new age.  And then I was scrolling YouTube and there was a chap called Kevin Kolbe spruiking the idea that Over 40’s should start their own YouTube channel.  It piqued my interest, and I decided to jump in and try and connect with my tribe – Indie, Over 50 artists.

What kinds of challenges—or fears—did you face when it came to launching Indie, Over 50?

Fear of failure, procrastination, and some basic technology challenges – I am competent on a Mac and basic music and video production – but my pro tip is not to put the iPhone holder over the microphone!! I gave myself the challenge of not sharing or telling my family and friends – I wanted to see if the channel could resonate and find an audience on its own.

And what are your goals for the channel?

Such a great question, personally I am thrilled that I am nearing 100 subscribers and my recent video has had over 1,000 views.  Especially after the first video had an encouraging start and then the next few key declining in audience.  What is clear though is I am not doing this to generate an income, I am genuinely excited to engage with a community and I hope to extend that into potential collaborations in the future, and exchange of insights.  I really appreciate meeting yourself Marc and seeing what you have created as a vehicle for engaging with independent artists, and sharing your music, a blog, a radio show – very cool!

What did you do for a living before starting the YouTube channel? Have any of the skills you acquired in that field translated over to music? 

I am an accountant by trade that has made a career in sales, marketing and developed a senior executive career as a CEO (chief executive officer) of multiple listed and private companies, mainly in the energy industry in Australia.  I had to admit in my last video that it was clear as day I was under investing in marketing in my music.  In my career I have launched new businesses, new products, new markets – I understand the investment required – but when it came to my own music, like many of us, we so strongly believe the work stands for itself – it will sell itself.  But that is not how it works. You ask what skills have transferred to music.  The reality is that many of my business skills were gained in music.  In 1988 I took a year off work to release the record and tour – I learnt the value of cashflow, contracts, of planning, persistence and developing real relationships.  I also learnt that when vinyl singles warp it may be a production issue rather than me blaming myself for transporting them in my car for half an hour – that was stressful!!!

I’m curious about your history with music. Can you talk a little bit about how music has fit into your life over the years?

For many of us that desire is a lifelong passion.  I saw the film “Backbeat” about the birth of the Beatles and it was incredibly inspiring and engaged with a few of the crew at school who have become my lifelong friends.  My best instrument is drums, but in bands I have often been the bass player as it helps as a songwriter.  And at that stage I had the confidence to sing – I learnt later that I should never sing, and very happily find awesome singers to share my songs today.  I play basic guitar to write songs.  

In terms of fitting with my life, I have been fortunate to maintain a balance.  My wife of 34 years was not discouraged when I threw in a perfectly good corporate career to become an unemployed rock star.  And then during our marriage, raising children and a senior and busy corporate career I have always made space and time for music.  My passion sparked an interest in my daughter, and her talents as both a singer and songwriter are inspiring.  As she grew up we literally got to record and play together, creating some amazing life moments.  And my son is a great drummer, better than me, but not passionate and driven like I am.  But I have fond memories of the three of us playing together.  And I maintained different version of cover bands with my school mates and others along the way, at corporate functions, private parties and pubs.

One topic that comes up a couple of times in your videos is the statistics that Spotify provides. Why are these stats important, and how can musicians put them to use?

They say an accountant with personality looks at your shoes rather than their own!  The bottom line is I am drawn to the numbers.  But more importantly I love how powerful the data is.  In the broadcast days of my youth, yes royalty cheques were prepared based on station logs and surveys, but there was little granular detail.  Today you can wake up to find out how many streams, for each of your songs have taken place, around the world, through what platform, and how they discovered and interacted with your music.  This is extraordinary!  Of course there are lies, lies and dammed statistics.  And 72% of statistics are made up on the spot.  But today, the granularity and specificity of data can simply be fascinating, or a helpful input as feedback.

You’ve also spoken about the importance of marketing. Why is marketing important, and what’s your advice to anyone who might be resistant to the idea that they need to market their music?

My last video asserted that unless you do marketing you won’t be heard.  But I understand the purist artists view that the song can stand on its own and the audience will discover and engage in the music.  But the bottom line is, there are 100,000 new songs on Spotify each day, and most of it is OK – I rarely hear something that is objectively “bad”, even if its not my jam.  So the reality is that marketing is the only way you can be heard.  Even letting your family and friends know you have released a song and sharing a link is marketing – it is a low cost, powerful approach.  But likely to be limited.  One day someone will prove me wrong, and share the story of releasing an amazing song on an unknown profile and see if it is “discovered” by Spotify. 

Do you have any tips on how someone on a limited budget or with limited time and resources might approach marketing creatively?

There are some free or low cost methods, as well as sharing with family and friends, including some of the free play listing offers from Daily Playlists, SubmitHub and SubmitLink.  Leverage any live performance – but make it easy for people – don’t mumble under your breath at the start of the first song that your artist name is Something Someone and look you up on Spotify.  Instead, have a simple handle or hashtag sign with you.  And after you have had some nice audience response, ask the patrons to find your hashtag and follow you – it’s free and you will appreciate it.  Another creative approach would be to find a compelling interesting story and have a connection with a media outlet that would be happy to share.  When I put the vinyl record out in 1988 I gained a reasonable amount of press and reviews including front pages in music publications, based on my schtick – Accountant and Doctor duo release an Australian Christmas song – history tells me that the song was not great – but the PR was magnificent!!!

You were a finalist in the John Lennon songwriting contest. What was the song? What inspired it, and how did you know it was “the one” to submit to the contest? What set it apart from your other songs?

Faith, Hope and Love was a finalist in the Gospel/Inspirational category of the John Lennon Songwriting contest in 2021.  I wrote it many years prior.  Remember 911?  Within a couple of years there were other terrorist attacks in Bali, closer to Australia.  As a parent of young children I despaired about the future.  And then the song emerged, as ultimately, in the face of deprivation, fear, oppression; faith, hope and love remains.  That is why people marry and have children during times of war when it would seem so hopeless to choose that path.   I am very proud of the song, and even more so that my daughter sang it.  She first sung it when she was only about 10 years old – I have that recording, but what an amazing proud Dad moment to record it with her and have some success with many global and local competitions.

What’s your advice to anyone over fifty—or even under fifty—who’s on the fence about making and releasing music? 

Do it, let’s learn together and enjoy the experience.  And when you do release any new original music on Spotify or Youtube, share it with Indie, Over 50.