Successful Musicians

To read the complete transcript and watch the podcast video, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Are you overpaying taxes as a musician without even realizing it? Many independent artists miss valuable write-offs, misunderstand IRS rules, or treat their music like a hobby instead of a business, and it ends up costing them thousands.

In this episode of the Successful Musicians Podcast, Jason Tonioli sits down with artist, accountant, and tax educator Hannah Cole to break down the tax write-offs musicians often overlook and explain how the IRS actually views creative work. From business vs hobby rules to startup losses, home studio deductions, and quarterly taxes, this conversation brings clarity to what can feel like a confusing system.

Hannah began her career as a working artist before going back to school for accounting after being failed by the financial system herself. Now she helps musicians and creatives understand how to run their work like a real business, take full advantage of tax deductions, and avoid costly mistakes.

Her book, Taxes for Humans, was written specifically for people who feel overlooked by traditional financial advice and need practical, visual tools instead of intimidating number crunching.

If you have ever felt confused, stressed, or overwhelmed by taxes, this episode will give you clarity and confidence.

What You’ll Learn
- Why musicians must think like business owners, not hobbyists
- The difference between a hobby and a business in the eyes of the IRS
- What “profit motive” really means and how to prove it
- How startup losses can benefit you tax-wise
- Why bookkeeping should never be done from a shoebox of receipts
- How a separate business bank account simplifies everything
- What counts as ordinary and necessary business expenses
- How education, software, gear, and studio upgrades become deductions
- Why Kickstarter income is taxable and how to offset it
- When and how to hire the right tax professional

Topics Covered in This Episode
- Hannah’s journey from painter to accountant
- Why money is an amplifier, not the enemy
- The mindset shift around artistic integrity and income
- Common tax mistakes musicians make
- Startup deductions most creatives miss
- Home studio and home office deductions
- Business mileage for gigs and sessions
- Client meals and collaboration expenses
- Quarterly taxes and self-employment basics
- Building simple systems that reduce stress every year

Who This Episode Is For
- Musicians running their own business
- Independent artists and creators
- Touring performers
- Songwriters and producers
- Crowdfunding musicians
- Creative entrepreneurs
- Artists overwhelmed by bookkeeping
- Musicians wanting financial confidence
- Creators building long-term sustainability

Connect with Hannah Cole
Website
TikTok
YouTube
Visual Guide to Performer’s Deductions (Free Resource)

Connect with Jason Tonioli
Website 
Facebook
YouTube 
Instagram
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
Apple Music

To read the complete transcript and watch the podcast video, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠episode blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Successful Musicians Podcast, Jason Tonioli sits down with pianist, composer, and arranger Anne Britt. With nearly 15 piano books, multiple album recordings, and a growing catalog of intermediate-level piano duet arrangements, Anne shares how she built a publishing career rooted in collaboration and communication, and how she builds meaningful piano duets and hymn arrangements that connect with listeners.

From earning a math degree to studying composition later in life, Anne’s journey proves that it’s never too late to develop your creative voice. This episode is especially relevant for pianists, hymn arrangers, and musicians who want to publish their own sheet music but struggle with self-doubt.

What You’ll Learn
- Why Anne believes music is a language
- How to define success as communication rather than comparison
- Why starting composition later in life is not a limitation
- The power of mentorship in developing musical confidence
- How to overcome the belief that you are “not creative enough”
- Why intermediate-level piano music fills an important need
- What makes piano duets uniquely collaborative
- How sharing your music builds courage over time
- Why feedback from listeners matters more than online criticism
- How small, meaningful moments define real musical success

Topics Covered in This Episode
- Growing up in a musical family
- Studying math at BYU while continuing piano performance
- Becoming a collaborative pianist and staff accompanist
-The turning point during a high school production of Guys and Dolls
- Studying music theory and composition in her 30s
- Publishing her first CD and songbook
- Writing and publishing hymn arrangements
- Creating intermediate piano duet collections
- Contributing to the Hymn Sampler collaboration
- Upcoming holiday piano duet projects

Who This Episode Is For
- Pianists who want to publish sheet music
- Church musicians and hymn arrangers
- Intermediate-level piano players
- Musicians who feel like they started late
- Creative professionals overcoming self-doubt
- Piano teachers looking for duet repertoire
- LDS musicians building niche catalogs
- Collaborative pianists
- Arrangers developing their own voice
- Anyone who believes music should communicate meaning

Connect with Anne Britt
Website
Facebook
YouTube

Connect with Jason Tonioli
Website 
Facebook
YouTube 
Instagram
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
Apple Music

To read the complete transcript and watch the podcast video, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠episode blog⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Successful Musicians Podcast, Jason Tonioli sits down with Ross Brunson, a longtime business consultant who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs structure their businesses correctly, reduce unnecessary taxes, and build long-term stability.
Ross is also the father of Russell Brunson, and shares behind-the-scenes stories from both his own career and Russell’s early entrepreneurial journey.
This is a longer, in-depth conversation focused on business fundamentals, mindset, and defining real success. It is especially relevant for musicians and creative professionals who often avoid the business side of their careers.

What You’ll Learn
- Why most musicians and creatives overpay in taxes
- How the business structure directly affects financial freedom
- The dangers of ignoring bookkeeping and accounting
- Why do many CPAs avoid a proactive tax strategy
- How understanding the IRS code can legally reduce taxes
- Why time freedom is a better measure of wealth than income
- When to stop doing everything yourself and hire help
- How long-term thinking creates sustainable success

Topics Covered in This Episode
- Ross Brunson’s early career and first business ventures
- Lessons from insurance, restoration, and entrepreneurship
- Why business is a game with rules
- Common tax mistakes creative professionals make
- Real stories of entrepreneurs who ignored structure
- Why compliance and strategy must work together
- Russell Brunson’s early marketing journey
- The importance of focusing on strengths
- Residual income versus earned income
- Redefining success as time, service, and impact

Connect with Ross Brunson
Website

Connect with Jason Tonioli
Website 
Facebook
YouTube 
Instagram
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
Apple Music

To read the complete transcript and watch the podcast video, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠episode blog⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Successful Musicians Podcast, Jason Tonioli sits down with professional cellist Marc Christian to explore how musicians can build a profitable and deeply fulfilling career in the wedding and special events space.
Marc shares how he transitioned from classical cello training and large-stage performances into a thriving wedding music business—one that provides both financial stability and meaningful service through music.
Marc Christian is a professional cellist who began playing cello at the age of nine and pursued formal classical training through college at Cal State Northridge. While originally on a traditional orchestral path, Marc realized he wanted a more creative and personal approach to music.
After performing with bands, singer-songwriters, and high-profile events in Los Angeles, including Grammy-related work, Marc shifted his focus to weddings and special events. Over the past five years, he has built a highly successful wedding music business, becoming a preferred vendor at more than 20 venues and performing hundreds of events.
Marc is known for tailoring each performance to the couple and the moment, creating emotionally powerful experiences that elevate life’s most important milestones.

What You’ll Learn
- How Marc transitioned from classical music to a profitable wedding music career
- Why tailoring music to each event creates unforgettable experiences
- How musicians can grow confident in pricing and value over time
- Why small gigs can lead to big opportunities
- How service and emotional impact support long-term fulfillment
- Why success as a musician should include both income and purpose

Topics Covered in This Episode
- Starting cello at a young age and classical training
- Leaving the orchestral path for creative freedom
- Building a wedding and special events music business
- Tailoring music for ceremonies and guest experiences
- Pricing confidence and turning down low-paying gigs
- Building reputation through referrals and venues
- The emotional impact of music in weddings, funerals, and hospitals
- Defining success as service and financial stability

If you’re a musician searching for a career that combines creativity, service, and sustainability, this episode offers powerful insight into how music can become both a calling and a livelihood.

Connect with Marc Christian
Website
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook

Connect with Jason Tonioli
Website 
Facebook
YouTube 
Instagram
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
Apple Music

To read the complete transcript and watch the podcast video, visit the ⁠⁠⁠episode blog⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Successful Musicians Podcast, Jason Tonioli sits down with Mark Spier, President and CEO of Royalty Solutions, to unpack how music royalties really work and why so many artists are leaving money on the table.
Mark founded Royalty Solutions in 2009 with a mission to bring transparency, accuracy, and efficiency to royalty processing and music publishing. With more than 30 years of experience across music publishing, technology, and finance, he brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to the evolving music rights landscape.
He is also the third-generation President of Memory Lane Music Group, a family-owned publishing company established in 1921. The company’s catalog includes songs that have been recorded, covered, and sampled by some of the biggest artists in the world. Mark holds a degree in Computer Science from Colgate University and an MBA from Columbia Business School, and previously worked at IBM and Credit Suisse.
Through his work at Royalty Solutions and Memory Lane Music Group, Mark helps artists, labels, and publishers maximize royalty income, properly register their works, and protect their rights in the digital age.

What You’ll Learn
This conversation explores how the music industry has shifted from physical sales to streaming and digital distribution, and what that means for royalty collection today. Mark explains why understanding music publishing, performance royalties, and mechanical royalties is essential for independent artists. He also breaks down the role of organizations like the MLC and why correct registration is critical to getting paid.
Jason and Mark discuss the common mistakes artists make as they move from hobbyists to professionals, why unclaimed royalties are so common, and when it makes sense to bring in experts to manage the business side of music.

Topics Covered in This Episode
- How music royalties work in the streaming era
- The difference between publishing, performance, and mechanical royalties
- The role of the MLC and why registration matters
- Why many independent artists miss out on royalty income
- How audits can uncover unpaid or misreported royalties
- When artists should consider professional royalty administration
- Protecting your music rights while scaling your career

If you are an independent musician, songwriter, label owner, or publisher looking to better understand music royalties and maximize your earnings, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has spent decades inside the system.

Listen now to learn how to take control of your music rights and get paid what you are owed.

Connect with Mark Spier
Website
Royalty Solutions’ LinkedIn
Mark’s LinkedIn
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Jason Tonioli
Website 
Facebook
YouTube 
Instagram
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
Apple Music