The Fearless Artist Podcast

In this episode, David speaks with pianist and entrepreneur Michelle Lynne.
Not only does Michelle embody what a modern musician is today, but she empowers other musicians to have their own thriving careers. As well as performing across the world with immersive performances, she is the co-Founder of The Fearless Artist Mastermind, coaching musicians on their careers, and has taught entrepreneurship at conservatoires in the Netherlands.
In this conversation, we dive into the power of entrepreneurship and self promotion for musicians. We look at some of the challenges that musicians are facing in their careers and how to overcome them. We also explore the impact of AI, the power of telling stories in performances, and the power of continual learning.
Join us in Katowice, Poland for Classical:NEXT 2027 from the 11th to the 14th of May: www.classicalnext.com
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The Classical:NEXT Podcast:
Hosted by David Taylor
Produced by Aliena Haig
Learn more: classicalnext.com/update/introducing-the-classicalnext-podcast
www.classicalnext.com

Classical pianist/educator Ben Laude shares his path from Tonebase to YouTube creator: a 16-part Chopin Podcast with a searchable Opus Index and hosting the Warsaw Chopin Competition. He champions sports-style analysis, explores monetization via Patreon, and urges creatives to write ideas down.
🔗 CONNECT WITH BEN LAUDE
Website: https://benlaude.com/
YouTube: @benlawdy
Instagram: @benlawdy
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The Fearless Mastermind Website - https://www.thefearlessartistmastermind.com/
The Fearless Mastermind Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefearlessartistmastermind/
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🎵 Intro/Outro Music by Michelle Lynne
📽️ Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode, Michelle speaks with acclaimed bass Matthew Rose about life as an opera singer, the realities of building a sustainable career, and his passion for mentoring the next generation. Matthew shares the inspiration behind his summer singing academies in Spoleto and Folkestone, where young and working singers receive intensive training from world-class artists, coaches, conductors, and directors. He reflects on the importance of vocal efficiency, honest self-awareness, choosing the right repertoire at the right time, and treating singing as both an art and a profession. With warmth, humor, and candor, Matthew also discusses arts funding, the future of opera, and why passing on knowledge is essential to keeping the industry alive and thriving.
✨ Connect with Matthew Rose :
Instagram – @matthewrosephotos | @tosti_int_singing_academy | @spoleto_vocal_arts_workshop_
✨ Explore The Fearless Mastermind:
Website – thefearlessartistmastermind.com
Instagram – @thefearlessartistmastermind
🎵 Intro, Outro music by Michelle Lynne
📌 Episode produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode, Michelle speaks with tenor and author Ben Bliss about the financial realities of life as a freelance opera singer and performing artist. Ben shares his unconventional path from film school and working on the Dr. Phil show to becoming a professional opera singer with a global career. His new book, Making It Work, grew out of a practical problem: realizing that performers often accept impressive-looking contracts without understanding taxes, travel costs, housing, agent commissions, insurance, and other hidden expenses.
Ben explains how freelance artists are essentially running small businesses, even though few conservatories teach budgeting, taxes, investing, negotiation, or long-term financial planning. He emphasizes that every gig offer should be carefully budgeted before saying yes, and that contracts are always worth negotiating. A major theme of the conversation is replacing fear and avoidance with knowledge, structure, and control.
Michelle and Ben also discuss student loans, choosing schools wisely, burnout, the emotional rewards of performing, and the importance of building financial stability so artists are not forced to accept every opportunity out of desperation. Ben encourages listeners to start investing, even with one dollar, as a first step toward confidence and freedom. The episode is a candid, practical conversation about how musicians can protect both their art and their future.
✨ Connect with Ben Bliss:
Instagram – @mrbenbliss
Book - https://makingitworkbook.com
✨ Explore The Fearless Mastermind:
Website – thefearlessartistmastermind.com
Instagram – @thefearlessartistmastermind
🎵 Intro, Outro music by Michelle Lynne
📌 Episode produced by phMediaStudio, LLC

In this episode, marketing expert Dustin Boyer explains how classical musicians can bridge the gap between virtuosity and branding. He discusses "message mining" fan comments, using Meta ads to build email lists, and why live-streaming is the ultimate tool for humanizing the "mysterious" artist.
✨ Connect with Dustin Boyer:
Instagram – @dustintheindustryplant
Website - https://www.industryplantmusic.com/
✨ Explore The Fearless Mastermind:
Website – thefearlessartistmastermind.com
Instagram – @thefearlessartistmastermind
🎵 Intro, Outro music by Michelle Lynne
📌 Episode produced by phMediaStudio, LLC