The Permission Stage of the Buddy System represents the first “ask” that’s being made to a new fan. Permission refers to the act of asking fans for their consent to contact them in a one-to-one communication channel such as email or text. You get this consent when a fan opts in with their name, email, phone number, and sometimes other details.

Campaigns and assets in this stage include:

The Nurturing stage of the Buddy System is the glue that holds all the other phases together. Unlike the Permission or Introduction Stages, nurturing isn’t something you just do once with a fan. In fact, your fans need to be nurtured at every phase of the Buddy System. Making sure your fans get a consistent stream of nurturing content from you is the difference between a shriveled up cold fan who can’t even remember how they got on your email list and a super healthy, engaged fan that’s excited about whatever new stuff you have going on.

Campaigns and assets in this stage include:

The Affirmation stage is the culmination of the first 4 stages of the Buddy System - the moment where you make your first offer to your listener. This stage is a test of how well your fan relationship has been developed so far. If a fan takes your offer and becomes a customer, then that means you have ‘succeeded’ at the Affirmation stage with regards to that particular fan relationship.

Campaigns and assets in this stage include:

The Ascension stage is where businesses make targeted offers to their existing customers to ascend their "lifetime value" and develop a deeper relationship. Just as the name indicates, this is where we start growing the relationship with a one-time customer, translating to multiple purchases and deeper engagement.

Campaigns and assets in this stage include:

Making merch is an opportunity to be more of an artist. Creating physical items and media as an added realm to the world you’re creating as a musician is a limitless practice that could really make an impact on your fans. Merch brings your music into the physical world where there are new artistic opportunities and ways for your fans to celebrate your music.

Campaigns and assets for this category include:

Here at Indepreneur, we believe that a success for one indie is a success for all indies. This community thrives on collaboration, and camaraderie--never competition. We encourage one another, help each other through challenges, and celebrate each others wins!

Attributes of an Indie Cheerleader include:

For many artists in our community, touring full time is a huge goal! And for some artists in our community, it's a goal they've achieved. This category is to award an indie in our community who is killing the touring game. 

Achievements for this category include:

Proper planning and execution of your promotions will help you to stand out among the scores of artists that do nothing with their lists, miss opportunities to bring revenue into their business, and make offers to their fans that are creative, enticing, and valuable. 

Attributes of a Money Maker include: 

When you've been grinding away at your music business for years, with little movement, finally implementing marketing can feel like turning on the light in a previously dark room. And when we finally experience the growth that  we've been working for, it's all the more motivation to run towards our goal full force! This award is to celebrate the "sprinters" in our community who have finally found the right track and are sprinting towards big moves in their career.

Attributes of a Breakout Indie include:

Being an independent artist takes an incredible amount of time, work, dedication, and perseverance. We have many members of this community who have been with Indepreneur since the beginning. Artists that have putting putting their nose to the grindstone for years, building a career that is solid as a rock. This award is for the indies who have been building, growing, and brick by brick, building the exact career that they envision for their lives. 

Attributes of Indie Of The Year include: