PROFITABLE MUSICIAN: FEM FRIDAY EDITION

August 22, 2025

Happy FEM Friday!

When I was growing up, I measured time in school years instead of calendar years.

Honestly, I never really stopped. My husband was a doctoral student when we got married and later became a professor, so our family schedule has always revolved around the academic year.

Every late August feels like a fresh start for me, and that rhythm has shaped how I approach goals in my life and in music.

Back-to-school season doesn’t just belong to kids. It can be your reset button too.

If your children or grandchildren are heading back, or even if you’re just noticing the shift in seasons, this is a natural time to refocus on yourself.

Think of it as a chance to get back into your music groove or jump start something new that you’ve been putting off.

When my daughters started new phases of school, I experienced those little openings of time that felt like gold.

When my oldest began preschool, I finally had the quiet I needed to record my first professional album and start touring.

Later, when my younger daughter began pre-K, that space became the turning point for Profitable Musician. With no one asking for snacks or blaring Disney Channel from the living room, I had uninterrupted thought time.

From my tiny desk in the kitchen, I could dream, plan, and actually execute without constant interruptions.

That was the season I dove into online marketing, launched my podcast and website, and within months welcomed the first members into the Female Musician Academy.

What made the difference wasn’t just extra hours in the day. It was that breathing room to decide what I truly wanted and the courage to claim it.

For me, that meant realizing I didn’t want to use that extra time to go back to corporate work. I wanted to be an entrepreneur, fully immersed in music and helping other women do the same.

So if you’ve just entered this “back to school” window, I want to encourage you to plant your flag.

What do you want more than anything in the next year? To release an album? To ramp up your booking schedule? To start a podcast, a private teaching studio, or an online course? Maybe it’s finally building your fan list to 1,000 so you can create sustainable income from your music.

Whatever it is, let yourself name it and lean into it.

I’d love to hear what you’re planting your flag for this school year. Hit reply and tell me. I’ll help you find the shortest path to get there, whatever stage of career you're in.

Next week I’ll share the simple systems I used to make the most of my time in that new back-to-school schedule, even during those hours shuttling kids to soccer and gymnastics or idling in the school pickup line.

For now, give yourself permission to take this season as your own reset. Back to school really can mean back to you.

Always in your corner,
​<3 Bree

PS: If you prefer to read FEM Friday on Substack, you can Subscribe Here​

You're reading the Profitable Musician Newsletter, FEM Friday Edition. This Friday newsletter is created for Female Artists & Advocates, and focuses on our mission to amplify quality music by Female Artists & Female-Fronted Bands in all genres and help them build a thriving music career and solid business. If you'd like to unsubscribe from FEM Fridays but still receive our regular Wednesday Profitable Musician Newsletter, click here and we'll note your preference.

ON THE PODCAST

Discover unique and effective marketing strategies for independent musicians! In this episode, I interview Eli Lev about his creative approach to building a successful music career from the ground up.

• Eli’s unconventional path from middle school teacher to full-time musician
• The power of local music communities in launching a music career
• Innovative use of QR codes at live shows to grow your audience
• Building fan relationships through email, text, and livestreams (instead of just social media)
• Turning live shows and digital connections into sustainable income streams

Tune in for practical tips and inspiration for musicians at any stage!

WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE FEATURED TRACKS

Michelle Raybourn - Bad Memory Michelle Raybourn is an Americana/Bluegrass singer-songwriter from Dallas, TX, now based in Nashville after graduating from Belmont University in 2023. At Belmont, she performed for three years with the Bluegrass Ensemble, touring nationally with a group whose alumni include members of the Arcadian Wild and Zach & Maggie. She also became involved in worship leadership through Reformed University Fellowship, which led to her current role as Worship Director at City Church of East Nashville and a featured vocalist with Indelible Grace, including their 2023 live record Bright Hope for Tomorrow. Her upcoming release, Natural Disaster (November 22), weaves together themes of family, faith, and folk music, exploring womanhood, inherited pain, and healing. Through her songs, she hopes to offer listeners the same sense of restoration she found in writing them. ​ Bad Memory Michelle Raybourn PREVIEW   ​ ​ Marina & The Kats - My Own Big Spender Marina & The Kats, a trailblazing indie swing band from Vienna, have built a reputation across Europe for their electrifying live shows and unique sound, powered by three members sharing drum duties. Originally a trio and now a quartet, the group is known for its raw, high-energy performances that blend innovation with swing tradition. Their new album Different reflects both the challenges and self-discovery of the past year, recorded live without edits to capture pure, in-the-moment musicianship. Gritty, bold, and honest, the record showcases their trademark groove while pushing their artistry further, reaffirming their place as one of Austria’s most exciting and original bands. ​ My Own Big Spender Marina & The Kats, welovemel... PREVIEW   ​ ​ Michelle Lockey - Dig Deeper Michelle is a Maryland-based biologist-turned multi-award-winning recording artist, singer-songwriter, and producer. She has earned recognition as a Hollywood Music in Media Award nominee, three-time Washington Area Music Award nominee, and winner of the John Lennon Song Contest grand prize in 2014, with four LPs and numerous singles to her name. Highly respected in the world of Film & TV composition, her songs have been placed in shows and films including Young Sheldon, The Voice, Good Girls Revolt, The Path, Hallmark’s Hope at Christmas, and Speed Kills starring John Travolta. Beyond her music career, Michelle mentors aspiring musicians, teaches music licensing, and empowers women through workshops on self-worth and pursuing dreams. Her Indie/Alternative Folk sound draws inspiration from artists like London Grammar, Ingrid Michaelson, The Civil Wars, and The Lumineers, and she performs at venues, festivals, and concert series across the region. ​ Dig Deeper Michelle Lockey PREVIEW   ​ ​ LISTEN TO THE WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE MUSIC PODCAST

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Bree Noble

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