<![CDATA[CVLTURE]]>62307a04-ae22-5d62-81f7-590290588997Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:00:18 +0000Captivate.fmCVLTUREhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/fe5a2b8a-ef95-4159-947a-a4463b5e017a/Thumbnail-AD-1x1-Darker.jpegCVLTURECVLTURECVLTURECVLTURE is a new series exploring the realities of modern music culture hosted by Solardo's Mark Foster and Virus Syndicate's Nika D. Hosted by two globally established artists from different corners of music, the new long-form series launches on 1 July across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. Created for audiences who want more than promotional interviews and surface-level music content, CVLTURE is designed to open up honest discussion around the realities of today's music industry - from touring, streaming and artist branding to record label politics, audience growth and long-term career survival. The series offers a rare cross-genre perspective on how modern music culture is evolving in real time. Drawing from their own experience across electronic music, rap, bass, global touring and entertainment business, Mark Foster and Nika D bring first-hand insight into the systems, pressures and opportunities shaping artists' careers today. At a time when streaming has transformed how music is distributed, scenes have become increasingly global and genre boundaries continue to blur, CVLTURE aims to examine what that means in practice for the people building careers inside the industry. Mark Foster, one half of globally successful electronic duo Solardo, brings more than 20 years of industry experience, over 467 million streams worldwide, a fanbase of more than 1.1 million followers, and first-hand experience operating at the highest level of international electronic music. Joining him is Nika D, founding member of Virus Syndicate, a globally respected artist and entrepreneur whose career spans more than 100 million streams, international touring, artist development, label relationships and wider work across entertainment and media. Together, they bring two distinct musical perspectives into one conversation - one rooted in house music and global club culture, the other in rap, bass and underground crossover - creating a format built not on performance, but on perspective. Rather than repeating the same artist talking points or promotional narratives, CVLTURE is focused on the side of music culture audiences rarely hear discussed openly: how careers are really built, how industries move behind the scenes, and how music continues to shape wider shifts in culture, identity and business. https://cvlture.captivate.fmtrueserialnopodcastHow To Make Money From Music | CVLTURE Episode 3How To Make Money From Music | CVLTURE Episode 3Can artists actually make a living from Spotify?

In the third episode of CVLTURE, Mark Foster (Solardo) and Nik 'Nika D' Nagarkar (Virus Syndicate) tackle one of the biggest debates in modern music. They break down how artists really make money in 2026, what Spotify actually pays, why millions of streams still aren't enough to earn a living, and how record deals, touring and the wider music business shape an artist's career.

From streaming economics and major record deals to AI-generated music, piracy and the future of artist income, they unpack the realities of building a sustainable career in an industry that's constantly changing.

No PR answers. No industry clichés. Just two artists with decades of experience talking honestly about the industry, the culture and what it really takes to survive in modern music.

For the CVLTURE by the CVLTURE.

In this episode:

  • How many Spotify streams artists really need to earn a living.
  • Why streaming alone isn't enough to build a sustainable career in music.
  • The truth about Spotify royalties, major record deals and where artists actually make their money.
  • How AI-generated music is changing the future of streaming and the music industry.
  • Whether Spotify is helping or hurting the next generation of artists.

How To Make Money From Music? | CVLTURE Episode 3

00:46 Can You Get Rich From Streaming?

00:52 How Many Spotify Streams Equal Minimum Wage?

02:13 Why You Can Never Escape a Major Label Deal

05:20 Where Artists Really Make Their Money

08:21 Did Spotify Save the Music Industry?

08:42 LimeWire, Piracy & Computer Viruses

09:43 Should Artists Boycott Spotify?

10:39 How Much Spotify Pays Artists

12:27 One Penny Per Stream

15:06 Spotify vs CDs

19:30 Is Music Still Worth It for Grassroots Artists?

20:28 Are Artists Complaining Too Much About Spotify?

21:27 Are There Better Alternatives to Spotify?

23:37 Why the Music Industry Has Such a Bad Reputation

26:55 Nik Got Rejected From McDonald's

27:27 Is Spotify Good for New Artists?

29:17 SoundCloud's Fan-Powered Royalties Explained

32:06 Can You Fake Spotify Streams?

33:11 Is AI Taking Over Spotify?

34:37 How Should New Artists Release Music?

36:51 Why Record Labels Still Matter

38:29 Major Labels, Conspiracy Theories & What's Next

#CVLTURE #MusicIndustry #Podcast

Follow CVLTURE:

https://www.instagram.com/cvlture.tv

https://www.tiktok.com/@cvlture.tv

https://www.facebook.com/CVLTURE.TV

Available on all podcast platforms:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033GOSsjKRqVkYADg6TCw9?si=dyKmWj2dRgyPYh470PUuCg

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cvlture/id6785525121

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/edca6046-9b72-4771-9397-e0f3cfc64847/cvlture

]]>Can artists actually make a living from Spotify?

In the third episode of CVLTURE, Mark Foster (Solardo) and Nik 'Nika D' Nagarkar (Virus Syndicate) tackle one of the biggest debates in modern music. They break down how artists really make money in 2026, what Spotify actually pays, why millions of streams still aren't enough to earn a living, and how record deals, touring and the wider music business shape an artist's career.

From streaming economics and major record deals to AI-generated music, piracy and the future of artist income, they unpack the realities of building a sustainable career in an industry that's constantly changing.

No PR answers. No industry clichés. Just two artists with decades of experience talking honestly about the industry, the culture and what it really takes to survive in modern music.

For the CVLTURE by the CVLTURE.

In this episode:

  • How many Spotify streams artists really need to earn a living.
  • Why streaming alone isn't enough to build a sustainable career in music.
  • The truth about Spotify royalties, major record deals and where artists actually make their money.
  • How AI-generated music is changing the future of streaming and the music industry.
  • Whether Spotify is helping or hurting the next generation of artists.

How To Make Money From Music? | CVLTURE Episode 3

00:46 Can You Get Rich From Streaming?

00:52 How Many Spotify Streams Equal Minimum Wage?

02:13 Why You Can Never Escape a Major Label Deal

05:20 Where Artists Really Make Their Money

08:21 Did Spotify Save the Music Industry?

08:42 LimeWire, Piracy & Computer Viruses

09:43 Should Artists Boycott Spotify?

10:39 How Much Spotify Pays Artists

12:27 One Penny Per Stream

15:06 Spotify vs CDs

19:30 Is Music Still Worth It for Grassroots Artists?

20:28 Are Artists Complaining Too Much About Spotify?

21:27 Are There Better Alternatives to Spotify?

23:37 Why the Music Industry Has Such a Bad Reputation

26:55 Nik Got Rejected From McDonald's

27:27 Is Spotify Good for New Artists?

29:17 SoundCloud's Fan-Powered Royalties Explained

32:06 Can You Fake Spotify Streams?

33:11 Is AI Taking Over Spotify?

34:37 How Should New Artists Release Music?

36:51 Why Record Labels Still Matter

38:29 Major Labels, Conspiracy Theories & What's Next

#CVLTURE #MusicIndustry #Podcast

Follow CVLTURE:

https://www.instagram.com/cvlture.tv

https://www.tiktok.com/@cvlture.tv

https://www.facebook.com/CVLTURE.TV

Available on all podcast platforms:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033GOSsjKRqVkYADg6TCw9?si=dyKmWj2dRgyPYh470PUuCg

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cvlture/id6785525121

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/edca6046-9b72-4771-9397-e0f3cfc64847/cvlture

]]>cdf223e8-7306-4469-a18a-11559a613d1fWed, 08 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +010039:18truefull33We Got Robbed, Scammed & Stranded but Still Played the Show | CVLTURE Episode 2We Got Robbed, Scammed & Stranded but Still Played the Show | CVLTURE Episode 2Getting scammed by promoters, nightmare gigs, dodgy hotels, tour disasters and the absolute madness that comes with making a living in music... this episode has it all.

Mark Foster and Nik “Nika D” Nagarkar share some of the funniest stories from their careers, while getting into the reality of life behind the scenes. From the highs to the horror stories, they talk about the people, the politics and the pressure that comes with trying to build a career in an industry that never stops moving.

No PR answers. No industry clichés. Just two artists with decades of experience talking honestly about the wins, the losses, the madness and what it really takes to survive in modern music.

For the CVLTURE by the CVLTURE.

In this episode:

• Why artists have to release music faster than ever to stay relevant in today's music industry.

• The truth about artist management, music managers and what separates the good from the bad.

• How much money touring artists really make and the hidden costs of life on the road.

• Hilarious tour stories, from missing flights and pretending to be Tinie Tempah to getting robbed, scammed and stranded.

• What it's really like building a long term career in the music industry, with honest advice from two artists who've lived it.

We Got Robbed, Scammed & Stranded but Still Played the Show | CVLTURE Episode 2

00:00 Cold Open

01:53 Why Successful Artists Move So Fast

02:15 How Often Should Artists Release Music?

03:04 Do Musicians Still Listen to Music?

05:29 The Real Sacrifices of a Music Career

10:02 What Does a Music Manager Actually Do?

11:40 Why So Many Music Managers Fail Artists

15:07 How Much Money Do Touring Artists Make?

19:00 Why Good Music Videographers Are Hard to Find

22:35 Can You Lie on Your CV and Get the Job?

27:31 Funniest Tour Story Ever

28:16 We Missed Our Flight in Las Vegas

29:47 Pretending to Be Tinie Tempah

32:23 Biggest Regrets in the Music Industry

34:43 The Best Live Show We've Ever Played

36:27 The Truth About Tour Life

39:36 Have We Ever Missed a Show?

41:31 We Got Robbed, Scammed & Stranded in Prague

45:16 Our Worst Tour Injuries

#CVLTURE #MusicIndustry #Podcast

Follow CVLTURE:

https://www.instagram.com/cvlture.tvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cvlture.tvhttps://www.facebook.com/CVLTURE.TV

Available on all podcast platforms:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033GOSsjKRqVkYADg6TCw9?si=dyKmWj2dRgyPYh470PUuCg

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cvlture/id6785525121

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/edca6046-9b72-4771-9397-e0f3cfc64847/cvlture

]]>Getting scammed by promoters, nightmare gigs, dodgy hotels, tour disasters and the absolute madness that comes with making a living in music... this episode has it all.

Mark Foster and Nik “Nika D” Nagarkar share some of the funniest stories from their careers, while getting into the reality of life behind the scenes. From the highs to the horror stories, they talk about the people, the politics and the pressure that comes with trying to build a career in an industry that never stops moving.

No PR answers. No industry clichés. Just two artists with decades of experience talking honestly about the wins, the losses, the madness and what it really takes to survive in modern music.

For the CVLTURE by the CVLTURE.

In this episode:

• Why artists have to release music faster than ever to stay relevant in today's music industry.

• The truth about artist management, music managers and what separates the good from the bad.

• How much money touring artists really make and the hidden costs of life on the road.

• Hilarious tour stories, from missing flights and pretending to be Tinie Tempah to getting robbed, scammed and stranded.

• What it's really like building a long term career in the music industry, with honest advice from two artists who've lived it.

We Got Robbed, Scammed & Stranded but Still Played the Show | CVLTURE Episode 2

00:00 Cold Open

01:53 Why Successful Artists Move So Fast

02:15 How Often Should Artists Release Music?

03:04 Do Musicians Still Listen to Music?

05:29 The Real Sacrifices of a Music Career

10:02 What Does a Music Manager Actually Do?

11:40 Why So Many Music Managers Fail Artists

15:07 How Much Money Do Touring Artists Make?

19:00 Why Good Music Videographers Are Hard to Find

22:35 Can You Lie on Your CV and Get the Job?

27:31 Funniest Tour Story Ever

28:16 We Missed Our Flight in Las Vegas

29:47 Pretending to Be Tinie Tempah

32:23 Biggest Regrets in the Music Industry

34:43 The Best Live Show We've Ever Played

36:27 The Truth About Tour Life

39:36 Have We Ever Missed a Show?

41:31 We Got Robbed, Scammed & Stranded in Prague

45:16 Our Worst Tour Injuries

#CVLTURE #MusicIndustry #Podcast

Follow CVLTURE:

https://www.instagram.com/cvlture.tvhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cvlture.tvhttps://www.facebook.com/CVLTURE.TV

Available on all podcast platforms:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033GOSsjKRqVkYADg6TCw9?si=dyKmWj2dRgyPYh470PUuCg

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cvlture/id6785525121

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/edca6046-9b72-4771-9397-e0f3cfc64847/cvlture

]]>ade12c80-9600-4805-ad60-4001675471f8Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:05:00 +010052:06truefull22⁠Is Music Even Important Anymore? | CVLTURE Episode 1⁠Is Music Even Important Anymore? | CVLTURE Episode 1Is music even important anymore?

In the first episode of CVLTURE, Mark Foster (Solardo) and Nik 'Nika D' Nagarkar (Virus Syndicate) dive into the biggest questions facing the music industry today. They explore how streaming, social media and the creator economy have completely changed the game, why artists are under more pressure than ever to create content, and whether great music is still enough to build a career.

From TikTok algorithms and record labels to branding, touring and audience growth, they unpack the realities of navigating an industry that's evolving faster than ever.

No PR answers. No industry clichés. Just two artists with decades of experience talking honestly about the industry, the culture and what it really takes to survive in modern music.

For the CVLTURE by the CVLTURE.

In this episode:

- Is music even important anymore or has social media become more important than talent?

- Why artists now need content, personal branding and marketing skills before they even release a song.

- How TikTok, Spotify and the algorithm are changing the way music is made, discovered and consumed.

- Why viral moments, memes and internet fame can outperform years of making music.

- Are streaming platforms and algorithms killing creativity in the modern music industry?

Why Musicians Are Forced to Become Content Creators | CVLTURE Episode 1

00:00 Cold Open

00:29 Welcome to CVLTURE

00:48 Is Music Even Important Anymore?

01:56 Why Every Artist Is Now a Content Creator

04:00 Has Talent Become Less Important Than Social Media?

04:33 The Ibiza Final Boss Phenomenon Explained

11:40 How TikTok Changed the Music Industry Forever

14:40 Do TikTok Views Really Increase Spotify Streams?

16:13 What Is "200 View Jail"?

18:16 Does Resetting Your Instagram Actually Work?

18:41 Burner Accounts & Fake Fan Pages Explained

22:07 Are Artists Really Using Their Grannies for TikTok?

23:44 Has TikTok Killed Creativity?

26:29 Can Great Music Still Break Through?

28:55 Why Spotify Is Changing How Music Is Made

30:15 Why Songs Are Getting Shorter

33:43 How We Made Our Biggest Streaming Record

36:14 Are Algorithms Killing Creativity?

39:06 How Fred again.. Changed Dance Music

40:19 Is Spotify Controlling Modern Music?

#CVLTURE #MusicIndustry #Podcast

Follow CVLTURE:

https://www.instagram.com/cvlture.tv

https://www.tiktok.com/@cvlture.tv

https://www.facebook.com/CVLTURE.TV

Available on all podcast platforms:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033GOSsjKRqVkYADg6TCw9?si=dyKmWj2dRgyPYh470PUuCg

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cvlture/id6785525121

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/edca6046-9b72-4771-9397-e0f3cfc64847/cvlture

]]>Is music even important anymore?

In the first episode of CVLTURE, Mark Foster (Solardo) and Nik 'Nika D' Nagarkar (Virus Syndicate) dive into the biggest questions facing the music industry today. They explore how streaming, social media and the creator economy have completely changed the game, why artists are under more pressure than ever to create content, and whether great music is still enough to build a career.

From TikTok algorithms and record labels to branding, touring and audience growth, they unpack the realities of navigating an industry that's evolving faster than ever.

No PR answers. No industry clichés. Just two artists with decades of experience talking honestly about the industry, the culture and what it really takes to survive in modern music.

For the CVLTURE by the CVLTURE.

In this episode:

- Is music even important anymore or has social media become more important than talent?

- Why artists now need content, personal branding and marketing skills before they even release a song.

- How TikTok, Spotify and the algorithm are changing the way music is made, discovered and consumed.

- Why viral moments, memes and internet fame can outperform years of making music.

- Are streaming platforms and algorithms killing creativity in the modern music industry?

Why Musicians Are Forced to Become Content Creators | CVLTURE Episode 1

00:00 Cold Open

00:29 Welcome to CVLTURE

00:48 Is Music Even Important Anymore?

01:56 Why Every Artist Is Now a Content Creator

04:00 Has Talent Become Less Important Than Social Media?

04:33 The Ibiza Final Boss Phenomenon Explained

11:40 How TikTok Changed the Music Industry Forever

14:40 Do TikTok Views Really Increase Spotify Streams?

16:13 What Is "200 View Jail"?

18:16 Does Resetting Your Instagram Actually Work?

18:41 Burner Accounts & Fake Fan Pages Explained

22:07 Are Artists Really Using Their Grannies for TikTok?

23:44 Has TikTok Killed Creativity?

26:29 Can Great Music Still Break Through?

28:55 Why Spotify Is Changing How Music Is Made

30:15 Why Songs Are Getting Shorter

33:43 How We Made Our Biggest Streaming Record

36:14 Are Algorithms Killing Creativity?

39:06 How Fred again.. Changed Dance Music

40:19 Is Spotify Controlling Modern Music?

#CVLTURE #MusicIndustry #Podcast

Follow CVLTURE:

https://www.instagram.com/cvlture.tv

https://www.tiktok.com/@cvlture.tv

https://www.facebook.com/CVLTURE.TV

Available on all podcast platforms:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/033GOSsjKRqVkYADg6TCw9?si=dyKmWj2dRgyPYh470PUuCg

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cvlture/id6785525121

Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/edca6046-9b72-4771-9397-e0f3cfc64847/cvlture

]]>0f8b4fbc-dce2-4576-a24b-87c0c8537bf5Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:00:00 +010041:06truefull11This is CVLTUREThis is CVLTURETrailer

]]>Trailer

]]>3b342098-cc9c-45d7-a177-48eb73974817Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +010000:51truetrailer