Meet the Compass Hosts

The Compass Podcast isn’t run by theorists or talking heads. It’s hosted by four people who have lived the grind:

Mark Roberge
Drummer, songwriter, and co-founder of Prospect Hill. From Billboard charts to label deals to building Red 13 Studios, Mark brings both the creative and entrepreneurial side of the industry.

Shaun Lichtenstein
Guitarist and songwriter for Lansdowne, who grew from bar stages to international tours and 200M+ streams. He’s proof that grassroots growth builds longevity.

Jim Foster
Producer and engineer of 300+ records, from Snoop Dogg to Godsmack. A veteran with platinum credits and a hard-earned perspective on what it really takes.

Johnny Roberge
The Swiss Army knife: guitarist, web designer, marketer, and branding expert. The behind-the-scenes glue that helps artists turn vision into execution.

Together, they’ve been through every side of the music business — and they’re still active. That’s what makes their perspective unique.

Why Mindset Comes Before Music

Talent is essential, but mindset is non-negotiable. The team digs into why most artists fail: not because of lack of skill, but because they can’t handle rejection, criticism, or the long grind.

• Your “why” matters more than your streams. If you don’t know why you make music, you won’t survive the ups and downs.
  
• Haters are fuel. Viral moments often come from polarizing reactions — as long as you’re resilient enough to handle both love and hate.
  
• Entrepreneurship is part of artistry. To succeed, you need to wear two hats: the creative and the business owner.

Without the right mindset, even great music gets crushed. With it, you can withstand anything.

The Myth of Overnight Success

Scroll through TikTok and you’ll see “viral overnight stars.” But here’s the truth: almost all of them spent 5–10 years grinding before the big break.

This episode dismantles the fantasy of instant success:

• Every “viral hit” has years of work behind it.
• Consistency beats waiting for a lottery ticket.
• The artists who last are the ones who didn’t stop when others quit.

Success is built brick by brick. The only shortcut is resilience.

The Power of Building Real Fans

The solution to every artist’s problem — more streams, better shows, booking agents, labels — is the same: more real fans.

• A thousand true fans can sustain an artist for life.
• Superfans will stick with you through hiatuses, life changes, and setbacks.
• Casual listeners don’t move the needle — but a grassroots fanbase creates momentum that leads to bigger breaks.

As the team puts it: if you can find one real fan, you can find a million.

What to Expect from this Podcast

This show isn’t about quick hacks or empty inspiration. Each episode maps to a stage in the Indie Artist Compass, a 9-step system covering everything from mindset and branding to release strategy and fan growth.

Listeners can expect:

• Actionable takeaways every episode (not just ideas).
• Real stories from artists who’ve lived the journey.
• Tools and systems like FanFlowy and DistroFlowy that turn strategy into execution.

The bottom line: this podcast is your guide to building a sustainable, independent career — one step at a time.

Useful Resources

Porttitor augue et in quis nibh congue Newsletter


• 📕 The Indie Artist Compass Book – 9-step career roadmap
• ⚙️ FanFlowy – fan funnel + growth system
• 🎶 DistroFlowy – distribution + royalty collection
• 💌 Join the Compass Email List – free downloads, tools & training