ABOUT STEPH

Finance nerd. Music biz veteran. Spreadsheet-slinging, side-stage dreamer.

I’m reshaping the structure of the DIY music industry - one artist, one business, one tour at a time.

With over two decades of hands-on experience in almost every corner of the industry - from independent venue booking and festival ops to grassroots marketing and subscription streaming - I know how this business works because I’ve lived it. (Like, literally. Out of a backpack. Across continents.)

But I didn’t always have it figured out.

In 2006, I dropped out of grad school with a mountain of student loan debt and a dream of working for big venues, only to get keep getting rejected. So I did what any reasonable 20-something in a crisis would do: I packed up my car and hit the road.

I worked with bands across the U.S. and Europe, danced barefoot at every festival I could find, and fell in love with the power of music to create community and change lives.

I also hit financial, emotional, and existential rock bottom.

But by some incredible stroke of luck, I found an unexpected source of passion.

I landed a job answering phones at a tax office in January 2009, during the Great Recession, when everyone else was hitting rock bottom too. I was shocked to find that I loved it. Helping people get their bookkeeping and taxes done? It lit me up.

I discovered that finance, when done with empathy and strategy, could help creative people feel powerful and legit. I started learning everything I could about finance, tax, and bookkeeping.

I learned how to do a 1040 with paper and a pencil.

I studied music business economics with a professor at Princeton who worked for President Obama.

I got certified in tax prep and financial education, and I started helping freelancers, musicians, and small business owners get clear on their numbers, build real systems, and feel at peace with their money.

I grew up in a musical family, and I’ve been dancing, singing, and playing piano since I could walk. Now, I blend music industry insight with financial coaching, business management, and good old-fashioned mentorship.

My clients are creative visionaries who want to run thriving, sustainable, profitable careers, without selling out or burning out.

My mission is to empower musicians, strengthen communities, and change the world — one career at a time.

Current and recent clients include Noise Pop Industries, Lindsay Lou, Kyle Tuttle, Lucky Man Management, Gloomy June, Nate Good, Nothing, Alisa Amador, Wilson Thicket, The Go Rounds, Flat Rock Management, Western Sun Foundation, Benjamin Jaffe, Clare Maloney, Evan Oxhorn, Madison House Booking, Goose, Madelyn Grant, Christine Hucal, Woody Goss, Jax Anderson, Assemble Sound, Jason Singer of Michigander, Jennifer Hall, Noam Wallenberg, DIME Detroit, and many more.

Will you join the list?

Book a call and let’s chat.

Media Bio:

Steph Belcher is on a mission to remove the financial barriers that hold musicians back from building sustainable, creative careers. As a business manager, educator, and finance coach, she empowers artists with the tools they need to thrive - not just survive - in today’s arts and entertainment industry.

With a background that spans two decades of grassroots marketing, live event production, and artist support, Steph found her calling in finance after preparing her first tax return in 2009. Since then, she’s filed more than 1,600 individual and business tax returns and has guided hundreds of musicians, producers, songwriters, and industry professionals through the complexities of self-employment, budgeting, pricing, and IRS communication.

Steph’s approach blends real-world strategy with radical honesty. Whether she’s teaching a class, coaching a client, or managing the books behind the scenes, she meets creative entrepreneurs where they are - and helps them move forward with confidence, clarity, and structure.

Press and Featured Writing:

Western Sun Foundation, Founding Board Member

Handling Your Music Finances from a Business Manager and Accountant (The New Music Business with Ari Herstand Podcast)

How To Do Taxes as a Self-Employed Musician (Ari’s Take Blog)

Guide to the Music Business (Flowers on the Stage Podcast)

Paths in Progress with Carrie Young (Amazon Music Podcast)

Taxes for Musicians and What Type of Business to Setup (Making it Network Podcast)

The Big Business of Rock Star Money (Forbes Online)

Take the Money and Run (Music On Your Own Terms Podcast)

Measure of Music, Mentor

The Stratton Setlist: Strength in Numbers (Stratton Setlist)

Pollstar Live Music Conference (Forbes Online)

DIME Instructor Spotlight (DIME Online)

Pastel Coworking Member Spotlight (Pastel)

DIME Masterclass with Joel Cummins (Click On Detroit)

Women in Harmony in Michigan (Click On Detroit)

Dreams ARE Real (Podcast)

Crowdfunding (The Business of the Music Business with Pam Rossi)

Business Tips for Musicians + Taxes for Musicians (Stock Music Musician)