How Glen Phillips Builds His Fan Community Through Monthly Livestreams

What makes fans look forward to the next livestream? For Glen Phillips, it starts with giving each show its own idea.

Through Phillipsheads, his official artist fan community on Volume.com, the Toad the Wet Sprocket musician invites listeners into monthly livestreams built around album anniversaries, favorite covers, and songwriting experiments. His approach offers artists and managers a practical example of how to keep a community calendar fresh.

Themed Livestreams Give Fans a Reason to Tune In

“Under Cover: Songs I Wish I Wrote” sparks curiosity before Glen plays a note. Which songs will he choose? What makes them meaningful to him?

“Vintage Toad” draws on fans’ connection to his musical history, while “Songs From the Song Game” invites them to discover another part of his songwriting world.

Each theme gives the show a clear identity—and gives a marketing team a specific story to tell through email, social posts, and promotional clips.

An Artist’s Catalog Can Inspire New Community Content

An album anniversary or a deeper look at a favorite record can turn familiar music into a new experience.

Glen’s “Winter Pays for Summer” livestream was built around a full-album performance with stories behind the recording. “Mr Lemons Turns 20!” made an anniversary a reason to gather.

For artists planning livestreams between tours and releases, the catalog offers a natural starting point. Fans get an invitation to revisit music they love and hear more about how it came together.

Creative Access Makes Fan Membership More Personal

Glen’s livestream with collaborator John Askew explored RemoteTreeChildren, a project he described as his least-known—and one of his best.

That enthusiasm invites fans into a less familiar corner of his work. A membership community creates space for conversations about overlooked recordings, creative partnerships, and the ideas behind the songs.

For artist teams, a useful programming question is: What would the artist love to spend an evening sharing with fans?

Build a Fan Community With Something to Look Forward To

Phillipsheads brings together monthly member livestreams, a video vault, merch discounts, and more. The creative programming gives those benefits a recurring place in fans’ lives.

Glen’s approach shows how an artist fan community can grow around the depth of an artist’s work. An old record, a favorite songwriter, or a longtime collaborator can all inspire the next invitation.

Explore Glen Phillips' Phillipsheads community on Volume.com →