Today we’d like to introduce you to Wiley Koepp.
Hi Wiley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started Coyote Music as a management and promotional tool for several bands I was playing in around Austin in the mid-1990s. As we got more publicity and better shows, other acts began asking me who our manager was, or promoter, or booking agent, or record label. Those were the roles that I primarily performed. Slowly, I started doing some of these jobs for other bands and found that I enjoyed promoting indie artists, helping bands get a foothold to help them reach their next goal. That work has snowballed over the past 31 years from the 1-page website a friend built for me in 1995 to what has become CoyoteMusic.com. Today I regularly write music reviews of recordings and live performances, publish articles and interviews, and promote musical artists through consulting, press releases, and concert promotion. As of May 2026, Coyote Music has promoted more than 1,500 Events, nearly 1,000 Artists, 500+ Venues, and 20 Festivals through our more than 1,000 Reviews, Videos, Articles, Interviews, and Press Releases.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Since I own and run the company, I get to choose when it gets to be “too much.” There have been periods over the years where I just step away for a little while–only taking on a few select projects here and there. But for the most part, I love the work I do promoting artists. You know the cliche: “When you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.” I suppose one struggle has been identifying Coyote Music’s business model. I’ve never been in this for the money. But at the same time, opening yourself to be a voluntary promoter will get you burnt out very quickly. So I’ve strived over the years to find a middle ground of offering affordable promotional services to artists while also setting a bar such that my work doesn’t get entirely undervalued. That’s been an ongoing journey for which I haven’t yet landed in a clear destination.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What’s been the most fun with Coyote Music is that I “do” some set things: I write reviews and articles, I promote shows, etc. But the really fun part of running Coyote Music has been the unexpected opportunities that have arisen over the years. Things like invitations to special events, collaborations on larger projects & festivals that I hadn’t directly sought out. I’ve only recently begun to request media credentials to meet, interview, and photograph more popular touring acts, for example. A former bandmate of mine lived by the philosophy of “Half of life is just showing up.” So when there’s some opportunity out there that I’m on the fence about, chance are that I’ll go for it. Rarely have I ever regretted doing that. Opening new doors is [almost] always a good idea.
How do you think about luck?
Former Texas Longhorns football coach Darrell Royal used to say “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” (I’ve also seen that quote attributed to the Roman philosopher Seneca). Luck is something dropping into your lap and happening without any effort of your own. Was it luck that Pete Best made room for Ringo Starr in The Beatles? Is it luck when an artist releases a song and it goes viral? I don’t think so. For every instance of “luck” out there, it’s a safe bet that the “lucky” person has actually worked their ass off and tried a million different things; then, finally, an opportunity presented itself. Same goes for bad luck. I mean, shit happens. To all of us. Learning how to deal with adversity is an extremely valuable skill.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coyotemusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coyotemusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coyotemusic.fb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coyote-music
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/coyotemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR6OxZgzKkV1arH3AimPdPA
- soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/coyotemusic-sc
