The New Music Business with Ari Herstand
- Épisodes
- 251
- Parution
- hebdomadaire
- Dernier épisode
- 11 Nov 2026
À propos du podcast
**WEBBY AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC PODCAST**
“#1 music industry podcast to help keep you in the loop” -Spotify
“The 10 Best Music Business Podcasts of 2022" – Variety
Ari Herstand is the best-selling author of How To Make It in the New Music Business. Forbes calls him “The poster child of DIY music.” In this show, he deconstructs the brightest minds in the music industry, digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and strategies that listeners can use to run successful careers of their own. Ari offers straight talk with no fluff and doesn’t let his guests off easy. If there is a way, Ari will find it.
To learn more follow @aristake_ and @ariherstand
Visit aristake.com to join the newsletter.
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Épisodes 251
Do Festivals Need To Book More Women?
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Abbey Carbonneau, founder of Book More Women, a nonprofit organization working to create greater gender equity and transparency in the music …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Abbey Carbonneau, founder of Book More Women, a nonprofit organization working to create greater gender equity and transparency in the music industry.
Ari and Abbey discuss the ongoing gender imbalance in music festival lineups and why women continue to be underrepresented across different genres. Abbey explains how Book More Women started after noticing that women were consistently missing from major festival lineups, and how she turned that observation into an organization dedicated to holding the industry accountable.
They also explore the business arguments against booking more women, the importance of pay transparency, unconscious bias in the music industry, and how festivals can take meaningful steps toward more equitable representation. Abbey shares details about Book More Women's new festival accountability program, including partnerships with festivals like Lightning in a Bottle, and discusses how fans, artists, and industry professionals can get involved.
Abbey Carbonneau
https://www.instagram.com/bookmorewomen/
https://www.bookmorewomen.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
00:04:20 - How Book More Women Got Started
00:08:32 - Why Women Are Underrepresented on Festival Lineups
00:12:55 - The Mission Behind Book More Women
00:14:18 - Turning Awareness Into Action
00:18:35 - Gender Inequality and Artist Pay
00:22:31 - Transparency and Festival Accountability
00:27:10 - Who Is Behind Book More Women?
00:29:27 - How to Get Involved and Volunteer
00:34:25 - What Does It Mean to Make It in the New Music Business?
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artist Manager on Music Marketing, Artist Branding and Gen AI
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Charlie Stent, Founder and CEO of Stent Music Group, to discuss what it takes to build a successful career in today’s music industry. With more …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Charlie Stent, Founder and CEO of Stent Music Group, to discuss what it takes to build a successful career in today’s music industry. With more than a decade of experience in artist management, Charlie has built a global management and label services company representing artists, producers, songwriters, and engineers.
His roster includes independent pop artist NERIAH, whose catalog has surpassed 100 million streams and who has toured internationally, as well as multi-platinum producer and songwriter Jason Parris and four-time Grammy-winning mastering engineer John Greenham. Through his work with emerging artists and established music-industry talent, Charlie has developed a unique perspective on artist development, career growth, and the business behind building lasting success.
Charlie shares his approach to artist management and the importance of treating artists as partners in their own businesses. Ari and Charlie also dig into artist branding, building dedicated fan communities, social media strategy, release campaigns, playlist promotion, viral marketing, and the opportunities and challenges generative AI presents for independent musicians.
Charlie Stent:
https://www.instagram.com/stentmusicgroup
https://www.stentmusicgroup.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
07:18 – Charlie's Journey Into Music Management
11:08 – Why Artists and Managers Should Be Partners
17:04 – Building an Independent Artist's Career
19:02 – Artist Branding: Finding Your Identity
23:32 – Building a Dedicated Fan Community
30:28 – Why You Can't Manufacture a Viral Moment
34:32 – Pre-Saves, Playlists, and Release Strategy
40:55 – Burner Accounts, Sleeper Accounts, and Music Marketing
48:51 – AI in Music: The Great Equalizer?
57:46 – Distribution, Label Services, and Building an In-House Team
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How This Indie Publishing Company Got Over 100 #1 Hits
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Chris Farren, Grammy-nominated songwriter and founder of Combustion Music, a Nashville-based music publishing and artist development company …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Chris Farren, Grammy-nominated songwriter and founder of Combustion Music, a Nashville-based music publishing and artist development company responsible for more than 100 number-one hits.
Chris shares decades of experience navigating the music business, from writing hit songs to building a publishing company and developing artists. Ari and Chris break down how professional songwriters get signed, how songwriting rooms work, how publishing deals and advances are structured, and how songwriters earn royalties.
Follow Chris Farren:
https://www.instagram.com/combustionmusic/
https://www.combustionmusic.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
05:54 - Building a music publishing company and developing artists
15:32 - How music publishers pay songwriters
26:07 - Songwriting as a craft: practice, productivity, and getting better
28:16 - Teaching songwriters to write for the market without sacrificing creativity
30:44 - Writing songs for specific artists
32:00 - How artists' involvement in songwriting has changed
37:58 - How songwriting rooms work
39:15 - Pitching songs and getting them to artists
57:51 - Music catalogs and the renewed life of older songs
58:37 - Advice for aspiring professional songwriters
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How the Major Labels Use AI Fans To Market Music
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Joe Lim, founder and CEO of Floodify, a marketing technology company that has distributed over 2 million short-form videos for major labels …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Joe Lim, founder and CEO of Floodify, a marketing technology company that has distributed over 2 million short-form videos for major labels including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music.
Joe pulls back the curtain on the rapidly evolving world of music marketing, explaining how burner accounts, clipping networks, AI-generated content, fan pages, influencer campaigns, and algorithm-driven distribution are shaping the careers of artists today. We explore the ethics behind these tactics, the concept of the “dead internet,” how major labels and marketers use social media at scale, and what independent artists can learn from these strategies.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelimmmmm
Floodify: https://www.floodify.io/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
04:42 – Welcome & State of Modern Music Marketing
07:06 – Why Music Marketing is Behind Other Industries
08:42 – What Are Burners, Fan Pages, and Clipping?
13:29 – Commercialized Clipping & Platforms Like WHOP
17:19 – Phone Farms and Managing Accounts at Scale
21:21 – Using AI to Find and Generate Viral Clips
29:56 – Modern Marketing Strategies for Independent Artists
31:19 – The Evolution of Floodify (Floodify 2.0)
40:41 – Dead Internet Theory, Bots, and Comment Farming
44:25 – Is Authenticity Dead? Playing the Game to Make a Career
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How To Build An Independent Artist Career From The Ground Up
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Toni Nelson, artist manager, business manager, and co-founder of 1990 Records.Toni Nelson is an artist manager and co-founder of 1990 Records with …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Toni Nelson, artist manager, business manager, and co-founder of 1990 Records.
Toni Nelson is an artist manager and co-founder of 1990 Records with a background in retail fashion and mental health clinical work. Combining expertise in behavioral science with music industry operations, Nelson specializes in sustainable artist development, data analytics, and guiding independent artists like Adrian Daniel, to build long-term, monetizable careers while protecting their intellectual property.
Follow Toni Nelson:
https://www.instagram.com/1990records19/
https://1990records.org/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
04:01 - What it Means to Build a Creative & Fan Community
09:00 - Protecting IP & Using Split Sheets in the Studio
13:14 - Navigating Producer Credits, Writer Splits & Work for Hire
18:18 - Release Strategies & Tracking Data with Music Analytics
23:27 - How Independent Artists Can Monetize Their Audience
27:38 - Staying Independent vs. Label Licensing Deals
32:45 - When is an Emerging Artist Ready to Tour?
36:22 - Case Study: Developing Adrian Daniel's Career
43:17 - Mental Health & What It Means to Make It in Music
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How Deezer is Approaching AI Music And Payments
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Alexis Lanternier, the CEO of global music streaming platform Deezer. Together, they break down the massive influx of AI-generated music flooding …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Alexis Lanternier, the CEO of global music streaming platform Deezer. Together, they break down the massive influx of AI-generated music flooding streaming services, Deezer’s pioneering efforts in AI detection and fraud removal, and the future of fair artist payouts through user-centric royalty systems.
Follow Alexis Lanternier:
https://www.instagram.com/deezer/
Check out Ari’s Take:
05:45 - The Reality of AI Music Flooding Streaming Services
10:23 - How Deezer Detects Streaming Fraud & Purges AI Bots
13:42 - Tagging AI Music & Algorithmic Recommendation Rules
18:32 - Generative AI: Creative Assistive Tool vs. Fully AI Music
24:40 - In-App Fan Remix Tools & Licensing Fair Payouts
33:36 - The Flaw in Market-Centric Payouts vs. User-Centric Payouts
42:15 - Major Label Licensing Deals & Independent Artist Royalty Rates
50:37 - Powering Winamp & What It Means to "Make It" in Music Today
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How This Classical Piano/Cello Duo Built a Sustainable Career For Their Family
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Patrick Laird, cellist and co-founder of the classical cover duo, Brooklyn Duo. Patrick breaks down how he and his wife built a music career …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Patrick Laird, cellist and co-founder of the classical cover duo, Brooklyn Duo. Patrick breaks down how he and his wife built a music career without traditional touring. He discusses their journey from viral YouTube videos to building an evergreen passive income model, navigating revenue streams across Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube, the intricacies of sheet music publishing, catalog acquisition offers, and why creating utility-based music enabled the creative freedom to pursue personal projects.
Follow Patrick Laird:
https://www.patricklaird.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brooklynduo/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
03:55 - Brooklyn Duo’s Origins & Moving Beyond Classical
07:16 - Early Viral Success & Going Full Time
12:50 - Monetization: Pandora, YouTube, and SoundExchange
22:20 - Sheet Music Licensing & Publishing via Musicnotes
30:20 - Arranging Process & Delegation Between Patrick & Marnie
38:50 - Strategic Pivot to High Production Location Videos
52:45 - Building an Evergreen "Utility" Model for Streaming
58:30 - Retaining Masters & Rejecting Catalog Buyouts
01:10:20 - What It Means to "Make It" in the New Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How He Got a Million Monthly Listeners and a Sold Out Tour Independently
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jared Benjamin. Jared broke down how he went from picking up a guitar during the pandemic to earning over 100 …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jared Benjamin. Jared broke down how he went from picking up a guitar during the pandemic to earning over 100 million streams, selling out headline tours, and building an intensely loyal community across TikTok and Discord. They discuss his creation process, content strategy, delegating production, leveraging pre-save ad campaigns, and releasing his debut album, Icarus Too Close to the Sun.
Follow Jared Benjamin:
https://www.instagram.com/jaredbenjaminofficial/
http://tiktok.com/@jaredbenjaminofficial
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
4:05 Interview Begins: Welcome & Icarus Debut Album Announcement
5:06 Transitioning from Fast Singles to a Cohesive Debut Album
9:43 Early Short-Form Visual Strategy & Writing Skits
17:25 Lessons from Bad Industry Deals & Going DIY
20:15 Learning Production on YouTube & Collaborating with Producers
25:20 Writing "Three Steps Ahead" at AntiSocial Writing Camp
28:35 Building a Social Following & Meeting His Manager
32:50 The Daily Grind: Posting 2 to 4 Videos a Day & Managing Burnout
35:55 First Headline Tour Experiences: From Empty Rooms to Sold-Out Venues
41:59 Managing Online Communities: Grouped vs. Discord Strategy
50:20 Tapping into BookTok & Author Playlist Marketing
01:01:35 Leveraging Feature.fm Pre-Save Ads to Funnel Fans into Discord
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artist Manager on Viral Syncs and the State of Music Marketing
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Laurie Lee Boutet, artist manager at Wednesday Management and manager of the chart-topping Canadian rock band The Beaches.Laurie shares the …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Laurie Lee Boutet, artist manager at Wednesday Management and manager of the chart-topping Canadian rock band The Beaches.
Laurie shares the incredible story behind The Beaches' explosive rise following their breakout sync placement in Off Campus, why viral TikToks aren't enough anymore, and how artists can build lasting careers by creating cultural moments and not just chasing algorithms.
Follow Laurie Lee:
https://www.instagram.com/laurieleeboutet/
https://www.wednesdaymgmt.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
05:21 Why Viral TikToks Don't Work Like They Used To
08:00 The Sync That Changed Everything
12:50 From 18,000 to 1 Million Streams a Day
18:42 TikTok vs. Instagram: Where Artists Should Focus
24:44 Should Indie Artists Skip Music Videos?
28:33 The New Era of Music Marketing
35:19 How to Create True Superfans
43:13 Stop Wasting Money on Content
52:08 The Future of Artist Growth
59:53 Laurie's Biggest Career Lesson
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How To Be a Professional Hit Songwriter
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Andreas Schuller, hit songwriter, producer, and co-founder of music publishing company Honua Music. Andreas has written and produced songs for …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Andreas Schuller, hit songwriter, producer, and co-founder of music publishing company Honua Music. Andreas has written and produced songs for artists including The Weeknd, Jason Derulo, Madison Beer, and many more, accumulating billions of streams and numerous gold and platinum records.
Andreas breaks down how hit songs are actually created, how publishing companies develop songwriters, and why today's music industry is more relationship-driven than ever. He shares the story behind Jason Derulo's smash hit "Wiggle," explains how songwriting camps work, discusses the evolution of professional songwriting, and offers practical advice for aspiring songwriters trying to break into the industry.
Follow Andreas Schuller:
Check out Ari’s Take:
03:48 - Meet Andreas Schuller: Hitmaker Turned Publisher
12:19 - Music Publishing Explained: How Songwriters Make Money
18:39 - The Story Behind Jason Derulo's "Wiggle"
22:02 - Songwriting Splits, Credits, and Industry Politics
30:37 - How Professional Songwriting Has Changed Since 2010
34:46 - Breaking Into the Music Industry as a Songwriter
39:03 - Originality vs. Trend Chasing: What Actually Works?
49:37 - Building Great Writing Rooms and Finding Creative Chemistry
52:39 - AI, the Future of Music, and What's Next for Songwriters
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with legendary A&R executive, publisher, and educator Pete Ganbarg.With more than three decades in the music industry, Pete has helped shape the …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with legendary A&R executive, publisher, and educator Pete Ganbarg.
With more than three decades in the music industry, Pete has helped shape the careers of artists, songwriters, and hit records across multiple generations. In this conversation, he breaks down how A&R has evolved from the days of artist showcases and long-term development deals to today's algorithm-driven landscape. Pete explains why great A&R is still about connecting great artists with great songs, even as technology and discovery platforms continue to change.
Follow Pete Ganbarg:
https://substack.com/@peteganbarg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peteganbarg/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
04:21 – The True Role of A&R: What Has Changed and What Hasn't
09:00 – Artist Development vs. Chasing Quick Hits
13:20 – Why Live Performance Still Matters to Labels
16:05 – TikTok Stars, Viral Songs, and Building Careers
20:50 – The Difference Between a Song, an Artist, and a Career
25:55 – How Pete Discovers and Develops Songwriters
30:10 – Michael Pollack's Journey to Writing "Flowers."
35:15 – Songwriting by Committee, Sampling, and Publishing Trends
40:50 – AI, Songwriting, and the Future of Music Creation
48:15 – What Excites Pete Most About the Future of Music
54:07 – What It Means to "Make It" in the New Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How a Direct-To-Fan Rollout Secured a Billboard Top 10
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Dee Diaz, Vice President of Marketing at Reach Records.At Indie Week 2026, Dee shares the innovative marketing strategies behind Lecrae’s …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Dee Diaz, Vice President of Marketing at Reach Records.
At Indie Week 2026, Dee shares the innovative marketing strategies behind Lecrae’s Reconstruction album campaign, which helped propel the project to a Billboard Top 10 debut. From sending exclusive mailers to the label’s most loyal fans. To building a gamified direct-to-fan platform called The Workshop, Dee reveals how Reach Records prioritized community, superfans, and authentic artist engagement over chasing algorithms.
Find Dee Diaz:
https://www.instagram.com/deediaz_/
https://www.instagram.com/reachrecords/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
05:06 - Meet Dee Diaz and Reach Records
08:47 - The History of Reach Records and Lecrae
12:31 - Building the Reconstruction Campaign
15:07 - The 1,000 Fan Mailer Strategy
16:19 - Creating The Workshop Fan Community
19:37 - Turning Superfans Into Brand Ambassadors
29:09 - Community Service as Music Marketing
37:39 - The Story Behind “Coming In Hot”
43:29 - Why TikTok Doesn't Convert Like It Used To
46:17 - What It Means to Make It in the New Music Business
47:00 - Audience Q&A
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How Hopeless Records Approaches Influencer and UGC Music Marketing
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Nicole Abea, Director of Influencer & UGC Promotions at Hopeless Records.Over the last decade, Nicole has helped evolve Hopeless Records’ …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Nicole Abea, Director of Influencer & UGC Promotions at Hopeless Records.
Over the last decade, Nicole has helped evolve Hopeless Records’ marketing strategy from traditional social media campaigns to modern influencer marketing, user-generated content (UGC), and TikTok-driven discovery. Starting as an intern and rising to lead influencer and UGC promotions, Nicole has worked with artists including Scene Queen, THXSoMCH, Neck Deep, Melrose Avenue, Autumn Kings, and more.
Nicole pulls back the curtain on how music marketing actually works in 2026. They discuss influencer campaigns, fan accounts, micro-budget marketing strategies, TikTok trends, BookTok, DSP pitching, and how artists can build communities that translate into real fandom.
Follow Nicole Abea:
https://www.instagram.com/nicolethedesigner/
https://www.instagram.com/hopelessrecords/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
03:57 Nicole Abea on Influencer & UGC Marketing at Hopeless Records
08:44 The Reality of TikTok Seeding, Fan Accounts & Music Promotion
15:20 How to Market a Song with a $2,000 Budget
18:25 BookTok, Online Communities & Finding Your Audience
23:29 What Spotify and DSPs Want from Artists
26:26 Why Record Labels Are Signing Influencers
33:21 Scene Over Genre: How Modern Fandom Has Changed
42:41 How All Time Low's “Dear Maria, Count Me In” Went Viral Again
45:22 Rage Bait, Algorithms & The Future of Music Marketing
51:00 Closing Thoughts
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How CD Baby Is Changing With The Times
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Molly Neuman, President of CD Baby, one of the largest independent music distributors in the world. Molly has spent decades advocating for …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Molly Neuman, President of CD Baby, one of the largest independent music distributors in the world. Molly has spent decades advocating for independent artists and labels, helping shape the modern music industry through leadership roles at CD Baby, Downtown Music Holdings, and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).
In this conversation, Ari and Molly dive into some of the most pressing issues facing musicians today, including artificial intelligence, streaming fraud, artist compensation, customer support, and the evolving role of music distribution. They discuss whether AI-generated music should exist, how streaming platforms are responding to generative AI, why artists are increasingly being affected by fraudulent streams, and what distributors like CD Baby are doing to protect independent musicians. Molly also shares her perspective on artist ownership, independence, and what success in the music business looks like in 2026.
Follow Molly Neuman:
https://www.instagram.com/mollydneuman/
https://cdbaby.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
03:45 – Molly Neuman's Journey to Becoming CD Baby President
11:32 – Is CD Baby Still Independent?
18:04 – Universal Music's Acquisition & What It Means for Artists
27:41 – The State of Independent Music Distribution in 2026
39:18 – What Artists Get Wrong About Distribution
49:07 – AI Customer Support: Does It Matter if It's Human?
52:11 – Should AI-Generated Music Exist?
1:03:47 – Streaming Fraud, Bot Plays & How Artists Get Penalized
1:12:56 – What "Making It" Really Means in Today's Music Industry
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Unauthorized AI Remix Became a Global Hit, How This Label Dealt With It
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Adam Gross, the president of Ineffable Records. Adam founded Ineffable Records in 2019 and later became a co-owner of Ineffable Music Group, now …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Adam Gross, the president of Ineffable Records. Adam founded Ineffable Records in 2019 and later became a co-owner of Ineffable Music Group, now Billboard’s top independent reggae label for six consecutive years. Ineffable works with artists such as Stick Figure, Collie Buddz, Protoje, The Elovaters, and O.A.R., and many more.
In this episode, they discuss the recent unauthorized viral AI remixes of Stick Figure’s song “Angels Above Me.” At its peak, the unauthorized remix was #2 on the global Shazam charts and reached #1 on several different iTunes charts across Europe. They discuss the legal challenges of unauthorized AI remixes, the ethical considerations, and how the story led to a David Guetta x Alok version surfacing. Adam discusses the operational reality of dealing with this in real time, and how strategy to combat unauthorized AI remixes changes everyday.
Follow Adam Gross:
https://www.instagram.com/adam.g.r.o.s.s/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgross2018/
Check out Stick Figure:
https://www.instagram.com/stickfiguremusic/
Chapters
05:07 Navigating Copyright in the Age of AI
10:03 The Bootleg Remix Phenomenon
14:58 The Role of Labels and Distributors
19:59 Ethics and Future of AI in Music
25:07 Navigating Major Label Deals
28:24 The Impact of Viral Trends on Music
30:43 Whack-a-Mole: The Challenge of Unauthorized Remixes
32:30 Collaborating with Major Artists
36:51 Ethics and AI in Music Production
39:35 The Future of Derivative Works
42:36 User-Centric Payment Models in Streaming
50:52 Building Timeless Music and Community
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How This Manager Sold Out Tours Without Venues and Develops Artists, Songwriters and Producers
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Joseph Pepin, artist manager, producer manager, and founder of a boutique management company that has helped artists like GoldFord build massive …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Joseph Pepin, artist manager, producer manager, and founder of a boutique management company that has helped artists like GoldFord build massive audiences while remaining independent.
Joseph has spent nearly two decades in the music industry, working across artist management, producer and songwriter representation, touring, marketing, and fan development. His roster includes artists, producers, and songwriters spanning multiple genres, and he's become known for his innovative approach to audience building, fan data collection, and sustainable artist growth.
Follow Joseph Pepin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe_pepin
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
00:06:14 - Intro & How Goldford Broke Through
00:08:56 - Why Most Artists Fail to Keep Their Viral Fans
00:12:28 - Understanding the Marketing Funnel for Musicians
00:16:09 - Social Media Strategy: Hooks vs. Deep Content
00:19:25 - Building a Fanbase Without Chasing Trends
00:39:42 - The B-Side Touring Model vs. Ticketmaster
00:43:09 - Why Artists Need Emails, Phone Numbers & Fan Data
00:47:20 - Goldford’s Viral Growth Strategy Revealed
00:58:57 - Songwriting Camps, Producers & Building Opportunities
01:06:18 - What It Means to Make It in the New Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Has SoundCloud Cracked Superfandom and AI Music?
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud. Eliah breaks down how SoundCloud is evolving beyond streaming into a creator-first platform focused on fan …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud. Eliah breaks down how SoundCloud is evolving beyond streaming into a creator-first platform focused on fan relationships, monetization, and artist discovery.
Why “streaming is not enough” for artists, how fan-powered royalties work, the future of direct-to-fan monetization, and why creator tools are becoming more important in the AI era. Eliah also explains SoundCloud’s approach to generative AI music, ethically trained AI models, and why the platform refuses to monetize fully AI-generated songs.
Follow Eliah Seton and SoundCloud:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliahseton/
https://soundcloud.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
08:27 - Eliah Seton on the Future of SoundCloud
13:41 - Why “Streaming Is Not Enough” for Artists
18:15 - Fan Monetization, Merch, and Direct-to-Artist Revenue
22:03 - How SoundCloud Helps Artists Get Heard and Build Fans
27:14 - Creator Subscriptions and Fan-Powered Features
31:24 - Wallets, Tipping, and the Future of Fan Transactions
36:01 - AI Tools for Music Creation and Artist Discovery
40:48 - SoundCloud’s Approach to Ethically Trained AI
47:17 - AI Music, Royalties, and Streaming Economics
52:08 - The Future of Human Artistry in the AI Era
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Breaking Hard Rock and Metal Bands with Sumerian Records
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records. Ash shares the story of building one of the most influential independent labels in modern rock and …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records. Ash shares the story of building one of the most influential independent labels in modern rock and metal, from booking DIY tours in the MySpace era to helping artists break into arenas.
During this episode, Ari and Ash dive into artist development, the evolution of touring, music video economics, social media virality, the ethics of tour buy-ons, and why building an artist brand matters more than ever. Ash also opens up about expanding Sumerian into film, the future of entertainment brands, and why he believes music videos deserve a better business model.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumerianrecords/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sumerianrecords
Check out Ari’s Take:
04:21 - Ash’s Journey from Touring Musician to Founding Sumerian Records
08:04 - Why Ash Left Booking to Focus Fully on the Label
12:00 - MySpace, TikTok, and How Artists Break Today
17:30 - Scenes, Community, and the Evolution of Heavy Music
22:16 - Artist Development and Getting Bands to Their First 500 Tickets
25:22 - The Ethics and Reality of Tour Buy-Ons
31:49 - Discovering Artists in the Streaming Era
35:15 - Why Music Videos Still Matter
49:00 - Building Sumerian Beyond Music Into Film and Media
56:00 - Ticketing, Industry Frustrations, and What It Means to “Make It”
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Going Viral In The Right Way Allowed Him To Turn Down Record Deals and Sell Out Venues Around The World
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Red Leather, the anonymous artist who turned viral TikTok videos into sold-out tours around the world. Known for his signature red hat, Red …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Red Leather, the anonymous artist who turned viral TikTok videos into sold-out tours around the world. Known for his signature red hat, Red Leather first started his career by busking on Hollywood Boulevard before exploding online with viral covers and original songs like “The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood.”
In this episode, Red Leather breaks down how he used social media to grow his audience from scratch, why he posted 5 videos a day for 100 straight days, how smashing guitars outside Capitol Records landed him a record deal (that he turned down), and why ticket sales matter more than streams or viral moments. He also opens up about sobriety, surviving addiction, touring independently, and eventually partnering with Empire after years of doing everything DIY.
Follow Red Leather:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redleather/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redleather
Check out Ari’s Take:
00:04:02 - Intro
00:04:36 - The Origin of Red Leather
00:06:39 - Sobriety, Addiction & Artistic Vulnerability
00:10:11 - Posting 5 Videos a Day for 100 Days
00:14:11 - The Viral TikTok That Changed Everything
00:20:00 - Smashing Guitars Outside Capitol Records
00:25:12 - Why He Turned Down Major Label Deals
00:33:28 - Booking Tours Through Instagram DMs
00:47:23 - Virality vs Real Fans & Ticket Sales
01:01:58 - What “Making It” Means Today
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He Went from 40K Listeners to 11 Million and a Coachella Slot in Under a Year as an Indie Artist
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Oskar Med K, a breakout Norwegian EDM producer. Oskar breaks down the "overnight" success that was actually years in the making—from the days of …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Oskar Med K, a breakout Norwegian EDM producer. Oskar breaks down the "overnight" success that was actually years in the making—from the days of sending 500 cold emails to labels with no response.
In this episode, Ari and Oskar talk about the marketing strategies that helped him scale from 40k monthly listeners to 11 million, why "simple" content often outperforms high-production on TikTok, and the surreal feeling of playing Coachella as his first-ever music festival.
https://www.instagram.com/_oskarmedk/
03:54 – Intro: The Release of Oskar’s Debut Album Feel
05:24 – Albums vs. Singles: Building a Body of Work in the Streaming Era
09:12 – The Remix Story: How Khalid Ended Up on a Remix
12:52 – Behind the Tracks: Songwriting and Collaborating Remotely
17:19 – The Early Grind: From iPad Beats to Music School in Norway
19:00 – From 0 to 1: The "Hustle" of Emailing 500 Record Labels
20:17 – Breaking Through: Finding the Right Label via LabelRadar
25:12 – Marketing Strategy: Simple Content vs. High-Production TikToks
33:42 – Moving to the Stage: Transitioning from Studio Producer to Live Act
40:40 – The Coachella Milestone: Playing Your First-Ever Festival
44:29 – The Future of Music: Addressing the AI Debate and "Making It"
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Global Booking Agency from ATC and Arrival Artists Now Reps 800 Artists
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ethan Berlin and Skully Kaplan of ROAM Artists for an inside look at the realities of booking and touring in today’s music industry. They unpack …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ethan Berlin and Skully Kaplan of ROAM Artists for an inside look at the realities of booking and touring in today’s music industry. They unpack how booking agencies build and manage their rosters, what it really takes to develop artists on the road, and how deals—from guarantees to ticket splits—actually come together. If you’re an artist planning your next tour or trying to understand the live side of the business, this episode gives a clear, candid breakdown of how it all works.
https://www.instagram.com/roam.artists/
https://roamartists.com/
Chapters
05:03 – Intro & ROAM Agency Origin Story
08:26 – From Partnership to Global Agency
11:32 – Why Artists Need Different Agents by Region
14:59 – Breaking Into International Markets (Asia & Beyond)
19:52 – Why Artists Blow Up in Some Countries First
25:20 – Genre & Market Differences Worldwide
34:48 – The Real Cost of Touring Today
40:16 – How Artists Cut Costs on Tour
44:48 – How Artists Actually Make Money Touring
48:16 – Tour Deals & Promoter Strategy Explained
52:11 – Marketing Tours & Selling Tickets
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How This UK Indie Label Sold 25K Records For 1 Band First Week
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Mark Orr, the founder of Lab Records, to explore how independent labels are evolving in today’s music industry. From deal structures and artist …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Mark Orr, the founder of Lab Records, to explore how independent labels are evolving in today’s music industry.
From deal structures and artist ownership to marketing strategies and physical releases, Mark shares a transparent look into how his label has operated and adapted over nearly two decades. They dive into how indie deals have shifted to become more artist-friendly, how Lab approaches partnerships like distribution with ADA, and why physical products like vinyl and limited editions are more important now than ever. Mark also breaks down how to build a lean team, when to outsource, and how to create meaningful fan engagement in a crowded digital landscape. Whether you’re on the artist or label side of the business, you won’t want to miss this episode.
https://www.instagram.com/labrecords
Chapters
00:00 - Lab Records Origin
05:00 - Building a Lean Team
09:25 - Streaming & Fan Engagement
13:23 - Pitching Artists vs Majors
16:07 - Modern Deal Structures
21:19 - Artist Power Shift
26:19 - Marketing in 2020s
31:42 - Physical Sales Comeback
36:21 - Touring Builds Fanbase
45:50 - Tools, Teams, Future
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How SXSW Works For Music
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Brian Hobbs and Dev Sherlock from South by Southwest (SXSW). Brian, VP of Music, has been at SXSW since 2012, helping shape the festival’s music …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Brian Hobbs and Dev Sherlock from South by Southwest (SXSW). Brian, VP of Music, has been at SXSW since 2012, helping shape the festival’s music programming and expand its sound, especially in hip hop and global scenes. Dev is the Director of Music at the festival. He plays a key role in building the lineup and working directly with artists, managers, and industry teams navigating the SXSW landscape.
In this episode, we break down what SXSW actually is, and whether it makes sense for you and your career. Dev and Brian discuss how this year is massively different than years past, what the real purpose of “South By” is, and how to approach it with a smart strategy (instead of just showing up and hoping for the best). We get real about networking—what that actually looks like at SXSW—and how artists, managers, and other industry folks can make the most of their experience. For those thinking about applying to official showcases, Brian and Dev walk through the submission process, and what their team is really looking for when they book artists. If you’re going to SXSW (or even thinking about it) listen to this episode first.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hobbs-155759164/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to South by Southwest
02:14 Changes in the Festival Structure
05:43 The Overlap of Music and Tech
08:46 The Role of Live Music Discovery
11:22 Business Opportunities at South by Southwest
19:05 Navigating Official and Unofficial Showcases
23:18 Monetizing Opportunities for Artists
27:58 The Global Impact of the Irish Diaspora
29:48 Travel Concerns for International Artists
30:41 Booking Artists for South by Southwest
34:55 The Application Process Explained
37:57 The Fluid Nature of Artist Bookings
41:42 Understanding Compensation Models
43:52 The Conference Experience at South by Southwest
45:52 Networking Tips for Artists
50:57 Defining Success in the Music Industry
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artist Managers on Music Videos, Artist Development, Long-term Strategy and True Fandom
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Aaron Greene and Neal O’Connor of Slush Management, the artist-first team behind Porter Robinson, Eden, Jai Wolf, and more. Slush has helped their …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Aaron Greene and Neal O’Connor of Slush Management, the artist-first team behind Porter Robinson, Eden, Jai Wolf, and more. Slush has helped their artists generate billions of streams, sell millions of tickets, and craft long-term careers rooted in creativity rather than quick wins. With 15 years of experience across touring, branding, and global fan development, they’ve become leaders in sustainable artist strategy and innovative experiential storytelling.
In this episode, Ari Neal and Aaron dive into what modern artist development truly looks like. From building immersive worlds to cultivating real, lasting fan communities beyond vanity metrics, Neal and Aaron share how managers decide when an artist is ready for representation, why social media isn’t the only path to growth, and how long-term strategy beats short-term virality every time. The conversation also covers label paths (self-release, indie, major), when to tour, how support slots actually happen, and the importance of meaningful experiences. Hint: music videos might be more important than most folks realize.
https://www.instagram.com/slushmgmt/
05:58 – What “world-building” means for modern artists
08:12 – How Porter Robinson developed his immersive universe
12:00 – Building an entire festival world with Disney-level partners
16:00 – Artist development: when an artist is ready for management
18:20 – Why immediacy is a trap & long-term growth matters
20:35 – Deepening 100 true fans vs. chasing viral moments
27:45 – Majors vs. indies vs. self-releasing: what actually works
31:55 – The real purpose of music videos in 2025
36:50 – Touring strategy: when to headline, when to support
39:20 – How artists actually get support slots
42:55 – What “making it” means in the new music business
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Doja Cat's Managers Have It Down
This week on the New Music Business, Ari sits down with powerhouse managers Gordan Dillard and Josh Kaplan, the team behind global superstar Doja Cat. Together, they break down how they helped build one of the …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business, Ari sits down with powerhouse managers Gordan Dillard and Josh Kaplan, the team behind global superstar Doja Cat. Together, they break down how they helped build one of the most influential, multi-hyphenate artists of the decade. Gordan and Josh share early viral moments of Doja Cat's diversified empire spanning music, brand partnerships, and new business ventures.
Other topics discussed here include: how features really work, how producers differ from beatmakers, what modern record deals look like at the highest level, and why short-form content has completely reshaped the career-building playbook. Gordan and Josh offer candid, unfiltered advice for emerging artists and managers on finding the right partnership, building a fanbase from scratch, and creating leverage in today’s industry.
https://www.instagram.com/dojacat/
04:16 – Why Good Day Management only represents one artist
07:19 – Diversifying Doja Cat’s revenue beyond music
10:18 – How Gordon & Josh first joined Doja’s team
15:40 – The “Juicy” era and early visual strategy
17:31 – Doja Cat’s rise during the pandemic
20:42 – Long-form videos vs short-form content today
24:54 – Balancing artists’ vision with budget and label support
29:10 – How label deals and funding have evolved
36:28 – How features actually get made (creatively & financially)
44:25 – Beatmakers vs producers: what’s the difference?
48:37 – Why songs sometimes have 7 writers & 6 producers
58:54 – Advice for emerging artists & managers today
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
DIY Band Couch on World Tours, Self Managing, and Fan Building
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Tema Siegel and Zach Blankstein of the band Couch. Tema is the singer and Zach is the guitarist/manager of this seven-piece soul-pop band from …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Tema Siegel and Zach Blankstein of the band Couch. Tema is the singer and Zach is the guitarist/manager of this seven-piece soul-pop band from Boston. Their explosive live shows and fully DIY approach have helped them sell out major venues across the country. Formed from lifelong friendships and built during the pandemic, Couch has grown into a globally touring act while self-producing their acclaimed debut album 'Big Talk'.
In this episode, Tema and Zach break down how they built an engaged fanbase without label support, the logistics of touring as a seven-member group, and the creative and vulnerable writing process behind 'Big Talk'. Ari dives into their ad strategy, their partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator, how they secured major support tours with Lake Street Dive and Cory Wong, and what it takes to balance musicianship, management, and sustainable growth as an independent band in 2025.
http://instagram.com/couch.theband
07:16 – Adding the seventh member & early chemistry
09:15 – Touring as an introvert and finding group balance
12:19 – Managing a 12-person touring party
16:34 – How fans are reacting to the new songs live
18:22 – How the band uses VIP sections to build superfans
19:40 – Collaborative songwriting process & Temma’s Notes app
22:19 – “Middleman” and the band’s unexpected EDM influence
26:22 – Self-producing the entire album & working with mixers
27:15 – Living in Boston and breaking out beyond the local scene
32:56 – Growing during the pandemic while in separate cities
36:32 – Early viral video & their online strategy
40:07 – How Couch finances the band with day jobs
41:24 – Why Zach became their in-house manager
55:52 – Opening for Cory Wong & Lake Street Dive
58:44 – Deep dive into their ad strategy
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Come visit me in 1974 LA
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari hops on for a solo episode to talk about Brassroots District—a decade-long passion project fusing immersive theater, hard-grooving funk, and 1970s …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari hops on for a solo episode to talk about Brassroots District—a decade-long passion project fusing immersive theater, hard-grooving funk, and 1970s world-building. He shares how the project grew from DIY LA shows into a scripted parking-lot production during COVID, and how it’s finally taking over a premier LA venue. If you're in LA, come catch Brassroots District LA ’74, opening February 7th at Catch One in Koreatown. Check out the trailer and grab your tickets here.Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LaRussell Built His Empire Brick by Brick
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Bay Area rapper, LaRussell. Known for his backyard shows, revolutionary ticketing and release practices, and motivational freestyling, LaRussell …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Bay Area rapper, LaRussell. Known for his backyard shows, revolutionary ticketing and release practices, and motivational freestyling, LaRussell has become a blueprint for modern DIY artistry. His business, Good Compenny, is a multi-media brand that puts on shows, sells merch, and empowers independent artists.
In this episode, Ari and LaRussell discuss when and why it’s important to stay independent as an artist. LaRussell tells Ari how he continues to find joy in making music, even after releasing over 700 songs. He also breaks down his offer-based ticketing model—a game-changing approach that could change the entire live concert industry. Tune in to hear LaRussell’s secrets to community-building, his artistic approach to social media, and loads of inspiration heading into 2026.
https://www.instagram.com/larussell
06:20 – LaRussell explains “out the trunk” direct bookings
08:10 – Origin of the backyard concerts
12:21 – Full backyard experience (hospitality, free food, bounce house)
16:45 – How offer-based ticketing works (“What is this worth to you?”)
18:23 – His $1,000 birthday show that made $250K
20:12 – Full breakdown of all revenue streams
27:02 – Why he stays independent + label philosophy
43:48 – What “Good Compenny” really is (a community)
54:38 – Spending $120K on ads to make $800K back
01:02:01 – Full-circle moment: how the book changed his life
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How These DIY Artists Won a GRAMMY
This week on the New Music Business Podcast, Ari sits down with recent GRAMMY Award winners Matt B and Angela Benson. Matt B is a GRAMMY-winning R&B singer, songwriter, and global recording artist whose career …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business Podcast, Ari sits down with recent GRAMMY Award winners Matt B and Angela Benson. Matt B is a GRAMMY-winning R&B singer, songwriter, and global recording artist whose career spans over a decade. His most recent project, ‘Alkebulan II’, earned him and Angela a GRAMMY Award, following years of DIY artistry. Over the course of this album, Matt and Angela recorded across Africa, collaborated with artists like Eddie Kenzo and Oxlade, and worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. As a label owner, producer on ‘Alkebulan II’, and longtime Recording Academy member, Angela has been instrumental in shaping Matt’s artistic direction, visual world-building, and global strategy.
In this episode, Matt B and Angela Benson walk through their incredible DIY journey and how they found themselves on the GRAMMY-winning path. They discuss the challenges of writing and recording in multiple African languages, shooting a full visual album across multiple countries, and balancing the creative workload between artist and manager. The pair break down how independent artists can navigate the GRAMMY process, the importance of joining the Recording Academy, the role of networking and bartering in major creative endeavors, and most importantly, the communication and patience required to run a music career as a married team.
https://www.instagram.com/mattbworld
https://www.instagram.com/angelavbenson
01:40 – Home Studio & Recent Travels
02:10 – Returning to His Alma Mater After the Grammy Win
03:00 – Life & Opportunities After Winning a Grammy
04:15 – Performing in Uganda & Global Breakthrough Moments
05:20 – Inception of the Akebulan Concept
09:00 – Connecting With Oxlade & Eddie Kenzo
11:00 – Creating the “Gimme Love” Music Video
13:00 – Building a Full Visual Album DIY
17:40 – Finding Producers & Collaborators Worldwide
20:00 – Incorporating the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
30:00 – Navigating Grammy Nominations & Recording Academy Membership
47:00 – Working as a Husband-and-Wife Artist/Manager Team
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is This The Future of Superfandom?
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Matt Jones, the CEO and co-founder of Medallion, a platform helping artists own their fan relationships and build new revenue models. Matt was …
Notes de l’épisode
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Matt Jones, the CEO and co-founder of Medallion, a platform helping artists own their fan relationships and build new revenue models. Matt was previously CEO of Songkick, another direct-to-fan platform that was acquired by Warner Music Group. He’s now developing new economic models for artists to own their fan relationships.
In this episode, Matt and Ari discuss the direct-to-fan experience and why it’s beneficial to give artists full ownership of their data. Matt explains why traditional models like Patreon and Substack don’t fit the creative rhythms of most musicians. They also dig into the shortcomings of streaming and the need for transparency in artist payments. Tune in to learn more about how major labels might adapt, what lessons can be learned from Bandcamp, and why the next decade of music will be defined by artist ownership and sustainability.
0:00 - Intro
10:45 – Why the term “superfan” has taken over the industry
13:20 – The challenges artists face relying on third-party platforms
15:50 – How Medallion lets artists own their data and build communities
18:30 – Why streaming’s economic model is outdated and unsustainable
21:50 – Why Patreon and Substack rarely work for most musicians
24:15 – The three main artist revenue streams: live, recordings, and merch
28:30 – How Bandcamp paved the way—but why it isn’t enough
31:40 – Handling rights, licensing, and label relationships on Medallion
38:00 – The future of transparency and fan-to-artist payment models
49:50 – Why blockchain and NFTs weren’t the right fit for Medallion
Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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