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