The Big Break

This week we sit down with Domingo Padilla, a music legend with over 30 years of experience under his belt as a producer for some of the biggest names in rap and hip-hop. Domingo shares with us his experiences, the importance of mentors, publishing, and more, on this episode of The Big Break.Find Domingo on Social MediaTwitter FacebookAntony’s TwitterShow Notes1:55 Where Domingo is from, where he is now, and the impact of Covid-19 “Business didn’t slow down- one of the business I own is online so it keeps generating, keeps running.”5:26 Domingo’s first exposure to music, and the path to pursuing it on a professional level. Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang Marley Marl- In Control Vol. 218:00 Being a producer versus being a rapper, the Art of Mentorship, and having thick skin “If you can’t take constructive criticism, you’re in the wrong game”30:30 The give-and-take of working with other artists, and longevity “I think mentoring the business-end is a lot more important… Longevity is the key.”38:55 “Publishing is like real-estate in the music business.” Mediafamous.com44:54 What’s next for Domingo For more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

Anthony Lee Norris, better known as Lee on the Beats, joins us to talk about growing up in music, the people in his corner, the power of technology, and why it's important to believe in yourself, on this episode of The Big Break.Lee on the Beats TwitterLee on the Beats InstagramAntony’s TwitterShow Notes1:30 Where Anthony is from and where he is with Covid-19 Desert Storm7:50 The impact of family, support, pressure and guiding youth “I’m not everybody…”12:40 Soundclick, and getting started as an artist19:30 Making the connections and turning music into a career from a hobby “It really all goes back to Desert Storm, family and those people guiding me along the way.”22:48 The impact of technology. “Twitter was one of the keys to succes… Myspace, Twitter, Instagram, these are relatively new things to life… Now when Twitter came along its different, because your looking at a feed and its people just writing messages, so I’m on their following people, following artists, and some artists start putting up their emails.”28:03 Pop That by French Montana, and leading up the DJ Khaled “It was like FAST fast, and I don’t think anybody expected it- I didn’t expect it, I don’t even think my people in my corner expected it, nobody expected it. Maybe French expected it- you know like the people that were actually on the song expected it, but as far as the people on the outside looking in, I didn’t expect it.”38:13 Retrospective and what could have been done differently, and what’s next “I felt like if all that time I spent in those clubs, if I had spent those times in the studio… Who  knows what I could have done at that specific time.”43:50 “I want to shout out to all the artists I’m working with- there’s a whole list of them- I just want  them to all know I appreciate them, and we’re going to keep making fire.”For more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

Like many artists, Brad Rempel got out of his first record contract. But unlike others, he harbors no ill will. In this episode of The Big Break, the High Valley founder explains why artists shouldn’t “crucify” the companies making early bets on your career.To keep up with Brad:High ValleyTwitter, Instagram, FacebookAntony’s TwitterShow Notes2:30 Brad’s background, Canada, and life in Covid9:00 The start of music from living in a rural town, and falling in love with country music. “I literally did not know who Michael Jackson was until I moved to Nashville.”13:40 The first concert, Mid South, and the creation of High Valley20:00 Learning about managing money, and touring25:05 The first ‘break’ Meeting John Mays and the road to a record deal32:51 The move to Nashville, Brad learns the truth about being a big fish in a small pond and what the  real level of competition is.35:20 The second ‘break’ Buying out of the record deal to go completely independent. “I don’t understand why we try and crucify them later on in our careers when all of a sudden  we’re making real money and now we just hate them and think they’re evil people. What about back in the day when nobody would give you five bucks for anything you had, and this person offered you some real money to live off of?”41:09 A kids Jiu Jitsu class, and a bagel at Panera Bread bridges the gap to the US market, and  everything blows up Make You Mine49:30 Brad tells us about the business perspective for buying out of his contracts, and what’s next For more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

This week we are joined by Adam Craig. Adam has experience on both sides of the coin. He has pursued a career as a recording and touring artist, and was even named by Rolling Stone as one of the top 10 country acts to know in 2016, but he's recently put the road to rest to focus on his passion for songwriting.Adam has contributed to Church Pew and Barstool by Jason Aldean, Whiskey on my Breath by Love and Theft, and Close Your Eyes by Parmalee among many others. Adam provides us with some great perspective as a songwriter, while keeping a foot in the performer camp, and how focusing on the work can deliver the goal in the end, on this episode of The Big BreakAdam's InstagramAntony’s TwitterShow Notes3:10 How the pandemic has affected Adam, both professionally and personally8:24 Social media and the new landscape of music promotion John Marx and getting involved with XM11:34 Meeting Jake Owen’s producer, Adam drops everything to focus and improve and starting the  road to Nashville “I’d meet a girl and tell her I loved her just to get my heart broken.”16:00 Adam moves to Nashville in pursuit of country music “I came here to be Tim McGraw.”21:30 Getting, and losing, publishing deals, and then the snowball of hits that lead to a record deal Church Pews and Barstools by Jason Aldean30:13 Transitioning from songwriter, to performer, to songwriter40:00 How do you lose a publishing deal?42:42 What’s next for Adam Craig My First Car by Meghan PatrickFor more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

Matt Rogers is a songwriting dynamo. He has written for major country artists like Brett Aldridge, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Chris Young, Jimmie Allen, and tons more- even branching out to other genre artists like Jordin Sparks.Matt started his music career in Nashville, like many other artists, but it wasn’t until a chance opportunity allowed him to play some songs for a publisher, at a bar, while filming a documentary that things started to click into place. Matt joins us to share his experiences as a songwriter on this episode of The Big Break.Antony’s TwitterShow Notes2:10 How the pandemic has impacted Matt and songwriting as a profession4:07 How Matt first got into music, starting as a journalist9:35 Getting to Nashville, as an editor, and starting to work as a songwriter “Okay buddy, you got something going on here that maybe we should try to pursue…”15:10 Getting meetings with PRO’s, Publishers, and Labels, and keeping momentum with your circle “When I got there, there was like a camera man, and a couple people, and they were talking to the publisher and a couple writers, and the guy I was writing with was like ‘why don’t you play them a song?’ so I grabbed a guitar and played a song, and the publisher said ‘play me another one…’”24:30 Negotiating, and understanding, your publishing deal “When you are getting to the stage of a [publishing deal], the best advice I would give anybody is get a great lawyer.”28:45 Matt’s first hit- We Went by Randy Houser35:08 The network and circles of writers, and working to cast a wide net “You cast a wider net- let’s say I write for Sony, and I write a song with a guy who writes for Warner Chappell, and I write with another writer who writes for Big Yellow Dog. Now we have three sets of publishers slinging this song around town instead of just one.”38:20 Catalog sales, and what’s next “We look at every song as a potential, life-changing, financial aspiration.”45:15 How do people follow you and keep up with you? Freedom is a Highway by Jimmie Allen A Little Less Broken by Luke Bryan The One You Need by Brett EldredgeFor more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

Show NotesOur guest this week is Jack Forman, President of BiCoastal Productions. BiCoastal is a booking agency working with acts like Colin Mochrie, Scotland’s Red Hot Chilli Pipers, The Daily Show Writers Comedy Tour, and tons more.Jack joins us to discuss the state of the industry today, and how the live performance world is adjusting to the new normal of the Covid-19 pandemic, on this episode of The Big Break.BiCoastal ProductionsLinkedInInstagram4:38 Jack’s inspiration for working in the music industry, schooling and learning the industry11:15 The impact of Covid-19 on live events in the entertainment industry16:15 The landscape of rescheduling- with the financial hardships falling on venues, and the limited availability for time and days, what will the return to live shows look like.22:07 Live streaming performances, and the digital forefront for engagement and monetization23:30 VEEPS, Benji Madden and Joel Madden25:10 The evolving role of a booking agent, manager, and the impact of smaller venues and artist partnerships31:40 Opening up to a virtual audience and the threat to ticketing companies- the start to hybrid events servicing both in-person, and digital clients.35:35 The four ‘D’s of Copyright Acquisition, and the different ways and opportunities for artists to take advantage of the industry changes41:18 Alternative opportunities like Cameo and looking at the glass as half-fullFor more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth