The Big Break

For this episode we are joined by Anthony Martini, best known for discovering massive artists like Tyga and Lil Dicky, but his experience in the music industry is vast. Ant sits down with us to talk about how he evolved from an artist, to a manager, and the importance of hustle, on this episode of The Big Break.Ant’s Twitter & InstagramAntony’s TwitterShow Notes5:00 When did Ant first get hooked on music, and learning instruments as a kid and in school “I really enjoyed stories- lyrics and all that.”11:55 Forming the first band that started to get traction E-Town Concrete “There was a local music paper called The Aquarian, and I would go get it and then look in the back, all the advertisements for shows at all the venues, and I would just call the venues and try and get in opening slots for all the bands.”23:30 Putting out albums and getting interest from labels “Just get in the door- don’t shoot yourself in the foot before you even get there.” Razor and Tie30:20 Deciding to move into the business side of music, and leaving the band “Hustle trumps talent in a lot of ways.”36:30 Big Daddy Distribution, and learning about labels and marketing Learning management on a larger level with Ferret Records39:30 Moving into Hip Hop Crush Management, and the next level of money in music Almost managing Gym Class Heroes, and getting to work with The Pack51:00 Tyga Receiving the Young on Probation mixtape “He had a ‘it’ factor. When I met him he was a 16-year-old kid, but he just looked famous- he had this aura about him. He had it, he had the swag.”60:00 Closing thoughts “Nothing is a loss or waste of time if you can get a lesson out of it.”For more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

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

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

Joining us this week is podcaster, producer, marketer, and all-around music industry wiz, Johnny Dwinell. Johnny started out as a musician, performing in hair metal bands, but he pivoted to focus more on business and marketing side, developing artists through his own company. Today, he is not only a co-host on The CLIMB podcast, but he also runs Daredevil Production, where he helps artists with their digital marketing. He has worked with multi-platinum artists like Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, and more.Johnny joins us to discuss the state of the industry, and how the landscape is evolving, on this episode of The Big Break.TwitterDaredevil ProductionThe C.L.I.M.B. PodcastShow Notes1:17 Where are you joining us from today?3:40 How have you been managing with Covid-19?5:20 The impact of digital marketing6:55 Who exactly are the artists that you’re working with?10:39 You started off as an artist correct?12:50 Neil Diamond, and getting hooked on music14:24 When was your first band?16:23 Opening for Hericane Alice18:08 Recording the first album19:18 Bud Snyder and The Allman Brothers23:00 Recording and mixing the record, and getting bumped27:32 What ended up happening with the band?28:50 Getting started on the business side30:20 Nashville, Tennessee33:00 Sales, and the power of ‘The List’37:20 When did you decide to get back into music?41:42 What are artists focusing too much on, and not enough on?44:20 Appetite for Destruction, by Guns & Roses45:30 How much do you need to educate your clients today about the power of marketing?46:23 Adjusting to the interruption of the internet47:17 The crystal ball of Hollywood50:00 The attention economy55:00 You need to know that you need the data, and what to do with it56:30 We keep coming back to funding- are there more options or danger in funding options?60:14 “The middle class is arriving in the music industry”61:20 How to help the other 80%62:30 The C.L.I.M.B.65:55 Johnny’s Free informational downloadFor more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth

Joining us this week is Brent Baxter, a hit songwriter who has worked with artists like Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Randy Travis, and many more. He is also one of the co-hosts of the songwriter podcast The C.L.I.M.B. and is extremely active in the songwriter development sphere through the website Songwriting Pro.After working a nine-to-five, Brent took the leap and moved to Nashville to pursue his dreams as a songwriter. Brent shares his experiences growing as a songwriter and finding a publisher who wants to invest in your future, not your past, on this episode of The Big Break.InstagramTwitterSongwriting ProThe C.L.I.M.B. PodcastShow Notes1:20 Where are you these days?5:02 Do you think the remote writing method has enough benefits to stay as a norm?7:15 Are you more of a lyricist or a melody creator?8:09 Growing up as a storyteller, and first putting words to music11:30 Where did you go to school and what did you study?12:11 Getting a degree, but discovering the dream of Nashville13:55 The first song, and starting to make trips to Nashville15:10 A certification for ‘Triple Plywood’15:47 Alltel Communications17:09 When do you realize that it’s time to quit the job and move to Nashville?18:20 A room opens up, and the Nashville journey begins19:54 Blue Water Music23:10 Figuring out balancing working and learning the business, and writing24:07 Is being exclusively a lyricist limiting at all? Is it common?25:40 Erin Enderlin26:46 Creating Monday Morning Church28:20 How did Monday Morning Church make its way to a big placement?30:31 Getting a call at 1:00 AM33:30 Alan Jackson gets the cut, now the wait to see if it makes the record.35:50 How do you leverage a hit like that so it doesn’t become just a fluke?37:17 Jeff Carlton38:11 Don’t burn bridges40:00 Getting connected to Major Bob Music42:49 “I need to know you’re in it for my future”43:50 When did the songwriter coaching component become part of what you do?48:10 Did your job at Blue Water help you with the teaching you do now?50:35 Social credit, and staying current52:17 If there was one piece of advice you could give to songwriters, what would it be?55:30 How do people find you?56:30 Thanks for joining usFor more informationMore episodesKnow Your Worth