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The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

In this show, Ari 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.


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  • 36. John Summit on Collaboration, His New Record Label and Advice to Aspiring DJ/Producers

    01:02:53||Season 5, Ep. 36
    This week Ari sits down with John Summit, one of the most sought-after DJ/producers in the global dance world. John is a superstar DJ, producer, and owner of his own label, Experts Only. He has nearly a billion all-time global streams across his own catalog, two number 1 US dance radio hits, and two top 10 tracks on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Summit has sold out iconic venues such as BMO Stadium, MSG, the Forum, Coachella, EDC, Tomorrowland and other major festivals all across the globe.John tells Ari all about how he got his start (making music with a day job, producing songs in his parents' basement), and how those humble beginnings led to him touring the world as a celebrated artist. He talks about how he got his career “break,” and gives practical advice to aspiring DJ/producers. John also talks about running Experts Only and how he hopes to develop the label.Keep up with John Summit at: https://www.instagram.com/johnsummit/00:00 Breaking Out of the Local Scene06:07 Creating an Album vs Singles08:59 Staying Inspired Creatively12:12 The Evolution of Live Performances14:53 Navigating the Pandemic: A Turning Point17:47 The Power of Persistence24:00 Collaborating Remotely33:16 Designing Arena Shows vs Festival Shows vs Clubs38:46 Behind The Curtain of Experts Only Label47:20 Experts Only Party Nights and Community Building51:14 Marketing Support for Artists on Experts Only53:04 Advice for Aspiring DJ/ProducersEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

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  • 35. How Sub Pop Records Develops and Funds Artists

    01:27:01||Season 5, Ep. 35
    This week Ari sits down with Tony Kiewel, the President of Sub Pop Records and co-founder of ORCA (Organization for Recorded Culture and Arts). Sub Pop has repped iconic artists like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Beach House, The Postal Service, Flight of the Conchords, Iron & Wine, Father John Misty, and many more. Tony’s organization, ORCA, is a “think tank comprised of international independent music labels committed to increasing music’s economic, social, and cultural value.” ORCA has done incredible research to demonstrate the tangible value of music in our society. ORCA also works with numerous record labels to increase financial and contractual transparency between labels and artists. In this episode, Tony shares the inner-workings of his experience at Sub Pop. He breaks down how independent record labels function in 2024 and how exactly his label invests in the future of their artists. Ari and Tony discuss how ORCA’s research could help influence law and policy changes for the music industry and how the organization helps people outside of the industry understand how things work. Tony talks about what Sub Pop looks for when it comes to signing new artists, how they develop current artists on their roster, and how they go about working with undiscovered artists vs. artist on the cusp of stardom. If you’re interested in the inner workings of indie labels, you won’t want to miss this episode!ORCA: https://www.orcaformusic.com/ “Setting the Stage: How Music Works” study by ORCA: https://aristake.io/orca00:00 Understanding the New Music Business05:26 The Formation of ORCA and Its Goals10:16 The Importance of Transparency in the Music Industry16:07 The Challenges Facing Independent Artists22:42 The Role of Indie Labels in Artist Development33:56 Artist Development Strategies at Sub Pop42:58 Investments in Emerging Artists51:15 Revenue Streams and Financial Models01:00:19 Marketing and Tour Support Budgets01:10:36 Trends in Physical vs. Digital Sales01:17:26 Mutually Beneficial Artist-Label RelationshipsEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
  • 34. Paying To Get on Spotify Playlists Legally?

    01:20:47||Season 5, Ep. 34
    This week Ari sits down with Dorian Perron, the co-founder of Groover, a platform that connects artists who want to promote their music with media outlets, radio stations, record labels, playlist curators and industry professionals seeking emerging talents. Ari and Dorian go in depth about how artists can safely pitch their music and receive constructive feedback from industry professionals. They discuss the current state of playlisting—specifically how to avoid botted playlists and streaming fraud while promoting your music. You’ll also get to hear Ari’s unfiltered thoughts about Groover and other playlisting platforms in this deep-dive conversation. If you’re an artist who self-promotes their music, this episode is for you.  Get 15% off your first campaign with Groover with the code ARISTAKEWebsite: Groover.co Variety Article (Streaming Fraud): https://variety.com/2024/music/news/spotify-artists-streaming-fraud-1235965379/ 00:00 Artists' Goals and Varying Needs01:18 Introduction to Groover02:08 Streaming Fraud and Shady Companies03:35 The Ecosystem of Playlist Curators05:28 What is Groover?09:41 Evolution of Playlists and Curators12:26 Starting Groover in California13:21 The Rise of Playlists14:17 Types of Playlists on Spotify17:05 Groover's Focus on User-Generated Playlists18:28 The Impact of Playlists on Artists' Careers19:26 Nourishing Different Types of Playlists22:38 Pitching Songs to Playlist Curators on Groover26:53 Paying for Consideration, Not Placement28:21 The Streaming Fraud Issue35:42 Verifying Legitimacy of Playlists40:26 Factors Affecting Success on Groover44:46 Defining Success in the New Music Business50:42 Tailoring Music to Please Curators56:26 Quality vs. Tailoring in Groover Campaigns01:05:39 Varied Results on Groover01:09:18 Finding Your Own Pace in the Music BusinessEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
  • 33. A Human Classical Pianist Composing With AI

    01:26:41||Season 5, Ep. 33
    This week, Ari sits down with AyseDeniz, a classical pianist and composer with a Bachelor's from Eastman School and a Master's from the Royal Academy of Music. In 2022, she was listed as one of the 20 under 40 Young Shapers of the Future of Music by Encyclopaedia Britannica, alongside notable artists such as Adele, Lil Nas, and Lorde. In this episode, AyseDeniz talks about how she collaborates with AI to compose new works of music. AI tools have changed AyseDeniz’s career trajectory as an independent artist, even though she’s an incredibly skilled classical musician. Ari and AyseDeniz discuss the ethics of composing and collaborating with AI and how she has used these tools to propel her career forward. Check out AyseDeniz at: https://www.adpianist.com/00:00 Exploring the Classical Music Industry and AyseDeniz's Background02:14 Using AI to Create Classical Piano Compositions03:43 The Emotional Component of AI-Generated Music04:11 The Ethics of AI in Music Creation05:06 AyseDeniz's Journey in Scoring for Film and TV06:32 The Future of AyseDeniz's Music Career47:35 Creating AI-Generated Compositions50:07 Authenticity in Music Performance51:06 Ethical Considerations in AI Music Generation57:49 The Need for Regulations and Laws01:13:25 The Future of Music with AIEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
  • 32. This Record Label Prioritizes Timeless Music Over Streams

    01:15:07||Season 5, Ep. 32
    Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.comThis week, on the New Music Business Podcast, Ari sits down with Louis Marks and Fabian Brown of Ropeadope Records, a label that’s been around in the jazz world for 25 years and has worked with Snarky Puppy, Christian Scott, Greg Spero, Terrace Martin, Questlove, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Taj Majal, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Sister Gertrude Morgan, and so many more. In this episode, Louis and Fabian talk about how most of their artists cannot make a living just from streaming revenue. They share the ways they’ve been evolving, as a label, to elevate and lift their artists in the ever changing landscape of the new music industry. This conversation discusses the ins and outs of streaming, social media, physical sales, downloads, bandcamp, touring, patronage, community, and so much more. 00:00 - Introduction04:55 - The Mission of Ropeadope Records18:43 - Rethinking the Value of Music24:22 - Preserving Contemporary Music31:32 - Re-Educating Fans and Focusing on the Connection44:44 - The Limitations of Streaming Platforms53:29 - Exploring Alternative Models for Artist Support Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.comWatch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpaConnect with Ari’s Take:Website: https://aristake.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.takeX: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeThreads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandX: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandConnect with Ropeadope Records:Website: https://ropeadope.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropeadope/Bandcamp: https://ropeadope.bandcamp.com/X: https://x.com/ropeadopeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ropeadope99Edited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s Take
  • 31. R&B Artist Jaylon Ashaun on World Building and the Hustle

    56:14||Season 5, Ep. 31
    Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.comThis week, Ari sits down with Jaylon Ashaun, a talented R&B artist currently based in LA via Atlanta and Houston. Jaylon found success by regularly releasing music and building a direct artist-to-fans community online. His song “Strawberries and Wine” took the digital music world by storm, with over 25 million streams of its various versions. Last year, Jaylon toured the US with major R&B acts Xavier Omar and Hojean. Ari and Jaylon discuss the importance of connecting with fans directly, how to capitalize on and move past viral moments to build a sustainable career, and how Jaylon has built his superfan community, Global Nomads, online.Chapters:00:00 Taking Risks and Putting Out Music14:24 The Power of Regularly Releasing Music19:37 Developing a Super Fan Community27:52 Perseverance, Collaboration, and Artistic Identity28:22 Building a Community and World Around Your Music31:16 Engaging with Fans and Nurturing Your Community33:06 The Power of Physical Merchandise40:18 The Evolving Music Industry and the Importance of AdaptabilitySubscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.comWatch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpaConnect with Ari’s Take:Website: https://aristake.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.takeX: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeThreads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandX: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandConnect with Jaylon Ashaun:Website: https://www.jaylonashaun.me/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylonashaunTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaylonashaunSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dhseP7KiICmkxT5waM1MdEdited and mixed by Ari Davids-ErgasMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s Take
  • 30. This Singing Couple is Making It by Diversifying their Business and Writing Great Songs

    01:19:43||Season 5, Ep. 30
    Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.comThis week, Ari sits down with Ni/Co, the musical duo of LA-based couple Dani Brillhart and Colton Jones. Their most recent song “On Purpose” has taken the internet by storm with over 6.2 million streams on Spotify and YouTube. Ni/Co built their early career by releasing covers on YouTube and placing their songs in sync. They have garnered over 75 million views on YouTube and have landed 6-figure sync deals with their music. However, as their covers became more popular and they wrote under various monikers for sync, Dani and Colton had to make a decision: did they want to prioritize these paths or re-center their career around original music? This conversation dives into the details of publishing and label deals, Ni/Co’s journey through sync, their experience going viral on TikTok, and how they clarified their artist identity to stay true to their vision along the way.00:00 - Introduction and Background10:39 - The On Purpose Journey and Release15:47 - Meeting and Starting as a Couple26:23 - Signing a Publishing Deal and Sync Placements30:11 - Separating Covers and Originals42:52 - The Success of 'On Purpose'49:05 - Influencer Campaigns, Viral Songs, and the Importance of Diversifying Revenue Streams1:13:20 - Challenges and Scams in Revenue CollectionSubscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.comWatch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpaConnect with Ari’s Take:Website: https://aristake.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.takeX: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeThreads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandX: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandConnect with Ni/Co:Website: https://nicomusicofficial.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ni.co_officialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ni.co_officialSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IR0GSCHsTo7gSw8HHLBnrEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s Take