The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Sarah McTaggart from the hit alt-pop band Transviolet. Transviolet exploded onto the scene in 2015 with their breakout single “Girls Your Age” with Epic Records. The band moved between a couple labels throughout their career, but they’re now independent. Transviolet has played Late Shows with Colbert and James Corden; they’ve had notable syncs including the Pretty Little Liars theme song; they’ve played huge festivals like SXSW, Governor’s Ball and Firefly; and they recently released their fourth studio album, Softcore.Sarah tells Ari about Transviolet’s experiences working with a major label and how things have changed since going independent. They talk about the ins-and-outs of touring (including Transviolet’s upcoming US tour), how the band got started, and a brilliant guerrilla marketing technique they used to promote one of their early releases. Transviolet also had the surprising experience of finding out they were big in China (hot tip: you might be too). Tune in to find out how they discovered they were big over there and how you can check for yourself, too.https://transviolet.com/Chapters00:00 The Evolution of the Music Business02:53 Transviolet's Journey to Independence06:02 The Creative Process Behind 'Softcore'08:54 Exploring Vulnerability in Music12:12 The Duality of Persona15:09 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth17:50 Marketing Innovations in the Music Industry21:11 The Impact of Major Labels vs. Independence36:13 Redefining the Artist's Team39:34 The Evolution of Digital Marketing in Music44:14 Navigating Social Media's Impact on Music51:07 Exploring International Touring Experiences57:21 The Dynamics of Touring and Band Changes01:08:28 Creating Art: The Journey of Songwriting and ProductionEdited 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

This month, for Women's History Month, we are replaying some of our favorite New Music Business episodes featuring incredible women of the industry. This episode highlights star music supervisor Jen Malone. She has placed music and worked on Euphoria, Atlanta, Creed 2, The Resident, Boomerang, Baskets, Shelter, Lady Dynamite, Step Up, and more. Jen has over a decade of highly esteemed experience in the industry.In this episode, Jen goes into depth about what music supervisors do and the business of sync licensing. She gives great advice on how independent artists can get their music synced and things to look out for in contracts and fee negotiations. If you want to know how to pitch your music to supervisors with the best chance of striking a deal, this is the episode for you.Chapters00:00 The Journey to Music Supervision02:55 Navigating the Music Supervision Landscape05:59 The Role of a Music Supervisor08:55 The Evolution of Music Syncing12:00 Tools of the Trade14:59 Finding and Pitching Music18:00 Understanding Music Ownership21:08 The Process of Music Supervision in TV and Film24:05 Collaboration with Composers27:09 The Differences Between Film and TV Music Supervision33:40 Managing Multiple Projects35:21 The Role of Personal Taste in Music Supervision37:22 Juxtaposition in Music Placement42:26 Impact of Music Placements on Independent Artists46:04 The Evolution of Sync Licensing50:19 Workflow and Project Management in Music Supervision51:59 Differences in Working with Streaming Platforms vs. Traditional Networks54:30 The Importance of Fair Compensation for Artists58:03 Protecting Artist Rights in Sync Licensing01:03:42 Advice for Independent Artists in Sync LicensingEdited 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

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes featuring incredible women of the industry. This episode spotlights Grammy-nominated, hit singer and songwriter Bonnie McKee. Since the early 2000s, McKee has written 10 singles that have reached #1 in the US and UK, which have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide combined.McKee is particularly known for collaborating with Katy Perry, co-writing hits such as “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream”, “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)“, “Part of Me,” “Wide Awake” and “Roar” together. She also co-wrote “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, which became the second-best-selling song by a British artist in the digital era. Additional artists who she has worked with include Britney Spears, Kesha, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Mike Tompkins. Last year, she released her album Hot City featuring the hit single “American Girl.”Chapters00:00 The Art of Songwriting: Balancing Familiarity and Creativity03:02 Bonnie McKee: A Journey Through Songwriting and Independence06:06 Exploring the World of Film: From Music to Directing08:59 The Dynamics of Songwriting Sessions: Collaboration and Creativity11:52 Navigating the Music Industry: The Role of Songwriters14:47 Contrasting Nashville and LA: Different Approaches to Songwriting17:47 The Challenges of Being a Female Songwriter and Producer21:31 Gender Dynamics in Music Production24:44 Navigating Songwriting and Royalties27:46 The Art of Songwriting: Balancing Authenticity and Popularity30:48 Song Doctoring: The Business Side of Refining Songs32:57 The Controversy of Song Credits34:05 Creating 'Roar': A Triumph Over Misogyny37:42 Shifts in the Music Industry: A Personal Perspective40:32 Advice for Aspiring SongwritersEdited 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

This week Ari sits down with Simon Tikhman, the co-founder of The Core Entertainment and The Core Records. The Core Entertainment first made waves as an artist management company, guiding the careers of major country stars like Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith. After demonstrated success in management, The Core Entertainment partnered with Universal Music Group to launch The Core Records.During this episode, Simon and Ari discuss the careers of The Core Entertainment’s breakout artists, Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith. Simon explains how both artists achieved success in drastically different ways—Nate landed his record deal at age 36 after grinding for many years in Nashville, while Bailey broke out on TikTok in his early 20s. Simon outlines the value in each of these paths and explains how Nashville treats artists differently if they have found success the traditional way versus through social media. This episode also goes into detail about what the Nashville country music scene looks like today, the nuances between Nashville labels and coastal labels, and the ins and outs of artist management. If you’re curious about how to break as a country artist in 2025, this episode is for you.https://www.instagram.com/thecoreent/Chapters00:00 The Importance of Country Radio04:58 Simon Tikhman's Journey to Artist Management16:19 Building The Core Entertainment and Nashville Connections24:12 Nate Smith's Breakthrough in Country Music33:53 Bailey Zimmerman's Rise as a New Artist35:21 The Rise of Bailey Zimmerman41:10 Navigating the Music Industry44:47 The Importance of Labels in Country Music52:08 The New Paradigm for Country Artists56:51 Social Media's Role in Artist Development01:06:42 Defining Success 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

This week Ari sits down with Marc Caruso, the CEO and co-founder of Angry Mob Music, an independent music publisher based in LA. Aside from being an advocate for independent artists in the publishing world, Marc is a composer, producer, and Emmy-nominated music editor himself. He is also a board member and former President of the LA chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a member of The Recording Academy, and a member of The Motion Picture Editors Guild.In this episode, Marc describes the evolving landscape of music publishing, particularly in the context of our streaming economy. He breaks down essential terms, like ‘music publishing’ itself, ‘copyright’, and ‘royalties’, before diving into the deeper complexities of the publishing world. Marc is incredibly transparent about how the money gets made at his publishing company—giving detailed accounts of how much sync licenses pay these days and what royalties look like for microsyncs on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Rounding out a more global view, Marc and Ari discuss Universal’s deal with Spotify, the MLC’s failed lawsuit against Spotify and what all this means for independent publishers and independent songwriters. https://www.instagram.com/angrymobmusic/Chapters00:00 The Shift from Sales to Streaming Economy04:07 Understanding Music Publishing12:50 The Role of Angry Mob Music16:55 Revenue Streams in Music Publishing21:30 The Importance of Sync Licensing22:00 Sync Fees and Their Variability29:44 Sync in Film and Advertising34:34 Micro Sync and Social Media Platforms39:41 Navigating Music Licensing for Creators45:24 The Complexities of Music Rights on Social Media49:11 The Role of Music Publishers and Advocacy57:02 Inequities in the Music Industry01:10:30 Empowering Independent Artists and PublishersEdited 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

This week Ari sits down with Liz Pelly, a prominent music journalist and author of the new book Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist. Liz’s journalism has appeared in NPR, The Guardian, and Pitchfork among other prestigious publications. Preceded by an exposé in Harper’s Magazine, Pelly’s latest work, Mood Machine, pulls back the curtain on Spotify’s exploitative practices and uncovers how those practices impact artists and listeners. In this episode, Liz gives the low down on research she conducted for the book and explains how Spotify has unfairly conspired with major labels since its launch. As she does in Mood Machine, Liz calls out Spotify’s Perfect Fit Content (PFC) program and explains how its use of ghost artists degrades the integrity of their model for all. Ari and Liz discuss the value of music and how that can differ in the eyes of major corporations and individuals. Whether you’re an artist, label, or listener who uses Spotify, this episode will help you understand the impact Spotify’s model has on your relationship to music.https://www.instagram.com/lizpelly Harper’s article: https://harpers.org/archive/2025/01/the-ghosts-in-the-machine-liz-pelly-spotify-musicians/Chapters00:00 The Inner Workings of Spotify12:48 Ghost Artists and the PFC Program37:50 Spotify's Launch and Major Label Relationships41:26 The Evolution of Streaming Contracts44:14 Valuing Music: A Cultural Perspective49:43 The Impact of Streaming on Music Value56:10 Algorithms and the Personalization of Music01:01:20 The Role of Music in Society01:07:23 Future Solutions for Musicians01:19:38 Defining Success in the New 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

This week Ari sits down with Luis Navarro and Joel Niño Jr. of the duo Twin Tribes. This dark wave band out of Brownsville, TX has been gaining impressive momentum on the gothic scene—and they’re doing it entirely DIY. Twin Tribes releases their music through DistroKid and has over 30 million streams with nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. They have toured the world and managed their growing success completely independently.In this episode, Twin Tribes tells Ari all about how they’ve built their DIY operation from the ground up. They share about how they’ve partnered with record labels to utilize their physical product offerings (CDs, cassette tapes, vinyls, etc) while still maintaining full independence as artists. Luis and Joel also break down the potent visuals behind the Twin Tribes brand and how they developed their aesthetic. This conversation is an inspiring example of how finding your niche and building a DIY community can help catapult your career. https://www.instagram.com/twin_tribes/Chapters00:00 The Genesis of Twin Tribes02:53 Building a DIY Community06:03 The Role of Aesthetics in Music08:51 Discovering the Gothic Scene12:13 The Cassette Era and Initial Releases15:10 Growing Through Live Performances17:58 Transitioning to Full-Time Musicians20:51 Strategic Partnerships and Touring24:04 The Evolution of Their Sound and Success28:21 Navigating DIY Music Partnerships30:42 Building a Digital Strategy for Streaming Success36:24 Creating Ambitious Music Videos44:23 Crafting a Cohesive Aesthetic and Vision50:36 Engaging with Fans and Community53:04 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for Twin TribesEdited 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

This week Ari sits down with Alex Taggart, an expert on the Chinese music market. Alex spent 10 years in China overseeing local strategy for clients such as Dua Lipa, Diplo, Lauv, John Legend and so many more. He now works independently, managing artists through his own company, Isle of Management. Alex’s main focus is bringing globally-minded talent to local audiences worldwide.This conversation gives a comprehensive introduction to the Chinese music industry. Whether you’re well-versed in this market or know virtually nothing about it, you will learn a ton from this episode. Alex highlights various DSPs used in China (i.e. their versions of Spotify/Apple music) and explains the inner workings of Chinese social platforms. If you’re an artist looking to break into China, Alex offers actionable steps to get your music on their radar. In fact, you might already be big in China and not even realize it! Alex shares important info about how to check your music’s traction in China. If you’re interested in booking shows or touring through the country, this episode is for you, too. Enjoy this breakdown of the multifaceted Chinese music market!https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-taggart-music/ Chapters00:00 Collaborating for Success in China01:51 Understanding the Chinese Music Market07:55 Music Consumption and Streaming Platforms in China15:59 Checking Your Traction in China20:38 Revenue Streams for Artists23:57 Monetization in the Chinese Music Industry35:41 Navigating Publishing and Rights Management37:07 Understanding China's Music Publishing Landscape40:01 Navigating the Challenges of Music Rights in China44:27 Exploring Touring Opportunities in China49:50 Strategies for Artists to Break into the Chinese Market54:12 The Role of Competition Shows in Artist Development01:01:19 Leveraging Collaborations for Market Entry01:12:01 Defining Success in the New 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