**WEBBY AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC PODCAST** “#1 music industry podcast to help keep you in the loop” -Spotify “The 10 Best Music Business Podcasts of 2022" – Variety Ari Herstand is the best-selling author of How To Make It in the New Music Business. Forbes calls him “The poster child of DIY music.” In this show, he 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. Ari offers straight talk with no fluff and doesn’t let his guests off easy. If there is a way, Ari will find it. To learn more follow @aristake_ and @ariherstand Visit aristake.com to join the newsletter. -- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Laurie Lee Boutet, artist manager at Wednesday Management and manager of the chart-topping Canadian rock band The Beaches. Laurie shares the incredible story behind The Beaches' explosive rise following their breakout sync placement in Off Campus, why viral TikToks aren't enough anymore, and how artists can build lasting careers by creating cultural moments and not just chasing algorithms. Follow Laurie Lee: https://www.instagram.com/laurieleeboutet/ https://www.wednesdaymgmt.com/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 05:21 Why Viral TikToks Don't Work Like They Used To 08:00 The Sync That Changed Everything 12:50 From 18,000 to 1 Million Streams a Day 18:42 TikTok vs. Instagram: Where Artists Should Focus 24:44 Should Indie Artists Skip Music Videos? 28:33 The New Era of Music Marketing 35:19 How to Create True Superfans 43:13 Stop Wasting Money on Content 52:08 The Future of Artist Growth 59:53 Laurie's Biggest Career Lesson Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Andreas Schuller, hit songwriter, producer, and co-founder of music publishing company Honua Music. Andreas has written and produced songs for artists including The Weeknd, Jason Derulo, Madison Beer, and many more, accumulating billions of streams and numerous gold and platinum records. Andreas breaks down how hit songs are actually created, how publishing companies develop songwriters, and why today's music industry is more relationship-driven than ever. He shares the story behind Jason Derulo's smash hit "Wiggle," explains how songwriting camps work, discusses the evolution of professional songwriting, and offers practical advice for aspiring songwriters trying to break into the industry. Follow Andreas Schuller: https://honuamusic.com/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 03:48 - Meet Andreas Schuller: Hitmaker Turned Publisher 12:19 - Music Publishing Explained: How Songwriters Make Money 18:39 - The Story Behind Jason Derulo's "Wiggle" 22:02 - Songwriting Splits, Credits, and Industry Politics 30:37 - How Professional Songwriting Has Changed Since 2010 34:46 - Breaking Into the Music Industry as a Songwriter 39:03 - Originality vs. Trend Chasing: What Actually Works? 49:37 - Building Great Writing Rooms and Finding Creative Chemistry 52:39 - AI, the Future of Music, and What's Next for Songwriters Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with legendary A&R executive, publisher, and educator Pete Ganbarg. With more than three decades in the music industry, Pete has helped shape the careers of artists, songwriters, and hit records across multiple generations. In this conversation, he breaks down how A&R has evolved from the days of artist showcases and long-term development deals to today's algorithm-driven landscape. Pete explains why great A&R is still about connecting great artists with great songs, even as technology and discovery platforms continue to change. Follow Pete Ganbarg: https://substack.com/@peteganbarg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peteganbarg/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 04:21 – The True Role of A&R: What Has Changed and What Hasn't 09:00 – Artist Development vs. Chasing Quick Hits 13:20 – Why Live Performance Still Matters to Labels 16:05 – TikTok Stars, Viral Songs, and Building Careers 20:50 – The Difference Between a Song, an Artist, and a Career 25:55 – How Pete Discovers and Develops Songwriters 30:10 – Michael Pollack's Journey to Writing "Flowers." 35:15 – Songwriting by Committee, Sampling, and Publishing Trends 40:50 – AI, Songwriting, and the Future of Music Creation 48:15 – What Excites Pete Most About the Future of Music 54:07 – What It Means to "Make It" in the New Music Business Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Dee Diaz, Vice President of Marketing at Reach Records. At Indie Week 2026, Dee shares the innovative marketing strategies behind Lecrae’s Reconstruction album campaign, which helped propel the project to a Billboard Top 10 debut. From sending exclusive mailers to the label’s most loyal fans. To building a gamified direct-to-fan platform called The Workshop, Dee reveals how Reach Records prioritized community, superfans, and authentic artist engagement over chasing algorithms. Find Dee Diaz: https://www.instagram.com/deediaz_/ https://www.instagram.com/reachrecords/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 05:06 - Meet Dee Diaz and Reach Records 08:47 - The History of Reach Records and Lecrae 12:31 - Building the Reconstruction Campaign 15:07 - The 1,000 Fan Mailer Strategy 16:19 - Creating The Workshop Fan Community 19:37 - Turning Superfans Into Brand Ambassadors 29:09 - Community Service as Music Marketing 37:39 - The Story Behind “Coming In Hot” 43:29 - Why TikTok Doesn't Convert Like It Used To 46:17 - What It Means to Make It in the New Music Business 47:00 - Audience Q&A Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Nicole Abea, Director of Influencer & UGC Promotions at Hopeless Records. Over the last decade, Nicole has helped evolve Hopeless Records’ marketing strategy from traditional social media campaigns to modern influencer marketing, user-generated content (UGC), and TikTok-driven discovery. Starting as an intern and rising to lead influencer and UGC promotions, Nicole has worked with artists including Scene Queen, THXSoMCH, Neck Deep, Melrose Avenue, Autumn Kings, and more. Nicole pulls back the curtain on how music marketing actually works in 2026. They discuss influencer campaigns, fan accounts, micro-budget marketing strategies, TikTok trends, BookTok, DSP pitching, and how artists can build communities that translate into real fandom. Follow Nicole Abea: https://www.instagram.com/nicolethedesigner/ https://www.instagram.com/hopelessrecords/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 03:57 Nicole Abea on Influencer & UGC Marketing at Hopeless Records 08:44 The Reality of TikTok Seeding, Fan Accounts & Music Promotion 15:20 How to Market a Song with a $2,000 Budget 18:25 BookTok, Online Communities & Finding Your Audience 23:29 What Spotify and DSPs Want from Artists 26:26 Why Record Labels Are Signing Influencers 33:21 Scene Over Genre: How Modern Fandom Has Changed 42:41 How All Time Low's “Dear Maria, Count Me In” Went Viral Again 45:22 Rage Bait, Algorithms & The Future of Music Marketing 51:00 Closing Thoughts Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Molly Neuman, President of CD Baby, one of the largest independent music distributors in the world. Molly has spent decades advocating for independent artists and labels, helping shape the modern music industry through leadership roles at CD Baby, Downtown Music Holdings, and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM). In this conversation, Ari and Molly dive into some of the most pressing issues facing musicians today, including artificial intelligence, streaming fraud, artist compensation, customer support, and the evolving role of music distribution. They discuss whether AI-generated music should exist, how streaming platforms are responding to generative AI, why artists are increasingly being affected by fraudulent streams, and what distributors like CD Baby are doing to protect independent musicians. Molly also shares her perspective on artist ownership, independence, and what success in the music business looks like in 2026. Follow Molly Neuman: https://www.instagram.com/mollydneuman/ https://cdbaby.com/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 03:45 – Molly Neuman's Journey to Becoming CD Baby President 11:32 – Is CD Baby Still Independent? 18:04 – Universal Music's Acquisition & What It Means for Artists 27:41 – The State of Independent Music Distribution in 2026 39:18 – What Artists Get Wrong About Distribution 49:07 – AI Customer Support: Does It Matter if It's Human? 52:11 – Should AI-Generated Music Exist? 1:03:47 – Streaming Fraud, Bot Plays & How Artists Get Penalized 1:12:56 – What "Making It" Really Means in Today's Music Industry Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Adam Gross, the president of Ineffable Records. Adam founded Ineffable Records in 2019 and later became a co-owner of Ineffable Music Group, now Billboard’s top independent reggae label for six consecutive years. Ineffable works with artists such as Stick Figure, Collie Buddz, Protoje, The Elovaters, and O.A.R., and many more. In this episode, they discuss the recent unauthorized viral AI remixes of Stick Figure’s song “Angels Above Me.” At its peak, the unauthorized remix was #2 on the global Shazam charts and reached #1 on several different iTunes charts across Europe. They discuss the legal challenges of unauthorized AI remixes, the ethical considerations, and how the story led to a David Guetta x Alok version surfacing. Adam discusses the operational reality of dealing with this in real time, and how strategy to combat unauthorized AI remixes changes everyday. Follow Adam Gross: https://www.instagram.com/adam.g.r.o.s.s/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgross2018/ Check out Stick Figure: https://stickfigure.com/ https://www.instagram.com/stickfiguremusic/ Chapters 05:07 Navigating Copyright in the Age of AI 10:03 The Bootleg Remix Phenomenon 14:58 The Role of Labels and Distributors 19:59 Ethics and Future of AI in Music 25:07 Navigating Major Label Deals 28:24 The Impact of Viral Trends on Music 30:43 Whack-a-Mole: The Challenge of Unauthorized Remixes 32:30 Collaborating with Major Artists 36:51 Ethics and AI in Music Production 39:35 The Future of Derivative Works 42:36 User-Centric Payment Models in Streaming 50:52 Building Timeless Music and Community Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Joseph Pepin, artist manager, producer manager, and founder of a boutique management company that has helped artists like GoldFord build massive audiences while remaining independent. Joseph has spent nearly two decades in the music industry, working across artist management, producer and songwriter representation, touring, marketing, and fan development. His roster includes artists, producers, and songwriters spanning multiple genres, and he's become known for his innovative approach to audience building, fan data collection, and sustainable artist growth. Follow Joseph Pepin: https://pepin.works/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe_pepin Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 00:06:14 - Intro & How Goldford Broke Through 00:08:56 - Why Most Artists Fail to Keep Their Viral Fans 00:12:28 - Understanding the Marketing Funnel for Musicians 00:16:09 - Social Media Strategy: Hooks vs. Deep Content 00:19:25 - Building a Fanbase Without Chasing Trends 00:39:42 - The B-Side Touring Model vs. Ticketmaster 00:43:09 - Why Artists Need Emails, Phone Numbers & Fan Data 00:47:20 - Goldford’s Viral Growth Strategy Revealed 00:58:57 - Songwriting Camps, Producers & Building Opportunities 01:06:18 - What It Means to Make It in the New Music Business Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud. Eliah breaks down how SoundCloud is evolving beyond streaming into a creator-first platform focused on fan relationships, monetization, and artist discovery. Why “streaming is not enough” for artists, how fan-powered royalties work, the future of direct-to-fan monetization, and why creator tools are becoming more important in the AI era. Eliah also explains SoundCloud’s approach to generative AI music, ethically trained AI models, and why the platform refuses to monetize fully AI-generated songs. Follow Eliah Seton and SoundCloud: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eliahseton/ https://soundcloud.com/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 08:27 - Eliah Seton on the Future of SoundCloud 13:41 - Why “Streaming Is Not Enough” for Artists 18:15 - Fan Monetization, Merch, and Direct-to-Artist Revenue 22:03 - How SoundCloud Helps Artists Get Heard and Build Fans 27:14 - Creator Subscriptions and Fan-Powered Features 31:24 - Wallets, Tipping, and the Future of Fan Transactions 36:01 - AI Tools for Music Creation and Artist Discovery 40:48 - SoundCloud’s Approach to Ethically Trained AI 47:17 - AI Music, Royalties, and Streaming Economics 52:08 - The Future of Human Artistry in the AI Era Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records. Ash shares the story of building one of the most influential independent labels in modern rock and metal, from booking DIY tours in the MySpace era to helping artists break into arenas. During this episode, Ari and Ash dive into artist development, the evolution of touring, music video economics, social media virality, the ethics of tour buy-ons, and why building an artist brand matters more than ever. Ash also opens up about expanding Sumerian into film, the future of entertainment brands, and why he believes music videos deserve a better business model. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumerianrecords/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sumerianrecords Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 04:21 - Ash’s Journey from Touring Musician to Founding Sumerian Records 08:04 - Why Ash Left Booking to Focus Fully on the Label 12:00 - MySpace, TikTok, and How Artists Break Today 17:30 - Scenes, Community, and the Evolution of Heavy Music 22:16 - Artist Development and Getting Bands to Their First 500 Tickets 25:22 - The Ethics and Reality of Tour Buy-Ons 31:49 - Discovering Artists in the Streaming Era 35:15 - Why Music Videos Still Matter 49:00 - Building Sumerian Beyond Music Into Film and Media 56:00 - Ticketing, Industry Frustrations, and What It Means to “Make It” Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Red Leather, the anonymous artist who turned viral TikTok videos into sold-out tours around the world. Known for his signature red hat, Red Leather first started his career by busking on Hollywood Boulevard before exploding online with viral covers and original songs like “The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood.” In this episode, Red Leather breaks down how he used social media to grow his audience from scratch, why he posted 5 videos a day for 100 straight days, how smashing guitars outside Capitol Records landed him a record deal (that he turned down), and why ticket sales matter more than streams or viral moments. He also opens up about sobriety, surviving addiction, touring independently, and eventually partnering with Empire after years of doing everything DIY. Follow Red Leather: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redleather/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redleather Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 00:04:02 - Intro 00:04:36 - The Origin of Red Leather 00:06:39 - Sobriety, Addiction & Artistic Vulnerability 00:10:11 - Posting 5 Videos a Day for 100 Days 00:14:11 - The Viral TikTok That Changed Everything 00:20:00 - Smashing Guitars Outside Capitol Records 00:25:12 - Why He Turned Down Major Label Deals 00:33:28 - Booking Tours Through Instagram DMs 00:47:23 - Virality vs Real Fans & Ticket Sales 01:01:58 - What “Making It” Means Today Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Oskar Med K, a breakout Norwegian EDM producer. Oskar breaks down the "overnight" success that was actually years in the making—from the days of sending 500 cold emails to labels with no response. In this episode, Ari and Oskar talk about the marketing strategies that helped him scale from 40k monthly listeners to 11 million, why "simple" content often outperforms high-production on TikTok, and the surreal feeling of playing Coachella as his first-ever music festival. https://www.instagram.com/_oskarmedk/ 03:54 – Intro: The Release of Oskar’s Debut Album Feel 05:24 – Albums vs. Singles: Building a Body of Work in the Streaming Era 09:12 – The Remix Story: How Khalid Ended Up on a Remix 12:52 – Behind the Tracks: Songwriting and Collaborating Remotely 17:19 – The Early Grind: From iPad Beats to Music School in Norway 19:00 – From 0 to 1: The "Hustle" of Emailing 500 Record Labels 20:17 – Breaking Through: Finding the Right Label via LabelRadar 25:12 – Marketing Strategy: Simple Content vs. High-Production TikToks 33:42 – Moving to the Stage: Transitioning from Studio Producer to Live Act 40:40 – The Coachella Milestone: Playing Your First-Ever Festival 44:29 – The Future of Music: Addressing the AI Debate and "Making It" Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ethan Berlin and Skully Kaplan of ROAM Artists for an inside look at the realities of booking and touring in today’s music industry. They unpack how booking agencies build and manage their rosters, what it really takes to develop artists on the road, and how deals—from guarantees to ticket splits—actually come together. If you’re an artist planning your next tour or trying to understand the live side of the business, this episode gives a clear, candid breakdown of how it all works. https://www.instagram.com/roam.artists/ https://roamartists.com/ Chapters 05:03 – Intro & ROAM Agency Origin Story 08:26 – From Partnership to Global Agency 11:32 – Why Artists Need Different Agents by Region 14:59 – Breaking Into International Markets (Asia & Beyond) 19:52 – Why Artists Blow Up in Some Countries First 25:20 – Genre & Market Differences Worldwide 34:48 – The Real Cost of Touring Today 40:16 – How Artists Cut Costs on Tour 44:48 – How Artists Actually Make Money Touring 48:16 – Tour Deals & Promoter Strategy Explained 52:11 – Marketing Tours & Selling Tickets Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Mark Orr, the founder of Lab Records, to explore how independent labels are evolving in today’s music industry. From deal structures and artist ownership to marketing strategies and physical releases, Mark shares a transparent look into how his label has operated and adapted over nearly two decades. They dive into how indie deals have shifted to become more artist-friendly, how Lab approaches partnerships like distribution with ADA, and why physical products like vinyl and limited editions are more important now than ever. Mark also breaks down how to build a lean team, when to outsource, and how to create meaningful fan engagement in a crowded digital landscape. Whether you’re on the artist or label side of the business, you won’t want to miss this episode. https://www.instagram.com/labrecords https://labrecs.com/ Chapters 00:00 - Lab Records Origin 05:00 - Building a Lean Team 09:25 - Streaming & Fan Engagement 13:23 - Pitching Artists vs Majors 16:07 - Modern Deal Structures 21:19 - Artist Power Shift 26:19 - Marketing in 2020s 31:42 - Physical Sales Comeback 36:21 - Touring Builds Fanbase 45:50 - Tools, Teams, Future Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Michael Turner, founder of the disruptive record label Rebellion. Turner shares how he’s building a modern music company by leveraging viral marketing, short-form video, and niche communities to help independent artists break through without relying on traditional gatekeepers. In this episode, Turner breaks down how viral hits are engineered through tastemaker networks and micro-influencers, how artists track fan conversion across platforms, and why touring and deal structures are evolving outside the traditional label system. They also discuss royalties, distribution, and AI-generated music—and why Turner believes we’re entering a golden era for those independent artists willing to adapt. https://www.instagram.com/iamplvtinum/ https://www.instagram.com/rebellionrecordsnyc/ Chapters 00:00 - From Artist to Rebellion Founder 05:48 - Early Spotify Virality & Indie Strategy 08:17 - From Algorithms to TikTok Discovery 13:32 - Engineering Viral Campaigns 18:38 - Metrics That Matter Beyond Streams 21:36 - Turning Virality Into Ticket Sales 24:13 - New Touring Models for Indie Artists 34:04 - Building the Modern Indie Ecosystem 43:01 - AI’s Impact on the Music Industry 48:32 - Signing Artists in the Indie Era Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Brian Hobbs and Dev Sherlock from South by Southwest (SXSW). Brian, VP of Music, has been at SXSW since 2012, helping shape the festival’s music programming and expand its sound, especially in hip hop and global scenes. Dev is the Director of Music at the festival. He plays a key role in building the lineup and working directly with artists, managers, and industry teams navigating the SXSW landscape. In this episode, we break down what SXSW actually is, and whether it makes sense for you and your career. Dev and Brian discuss how this year is massively different than years past, what the real purpose of “South By” is, and how to approach it with a smart strategy (instead of just showing up and hoping for the best). We get real about networking—what that actually looks like at SXSW—and how artists, managers, and other industry folks can make the most of their experience. For those thinking about applying to official showcases, Brian and Dev walk through the submission process, and what their team is really looking for when they book artists. If you’re going to SXSW (or even thinking about it) listen to this episode first. https://sxsw.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hobbs-155759164/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to South by Southwest 02:14 Changes in the Festival Structure 05:43 The Overlap of Music and Tech 08:46 The Role of Live Music Discovery 11:22 Business Opportunities at South by Southwest 19:05 Navigating Official and Unofficial Showcases 23:18 Monetizing Opportunities for Artists 27:58 The Global Impact of the Irish Diaspora 29:48 Travel Concerns for International Artists 30:41 Booking Artists for South by Southwest 34:55 The Application Process Explained 37:57 The Fluid Nature of Artist Bookings 41:42 Understanding Compensation Models 43:52 The Conference Experience at South by Southwest 45:52 Networking Tips for Artists 50:57 Defining Success in the Music Industry Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business, Ari sits down with powerhouse managers Gordan Dillard and Josh Kaplan, the team behind global superstar Doja Cat. Together, they break down how they helped build one of the most influential, multi-hyphenate artists of the decade. Gordan and Josh share early viral moments of Doja Cat's diversified empire spanning music, brand partnerships, and new business ventures. Other topics discussed here include: how features really work, how producers differ from beatmakers, what modern record deals look like at the highest level, and why short-form content has completely reshaped the career-building playbook. Gordan and Josh offer candid, unfiltered advice for emerging artists and managers on finding the right partnership, building a fanbase from scratch, and creating leverage in today’s industry. https://www.instagram.com/dojacat/ https://www.agood-day.com/ 04:16 – Why Good Day Management only represents one artist 07:19 – Diversifying Doja Cat’s revenue beyond music 10:18 – How Gordon & Josh first joined Doja’s team 15:40 – The “Juicy” era and early visual strategy 17:31 – Doja Cat’s rise during the pandemic 20:42 – Long-form videos vs short-form content today 24:54 – Balancing artists’ vision with budget and label support 29:10 – How label deals and funding have evolved 36:28 – How features actually get made (creatively & financially) 44:25 – Beatmakers vs producers: what’s the difference? 48:37 – Why songs sometimes have 7 writers & 6 producers 58:54 – Advice for emerging artists & managers today 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Tema Siegel and Zach Blankstein of the band Couch. Tema is the singer and Zach is the guitarist/manager of this seven-piece soul-pop band from Boston. Their explosive live shows and fully DIY approach have helped them sell out major venues across the country. Formed from lifelong friendships and built during the pandemic, Couch has grown into a globally touring act while self-producing their acclaimed debut album 'Big Talk'. In this episode, Tema and Zach break down how they built an engaged fanbase without label support, the logistics of touring as a seven-member group, and the creative and vulnerable writing process behind 'Big Talk'. Ari dives into their ad strategy, their partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator, how they secured major support tours with Lake Street Dive and Cory Wong, and what it takes to balance musicianship, management, and sustainable growth as an independent band in 2025. http://instagram.com/couch.theband 07:16 – Adding the seventh member & early chemistry 09:15 – Touring as an introvert and finding group balance 12:19 – Managing a 12-person touring party 16:34 – How fans are reacting to the new songs live 18:22 – How the band uses VIP sections to build superfans 19:40 – Collaborative songwriting process & Temma’s Notes app 22:19 – “Middleman” and the band’s unexpected EDM influence 26:22 – Self-producing the entire album & working with mixers 27:15 – Living in Boston and breaking out beyond the local scene 32:56 – Growing during the pandemic while in separate cities 36:32 – Early viral video & their online strategy 40:07 – How Couch finances the band with day jobs 41:24 – Why Zach became their in-house manager 55:52 – Opening for Cory Wong & Lake Street Dive 58:44 – Deep dive into their ad strategy 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari hops on for a solo episode to talk about Brassroots District —a decade-long passion project fusing immersive theater, hard-grooving funk, and 1970s world-building. He shares how the project grew from DIY LA shows into a scripted parking-lot production during COVID, and how it’s finally taking over a premier LA venue. If you're in LA, come catch Brassroots District LA ’74 , opening February 7th at Catch One in Koreatown. Check out the trailer and grab your tickets here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings supplied by Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed July 30, 2026.
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