The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Charlie Stent of Stent Music Group to discuss what it takes to build a successful career in today’s music industry. From artist management and branding to fan communities, social media strategy, and release campaigns, Charlie shares the lessons he’s learned from years of working with independent artists. Charlie Stent: https://www.instagram.com/stentmusicgroup https://www.stentmusicgroup.com/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 07:18 – Charlie's Journey Into Music Management 11:08 – Why Artists and Managers Should Be Partners 17:04 – Building an Independent Artist's Career 19:02 – Artist Branding: Finding Your Identity 23:32 – Building a Dedicated Fan Community 30:28 – Why You Can't Manufacture a Viral Moment 34:32 – Pre-Saves, Playlists, and Release Strategy 40:55 – Burner Accounts, Sleeper Accounts, and Music Marketing 48:51 – AI in Music: The Great Equalizer? 57:46 – Distribution, Label Services, and Building an In-House Team 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 Chris Farren, Grammy-nominated songwriter and founder of Combustion Music, a Nashville-based music publishing and artist development company responsible for more than 100 number-one hits. Chris shares decades of experience navigating the music business, from writing hit songs to building a publishing company and developing artists. Ari and Chris break down how professional songwriters get signed, how songwriting rooms work, how publishing deals and advances are structured, and how songwriters earn royalties. Follow Chris Farren: https://www.instagram.com/combustionmusic/ https://www.combustionmusic.com/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 05:54 - Building a music publishing company and developing artists 15:32 - How music publishers pay songwriters 26:07 - Songwriting as a craft: practice, productivity, and getting better 28:16 - Teaching songwriters to write for the market without sacrificing creativity 30:44 - Writing songs for specific artists 32:00 - How artists' involvement in songwriting has changed 37:58 - How songwriting rooms work 39:15 - Pitching songs and getting them to artists 57:51 - Music catalogs and the renewed life of older songs 58:37 - Advice for aspiring professional 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 Joe Lim, founder and CEO of Floodify, a marketing technology company that has distributed over 2 million short-form videos for major labels including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. Joe pulls back the curtain on the rapidly evolving world of music marketing, explaining how burner accounts, clipping networks, AI-generated content, fan pages, influencer campaigns, and algorithm-driven distribution are shaping the careers of artists today. We explore the ethics behind these tactics, the concept of the “dead internet,” how major labels and marketers use social media at scale, and what independent artists can learn from these strategies. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelimmmmm Floodify: https://www.floodify.io/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 04:42 – Welcome & State of Modern Music Marketing 07:06 – Why Music Marketing is Behind Other Industries 08:42 – What Are Burners, Fan Pages, and Clipping? 13:29 – Commercialized Clipping & Platforms Like WHOP 17:19 – Phone Farms and Managing Accounts at Scale 21:21 – Using AI to Find and Generate Viral Clips 29:56 – Modern Marketing Strategies for Independent Artists 31:19 – The Evolution of Floodify (Floodify 2.0) 40:41 – Dead Internet Theory, Bots, and Comment Farming 44:25 – Is Authenticity Dead? Playing the Game to Make a Career 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 Toni Nelson, artist manager, business manager, and co-founder of 1990 Records. Toni Nelson is an artist manager and co-founder of 1990 Records with a background in retail fashion and mental health clinical work. Combining expertise in behavioral science with music industry operations, Nelson specializes in sustainable artist development, data analytics, and guiding independent artists like Adrian Daniel, to build long-term, monetizable careers while protecting their intellectual property. Follow Toni Nelson: https://www.instagram.com/1990records19/ https://1990records.org/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 04:01 - What it Means to Build a Creative & Fan Community 09:00 - Protecting IP & Using Split Sheets in the Studio 13:14 - Navigating Producer Credits, Writer Splits & Work for Hire 18:18 - Release Strategies & Tracking Data with Music Analytics 23:27 - How Independent Artists Can Monetize Their Audience 27:38 - Staying Independent vs. Label Licensing Deals 32:45 - When is an Emerging Artist Ready to Tour? 36:22 - Case Study: Developing Adrian Daniel's Career 43:17 - Mental Health & What It Means to Make It in Music 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 Alexis Lanternier, the CEO of global music streaming platform Deezer. Together, they break down the massive influx of AI-generated music flooding streaming services, Deezer’s pioneering efforts in AI detection and fraud removal, and the future of fair artist payouts through user-centric royalty systems. Follow Alexis Lanternier: https://www.instagram.com/deezer/ https://www.deezer.com/us/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 05:45 - The Reality of AI Music Flooding Streaming Services 10:23 - How Deezer Detects Streaming Fraud & Purges AI Bots 13:42 - Tagging AI Music & Algorithmic Recommendation Rules 18:32 - Generative AI: Creative Assistive Tool vs. Fully AI Music 24:40 - In-App Fan Remix Tools & Licensing Fair Payouts 33:36 - The Flaw in Market-Centric Payouts vs. User-Centric Payouts 42:15 - Major Label Licensing Deals & Independent Artist Royalty Rates 50:37 - Powering Winamp & What It Means to "Make It" in Music 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 Patrick Laird, cellist and co-founder of the classical cover duo, Brooklyn Duo. Patrick breaks down how he and his wife built a music career without traditional touring. He discusses their journey from viral YouTube videos to building an evergreen passive income model, navigating revenue streams across Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube, the intricacies of sheet music publishing, catalog acquisition offers, and why creating utility-based music enabled the creative freedom to pursue personal projects. Follow Patrick Laird: https://www.patricklaird.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brooklynduo/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 03:55 - Brooklyn Duo’s Origins & Moving Beyond Classical 07:16 - Early Viral Success & Going Full Time 12:50 - Monetization: Pandora, YouTube, and SoundExchange 22:20 - Sheet Music Licensing & Publishing via Musicnotes 30:20 - Arranging Process & Delegation Between Patrick & Marnie 38:50 - Strategic Pivot to High Production Location Videos 52:45 - Building an Evergreen "Utility" Model for Streaming 58:30 - Retaining Masters & Rejecting Catalog Buyouts 01:10:20 - 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 Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jared Benjamin. Jared broke down how he went from picking up a guitar during the pandemic to earning over 100 million streams, selling out headline tours, and building an intensely loyal community across TikTok and Discord. They discuss his creation process, content strategy, delegating production, leveraging pre-save ad campaigns, and releasing his debut album, Icarus Too Close to the Sun . Follow Jared Benjamin: https://www.instagram.com/jaredbenjaminofficial/ http://tiktok.com/@jaredbenjaminofficial Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 4:05 Interview Begins: Welcome & Icarus Debut Album Announcement 5:06 Transitioning from Fast Singles to a Cohesive Debut Album 9:43 Early Short-Form Visual Strategy & Writing Skits 17:25 Lessons from Bad Industry Deals & Going DIY 20:15 Learning Production on YouTube & Collaborating with Producers 25:20 Writing "Three Steps Ahead" at AntiSocial Writing Camp 28:35 Building a Social Following & Meeting His Manager 32:50 The Daily Grind: Posting 2 to 4 Videos a Day & Managing Burnout 35:55 First Headline Tour Experiences: From Empty Rooms to Sold-Out Venues 41:59 Managing Online Communities: Grouped vs. Discord Strategy 50:20 Tapping into BookTok & Author Playlist Marketing 01:01:35 Leveraging Feature.fm Pre-Save Ads to Funnel Fans into Discord 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 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.