#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation Podcast byta.com

Nancy Lu is a seasoned publicist & founder of the New York based PR firm, Fancy PR. She discusses her unconventional journey from healthcare and tech into the music industry. Nancy shares insights into the evolving role of PR, emphasizing its shift towards being a content facilitator amidst the fragmented media landscape. She highlights the importance of personal connections with artists and the creative challenges of navigating the music PR world, stressing the need for diversity and accessibility in the industry.

Emily White is a best-selling author and award-winning podcaster. She shares her journey from Wisconsin to New York, highlighting the significance of her education and internships in shaping her music industry career. She discusses the practical experiences gained through various internships, emphasizing the importance of building a network and learning on the job. Emily also talks about her work as a music manager, author, and advocate, providing valuable insights for aspiring music professionals.

Roman Rappak is not only the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Ristband but is also an active, touring musician. Rappak's talks about his journey from being a touring musician to co-founding Ristband, a company that merges music with gaming, AI, and VR technologies. He discussed the challenges faced by musicians in the evolving music industry and how Ristband aims to create new revenue streams by integrating music into the gaming world. Additionally, Rappak emphasizes the importance of artists embracing new technologies and exploring innovative ways to connect with audiences and sustain their careers.

Brian “Z” Zisook is the Co-Founder & SVP of Operations & Artist Services at Audiomack. This conversation goes deep into how to operate as an up-and-coming creator/artist/musician. There are many tools out there to help you succeed. Brian has years of experience mentoring thousands of artists and his advice is top-drawer. His first piece of advice: Always come off as organized.

Simon Pursehouse is the Global Director of Music Services at Sentric Music, an “industry challenging” music publisher. Simon has been an integral part of Sentric since the company’s infancy. He oversaw the signing of Sentric’s first artist in 2006 and today they work with a community of over 400,000 songwriters. Simon’s number one priority is that artists get the most out of their publishing. He has been featured in Music Week's ‘30 Under 30’ list and regularly speaks at music conferences around the world.

Lara Baker is the General Manager at FUGA for the UK and Ireland.
Named in Billboard's International Power Players in 2022, Lara’s passions lie in improving diversity, gender balance and inclusivity in the music business. Lara talks about making her way into the music ecosystem from a showbiz family and Music Business school. Most recently she joined FUGA, before that she was with the music publisher, Songtrust as Director of Business Development. This episode looks at the music ecosystem from many angles, including Lara's attempts to even out the scales when it came to representation.