The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

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The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

**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.

  1. An Iranian Refugee Became a Hit Producer Now Finds Humanity with Global Collabs

    10 HR AGO

    An Iranian Refugee Became a Hit Producer Now Finds Humanity with Global Collabs

    This week Ari sits down with AFSHEEN, an electronic artist, producer, songwriter, and DJ. Initially, AFSHEEN became well-known for producing music by Madonna, Janet Jackson, Selena Gomez, Chris Brown, Sia and other big-name artists. AFSHEEN was nominated for a Latin Grammy for his work on Natalia Jiménez's album Creo en Mi. He wrote "All We Have Is Love" with Sabrina Carpenter, wrote and produced "Sunny Days" with Armin van Buuren and Toby Gad, and has worked with other notable artists like Rebecca Ferguson and Lindsay Stirling. A song AFSHEEN wrote for Korean artist Taeyeon reached number one on the K-Pop Billboard charts for two consecutive weeks.  AFSHEEN has had an incredibly successful career as a songwriter/producer, but he also recently released a new album, SMALL WORLD, under his namesake solo project. An Iranian refugee himself, AFSHEEN worked with artists from all over the world to bring this record to life. SMALL WORLD features prominent artists from Indian, Romania, Jamaica, Japan, Amsterdam, and beyond.  AFSHEEN talks with Ari about transitioning from being the go-to producer/songwriter for superstars into being a self-released artist who releases his own music through DistroKid. AFSHEEN is also starting his own label, SOUNDISH. He shares insights about the process of building a label and his vision for the label’s future. https://www.instagram.com/afsheenmusic/ 00:00 Exploring Global Sounds: AFSHEEN’s Journey 09:55 The Power of Collaboration: Building a Diverse Album 20:07 Cultural Roots and Personal Stories: Music as a Reflection 30:03 The Indie Artist Journey: From Producer to Self-Released 32:00 Vision for the SOUNDISH label: A New Era in Music Production 38:24 Transitioning from Behind the Scenes to Artist 42:46 Expanding Global Reach through Collaboration 51:22 Breaking into the Music Industry 01:02:08 Defining Success in the New Music Business Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    1h 5m
  2. Noga Erez on her Major Label Debut Album and Dealing With Hate

    6 NOV

    Noga Erez on her Major Label Debut Album and Dealing With Hate

    This week Ari sits down with alt-pop singer, rapper & multi-hyphenate, Noga Erez. Her breakout album Off The Radar earned worldwide acclaim and her sophomore project KIDS brought even greater success. She recently released a new record THE VANDALIST, which has further cemented her place as a one-of-a-kind artist of the modern era.  Noga Erez has garnered fans across the world, including superstars like Billie Eilish, Missy Elliott (who Noga collaborated with on her 2022 single “Nails”), Gal Gadot, and Finneas. She has sold out the Bowery Ballroom in NY, El Rey Theatre in LA, and Menora Arena in Tel Aviv on her headlining tours. Erez has performed at Bonnaroo, Primavera Sound, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, and has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as well as The Kelly Clarkson Show. In this episode, Ari and Noga talk about the creation process and the craft of songwriting. They also delve into themes from her latest record, including: how social media has affected society and the ways releasing music has changed in recent years. THE VANDALIST is Noga’s first record on a major label, so she shares details of what that experience has been like for her. Noga also talks about what it means to be an Israeli artist in a larger global context, and how that has impacted her life and work. https://www.nogaerez.com/ 00:00 The Meaning of Music in Life 01:05 Introducing Noga Erez and Her New Album 02:42 Navigating the Music Industry Chaos 03:36 Being an Israeli Artist in Today's World 04:36 The Creation Process of 'THE VANDLIST' 06:31 Collaborating with Real Musicians 11:35 Exploring Themes of PC Culture in Music 16:55 The Impact of Social Media on Society 24:41 The Sad Generation and Its Challenges 30:00 The Role of Music in Finding Purpose 34:43 Songwriting Process and Collaboration 37:26 The Creative Process Behind Songwriting 42:07 Navigating Major Label Dynamics 46:40 The Impact of Social Media on Artists 55:18 The Challenges of Being an Israeli Artist 01:10:48 Defining Success in the New Music Business Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    1h 12m
  3. How Partisan Records Markets Artists

    30 OCT

    How Partisan Records Markets Artists

    This week Ari sits down with Zena White, the chief operating officer at Partisan Records. Partisan is an internationally renowned independent record label headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. Zena has overseen global strategy for #1 charting, Grammy-nominated, Mercury Prize-winning album campaigns across Partisan’s diverse roster that includes IDLES, PJ Harvey, Cigarettes After Sex, Blondshell, the Fela Kuti estate and many more. Zena is also on the board of organizations like World Independent Network, A2IM, RIAA, and is a Recording Academy Member. Prior to Partisan, Zena was Managing Director at The Other Hand marketing services company in London, where she worked with artists such as Run The Jewels, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley, and more. Zena tells Ari about ORCA (Organization for Recorded Culture and Arts) a nonprofit she’s involved with that uses research to demonstrate the economic, social, and cultural value of music. Then later, she takes us behind the scenes of Partisan Records, explaining where they spend their marketing money, how much they spend, and more. Ari and Zena discuss ‘old-school’ marketing tactics like radio, PR, print media, digital and TV, and Zena sheds light on how artists get on Late Night shows… along with how much that costs. Yep—it costs. Ari and Zena also dive deep into the world of ‘new media’ and discuss how Partisan spends its money in the new age of social media. Tune in to hear stories about how Cigarettes After Sex got off the ground and to get a glimpse into the inner workings of indie labels! https://partisanrecords.com/  https://www.orcaformusic.com/ 00:00 Investing in Artists: The New Music Business 04:48 Inside Partisan Records: A Label's Journey 10:00 Cigarettes After Sex: A Case Study in Success 24:42 The Balance of Data and Creativity in A&R 34:06 Marketing Strategies for Independent Artists 40:50 The Evolving Landscape of Music Marketing 46:28 Public Relations and Its Impact on Artist Development 52:13 Navigating Television Appearances and Their Costs 55:30 The Role of Local Press in Ticket Sales 01:02:26 Influencer Marketing and New Media Strategies 01:08:58 The Formation and Purpose of Orca 01:19:05 Defining Success in the New Music Business Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    1h 20m
  4. Billboard Exec on Linkin Park and the state of Music Journalism

    23 OCT

    Billboard Exec on Linkin Park and the state of Music Journalism

    This week, Ari is joined by Jason Lipshutz, the Executive Director of Music at Billboard. Jason has written about music for over a decade and has penned cover stories on Taylor Swift, U2, Blink-182, Lorde, Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons, among many others. He was formerly a deputy editor at Fuse Media and has contributed to VIBE, The Hollywood Reporter, Spinner, and Popjustice. Jason recently released a book about Linkin Park called It Starts With One. In this illuminating interview, Jason shares his perspective on the state of music journalism, how he approaches conducting interviews, who decides what gets reviewed and who goes on the cover at major music publications. Ari and Jason also trade stories about their experiences with publicists and managers trying to squash stories to protect client images. If you're interested in the inner workings of the music journalism industry, this episode is for you! Check out Jason’s new audiobook: https://aristake.io/ul1wx7  00:00 The Balance of Music Journalism 03:10 Writing a Book vs. Cover Stories 05:56 The Evolution of Linkin Park 13:02 The Art of Interviewing Artists 18:09 The Changing Landscape of Music Journalism 29:19 Navigating the Pressures of Music Journalism 36:05 The Editorial Process at Billboard 41:44 Balancing Traffic and Storytelling 45:04 Personal Fandom in Journalism 48:14 Writing a Book on Linkin Park 56:33 Championing Creativity in the Music Industry Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    58 min
  5. Managing Hit Songwriters and Producers

    16 OCT

    Managing Hit Songwriters and Producers

    This week Ari sits down with Lucas Keller, the Founder & President of Milk & Honey, an entertainment management company that represents some of the world’s biggest songwriters, artists, and producers. Established in 2014, Milk & Honey is a hybrid agency that works in both the music and sports industries and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Dallas and London. On the music side, Milk & Honey represents world-class creators including the writers behind Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” BTS’s “Butter,” Justin Beiber/Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” and many other international hits. Lucas and Ari talk about the state of music publishing and go deep into the ethics of royalties and producer points. Lucas explains how publishing and record deals work these days and gives his inside scoop on major catalog sales. Lucas also shares Milk & Honey’s process for setting up hit songwriting sessions. If you’re a songwriter, artist, producer, or anyone in the industry who wants to learn more about the ins and outs of music publishing, this episode is for you.  https://www.milkhoneyla.com/ 00:00 The Art of Songwriting: A Daily Grind 04:51 Understanding Music Publishing Terminology 10:04 The Financial Landscape for Songwriters 15:11 The Impact of Collaboration on Songwriting 19:50 Navigating the Complexities of Publishing and Royalties 24:52 The Future of Songwriting: Challenges and Opportunities 26:20 The Evolution of Songwriting and Collaboration 34:04 Understanding Publishing Deals in Today's Market 48:07 The Growing Importance of Catalog Sales 51:56 Defining Success in the New Music Business Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    53 min
  6. John Summit on Collaboration, His New Record Label and Advice to Aspiring DJ/Producers

    2 OCT

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

    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 Scene 06:07 Creating an Album vs Singles 08:59 Staying Inspired Creatively 12:12 The Evolution of Live Performances 14:53 Navigating the Pandemic: A Turning Point 17:47 The Power of Persistence 24:00 Collaborating Remotely 33:16 Designing Arena Shows vs Festival Shows vs Clubs 38:46 Behind The Curtain of Experts Only Label 47:20 Experts Only Party Nights and Community Building 51:14 Marketing Support for Artists on Experts Only 53:04 Advice for Aspiring DJ/Producers Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    1h 3m
  7. How Sub Pop Records Develops and Funds Artists

    18 SEPT

    How Sub Pop Records Develops and Funds Artists

    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/orca 00:00 Understanding the New Music Business 05:26 The Formation of ORCA and Its Goals 10:16 The Importance of Transparency in the Music Industry 16:07 The Challenges Facing Independent Artists 22:42 The Role of Indie Labels in Artist Development 33:56 Artist Development Strategies at Sub Pop 42:58 Investments in Emerging Artists 51:15 Revenue Streams and Financial Models 01:00:19 Marketing and Tour Support Budgets 01:10:36 Trends in Physical vs. Digital Sales 01:17:26 Mutually Beneficial Artist-Label Relationships Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    1h 27m
  8. Paying To Get on Spotify Playlists Legally?

    11 SEPT

    Paying To Get on Spotify Playlists Legally?

    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 ARISTAKE Website: Groover.co  Variety Article (Streaming Fraud): https://variety.com/2024/music/news/spotify-artists-streaming-fraud-1235965379/  00:00 Artists' Goals and Varying Needs 01:18 Introduction to Groover 02:08 Streaming Fraud and Shady Companies 03:35 The Ecosystem of Playlist Curators 05:28 What is Groover? 09:41 Evolution of Playlists and Curators 12:26 Starting Groover in California 13:21 The Rise of Playlists 14:17 Types of Playlists on Spotify 17:05 Groover's Focus on User-Generated Playlists 18:28 The Impact of Playlists on Artists' Careers 19:26 Nourishing Different Types of Playlists 22:38 Pitching Songs to Playlist Curators on Groover 26:53 Paying for Consideration, Not Placement 28:21 The Streaming Fraud Issue 35:42 Verifying Legitimacy of Playlists 40:26 Factors Affecting Success on Groover 44:46 Defining Success in the New Music Business 50:42 Tailoring Music to Please Curators 56:26 Quality vs. Tailoring in Groover Campaigns 01:05:39 Varied Results on Groover 01:09:18 Finding Your Own Pace in the Music Business Edited and mixed by Ari Davids 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.

    1h 21m
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About

**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.

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