The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

Ari's Take
  • 4.7 (15)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • EVERY TWO MONTHS

**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. New Global Booking Agency from ATC and Arrival Artists Now Reps 800 Artists

    4 DAYS AGO

    New Global Booking Agency from ATC and Arrival Artists Now Reps 800 Artists

    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.

    1hr 19min
  2. How This UK Indie Label Sold 25K Records For 1 Band First Week

    18 MAR

    How This UK Indie Label Sold 25K Records For 1 Band First Week

    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.

    1hr 2min
  3. This Artist-Run Record Label is Competing with the Majors in a Big Way

    11 MAR

    This Artist-Run Record Label is Competing with the Majors in a Big Way

    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.

    1hr 8min
  4. How SXSW Works For Music

    4 MAR

    How SXSW Works For Music

    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.

    59 min
  5. Artist Managers on Music Videos, Artist Development, Long-term Strategy and True Fandom

    25 FEB

    Artist Managers on Music Videos, Artist Development, Long-term Strategy and True Fandom

    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.

    1hr 5min
  6. Doja Cat's Managers Have It Down

    18 FEB

    Doja Cat's Managers Have It Down

    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.

    1hr 10min
  7. DIY Band Couch on World Tours, Self Managing, and Fan Building

    11 FEB

    DIY Band Couch on World Tours, Self Managing, and Fan Building

    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.

    1hr 35min
  8. Come visit me in 1974 LA

    28 JAN

    Come visit me in 1974 LA

    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.

    29 min
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Trailer

4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

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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