The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

Ari's Take
  • 4.6 (11)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY
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. Can The Music Industry Be a Safe Place?

    18 DEC

    Can The Music Industry Be a Safe Place?

    This week Ari sits down with Katie Tucker, a double-platinum songwriter, vocal producer, studio owner, and the visionary behind Sharp Edges Records with its accompanying recording studio. As a songwriter, Katie has crafted hit songs for renowned artists like Namie Amuro, BoA, and Jota Quest. She has amassed millions of streams as a recording artist and her music has been featured on major platforms including ABC, USA, VH1, Fox, Disney, Peacock, and Hulu. A defining moment in her career came with "Do It For Love," featured on Namie Amuro's album Finally, cementing her status as a double-platinum songwriter. These days, however, Katie spends most of her time in advocacy and running Sharp Edges Records. One of the main reasons Katie started her record label/studio was to create a safe space for her clients within the industry. Katie started No Creeps!, an event and movement advocating for mental health, safety, and inclusivity in the music industry as a further expression of her advocacy. This conversation goes deep into safety and inclusion in music and recording. In this conversation, Katie offers tangible resources for how we can all participate in making this industry a safer and more supportive place for everyone.  Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiesharpedges/ Women In Music Safe(r) Spaces Resource Directory: https://www.womeninmusic.org/saferspaces No Creeps! Digital Resource Zine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uk87S0hmxSsHaEXCTieSuz3AiwcaKs-x/view?usp=drivesdk Chapters: 00:00 Creating Safe Spaces in the Music Industry 03:08 The Journey to Sharp Edges Records 05:56 The Importance of Vulnerability in Music Creation 09:06 Navigating Safety and Inclusivity in Recording Studios 11:52 Concrete Steps for a Safer Music Environment 15:11 Understanding the Spectrum of Safety Concerns 18:00 Educating for Change: The Role of Communication 20:50 Empowering Artists Through Advocacy 30:20 Addressing Abuse of Power in the Music Industry 32:11 The No Creeps! Initiative: Creating Safe Spaces 36:19 Empowering Voices: Sharing Experiences and Education 41:11 The Importance of Allyship and Advocacy 46:24 Navigating Imperfection: Learning from Experiences 52:35 Resources for Safety and Support in the Industry 56:21 Redefining 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.

    1 hr
  2. Selling out Clubs With Very Few Followers? This DIY Band Is Making It Happen.

    11 DEC

    Selling out Clubs With Very Few Followers? This DIY Band Is Making It Happen.

    This week, Ari is joined by the band DOUBLECAMP to discuss how they built such a successful independent career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  3. How Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" Made History and Became the Biggest Song in the World

    4 DEC

    How Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" Made History and Became the Biggest Song in the World

    This week Ari sits down with Heather Vassar, the Senior Vice President at EMPIRE—a fully independent record label, publishing company, and distributor. Heather’s career began at Universal Music Group Nashville, where she developed digital strategy for renowned artists such as George Strait, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban. In 2019, Heather joined EMPIRE where she now plays a pivotal role in operations, marketing, and strategy for a diverse roster of artists including Shaboozey, Wyatt Flores, Niko Moon, Sophia Scott, Don Louis, Reyna Roberts, Tenille Arts, and Randy Houser. Heather and Ari discuss the incredible success of Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” which has been number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 19 weeks straight—the longest any song has held that position. Heather reveals how this hit (released on an indie label) became the biggest song in the world and how they have sustained its momentum. She shares the entire journey from signing Shaboozey, to putting out his initial singles, releasing his album, collaborating with Beyonce, all the way to his massive global success today. Thanks to her extensive experience at both major and independent labels, Heather has sharp insights to share about deal structures, ownership models, artist development, and how the industry has shifted (in the majors and the indies) over the last five years, all of which you’ll hear about in this episode. https://www.instagram.com/hvassar/ 00:00 The Hustle Behind Success 02:49 Empire Records: A New Era in Music 06:07 Shaboozey’s Journey to Stardom 09:12 Navigating the Independent Label Landscape 12:01 The Creative Process: From Songwriting to Release 14:50 Breaking Through: The Success of “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” 18:07 The Role of Radio in Today's Music Industry 20:49 Building a Fanbase: The Digital Approach 24:02 The Importance of Flexibility in Music Releases 33:56 Navigating Legalities in Music Production 39:08 Strategic Album Rollout and Market Timing 45:51 Building a Global Music Infrastructure 50:02 Maintaining Momentum After a Hit Release 55:04 Balancing Art and Market Trends 01:00:10 Educating Artists in the Digital Age 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 7m
  4. An Iranian Refugee Became a Hit Producer and Now Finds Humanity with Global Collabs

    27 NOV

    An Iranian Refugee Became a Hit Producer and 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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4.6
out of 5
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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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