The Music Business Buddy

Jonny Amos
  • 3.2 (9)
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  • Updated Weekly

The Music Business Buddy is a podcast about the future of music careers. Each episode explores how artists and creators are navigating today’s evolving music industry — from AI and streaming to publishing, sync licensing, branding and fan growth. Featuring conversations with music executives, creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators, the show offers practical insights into how the modern music business really works. The Music Business Buddy is hosted by award winning UK based music professional Jonny Amos. Author of The Music Business For Music Creators (Routledge, 2024), Jonny is a music industry consultant, artist manager, producer and educator.  Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email jonnyamos@me.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.riverside.com

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 115: The Future of Music Supervision - Sync, Streaming, TikTok and AI

    This episode delves deeply into the evolving role of music supervision, exploring its historical context, current challenges, and future trends. Jonny Amos discusses the dual nature of music supervisors as both creative and business-oriented professionals, the impact of social media and AI on music discovery, and the increasing importance of independent artists in the sync landscape. The discussion also highlights the rise of production music and the need for music supervisors to act as cultural tastemakers in a rapidly changing media environment. Keywords music supervision, future of music, music licensing, AI in music, social media impact, independent artists, sync placements, production music, cultural tastemakers, music industry Key Topics History and role of music supervisors Impact of social media on music discovery AI's role in music licensing and search Changes in sync licensing economics Independent artists and media opportunities Future trends in media and immersive experiences Sound Bites "Music supervisors can break an artist's career" "Music is crucial for storytelling in media" "Independent artists can influence media discovery" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to music supervision and its importance 01:47 Historical evolution of music supervision in film and TV 03:53 Key partnerships: Directors and music supervisors 05:59 Economic factors influencing sync licensing fees 07:59 Social media's role in music discovery and culture 10:00 AI's impact on search, clearance, and creative prompting 12:04 The shift towards independent artists in media use 13:57 Proactive relationships between artists, managers, and supervisors 15:59 Production music and new media experiences 18:08 The future of music supervision in immersive and interactive media 19:58 The human element and integrity in music supervision 21:54 Understanding the evolving role of music supervisors 22:49 Conclusion: The future of music supervision and collaboration

  2. Sep 8 ·  Video

    Episode 114: Building a Record Label From Scratch in 2026 (with Jamie Sellers)

    I speak with hit producer Jamie Sellers about how music creation has changed now that artists can get a demo most of the way there on their own, but still need experienced ears to finish a record. Jamie explains why his role has shifted from building songs from scratch to acting more like a finisher and exec producer, and why that experience gap is still the difference between a good demo and a release-ready record. We also get into Jamie’s new label, Caledonia, including why he started it, what kind of artists he signs, and how he is thinking about ownership, licensing, publishing, and building a catalogue of assets for the long term. Key topics Jamie argues that technology and tutorials can get artists about 60 to 70 percent of the way to a solid record, but the final 30 percent still comes from experience, instinct, and nuance.He describes his production role as becoming more like a finisher or exec producer, helping artists bring projects to release-ready standard.The conversation covers the shift in artist economics, where a more efficient model is to let artists build a strong demo first and then bring in experienced help to complete it.He says a senior label contact encouraged him to stop waiting for a label job and instead build his own imprint, using his producer background and network.Caledonia is designed to feel artist-first and music-first, with the values of older label eras but a 21st century approach.He shares that he has signed two artists so far and both came through existing creative relationships.Jamie and Jonny talk through deal structures, including licensing versus assignment, and the long-term goal of building a catalogue of assets through both Caledonia Sound and Caledonia Songs.They finish on the importance of trust, artist motivation, and making sure the label relationship works both creatively and commercially. Timestamps (00:00) Demo-to-record mindset (01:15) Why experience still matters after the first 70 percent (03:11) The final 30 percent only comes from time in the studio (04:36) Why Jamie is moving toward a more selective, finishing role (06:50) Why starting a label made sense (09:12) Interviews, A and R conversations, and the advice that changed everything (14:01) Why Jamie chose to start his own thing instead of chasing a label job (15:26) The need for infrastructure after the studio session ends (17:12) Caledonia’s ethos - heritage label values with a modern approach (19:09) Working artist-first without big advances or big marketing budgets (20:38) Imposter syndrome, then confidence from experience (24:18) Signed potential versus evidence of momentum in modern music (26:46) What Jamie looks for in artists he signs (28:27) Producers as early-stage investors in artist development (30:13) Why trust and work rate matter before signing (31:09) How Dia Day became a key example of the label’s direction (33:34) What her independence and momentum proved (35:46) Balancing artistic instinct with market reality (37:09) Why Jamie still thinks like a producer first (38:08) Picking battles and keeping artists excited enough to promote (40:30) Artists as CEOs of their own careers (41:43) The future shape of the label and possible scaling options (44:20) Assignment deal versus licensing deal (45:19) Why one release was licensed and one was assigned (47:16) Building a catalogue and the Caledonia Sound and Caledonia Songs structure (49:22) Why the name Caledonia felt right (51:13) Scotland, the song Caledonia, and the label identity (52:43) Legacy, ambition, and what comes next (53:16) Closing praise and plans to revisit the label in future

  3. Sep 1 ·  Video

    Episode 113: What Every Songwriter Should Know About Music Publishing

    In this episode, Jonny Amos explores the ins and outs of music publishing, focusing on what songwriters should know about choosing the right publisher, deal structures, and long-term relationships. Perfect for songwriters looking to understand how to navigate the complex world of music publishing. Keywords music publishing, songwriters, publishing deals, royalties, sub-publishing, music rights, music industry, publishing contracts Key Topics Role of music publishers in a songwriter's career How to identify suitable publishers Differences between admin and control deals Importance of understanding royalty rates and splits Global collection and sub-publishing nuances Long-term relationships and partnership strategies Negotiating advances and deal terms Metadata and catalog management for songwriters Sound bites "A music publisher is like a songwriter’s best friend." "Choose a publisher that fits your genre and goals." "Know your songs and their metadata." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Music Publishing and Its Role 01:17 What Do Music Publishers Actually Do? 02:15 Long-Term Relationships and Developing Songwriters 04:38 Choosing the Right Publisher: Major vs. Independent 06:22 Genre-Specific Publishers and Niche Markets 07:48 Understanding Collection and Royalties Worldwide 12:05 Admin Deals vs. Control Deals 13:50 Deal Terms: Advances, Term, and Retention 16:38 Royalty Rates and Income Streams 17:35 Legal Aspects and Contract Clauses 19:04 Co-Writing Opportunities and Relationships 20:07 Managing Expectations and Communication 22:01 Preparing Your Catalog for Publishing 25:11 Investing in People, Not Just Songs 26:36 The Language of Songs and Metadata 27:30 Summary and Final Thoughts Resources Kobalt Music Publishing - https://www.kobaltmusic.com True Love Music - https://truelovemusic.com Ralph W Peer and Peer Music - https://peermusic.com

  4. Aug 25 ·  Video

    Episode 112: How The Creator Economy Is Changing Music Licensing (With Chordal CEO Grayson Sanders)

    In this episode, Chordal CEO Grayson Sanders joins me, Jonny Amos, for a discussion on the complexities of music licensing in the digital age, the potential of AI in rights management, and the future of micro-licensing for the creator economy. We explore how technology is transforming the industry and what it means for artists, rights holders, and content creators. Keywords music licensing, AI rights management, micro-licensing, digital content, creator economy, rights clearance, TikTok music, music industry innovation Key Topics Music licensing complexities in the internet age AI's role in rights management and licensing Micro-licensing as a scalable revenue model The future of music licensing by 2035 TikTok's music licensing innovations The role of human curation vs algorithms in music discovery Challenges faced by independent artists in licensing The impact of AI on music rights and discovery Takeaways Music rights are owned by multiple parties, making licensing complex. AI is used for rights cleaning, matching, and discovery, not for generating music. Micro-licensing is becoming essential due to internet content volume. Traditional blockbuster licensing will coexist with micro-licensing. Platforms like TikTok are pioneering scalable licensing solutions. Human curation remains vital despite AI advancements. Independent artists often lack knowledge about licensing requirements. AI can help manage rights more efficiently and fairly. Guest Name Grayson Sanders - CEO of Chordal Sound bites "Music licensing is more complex than ever." "AI helps manage rights, not just create music." "Community curation will outpace algorithms." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to music licensing challenges in the digital age 01:57 How music rights are owned and the complexity of licensing 03:53 The impact of the internet on licensing speed and scalability 06:10 Chordal's platform and its role in licensing and rights management 07:57 Expanding licensing to independent artists and creators 11:02 The rise of micro-licensing and its importance 13:58 The influence of AI in rights management and licensing 17:04 Future of licensing in 2035: human vs. platform transactions 20:00 The cultural shift back to human curation and community-based discovery 22:52 The role of AI in managing rights and enhancing discovery 25:56 The impact of platforms like TikTok on licensing and music use 33:01 The importance of fair remuneration and rights holder control 36:00 Final thoughts: coexistence of traditional and new licensing models Resources Chordal Platform - https://chordal.com Music Ally Article on TikTok Commercial Music Library - https://musically.com/2026/05/11/chordal-got-5bn-tiktok-views-for-commercial-music-library-tracks/

  5. Aug 18 ·  Video

    Episode 111: The Business Beyond The Music (with Lucas Rizzo)

    In this episode, I am joined by Hekta Music Group CEO Lucas Rizzo who also operates as a Fractional Partner Across Brands, Tech and Capital. Lucas shares insights from his unique journey through music, tech, and startups, highlighting the interconnectedness of these worlds and how they shape his approach to artist development and catalog management. Keywords music industry, startups, artist development, catalog acquisition, authenticity, creator economy, music tech, AI in music Key Topics Interconnection of music, tech, and startups The importance of authenticity in music Data-driven artist development strategies The role of catalog acquisition in music Balancing passion and business in music Takeaways Cross-industry experience provides a unique edge in music. Authenticity remains crucial despite industry pressures. Data and intuition together inform artist strategies. Catalog management is a key to sustainable success. Embracing being lost is part of finding your true path. Guest Name Lucas Rizzo Sound bites "The interconnectedness of it all." "The DSP element is part of market fit." "Getting lost is part of the process." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lucas and His Journey 03:08 Interconnectedness of Music, Tech, and Startups 05:55 Realising Success vs. Fulfilment 09:00 The Transition from Artist to Business 11:52 Goals in Catalogue Acquisition and Artist Development 16:01 Navigating the Creator Economy 20:07 Wisdom from Parallel Lives 22:59 Authenticity in the Age of Social Media 25:59 Finding Your True Self Through the Journey Resources Hekta Music Group - https://hektamusicgroup.com Chartmetric - https://www.chartmetric.com/ Ovo by Drake - https://www.octobersveryown.com/

  6. Aug 11 ·  Video

    Episode 110: How Song Royalties Are Being Miscounted And How Tech Fixes It (Audoo CEO Ryan Edwards)

    Your music can be playing in thousands of real-world places right now: cafés, shops, gyms, pubs, restaurants, clubs and grassroots venues. The uncomfortable truth is that public performance royalties are still often calculated from surveys, proxies and best guesses, not from actual usage. That means creators can be underpaid or overpaid, and a lot of value ends up drifting into the black box instead of reaching the people who wrote and performed the work.  I’m joined by Ryan Edwards, CEO of Audoo, a company building audio meters that help rights organisations measure what is really being played in venues. Ryan shares the moment he heard his own band’s track in a department store and realised he had no practical way to verify it on a royalty statement. We unpack the scale of the problem, including how limited sampling can distort distributions, and why accurate public performance reporting matters more than ever now that music catalogues are treated like investable assets.  We also get properly technical. Ryan explains how Audoo creates a digital fingerprint in real time, matches it against a massive catalogue, and stays GDPR compliant by never storing or transmitting raw audio. We talk about adoption barriers, why some collecting societies move fast while others resist change, and what accurate play data unlocks beyond payments: touring strategy, marketing timing, cultural campaigns, and clearer insight into where music actually lives in the world.  If you care about music licensing, PRO reform, royalty transparency, metadata, and fair pay for songwriters and performers, this one is for you. Subscribe for more deep dives into how the modern music industry works, share the episode with a creator who needs it, and leave a review telling me what part of royalty accounting you want decoded next. https://audoo.com Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email jonnyamos@me.com Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

    Episode 110: How Song Royalties Are Being Miscounted And How Tech Fixes It (Audoo CEO Ryan Edwards)

  7. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Episode 109: How and Why Sync Licensing Is About To Change (with Nathan Duvall)

    Sync is meant to be simple: a great track, a clear brief, a fair fee, everyone gets paid. In reality, it can be weeks of chasing split sheets, conflicting PRO records, missing contacts and approvals that arrive too late to matter. I’m joined by hitmaker and builder Nathan Duvall to talk about what happens when the modern pace of content collides with a licensing system that still struggles to answer one basic question: who owns what, and where? We get into what Nathan is building with SyncIt, including the unglamorous but essential work of collating rights ownership data at scale and reducing the friction that slows down music licensing for adverts, TV, film, games and social campaigns. We also explore why big brands like L’Oreal cannot wait for endless back and forth, how licensing terms can price music out of the market, and why AI is already part of the toolkit whether the industry feels ready or not. Then we zoom out to sport and fan culture. Nathan explains Fanthem, an AI-powered fan engagement platform that lets supporters generate chants and anthems, and why FIFA is trialling it for the Under 17s World Cup. From there we move into artist strategy: building an audience while creating a licensable body of work, the shift towards visual-first music discovery, and the practical reality that expertise still matters when brands need cut-downs, mixes, masters and fast delivery. We close with a straight-talking look at masters ownership, multiple income streams, and the contract details artists overlook, especially retention period and consent clauses. If this helps, subscribe, share it with someone navigating sync licensing or label deals, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. https://syncit.ac Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email jonnyamos@me.com Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

  8. Jul 28 ·  Video

    Episode 108: Can Music Escape The Algorithm? (with Keith Jopling)

    You can feel it happening: a quiet revolt against the feed. When music becomes something we scroll past, count, and optimise, we lose the part that actually nourishes us. So I sit down with Keith Jopling, former Spotify global head of strategy and one of the UK’s sharpest music industry thinkers, to talk about the surprisingly radical idea at the heart of his book Body Of Work.   We start with the album and why it refuses to die. Keith breaks down what campaigns like Charli XCX’s Brat reveal about culture, timing, and the return of album-era moments, especially among younger fans. From Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish to Olivia Rodrigo, we explore why cohesive projects still matter even when “album consumption” is difficult to measure in the streaming era, and why physical formats like vinyl and CDs can be part fandom, part merch, and part a genuine route back to attention and meaning.  Then we get practical for creators: what constitutes a hit record in 2026? We look at how charts have become more industry-facing, what streaming numbers can and cannot tell you, and why the most honest metric might be the song your crowd sings back the loudest. We also challenge the obsession with measurement, including the growing pressure to treat music as a set of financial metrics, and land on the real antidotes: live music, better craft, and rituals like listening parties that make music communal again.  If you care about the future of the music business, the creator economy, and the health of music culture, press play. Subscribe, share this with a music obsessive, and leave a review with the last album you listened to front-to-back. https://www.songsommelier.com https://www.songsommelier.com/body-of-work Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email jonnyamos@me.com Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

    Episode 108: Can Music Escape The Algorithm? (with Keith Jopling)
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Ratings & Reviews

3.2
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Music Business Buddy is a podcast about the future of music careers. Each episode explores how artists and creators are navigating today’s evolving music industry — from AI and streaming to publishing, sync licensing, branding and fan growth. Featuring conversations with music executives, creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators, the show offers practical insights into how the modern music business really works. The Music Business Buddy is hosted by award winning UK based music professional Jonny Amos. Author of The Music Business For Music Creators (Routledge, 2024), Jonny is a music industry consultant, artist manager, producer and educator.  Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email jonnyamos@me.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.riverside.com

Information

  • Creator
    Jonny Amos
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    116
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jonny Amos
  • Show Website
    The Music Business Buddy

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