What It Takes To Be A Rockstar

Melissa Lucciola
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician. 

  1. 2D AGO · BONUS

    BONUS - What It Takes To...Release 100 12" Vinyl Records (Cost Breakdown)

    Welcome to the bonus "What It Takes..." series! For this bonus episode I will be sharing the nitty gritty breakdown of what it's going to cost me in total to release 100 12" vinyl records for an album I've been working on for my band Francie Moon. I started working on this record in 2023 and am nearing the finish line, so I figured it would be a good time to share all the details! Enjoy! You can check out my latest singles for this upcoming record here. Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    13 min

  2. FEB 11

    Episode 22 - Shred Flintstone - On being a shy but mighty front person, a DIY touring mishap and why small town scenes are the best

    This week I'm super excited to be chatting with Dan Barrechia of the band Shred Flintstone. Dan and I have been sharing bills with our bands since 2016 and our biggest common thread is that we are both NJ based bands who commute to NYC to play. We talked about that and how he books his own DIY tours, finds rad small scenes across the country and how got to play Treefort Fest a few times. We also talk about being a shy front person who has a bigger-than-life stage persona and how important it is to have an early champion in your life who sees your talents and encourages them. Enjoy!  Check out Shred Flintstone here:  https://linktr.ee/shredflintstone You can watch this full episode and others on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar Listen to the playlist of all the bands that have been on this podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d Join the Community! Chat with others about the episodes on Discord for free: https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show even more you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    1h 36m

  3. JAN 20 · BONUS

    BONUS - A scene is born, my year in music and Bandcamp bans AI

    Hello everyone! This is a bonus episode to share about where the heck I've been and what I've been up to. I also share about an incredible scene that has been born in Colorado and talk a little bit about music news.  I also forgot to mention Gustaf toured with LCD Soundsystem in April and played the Rock and Roll hall of fame in August!! Busy busy year :). Longmont Punk Scene "What We Spend" Podcast (My Episode!) Jim Eno's Public Hi-Fi Studio Apple Commercial with "Gustaf - I Trusted You" Bandcamp Bans AI Francie Moon Music Videos released last year: "What It Feels Like" "Make Another Way" "It's Easy If You Try" You can watch this full episode and others on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar Listen to the playlist of all the bands that have been on this podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d Join the Community! Chat with others about the episodes on Discord for free: https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show even more you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    19 min

  4. JAN 13

    Episode 21 - Eugene Robinson (BUÑUEL/OXBOW) - No Dog Meat Policy! Fighting for standards in the 80s experimental punk scene until now

    Welcome to Season 3! This week I am chatting with Eugene Robinson of BUÑUEL (previously of OXBOW and Whipping Boy) about his life of touring and creating music since the 1980s. He's toured with Minor Threat and opened for countless bands such as The Melvins, Mr. Bungle, Lydia Lunch, A Perfect Circle, The Jesus Lizard and way more. In this conversation we talk about the creative ways he gets paid when someone is trying to stiff his band and how he used to book shows via fax machine. We also talk about autotune and AI in music, how some people want to treat bands the way they wouldn't treat themselves, his time at the Grammys and way more. Enjoy!! We connected through this article he wrote - "When Will Bands Stop Telling Lies About the Economics of Being in a Band? OK, How About Today?" Check out his music here. Check out his books here.  You can watch this full episode and others on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar Listen to the playlist of all the bands that have been on this podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d Join the Community! Chat with others about the episodes on Discord for free: https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show even more you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    1h 51m

  5. 03/11/2025 · BONUS

    Episode 20 (BONUS) - On artists losing $50,000 on sold out US tours and why signed bands are going DIY

    This week I am ranting in my van parked on a side street in NYC about the state of the music industry. I bring in recent news about Kate Nash starting an OF to finance her tours, and Caroline Rose leaking their own album on Bandcamp. I talk about the realities of the music industry currently and why many bands are choosing to go back to DIY, even if it looks like they got it all. This is the final episode of Season 2, see you in Season 3!  You can watch this episode and others on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW8b_tWH7MI Check out a clip of a  Kate Nash interview here. Check out Caroline Rose here: https://www.carolinerosemusic.com/tour-1 Contact: whatittakestobearockstar@gmail.com Listen to the bands that have been on this podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d Join the Discord community and chat with others about the episodes here: https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa Check out UMAW here: https://weareumaw.org/ If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician.  Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    13 min

  6. 03/04/2025

    Episode 19 - Randy Ojeda (Music Attorney & Manager) - On collecting royalties, the future of music with AI, and how to prevent an ugly band breakup

    This week I'm chatting with Randy Ojeda, a music attorney and a long time music manager. Randy has also done A&R for Symphonic Distribution and has hosted his own podcast, Cigar City Radio, among a ton of other things within the music industry. We chat about how he ended up becoming a music attorney and manager. He also gives some valuable insights and nuggets of wisdom including how bands can collect performance royalties for playing their own songs at shows, what the first thing a band should do is, and when a band should start thinking about getting a manager. We also chat about AI and music and what the future might look like with that, all the types of jobs needed in the music industry aside from being an artist and if money is really all it takes to make a band pop off. Enjoy! You can watch this full episode and others on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar Check out Randy's website here: https://www.randyojedalaw.com/ Check out Randy's music podcast here "Cigar City Radio": https://open.spotify.com/show/3QncUpLFNck8Y81p2aBlcT?si=134e410f86344e4c Check out Cigar City Management (Boutique Artist Management Company and Record Label co-founded by Randy): http://www.cigarcitymanagement.com/ Check out this article on the differences between ASCAP, BMI and SESAC: https://www.diymusicbiz.com/ascap-or-bmi-which-one-is-best/ Listen to the bands that have been on this podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d Join the Discord community and chat with others about the episodes here: https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa Check out UMAW here: https://weareumaw.org/ If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleepi Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    57 min

  7. 02/25/2025

    Episode 18 - Donzii - On burning emotional energy for the aliens + doing sketchy things to get to shows on time

    This week I'm chatting with Jenna Balfe and Dennis Fuller of Donzii, a "time-bending, post-punk vision: a unity of go-hard industrial bangers, darkly ambient balladry, [with] new takes on the funk traditions of No Wave" band. This band is super fun and they keep it weird in such a good way!  We chat about how they met on an island and started the band, how they feel about social media within the music world, their move to LA from Miami, the sketchy things they have done to get to shows and how they once had to leave their lost cat behind in another city to get to a gig on time (she's ok!).  Walter, the mentioned cat, made a lot of appearances so if you'd like to see her you can watch this full episode and others on our Youtube.  Check out Donzii here: https://donzii.bandcamp.com/music Check out Dennis' recorder album here: https://dorofsky.bandcamp.com/album/door-of-sky Check out Dennis' book rec here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Society_of_the_Spectacle Listen to Donzii and the other guests from this podcast on this playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L9Odi1kuJiPEqIhBXmqMw?si=dabd928c5b13405d Join the Discord community and chat with others about the episodes here: https://tr.ee/NVMhCaRELa Check out UMAW here: https://weareumaw.org/ If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe or follow - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician.  Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    1h 16m

  8. 02/18/2025

    Episode 17 - Tea Eater - On how much it costs to tour Europe, growing a cult following and raffling off good vibes

    This week I'm chatting with my bandmates Tarra Theissen and Vram Kherlopian of Tea Eater, Gustaf, MamajoeVramajoe, Francie Moon and more!! We chat about how much it costs to tour Europe/the UK, how they have been building a cult following and how much they love the color purple. These two have traveled the world playing music in "projects of varying degrees of investments and returns" and have a lot of insight into the music industry, DIY or not. Enjoy!! Check out Tarra and Vrams' projects here: Tea Eater: https://www.teaeater.com/ MamajoeVramajoe: https://www.twitch.tv/mamajoevramajoe Gustaf: https://www.gustaftheband.com/ Vramshabouh: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gsCf0mesZgDN3Y9BhReY8?si=b7HnatgKShOD__gR9j188A Francie Moon: https://franciemoon.com/ Check out their Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/mamajoevramajoe Check out the Tea Eater fan club here: https://teaeater.bandcamp.com/fan-club If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe - it's free and goes a long way! If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here: https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar Or become a monthly subscriber here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support Join the Discord community and chat with others about the episodes: https://discord.gg/fQRCka4SQ8 Listen to the Playlist of all the guests' music here. About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician.  Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA. This episode is also sponsored by Melissa Lucciola Hypnosis - Certified Hypnotherapist specialized in working with musicians. Try a free hypnosis recording made specifically for musicians HERE! Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater Other music is by Pretty World Artwork by Christopher Lanuk.

    56 min
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About

Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician. 

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Lucciola
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 What It Takes To Be A Rockstar
  • Show Website
    What It Takes To Be A Rockstar

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