Monday Morning Manager

"How important is taking time to map things out weeks, months, or even years in advance?

This week's guest was Sr. Artist Manager at Roc Nation Kaily Nash. In this episode, we talked about how Kaily started working in the advertising business before making the move to the music business and helping Tyga run his brand before joining Roc Nation. From there we dug into how artists should be thinking and planning to have a long career and the current factors they should be focusing on in order to achieve their goals. A great chat with lots of gems!

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11 am est/8 am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

"In your experience, what can a label bring to the table in regards to strategizing and fulfilling the growth goals of an artist's career?"

Tamir Schlanger was the guest on this week's podcast. Murph and Tamir dove into how Tamir went from culinary school to working with one of the biggest DJs and producers in music today. They spoke about how artists/producers/DJs can set themselves up for success in today's landscape and what it's like to be a part of the Weeknd's latest tour!

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11 am est/8 am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“Lucky Daye was a successful songwriter but didn’t release his first EP until 2018. Since then he’s won a Grammy and been nominated for 6. What do collaborations like Lucky Daye working with Kaytranada on Look Easy do for expanding an audience?”

Sam Watters, former R&B star as an original member of Color Me Badd and current manager for Lucky Daye, joins us to talk about developing an audience in today's music industry. He shared his insight on the current state of R&B and Pop music, while also getting technical with Murph on how he continues his success multiple decades into his career. Sam also manages Drella, Algee Smith, and his son Kieran Watters.

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

"What advice do you have for someone who's looking to become an A&R in today's music business?"

This week's guest is Eddie Fourcell, longtime A&R for Mary J. Blige. In this episode, Murph and Eddie talk about getting their start at Def Jam during the same time, Eddie working with Joyce Wrice, what steps aspiring A&Rs can take to make them successful, and just how important an A&R is to managing the creative process for an artist or label.

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

"What was your mindset when you were trying things in the beginning but they weren’t working? How did you push through?"

In this episode, Murph and Louie talked about how Louie made a move from NY to Atlanta after graduating high school and how he got his start as a studio manager in Atlanta. His big takeaway from his time in ATL, add value in any way you can! From there Louie went on to build relationships with anyone that came through the studio, mainly a young engineer and aspiring producer, Pi'erre Bourne. 

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

"You’re currently balancing a full-time career, working at RCA as an A&R and managing Mannywellz. Do you have any advice on how to manage your time effectively and avoid burnout?"

This week Murph caught up with Sarah Lorentzen to talk about her start in the music business, the importance of being detail-oriented, how to build relationships that transcend just business, and more!

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“How important is it for artist managers to keep their egos at the door?”

Maine is one of the brightest young minds in the music industry and we had the pleasure of speaking with him, covering topics from his grammy nomination for Revenge of the Dreamers III, to his client Splititupbenji’s recent placement with Kid Cudi in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The gems were dropping this episode and it made for our busiest live room yet!

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“Can you help our listeners understand kind of a step by step in creating a roll out for a single?”

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This week, guest host Aidan is joined by Josh Levien, manager for Maliibu Miitch, Lil House Phone, Los Retros, and CML-Lavish D. Effectively marketing your artists creative work is an ever changing landscape in the music industry and Josh has been doing it at a high level for a long time. Check out this week's episode to get real, tangible advice, with examples of how Josh has done it, and how you can do it too!

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“You’ve achieved immense success in the sync space, successfully placing with multiple Fortune 500 companies. What is the advice you would give to someone still hoping to get their first successful placement?“

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Terrance Laurel, manager for Arrow Benjamin is an acclaimed and highly skilled music industry vet. Meetings with Quincy Jones, working on Beyonce’s song ‘Freedom’, and tapping into fine art, there’s no doubt that Terrance has a wealth of captivating stories. Still a “student of the business”, Terrance shares his extensive knowledge on how to succeed in the music industry and how to be a multi-faceted professional.

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“How important is it to "do your homework" on people you're looking to build relationships with?”

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This week's guest on the podcast was Lex Luger's manager, PJ Escobar. In this episode, PJ shares with Murph some early struggles and realizations he had starting out in the music and fashion scenes in LA and how he ultimately overcame them and found success managing producers. 

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“Can you take us through what the main focus is when developing the careers of artists that operate behind the scenes?”

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Fab Leys has a jaw-dropping track record, including work with Nas, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Q-Tip, LL Cool J, and so many more. For the better part of this last decade, Fab has been working with artist Hayley Kiyoko, a former Disney star turned pop sensation. In this episode, Murph and Fab talk about how we can build and maintain professional relationships. Being an artist manager is hard work! Learn about how Fab fulfills her clients' goals and maintains positive working relationships in doing so.

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“Can you take us into how you guys prepped for such a big tour with Dua Lipa?”

“Lolo Zouaï has had some pretty cool sync placements. What’s your approach to pitching sync?”

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Doug Gleicher, manager of Lolo Zouaï appears on this episode of Monday Morning Manager to talk about his experience with Lolo on Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia tour. Murph and Doug also chat about Doug’s early days in the industry, interning at Primary Wave and Columbia Records, to his work with Russ, KidSuper, and current position as an artist manager. This episode covers lots of bases. Arena tours, fashion, branding, sync, and more! If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“In what ways is the barrier for entry different in the pop scene than in other genres?”

“In this streaming landscape, what’s your approach to building a dedicated fanbase for your clients?”

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Russell Kaplan, manager of Loote, Emilia Ali, and Caleb Hearn, joins the podcast to talk about his experience developing the careers of pop acts. As a Berklee College of Music graduate and a talented vibraphone player, Russell also taps into the creative responsibilities of a manager and gives us some tips on when it’s time to take a step back and let the artists work.

Pop music is thriving and Russell is helping to pave the way. Check this episode out to see how he’s doing it!

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces, @studiotalkco!

More Studio Talk:

“How do you go about finding the right talent and connecting with them?”

“What advice would you give young independent producers who are building out there?”

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As the founder of Hundred Days and manager of Jai Wolf, Ben Klein is always moving. In this episode, Ben breaks down what he does to balance his busy work life, and his personal time. We learn about enduring the pandemic while managing an artist who predominantly performs for a living, and speak on the brighter pastures ahead. Take a listen as Murph and Ben speak candidly about time management and its importance in an industry that never sleeps, covering crucial topics that have long been ignored. If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“When managing an artist, how do you balance being friends with your clients, and taking care of business?”

“In today's world, is it more important for an up-and-coming artist to put out their best possible work or just enough work to keep their name relevant?”

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This week we had the pleasure of speaking with a young music industry All-Star, Elijah “Lito” Burgos, manager of YungManny. Lito takes us through his best practices for fostering the creation of real, authentic content. He also gets real and shares some of the less talked-about aspects of artist management, his experience as an “adult babysitter”. Son of industry legend Camille Evans, Lito has a wealth of music industry knowledge stemming from his earliest days. If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“When is the right time to bring up money when working with a new artist?”

“There is so much info and data out there these days, but for you, what are the important metrics you track?”

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This week we spoke with Jon Woo, manager of Marzz. We traverse through the decades in this episode as Jon speaks about his youthful obsession over a Dr. Rhythm drum machine, all the way to his work with Jack Harlow and now, Marzz. Most importantly, Jon dropped some incredible knowledge, giving us insight into how he tracks analytics and covers financials with his clients. Jon’s a great storyteller so this one is a must listen! If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

“What are some of the differences between artist management and label management?”

“When an artist does get signed, what should they do to advocate for themselves inside the building?”

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Our first episode of the newly revamped Monday Morning Manager podcast features music industry veteran and Head of Artist & Industry Relations at iZotope, Dave Godowsky. In this episode we take a look at the inner-workings of record labels and how you can be your own champion in the building. Dave also speaks on bringing value to the table, and how you can approach brands without a huge following. This was a great first episode. If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, join us each week at 11am est/8am pst on Twitter Spaces!

More Studio Talk:

"How important is researching a role before applying?"

"How do I make a lateral move at a company that I'm at?"

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This is part 2 of our convo with Ian Rifkin, the Sr. Director of Recruiting at Endeavor and Head of Music Careers at The Digilogue. In this episode, we go much deeper on how to find the right role for yourself, how to go about securing that role, and what to do if you take a job at a company to get in the door but ultimately want to do something else within the company. A ton of insights in this one, hope it helps!

More Studio Talk:

"What are some things people can be doing while still in school?"

"What are the types of roles that up and coming people should be looking at?"

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This week on the podcast I had Ian Rifkin, the Sr. Director of Recruiting at Endeavor and Head of Music Careers at The Digilogue. I wanted to switch things up this time around and do an episode that wasn't as focused on artist marketing tactics but something more general for those people that are looking to simply work in the industry. That said, I also think artists should think about working within the industry as well, that way they can build up their network and learn the ins and outs before going off on their own.

Part 2 coming next week, enjoy!

More Studio Talk:

"What is Songfluencer and how do they help artists?"

"What can artists with small budgets do to set themselves up for success?"

"How important is context when it comes to making content?"

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Nathan Pyle, the General Manager of Songfluencer, was the guest on this week's episode of the unsigned podcast. For those that don't know, Songfluencer is a marketing agency that helps labels and artists to top influencers across social media with a strong focus on TikTok.

In this episode, Nathan dives into his background a little bit before giving a full breakdown of what influencer marketing is, how Songfluencer works, and that you don't need any money to get things going yourself!

More Studio Talk:

"What is PlaylistSupply and how does it help artists?"

"What do you think a manager should be doing to help build an artist's brand?"

"Do you think artists can offer enough value to their fans to charge a monthly subscription fee?"

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Benji Stein was our most recent guest on the unsigned podcast and the convo was too good to compress into one episode so we didn't, lol. Hit the links below to check out part two of our chat where Benji goes even deeper into PlaylistSupply, the benefits for artists, and how artists and their managers should be looking to add value to their fan's lives.

Have you had any success with a subscription model? If so, leave a comment and let us know, we'd love to learn more!

More Studio Talk:

"What is PlaylistSupply and how does it help artists?"

"How important is branding and when do you think an artist should focus on it?

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This week's guest on the unsigned podcast is Benji Stein. After starting as a musician himself, Benji realized that his passion was more on the manager side of things, so he decided to switch several years back. That lead him on a path to find the best ways to help him and his artists systemize the things they could, one area being playlist pitching outreach. So in the early days of the pandemic, Benji decided to start a software company called PlaylistSupply. The software is essentially a search tool that allows users to find third-party playlists on Spotify while also providing their contact info!

In part 1 of our convo, we talk about Benji's early days, his tips for artists on the rise as well as what PlaylistSupply is. Part 2 is coming next week. Enjoy!

More Studio Talk:

"What does the day-to-day look like for an Artist and Label Partnerships executive?"

"You’ve worked across Europe for your career, what would you say are some of the key differences between Europe and the US"

"How should artists be looking to build relationships with people at DSPs"

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Arielle Fischer, formerly of Spotify and INgrooves, was the guest for this week's unsigned podcast. Arielle has lived all over Europe which has given her a unique insight, especially working for companies that have such a strong US focus. She currently lives in Germany and we couldn't thank her enough for taking the time to chat this week. In the episode, we talk about her background and her love for music as a fan, her jobs at Spotify and INgrooves, and how she thinks artists should build relationships with DSPs!

More Studio Talk:

"What type of content works best on TikTok?"

"How can artists build a community as opposed to a following?"

"What are some things artists forget to do when uploading their content?"

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"How important is it for up-and-coming artists to do their research when it comes to brands?"

"How can artists add value to their fans' lives outside of music?"

"When it comes to planning to release a project, how far out should I start preparing?"

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Jen Tanner has been at RCA Records for over 8 years now. She initially started as an intern and then took on two roles to get paid before ultimately finding her way onto the brand partnerships team. She's worked on countless projects for artists like Kesha, Tate McRae, Khalid, SZA, and with brands like BMW, Dove, and Bacardi. In between all that, she's a champion of women and Latinos in the music business. Luckily, she was able to carve out some time to be our guest this week on the unsigned podcast.

In this episode, we talk about how she got her start in music, what her day-to-day looks like, and most importantly, what artists should be thinking about when building a relationship with their fans. Enjoy!

More Studio Talk:

"What are "Fan Powered" Royalties?"

"How can artists engage with Soundcloud curators?"

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This is part 2 of our convo with the Head of Music Marketing & Curation at Soundcloud, Marissa DeVito. In this episode, we talk about how Soundcloud is taking a different approach to paying artists, mistakes artists make when uploading content, and the best ways to engage with curators at Soundcloud.

More Studio Talk:

"What does your day-to-day look like as Head of Music Marketing & Curation?"

"How does Soundcloud stand out amongst the other DSPs?"

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This week our guest was Marissa DeVito, Head of Music Marketing & Curation at Soundcloud. Marissa and I have known each other since 2012 when we worked together at Universal Music. Since then, Marissa went on to work at Island Records and Def Jam before making the jump to Soundcloud where she's been for the last 5 years. In part 1 of our two-part interview, Marissa shares how she got into the music business, what she enjoys most about it, and how Soundcloud is doubling down on its efforts to help artists while also being a streaming service and social platform for fans.

Trying something new with a part 1 and part 2, let us know if you rock with the shorter or longer versions!

More Studio Talk:

"What are the top two platforms you'd recommend for artists?"

"What do artists forget the most when uploading their content?"

"How can artists systemize uploading metadata?"

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Sam Tall was our guest this week for the 50th episode of the unsigned podcast! Man, time flies, lol. Sam works for a company called Studio71 and they focus on helping artists maximize their earning potential across all digital platforms. In this episode we talk about how Sam made his way to NYC, managing Kevin Garrett, working for Youtube, starting a popular industry Facebook group (where Sam and I actually met), all lead him to his current gig where he's now able to help more than one artist at a time.

Another long episode but a great convo. Enjoy!

More Studio Talk:

"How should artists be thinking of funding when starting out?"

"What can artists do to build and engage their community?"

"Should artists have a full understanding of the music business?"

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Ani Sanyal, aka Ani Hustles, was our guest on the unsigned podcast this week and man, what an inspiring story! I'll save the stories for the episode but he's a brief bio: first-generation American, a former rapper who toured with Wiz Khalifa and went toe to toe with G-Eazy in a Kanye/50 Cent style album release, turned creative entrepreneur/manager, and now investor into cafes and real estate. Safe to say, Ani FUCKING hustles!

Can't thank him enough for his time and for sharing his take on all the above questions. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

More Studio Talk:

"We’re all content creators now, so how do you think someone stands out amongst the noise?"

"What should up-and-coming acts with no budget be focused on when it comes to creating engaging content?"

"When should an artist look to get a publicist?"

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"What can artists learn from The Future Party?"

"How do you create value with live events?"

"How are NFTs changing the value model for artists?"

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This week on the unsigned podcast I sat down with Boye Fajinmi, the Co-Founder of The Future Party. The company is an LA-based experiential company that has been expanding in media over the last few years mainly through their daily newsletter that focuses on the intersection of tech, business, entertainment, and culture. In this interview, we talk about what artists can learn from the value that The Future Party has created for their audience as well as what might be in store for the future with NFTs.

More Studio Talk:

"What should I be looking for in a manager?"

"What platform should I invest my time into?"

"How important is it to build trust on social media?"

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Kasey Sobey is this week's guest on the unsigned podcast. In this episode, we talk to Kasey about how she started working for Wolf + Rothstein, going on tour with Childish Gambino, and now working as a day-to-day manager for Sherrie Silver, the choreographer for the "This Is America" music video. 

Additionally, we make sure to dive into what artists should be looking for when it comes to finding the right manager.

Enjoy!

More Studio Talk:

"How dedicated do I have to be to create content?"

"How do I grow my email list?"

"What metrics matter for building an email list?"

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Neal Freyman is this week's guest on the unsigned podcast, and in this episode, we talk about how Neal started our in urban planning before making the jump to writing for Morning Brew. We also dug into what Neal thinks are the best tips for building an audience with a newsletter.

Enjoy!

More Studio Talk:

"Artists are now brands, so how do you think they can add value to their fans’ lives during this pandemic?"

"What is the waterfall strategy and why is it important for musicians?"

"How do you see live events and streaming events merging in the future?"

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After a brief hiatus, we're back at it! In this episode, we interviewed Cristina Jerome from the RnBae Collective, Maarten Walraven-Freeling from Stingray, and Matt Levin from Endeavor Content to ask them what artists should be paying attention to when it comes to building a brand, releasing content, and creating long-term value from their music.

Enjoy!

"What advice do you have for artists when it comes to creating a meaningful digital event?"

"Why is it that Gibson partners with artists at any career level?"

"Why is creating educational content important for Gibson?"

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Rae Vinton is this week's guest. In this episode, Rae talks about how she got started in music, working for Gibson in New York, to eventually making her way to Los Angeles with Universal Music Publishing and then back to Gibson. She now handles entertainment relations between the company and the artists they partner with. 

Enjoy!

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"How can independent and emerging artists get involved in brand partnerships?"  

"What do brands look for in artists when it comes to brand deals?"  

"How has COVID affected the business of brand partnerships?"  

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This week’s guest is Victoria Yip, Senior Artist Relations Manager at Music Audience Exchange (MAX).   MAX is a company that specializes in creating brand partnerships between artists and brands. They’ve created millions of dollars in brand partnerships and have worked with brands including Ford, McDonald’s, Canon, Jack Daniel’s, and more. 

As an artist relations manager, Victoria has helped create and coordinate millions of dollars worth of brand partnerships by acting as the liaison between MAX, the brands, and the artists. In other words, Victoria has an extremely valuable vantage point into the world of brand partnerships - and is the perfect person to learn how to position yourself as an artist when pursuing a brand deal.

“What is an “artist-friendly” distribution service?”

“What is Content Operations?”

“What is a licensing deal?”

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This week’s guest is Marcos Fuentes, Head of Content Operations at Amuse.

Our first international guest, patching in from Stockholm, Sweden (where Amuse is based), Marcos joins us to share his take on today’s landscape from his unique perspective as Head of Content Operations. Born in 2017, Amuse is one of the most artist-friendly music distribution platforms out there, and the first with a mobile-first offering (and also happens to be the birthplace of none other than Lil Nas X). Marcos is essentially in charge of facilitating releases, managing the integrations with the DSPs, and making sure everything runs smoothly. As such, he understands the world of digital music like few others and is an insanely valuable resource for anyone looking to better understand the music industry in 2020.

“How can I be building with my audience during a pandemic?”

“What’s the purpose of creating content?”

“Email or social media?”

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"What’s the key to building a personal brand?"

"How do you go about “making connections” in the industry?"

"How do I get on the blogs or in a magazine?"

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There’s no question that 25-year-old Jocelyn Rivera is a rising star in the NY music landscape. With the credibility from working with big artists, labels, and brands combined with the flexibility of remaining independent - Jocelyn and The PressPlay Agency are situated at the coveted crossroads between the industry and the streets. From project managing for major labels to playing a key role in the rapid rise of two of Brooklyn’s latest and biggest stars, Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, to now being the personal manager of the Bronx’s favorite lyricist, Don Q, Jocelyn has more than enough industry credibility. Which would be enough for most people. Instead, she’s taken what she’s learned and created the PressPlay Agency - to provide the same high-quality branding, creative direction, and PR services to independent and underground artists in need of support. 

Through PressPlay, Jocelyn has helped hundreds of artists to better market themselves and their music, not to mention dozens of companies and brands. A prime example of the power of perseverance, networking, and pursuing one’s passion, Jocelyn is the embodiment of independent hustle in the music industry.

“What is publishing?”

“What is a publishing administrator?”

“Am I missing out on money from royalties? How do I get it?”

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Anna Bond is the Senior Director of Global Business Development at Songtrust, a full-service global publishing administrator built with the artist in mind.  A seasoned industry professional, an Indie band geek at heart, and a longtime advocate for independent artists, I couldn’t think of anyone better to talk to about music publishing in 2020.

Companies like Songtrust are putting pressure on the labels by showing artists that they don’t need to sell their soul in order to sell their music. Founded in 2011, the company started with the goal of becoming the easiest way to collect publishing royalties for anyone at any stage in their career. Today, they are the most popular music royalty collection solutions in the world. Music professionals of all kinds use Songtrust to simplify music rights management, including the administration of music publishing assets, performing rights, and digital licensing.

Understanding how Songtrust operates as a publishing administrator through Anna’s eyes is also an excellent framework for learning how publishing works in today’s digital music landscape!

How important is the marriage of music and photography?

What is the most important thing when it comes to planning?

How do you get in the right mindset to prepare for a photoshoot or campaign?

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This week’s guest is NY Emmy-nominated photographer, director, and cofounder @stevesweatpants.

Steve Sweatpants is a bit of a local legend in the creative community. The co-founder of a hugely successful and envelope-pushing independent visual agency, Street Dreams - and its many offshoots including Street Dreams Magazine, Street Dreams Radio, and more. Steve is not only talented in his own right, with a vibrant personal brand and a huge following, he’s also managed to help foster a vital community and create opportunities for countless creatives.

In this episode, Murph and Steve talk about how important visuals are to musician's work and how to put your best foot forward when creating!

"What is “context” and how important is it when creating a brand and connecting with my audience?"

"How can artists bring value to their fans during the pandemic?"

"What are some key metrics to pay attention to as an artist?"

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“How important is creating a story with photos?”

“Why are mood boards important?”

“Can I just use my phone for photoshoots?”

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This week’s guest is @visualsbypierre. Pierre and I met after I’d been following him on IG for a while and then noticed he kept posting pics in my neighborhood. Turns out we were neighbors lol, so I hit him up to grab a drink and shoot the shit. We later found out that we knew a bunch of the same people. Fast forward a year, we became fast friends and even worked a few projects together!

But this week I wanted to pick his brain on how he got started and his best practices when it comes to creating a story with your images.

“What is Treble and how does it help artists?”

“How should artists be managing their careers and their 9-5?”

“How important is creating a community?”

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As mentioned previously, I'm going to space my podcast releases out a little bit more for the foreseeable future. I want to make sure I'm doing my part and keeping the focus on the things that matter.

“Where should artists be spending their money?”

“Email list or social media following?”

“Which do you think is more important; singles, or albums?”

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As mentioned previously, I'm going to space my podcast releases out a little bit more for the foreseeable future. I want to make sure I'm doing my part and keeping the focus on the things that matter.

This week's guest is Collin Bean. Collin is an artist manager as well as a Senior Producer for Team Epiphany and has worked with brands like Google, JBL, Heineken, Budweiser, and more. In this episode of the "unsigned" podcast, I spoke with Collin about where artists should be spending their money, what type of content they should be creating, and where they can collect data from their fans.

“What is a distribution company?”

“Can I partner with a distributor?”

“What are some things that I should focus on early in my career?”

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As mentioned previously, I'm going to space my podcast releases out a little bit more for the foreseeable future. I want to make sure I'm doing my part and keeping the focus on the things that matter.

This week I sat down with Liz Snair. Liz and I met a few years back when I was working at Sony Music but Liz is now the VP of North American Label Management at The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music. I couldn't wait to speak with Liz about The Orchard and how they work with artists because I feel that it's something a lot of up and coming artists and managers ask about, what is a distribution deal, and how do I get one? Liz answers that question and more on this week's episode, so pay attention!

“How are you? How have things been unfolding for you during the recent #BlackLivesMatter protests?”

“What are some things I should focus on when it comes to my live show?”

“What do I need to do when reaching out to brands?”

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As mentioned previously, I'm going to space my podcast releases out a little bit more for the foreseeable future. I want to make sure I'm doing my part and keeping the focus on the things that matter.

This week I had the chance to finally connect with Lindsay Hart, a music marketer, and programmer who I've known for several years now. We've been trying to get this recorded for the last year so I'm glad we could finally make this happen! We were able to catch up on everything that Linsday is doing to help support the #BlackLivesMatter movement as well her thoughts on how up and coming acts should be preparing their live shows and working with brands to find win-win situations.

“How are you? How have things been unfolding for you during the recent #BlackLivesMatter protests?”

“How should artists begin thinking about their marketing rollout?”

“Do you think IG Live is played out?”

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I wanted to take a few weeks off for the podcast and I thought it was best to not take up any unnecessary airtime from people and outlets that truly need it. And even releasing this episode with Cliff Joseph, who runs marketing at Arista Records, I wanted to make sure that we began the convo talking about the #BlackLivesMatter movement and how important it's resurgence is. We also talked about how Cliff got his start working in entertainment by cold emailing Paul Rivera, a key member of Lebron James' inner circle, and how he made the transition to music marketing full time. Cliff also shines a light on how artists should be embracing their uniqueness at all times.

“Why is TikTok so popular?”

“How do I make content for TikTok?”

“What should I be focusing on right now as an artist or manager?”

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Frank Woodworth was my guest on the podcast this week. We first met several years back while playing basketball together at Basketball City in NYC. Since then, Frank has gone on to start a company called Glacial Concepts which focuses on consulting artists, labels, and tech companies on all areas of the music business.

In this episode, Frank explains how he got his start in music, eventually getting an internship in which he had to travel 2.5hrs each way, to running an independent label to ultimately starting his own consulting business. Additionally, Frank gives his amazing insights into the mechanics of TikTok and how artists can set themselves up for success!

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“What team members should I have?”

“What should I be focusing on during this pandemic?”

“How can I make money now that live shows aren't an option at the moment?”

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This week I got the chance to speak with Amit Nerurkar, owner of the management company face-less. Amit and I met each other last summer at a conference that Symphonic put on in Brooklyn and since then I couldn't wait to have him on. We met up a few weeks after our initial encounter for coffee so I could pitch the idea of the podcast and he was more than willing to come on so I'm glad we were both finally able to make it happen!

In this episode, we talked about Amit's transition from the finance world to the music business, cutting his teeth at Red Distribution, helping to run Mass Appeal, and putting out "Run The Jewels 2" with Killer Mike and El-P, to now running his management company.

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“How do I set myself up for placements in TV/film/video games/online content?”

“Who are the Performing Rights Organizations and what do they do?”

“How do I go about finding music supervisors?”

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Marat Berenstein was my guest on the podcast this week and I couldn't thank him enough for not only agreeing to come on the show but also to record on super short notice. So HUGE shout out to him. For those that don't know Marat, he's been in the music business since the early 2000s and has worked with some of the biggest names in music, across all genres. In this episode, Marat talks about his first gig working for Art Garfunkel, being one of the heads at the Clive Davis Institute at NYU, and advice for artists that are looking to get their music licensed, especially during these times.

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“What are the key streaming metrics I should be focused on?”

“Is there a formula for planning a marketing campaign?”

“What do you think about everyone going on IG Live during the pandemic?”

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This week on the podcast I sat down with the VP of Streaming at Sales at Roc Nation, Ryan Hobbs. Ryan and I have known each other since 2011 when we were working on digital marketing campaigns for Universal Motown. Since then, Ryan has gone on to work at some of the biggest labels like Capitol Records and RCA, helping break artists both big and small. In this episode, we talk about what his day to day looks like, what he thinks artists and managers should be doing when they're first starting to build their careers and finally some trends he potentially sees popping up!

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“What motivates you to keep going?”

“How important is it to be patient?”

“What's the one thing you would tell your younger self to focus on sooner?”

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NBHD Nick was the guest on the podcast this week. Nick and I have known each other for a long time and it was great to catch up with him to talk about the things he's learned as his career is starting to take off. From shows and merch sales to landing big song placements on social media with people and brands like Will Smith and the XFL, NBHD is setting himself up nicely to be able to be a truly independent artist!

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“When first starting out in the music industry what should an executive focus on?”

“What's one thing people don't think about when it comes to being apart of a great management team?”

“How important is information?”

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This week on the podcast I sat down with Management Coordinator at Roc Nation, Sam Flood to talk about everything from our love for Upstate New York as well as everything he's learned while at Roc Nation so far.

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“What is one BIG mistake artists make when first going on tour?”

“How does an artist create a great live show?”

“How should artists manage their budget?”

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This week on the podcast I sat down with Associate Director of Tour Marketing & Events at RCA Records, Max Gayle. In addition to finding out that we started out at Def Jam the same year (2009), we also got to chop it up about everything that Max has learned when it comes to helping artists get on the road. Such great insight, can't thank him enough for his time!

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“How do I A&R my own music?”

“Where do I find beats to write to?”

“How do song splits work?”

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This week on the podcast I sat down with former Warner Music Group A&R, Eric McLellan. In addition to being a massive Mets fan, Eric also manages and helps develops artists for his new company, Yo Peep This. This is a great interview for anyone looking for insight into how they can start creating music on their own without having their own A&R.

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

"When do I know if my music is good enough to release?"

"Does it make sense to wait for a specific time to release my music?"

"Where can I find people to work with?"

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This week on the podcast I wanted to talk about something that stops a lot of great art from people created, the notion of having to wait until the quality of the music is at the highest level it should be. When artists are first starting out, I truly believe they should be thinking quantity over quality. And in this episode, I explain why.

Enjoy, but most importantly, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

“How do I grow my IG account?”

“How important is it to be involved in a community?”

“How do I even find a community to be a part of?”

—

In episode 9 of the “unsigned podcast” Murph and Jamal sit down with freelance photographer and DJ Moresoupplease to talk about what it means to be a one-man creative team and how best to engrain yourself in a community to get the most of out of what you put in.

Enjoy!

“How do I find the right audience to listen to my music?”

“Someone told me the only way to start getting a buzz is to buy fake followers, is that true?”

“Man, there are too many social media sites to keep up with, how do I choose which ones are most important?”

—

Everyone is trying to get popping online these days but few actually understand how to make the internet work for them.

In episode 8 of the “unsigned podcast,” we talk with the Director of Digital Marketing at Columbia Records, John Vincent Salcedo.

Back in April, we were able to sit down with John to talk about where to find your audience and how best to engage with them. We also chatted about John's journey to the US and how in the beginning, he himself wanted to be an artist. John's story is a great one on how to find your way through the music industry by working through different disciplines until one starts to pay off. Enjoy!

“My music is HOT! Why don't brands want to work with me?”

“Where can I find people who work for brands?”

“What does being authentic mean?”

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Are you trying to work with brands but not having any luck? Well then listen up!

In episode 7 of the “unsigned podcast,” we talk with the Associate Director of Brand Partnerships at Complex, Joe Cappuccilli.

In our chat with Joe, he talks about his early struggles trying to make it to NYC to work in music and how he overcame those obstacles by eventually landing a gig at Cornerstone (TheFader). Since then, Joe has gone on to work at Complex Media as part of the brand partnerships team. Joe helps handle finding the right talent, both big and small, for the right brand campaign. Joe has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world like Pepsi, Puma, and Powerade.

"I want to film my own videos but don't know where to start."

"I have no clue how much money I should be spending."

"How do I reach out to someone more seasoned than me?"

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Is this you? Talking yourself out of taking things to the next level?

Don't worry, we have the answers. Check out the latest episode of the "unsigned Podcast". This week we talk with Raf Moses.

We caught up with Zeena Koda, the senior director of digital marketing at Atlantic Records, to talk about how she got her start in the music business, the role that technology now plays when it comes to marketing projects, what up and coming acts should be spending for advertising and the importance of email marketing.