This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records. Ash shares the story of building one of the most influential independent labels in modern rock and metal, from booking DIY tours in the MySpace era to helping artists break into arenas.

During this episode, Ari and Ash dive into artist development, the evolution of touring, music video economics, social media virality, the ethics of tour buy-ons, and why building an artist brand matters more than ever. Ash also opens up about expanding Sumerian into film, the future of entertainment brands, and why he believes music videos deserve a better business model.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumerianrecords/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sumerianrecords

Check out Ari’s Take:

https://aristake.com

04:21 - Ash’s Journey from Touring Musician to Founding Sumerian Records

08:04 - Why Ash Left Booking to Focus Fully on the Label

12:00 - MySpace, TikTok, and How Artists Break Today

17:30 - Scenes, Community, and the Evolution of Heavy Music

22:16 - Artist Development and Getting Bands to Their First 500 Tickets

25:22 - The Ethics and Reality of Tour Buy-Ons

31:49 - Discovering Artists in the Streaming Era

35:15 - Why Music Videos Still Matter

49:00 - Building Sumerian Beyond Music Into Film and Media

56:00 - Ticketing, Industry Frustrations, and What It Means to “Make It”

Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Red Leather, the anonymous artist who turned viral TikTok videos into sold-out tours around the world. Known for his signature red hat, Red Leather first started his career by busking on Hollywood Boulevard before exploding online with viral covers and original songs like “The Only Time It Rains in Hollywood.” 

In this episode, Red Leather breaks down how he used social media to grow his audience from scratch, why he posted 5 videos a day for 100 straight days, how smashing guitars outside Capitol Records landed him a record deal (that he turned down), and why ticket sales matter more than streams or viral moments. He also opens up about sobriety, surviving addiction, touring independently, and eventually partnering with Empire after years of doing everything DIY.

Follow Red Leather:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redleather/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redleather

Check out Ari’s Take:

https://aristake.com

00:04:02 - Intro

00:04:36 - The Origin of Red Leather

00:06:39 - Sobriety, Addiction & Artistic Vulnerability

00:10:11 - Posting 5 Videos a Day for 100 Days

00:14:11 - The Viral TikTok That Changed Everything

00:20:00 - Smashing Guitars Outside Capitol Records

00:25:12 - Why He Turned Down Major Label Deals

00:33:28 - Booking Tours Through Instagram DMs

00:47:23 - Virality vs Real Fans & Ticket Sales

01:01:58 - What “Making It” Means Today

Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Oskar Med K, a breakout Norwegian EDM producer. Oskar breaks down the "overnight" success that was actually years in the making—from the days of sending 500 cold emails to labels with no response.

In this episode, Ari and Oskar talk about the marketing strategies that helped him scale from 40k monthly listeners to 11 million, why "simple" content often outperforms high-production on TikTok, and the surreal feeling of playing Coachella as his first-ever music festival.

https://www.instagram.com/_oskarmedk/

03:54 – Intro: The Release of Oskar’s Debut Album Feel

05:24 – Albums vs. Singles: Building a Body of Work in the Streaming Era

09:12 – The Remix Story: How Khalid Ended Up on a Remix

12:52 – Behind the Tracks: Songwriting and Collaborating Remotely

17:19 – The Early Grind: From iPad Beats to Music School in Norway

19:00 – From 0 to 1: The "Hustle" of Emailing 500 Record Labels

20:17 – Breaking Through: Finding the Right Label via LabelRadar

25:12 – Marketing Strategy: Simple Content vs. High-Production TikToks

33:42 – Moving to the Stage: Transitioning from Studio Producer to Live Act

40:40 – The Coachella Milestone: Playing Your First-Ever Festival

44:29 – The Future of Music: Addressing the AI Debate and "Making It"

Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ethan Berlin and Skully Kaplan of ROAM Artists for an inside look at the realities of booking and touring in today’s music industry. They unpack how booking agencies build and manage their rosters, what it really takes to develop artists on the road, and how deals—from guarantees to ticket splits—actually come together. If you’re an artist planning your next tour or trying to understand the live side of the business, this episode gives a clear, candid breakdown of how it all works.

https://www.instagram.com/roam.artists/

https://roamartists.com/

Chapters

05:03 – Intro & ROAM Agency Origin Story

08:26 – From Partnership to Global Agency

11:32 – Why Artists Need Different Agents by Region

14:59 – Breaking Into International Markets (Asia & Beyond)

19:52 – Why Artists Blow Up in Some Countries First

25:20 – Genre & Market Differences Worldwide

34:48 – The Real Cost of Touring Today

40:16 – How Artists Cut Costs on Tour

44:48 – How Artists Actually Make Money Touring

48:16 – Tour Deals & Promoter Strategy Explained

52:11 – Marketing Tours & Selling Tickets

Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Mark Orr, the founder of Lab Records, to explore how independent labels are evolving in today’s music industry. 

From deal structures and artist ownership to marketing strategies and physical releases, Mark shares a transparent look into how his label has operated and adapted over nearly two decades. They dive into how indie deals have shifted to become more artist-friendly, how Lab approaches partnerships like distribution with ADA, and why physical products like vinyl and limited editions are more important now than ever. Mark also breaks down how to build a lean team, when to outsource, and how to create meaningful fan engagement in a crowded digital landscape. Whether you’re on the artist or label side of the business, you won’t want to miss this episode.

https://www.instagram.com/labrecords

https://labrecs.com/ 

Chapters

00:00 - Lab Records Origin

05:00 - Building a Lean Team

09:25 - Streaming & Fan Engagement

13:23 - Pitching Artists vs Majors

16:07 - Modern Deal Structures

21:19 - Artist Power Shift

26:19 - Marketing in 2020s

31:42 - Physical Sales Comeback

36:21 - Touring Builds Fanbase

45:50 - Tools, Teams, Future

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Michael Turner, founder of the disruptive record label Rebellion. Turner shares how he’s building a modern music company by leveraging viral marketing, short-form video, and niche communities to help independent artists break through without relying on traditional gatekeepers.

In this episode, Turner breaks down how viral hits are engineered through tastemaker networks and micro-influencers, how artists track fan conversion across platforms, and why touring and deal structures are evolving outside the traditional label system. They also discuss royalties, distribution, and AI-generated music—and why Turner believes we’re entering a golden era for those independent artists willing to adapt.

https://www.instagram.com/iamplvtinum/

https://www.instagram.com/rebellionrecordsnyc/

Chapters

00:00 - From Artist to Rebellion Founder

05:48 - Early Spotify Virality & Indie Strategy

08:17 - From Algorithms to TikTok Discovery

13:32 - Engineering Viral Campaigns

18:38 - Metrics That Matter Beyond Streams

21:36 - Turning Virality Into Ticket Sales

24:13 - New Touring Models for Indie Artists

34:04 - Building the Modern Indie Ecosystem

43:01 - AI’s Impact on the Music Industry

48:32 - Signing Artists in the Indie Era

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Brian Hobbs and Dev Sherlock from South by Southwest (SXSW). Brian, VP of Music, has been at SXSW since 2012, helping shape the festival’s music programming and expand its sound, especially in hip hop and global scenes. Dev is the Director of Music at the festival. He plays a key role in building the lineup and working directly with artists, managers, and industry teams navigating the SXSW landscape.

In this episode, we break down what SXSW actually is, and whether it makes sense for you and your career. Dev and Brian discuss how this year is massively different than years past, what the real purpose of “South By” is, and how to approach it with a smart strategy (instead of just showing up and hoping for the best). We get real about networking—what that actually looks like at SXSW—and how artists, managers, and other industry folks can make the most of their experience. For those thinking about applying to official showcases, Brian and Dev walk through the submission process, and what their team is really looking for when they book artists. If you’re going to SXSW (or even thinking about it) listen to this episode first.

https://sxsw.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hobbs-155759164/ 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to South by Southwest

02:14 Changes in the Festival Structure

05:43 The Overlap of Music and Tech

08:46 The Role of Live Music Discovery

11:22 Business Opportunities at South by Southwest

19:05 Navigating Official and Unofficial Showcases

23:18 Monetizing Opportunities for Artists

27:58 The Global Impact of the Irish Diaspora

29:48 Travel Concerns for International Artists

30:41 Booking Artists for South by Southwest

34:55 The Application Process Explained

37:57 The Fluid Nature of Artist Bookings

41:42 Understanding Compensation Models

43:52 The Conference Experience at South by Southwest

45:52 Networking Tips for Artists

50:57 Defining Success in the Music Industry

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Aaron Greene and Neal O’Connor of Slush Management, the artist-first team behind Porter Robinson, Eden, Jai Wolf, and more. Slush has helped their artists generate billions of streams, sell millions of tickets, and craft long-term careers rooted in creativity rather than quick wins. With 15 years of experience across touring, branding, and global fan development, they’ve become leaders in sustainable artist strategy and innovative experiential storytelling.

In this episode, Ari Neal and Aaron dive into what modern artist development truly looks like. From building immersive worlds to cultivating real, lasting fan communities beyond vanity metrics, Neal and Aaron share how managers decide when an artist is ready for representation, why social media isn’t the only path to growth, and how long-term strategy beats short-term virality every time. The conversation also covers label paths (self-release, indie, major), when to tour, how support slots actually happen, and the importance of meaningful experiences. Hint: music videos might be more important than most folks realize. 

https://www.instagram.com/slushmgmt/

05:58 – What “world-building” means for modern artists

08:12 – How Porter Robinson developed his immersive universe

12:00 – Building an entire festival world with Disney-level partners

16:00 – Artist development: when an artist is ready for management

18:20 – Why immediacy is a trap & long-term growth matters

20:35 – Deepening 100 true fans vs. chasing viral moments

27:45 – Majors vs. indies vs. self-releasing: what actually works

31:55 – The real purpose of music videos in 2025

36:50 – Touring strategy: when to headline, when to support

39:20 – How artists actually get support slots

42:55 – What “making it” means in the new music business

Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business, Ari sits down with powerhouse managers Gordan Dillard and Josh Kaplan, the team behind global superstar Doja Cat. Together, they break down how they helped build one of the most influential, multi-hyphenate artists of the decade. Gordan and Josh share early viral moments of Doja Cat's diversified empire spanning music, brand partnerships, and new business ventures.

Other topics discussed here include: how features really work, how producers differ from beatmakers, what modern record deals look like at the highest level, and why short-form content has completely reshaped the career-building playbook. Gordan and Josh offer candid, unfiltered advice for emerging artists and managers on finding the right partnership, building a fanbase from scratch, and creating leverage in today’s industry.

https://www.instagram.com/dojacat/

https://www.agood-day.com/

04:16 – Why Good Day Management only represents one artist

07:19 – Diversifying Doja Cat’s revenue beyond music

10:18 – How Gordon & Josh first joined Doja’s team

15:40 – The “Juicy” era and early visual strategy

17:31 – Doja Cat’s rise during the pandemic

20:42 – Long-form videos vs short-form content today

24:54 – Balancing artists’ vision with budget and label support

29:10 – How label deals and funding have evolved

36:28 – How features actually get made (creatively & financially)

44:25 – Beatmakers vs producers: what’s the difference?

48:37 – Why songs sometimes have 7 writers & 6 producers

58:54 – Advice for emerging artists & managers today

Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Tema Siegel and Zach Blankstein of the band Couch. Tema is the singer and Zach is the guitarist/manager of this seven-piece soul-pop band from Boston. Their explosive live shows and fully DIY approach have helped them sell out major venues across the country. Formed from lifelong friendships and built during the pandemic, Couch has grown into a globally touring act while self-producing their acclaimed debut album 'Big Talk'.

In this episode, Tema and Zach break down how they built an engaged fanbase without label support, the logistics of touring as a seven-member group, and the creative and vulnerable writing process behind 'Big Talk'. Ari dives into their ad strategy, their partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator, how they secured major support tours with Lake Street Dive and Cory Wong, and what it takes to balance musicianship, management, and sustainable growth as an independent band in 2025. 

http://instagram.com/couch.theband

07:16 – Adding the seventh member & early chemistry

09:15 – Touring as an introvert and finding group balance

12:19 – Managing a 12-person touring party

16:34 – How fans are reacting to the new songs live

18:22 – How the band uses VIP sections to build superfans

19:40 – Collaborative songwriting process & Temma’s Notes app

22:19 – “Middleman” and the band’s unexpected EDM influence

26:22 – Self-producing the entire album & working with mixers

27:15 – Living in Boston and breaking out beyond the local scene

32:56 – Growing during the pandemic while in separate cities

36:32 – Early viral video & their online strategy

40:07 – How Couch finances the band with day jobs

41:24 – Why Zach became their in-house manager

55:52 – Opening for Cory Wong & Lake Street Dive

58:44 – Deep dive into their ad strategy

Edited and mixed by Peter Schrupp

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.