In this show, Ari deconstructs the brightest minds in the music industry, digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and strategies that listeners can use to run successful careers of their own.
This week Ari sits down with alt-pop singer, rapper & multi-hyphenate, Noga Erez. Her breakout album Off The Radar earned worldwide acclaim and her sophomore project KIDS brought even greater success. She recently released a new record THE VANDALIST, which has further cemented her place as a one-of-a-kind artist of the modern era.
Noga Erez has garnered fans across the world, including superstars like Billie Eilish, Missy Elliott (who Noga collaborated with on her 2022 single “Nails”), Gal Gadot, and Finneas. She has sold out the Bowery Ballroom in NY, El Rey Theatre in LA, and Menora Arena in Tel Aviv on her headlining tours. Erez has performed at Bonnaroo, Primavera Sound, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, and has been featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as well as The Kelly Clarkson Show.
In this episode, Ari and Noga talk about the creation process and the craft of songwriting. They also delve into themes from her latest record, including: how social media has affected society and the ways releasing music has changed in recent years. THE VANDALIST is Noga’s first record on a major label, so she shares details of what that experience has been like for her. Noga also talks about what it means to be an Israeli artist in a larger global context, and how that has impacted her life and work.
00:00 The Meaning of Music in Life
01:05 Introducing Noga Erez and Her New Album
02:42 Navigating the Music Industry Chaos
03:36 Being an Israeli Artist in Today's World
04:36 The Creation Process of 'THE VANDLIST'
06:31 Collaborating with Real Musicians
11:35 Exploring Themes of PC Culture in Music
16:55 The Impact of Social Media on Society
24:41 The Sad Generation and Its Challenges
30:00 The Role of Music in Finding Purpose
34:43 Songwriting Process and Collaboration
37:26 The Creative Process Behind Songwriting
42:07 Navigating Major Label Dynamics
46:40 The Impact of Social Media on Artists
55:18 The Challenges of Being an Israeli Artist
01:10:48 Defining Success in the New Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Ari sits down with Zena White, the chief operating officer at Partisan Records. Partisan is an internationally renowned independent record label headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. Zena has overseen global strategy for #1 charting, Grammy-nominated, Mercury Prize-winning album campaigns across Partisan’s diverse roster that includes IDLES, PJ Harvey, Cigarettes After Sex, Blondshell, the Fela Kuti estate and many more. Zena is also on the board of organizations like World Independent Network, A2IM, RIAA, and is a Recording Academy Member. Prior to Partisan, Zena was Managing Director at The Other Hand marketing services company in London, where she worked with artists such as Run The Jewels, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley, and more.
Zena tells Ari about ORCA (Organization for Recorded Culture and Arts) a nonprofit she’s involved with that uses research to demonstrate the economic, social, and cultural value of music. Then later, she takes us behind the scenes of Partisan Records, explaining where they spend their marketing money, how much they spend, and more. Ari and Zena discuss ‘old-school’ marketing tactics like radio, PR, print media, digital and TV, and Zena sheds light on how artists get on Late Night shows… along with how much that costs. Yep—it costs. Ari and Zena also dive deep into the world of ‘new media’ and discuss how Partisan spends its money in the new age of social media. Tune in to hear stories about how Cigarettes After Sex got off the ground and to get a glimpse into the inner workings of indie labels!
00:00 Investing in Artists: The New Music Business
04:48 Inside Partisan Records: A Label's Journey
10:00 Cigarettes After Sex: A Case Study in Success
24:42 The Balance of Data and Creativity in A&R
34:06 Marketing Strategies for Independent Artists
40:50 The Evolving Landscape of Music Marketing
46:28 Public Relations and Its Impact on Artist Development
52:13 Navigating Television Appearances and Their Costs
55:30 The Role of Local Press in Ticket Sales
01:02:26 Influencer Marketing and New Media Strategies
01:08:58 The Formation and Purpose of Orca
01:19:05 Defining Success in the New Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Ari is joined by Jason Lipshutz, the Executive Director of Music at Billboard. Jason has written about music for over a decade and has penned cover stories on Taylor Swift, U2, Blink-182, Lorde, Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons, among many others. He was formerly a deputy editor at Fuse Media and has contributed to VIBE, The Hollywood Reporter, Spinner, and Popjustice. Jason recently released a book about Linkin Park called It Starts With One.
In this illuminating interview, Jason shares his perspective on the state of music journalism, how he approaches conducting interviews, who decides what gets reviewed and who goes on the cover at major music publications. Ari and Jason also trade stories about their experiences with publicists and managers trying to squash stories to protect client images. If you're interested in the inner workings of the music journalism industry, this episode is for you!
Check out Jason’s new audiobook: https://aristake.io/ul1wx7
00:00 The Balance of Music Journalism
03:10 Writing a Book vs. Cover Stories
05:56 The Evolution of Linkin Park
13:02 The Art of Interviewing Artists
18:09 The Changing Landscape of Music Journalism
29:19 Navigating the Pressures of Music Journalism
36:05 The Editorial Process at Billboard
41:44 Balancing Traffic and Storytelling
45:04 Personal Fandom in Journalism
48:14 Writing a Book on Linkin Park
56:33 Championing Creativity in the Music Industry
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Ari sits down with Lucas Keller, the Founder & President of Milk & Honey, an entertainment management company that represents some of the world’s biggest songwriters, artists, and producers. Established in 2014, Milk & Honey is a hybrid agency that works in both the music and sports industries and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Dallas and London. On the music side, Milk & Honey represents world-class creators including the writers behind Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” BTS’s “Butter,” Justin Beiber/Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” and many other international hits. Lucas and Ari talk about the state of music publishing and go deep into the ethics of royalties and producer points. Lucas explains how publishing and record deals work these days and gives his inside scoop on major catalog sales. Lucas also shares Milk & Honey’s process for setting up hit songwriting sessions.
If you’re a songwriter, artist, producer, or anyone in the industry who wants to learn more about the ins and outs of music publishing, this episode is for you.
00:00 The Art of Songwriting: A Daily Grind
04:51 Understanding Music Publishing Terminology
10:04 The Financial Landscape for Songwriters
15:11 The Impact of Collaboration on Songwriting
19:50 Navigating the Complexities of Publishing and Royalties
24:52 The Future of Songwriting: Challenges and Opportunities
26:20 The Evolution of Songwriting and Collaboration
34:04 Understanding Publishing Deals in Today's Market
48:07 The Growing Importance of Catalog Sales
51:56 Defining Success in the New Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Ari sits down with John Summit, one of the most sought-after DJ/producers in the global dance world. John is a superstar DJ, producer, and owner of his own label, Experts Only. He has nearly a billion all-time global streams across his own catalog, two number 1 US dance radio hits, and two top 10 tracks on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Summit has sold out iconic venues such as BMO Stadium, MSG, the Forum, Coachella, EDC, Tomorrowland and other major festivals all across the globe.
John tells Ari all about how he got his start (making music with a day job, producing songs in his parents' basement), and how those humble beginnings led to him touring the world as a celebrated artist. He talks about how he got his career “break,” and gives practical advice to aspiring DJ/producers. John also talks about running Experts Only and how he hopes to develop the label.
Keep up with John Summit at: https://www.instagram.com/johnsummit/
00:00 Breaking Out of the Local Scene
06:07 Creating an Album vs Singles
08:59 Staying Inspired Creatively
12:12 The Evolution of Live Performances
14:53 Navigating the Pandemic: A Turning Point
17:47 The Power of Persistence
24:00 Collaborating Remotely
33:16 Designing Arena Shows vs Festival Shows vs Clubs
38:46 Behind The Curtain of Experts Only Label
47:20 Experts Only Party Nights and Community Building
51:14 Marketing Support for Artists on Experts Only
53:04 Advice for Aspiring DJ/Producers
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Ari sits down with Tony Kiewel, the President of Sub Pop Records and co-founder of ORCA (Organization for Recorded Culture and Arts). Sub Pop has repped iconic artists like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Beach House, The Postal Service, Flight of the Conchords, Iron & Wine, Father John Misty, and many more. Tony’s organization, ORCA, is a “think tank comprised of international independent music labels committed to increasing music’s economic, social, and cultural value.” ORCA has done incredible research to demonstrate the tangible value of music in our society. ORCA also works with numerous record labels to increase financial and contractual transparency between labels and artists.
In this episode, Tony shares the inner-workings of his experience at Sub Pop. He breaks down how independent record labels function in 2024 and how exactly his label invests in the future of their artists. Ari and Tony discuss how ORCA’s research could help influence law and policy changes for the music industry and how the organization helps people outside of the industry understand how things work. Tony talks about what Sub Pop looks for when it comes to signing new artists, how they develop current artists on their roster, and how they go about working with undiscovered artists vs. artist on the cusp of stardom. If you’re interested in the inner workings of indie labels, you won’t want to miss this episode!
ORCA: https://www.orcaformusic.com/
“Setting the Stage: How Music Works” study by ORCA: https://aristake.io/orca
00:00 Understanding the New Music Business
05:26 The Formation of ORCA and Its Goals
10:16 The Importance of Transparency in the Music Industry
16:07 The Challenges Facing Independent Artists
22:42 The Role of Indie Labels in Artist Development
33:56 Artist Development Strategies at Sub Pop
42:58 Investments in Emerging Artists
51:15 Revenue Streams and Financial Models
01:00:19 Marketing and Tour Support Budgets
01:10:36 Trends in Physical vs. Digital Sales
01:17:26 Mutually Beneficial Artist-Label Relationships
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week Ari sits down with Dorian Perron, the co-founder of Groover, a platform that connects artists who want to promote their music with media outlets, radio stations, record labels, playlist curators and industry professionals seeking emerging talents. Ari and Dorian go in depth about how artists can safely pitch their music and receive constructive feedback from industry professionals. They discuss the current state of playlisting—specifically how to avoid botted playlists and streaming fraud while promoting your music. You’ll also get to hear Ari’s unfiltered thoughts about Groover and other playlisting platforms in this deep-dive conversation. If you’re an artist who self-promotes their music, this episode is for you.
Get 15% off your first campaign with Groover with the code ARISTAKE
Website: Groover.co
Variety Article (Streaming Fraud): https://variety.com/2024/music/news/spotify-artists-streaming-fraud-1235965379/
00:00 Artists' Goals and Varying Needs
01:18 Introduction to Groover
02:08 Streaming Fraud and Shady Companies
03:35 The Ecosystem of Playlist Curators
05:28 What is Groover?
09:41 Evolution of Playlists and Curators
12:26 Starting Groover in California
13:21 The Rise of Playlists
14:17 Types of Playlists on Spotify
17:05 Groover's Focus on User-Generated Playlists
18:28 The Impact of Playlists on Artists' Careers
19:26 Nourishing Different Types of Playlists
22:38 Pitching Songs to Playlist Curators on Groover
26:53 Paying for Consideration, Not Placement
28:21 The Streaming Fraud Issue
35:42 Verifying Legitimacy of Playlists
40:26 Factors Affecting Success on Groover
44:46 Defining Success in the New Music Business
50:42 Tailoring Music to Please Curators
56:26 Quality vs. Tailoring in Groover Campaigns
01:05:39 Varied Results on Groover
01:09:18 Finding Your Own Pace in the Music Business
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Ari sits down with AyseDeniz, a classical pianist and composer with a Bachelor's from Eastman School and a Master's from the Royal Academy of Music. In 2022, she was listed as one of the 20 under 40 Young Shapers of the Future of Music by Encyclopaedia Britannica, alongside notable artists such as Adele, Lil Nas, and Lorde. In this episode, AyseDeniz talks about how she collaborates with AI to compose new works of music. AI tools have changed AyseDeniz’s career trajectory as an independent artist, even though she’s an incredibly skilled classical musician. Ari and AyseDeniz discuss the ethics of composing and collaborating with AI and how she has used these tools to propel her career forward. Check out AyseDeniz at: https://www.adpianist.com/
00:00 Exploring the Classical Music Industry and AyseDeniz's Background
02:14 Using AI to Create Classical Piano Compositions
03:43 The Emotional Component of AI-Generated Music
04:11 The Ethics of AI in Music Creation
05:06 AyseDeniz's Journey in Scoring for Film and TV
06:32 The Future of AyseDeniz's Music Career
47:35 Creating AI-Generated Compositions
50:07 Authenticity in Music Performance
51:06 Ethical Considerations in AI Music Generation
57:49 The Need for Regulations and Laws
01:13:25 The Future of Music with AI
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
This week, on the New Music Business Podcast, Ari sits down with Louis Marks and Fabian Brown of Ropeadope Records, a label that’s been around in the jazz world for 25 years and has worked with Snarky Puppy, Christian Scott, Greg Spero, Terrace Martin, Questlove, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Taj Majal, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Sister Gertrude Morgan, and so many more. In this episode, Louis and Fabian talk about how most of their artists cannot make a living just from streaming revenue. They share the ways they’ve been evolving, as a label, to elevate and lift their artists in the ever changing landscape of the new music industry. This conversation discusses the ins and outs of streaming, social media, physical sales, downloads, bandcamp, touring, patronage, community, and so much more.
00:00 - Introduction
04:55 - The Mission of Ropeadope Records
18:43 - Rethinking the Value of Music
24:22 - Preserving Contemporary Music
31:32 - Re-Educating Fans and Focusing on the Connection
44:44 - The Limitations of Streaming Platforms
53:29 - Exploring Alternative Models for Artist Support
Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/
Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com
Watch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpa
Connect with Ari’s Take:
Website: https://aristake.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take
X: https://twitter.com/ArisTake
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1
Connect with Ari Herstand:
Website: https://ariherstand.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand
X: https://twitter.com/ariherstand
YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand
Connect with Ropeadope Records:
Website: https://ropeadope.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ropeadope/
Bandcamp: https://ropeadope.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ropeadope99
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
This week, Ari sits down with Jaylon Ashaun, a talented R&B artist currently based in LA via Atlanta and Houston. Jaylon found success by regularly releasing music and building a direct artist-to-fans community online. His song “Strawberries and Wine” took the digital music world by storm, with over 25 million streams of its various versions. Last year, Jaylon toured the US with major R&B acts Xavier Omar and Hojean. Ari and Jaylon discuss the importance of connecting with fans directly, how to capitalize on and move past viral moments to build a sustainable career, and how Jaylon has built his superfan community, Global Nomads, online.
Chapters:
00:00 Taking Risks and Putting Out Music
14:24 The Power of Regularly Releasing Music
19:37 Developing a Super Fan Community
27:52 Perseverance, Collaboration, and Artistic Identity
28:22 Building a Community and World Around Your Music
31:16 Engaging with Fans and Nurturing Your Community
33:06 The Power of Physical Merchandise
40:18 The Evolving Music Industry and the Importance of Adaptability
Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/
Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com
Watch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpa
Connect with Ari’s Take:
Website: https://aristake.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take
X: https://twitter.com/ArisTake
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1
Connect with Ari Herstand:
Website: https://ariherstand.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand
X: https://twitter.com/ariherstand
YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand
Connect with Jaylon Ashaun:
Website: https://www.jaylonashaun.me/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylonashaun
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaylonashaun
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5dhseP7KiICmkxT5waM1Md
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids-Ergas
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
This week, Ari sits down with Ni/Co, the musical duo of LA-based couple Dani Brillhart and Colton Jones. Their most recent song “On Purpose” has taken the internet by storm with over 6.2 million streams on Spotify and YouTube. Ni/Co built their early career by releasing covers on YouTube and placing their songs in sync. They have garnered over 75 million views on YouTube and have landed 6-figure sync deals with their music. However, as their covers became more popular and they wrote under various monikers for sync, Dani and Colton had to make a decision: did they want to prioritize these paths or re-center their career around original music? This conversation dives into the details of publishing and label deals, Ni/Co’s journey through sync, their experience going viral on TikTok, and how they clarified their artist identity to stay true to their vision along the way.
00:00 - Introduction and Background
10:39 - The On Purpose Journey and Release
15:47 - Meeting and Starting as a Couple
26:23 - Signing a Publishing Deal and Sync Placements
30:11 - Separating Covers and Originals
42:52 - The Success of 'On Purpose'
49:05 - Influencer Campaigns, Viral Songs, and the Importance of Diversifying Revenue Streams
1:13:20 - Challenges and Scams in Revenue Collection
Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/
Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com
Watch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpa
Connect with Ari’s Take:
Website: https://aristake.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take
X: https://twitter.com/ArisTake
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1
Connect with Ari Herstand:
Website: https://ariherstand.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand
X: https://twitter.com/ariherstand
YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand
Connect with Ni/Co:
Website: https://nicomusicofficial.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ni.co_official
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ni.co_official
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IR0GSCHsTo7gSw8HHLBnr
Edited and mixed by Ari Davids
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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