3Q

Who is Todd Roberts?

Todd C. Roberts has spent nearly three decades finding artists before the market does, and building the businesses around them. He began as editor of Urb magazine before moving into A&R at Virgin Records and Astralwerks, working with artists like Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, Phoenix, and Basement Jaxx, and serving as Executive Producer on the Grammy-nominated Verve Remixed series. After the first wave of major label consolidation, he went back to the margins — embedding in LA’s Low End Theory scene, working closely with artists like Nosaj Thing and Oliver Tree before either had industry attention.

Most recently VP of Music Publishing A&R at MNRK, he has placed songs with Bodhi, Duncan Laurence, Shaboozey, and Grace VanderWaal, among others. Under his label imprint Amour Fou, he champions emerging artists including Elk Darling, Ryan Hemsworth, and Sienna Melgoza.

Through Good Egg Music, co-founded with UK entertainment attorney Gary Mandel, he’s building integrated multi-rights development for early and mid-stage artists — aligning incentives across publishing, management, and recordings without the exploitative structures of the past. An evolution, not a revolution.

What is The 3Q Podcast?

We’ve all been there. You carve out 30 to 60 minutes for an interview hoping to hear something new, something that truly impacts you and your career. Instead, you get another origin story or a recap of someone’s climb up the corporate ladder. Important? Yes. Impactful? Not always.What differentiates The 3Q Podcast from the rest is simple, it never takes more than 15 minutes of your time, and each guest responds to the same 3 questions.

Who is Brooke Hardesty?

Brooke Hardesty leads the Digital Marketing team at Warner Records Nashville, home of household names and icons like Randy Travis and Kenny Chesney, in addition to breakout acts like Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde, and Cole Swindell. With her fans-first approach, she has created uniquely-tailored digital experiences ranging from live event activations and bespoke social media campaigns, to history-making launches in the cutting-edge use of AI in music such as being part of Randy Travis’s AI-assisted “Where That Came From;” whose digital campaign received multiple CLIO Music and Webby Awards.

Brooke also orchestrated Kenny Chesney's TikTok launch ahead of his residency at The Sphere, a first for the Country Music Hall of Famer. During her tenure, she has crafted campaigns for multiple No. 1 charting albums, fostered digital partnerships with Meta, TikTok and SnapChat, and helped develop a first-of-its-kind "Creator Hub" for the label.

What is The 3Q Podcast?

We’ve all been there. You carve out 30 to 60 minutes for an interview hoping to hear something new, something that truly impacts you and your career. Instead, you get another origin story or a recap of someone’s climb up the corporate ladder. Important? Yes. Impactful? Not always.

What differentiates The 3Q Podcast from the rest is simple, it never takes more than 15 minutes of your time, and each guest responds to the same 3 questions.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Marc:

Marc Caruso is the Emmy-nominated co-founder and CEO of Angry Mob Music, an independent music publisher that combines boutique attention with global reach. With more than 25 years in the music industry, Marc has led Angry Mob’s growth from a small startup in 2009 into a respected, full-service publisher representing a roster of songwriters, artists, and producers whose songs have been recorded by major label and independent artists including Shaboozey, Russell Dickerson, Nora En Pure, Steve Aoki, Ty Dolla $ign, and iann dior, among many others. Through its AM2 sync division, Angry Mob has secured high-profile placements in series such as Bridgerton, Grey’s Anatomy, and Bel-Air, brand campaigns for Google, Walmart, PlayStation, and Toyota, as well as promo campaigns for ABC, NBC, FX, and Showtime.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Mike:

Mike Sherwood, founder of Sparks Street Entertainment, is a highly respected record executive with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. He spent more than two decades at Warner Music Group, where he held key positions at Warner Bros. Records, Elektra Records, and WEA Distribution. During his tenure, he collaborated with legendary artists such as Green Day, Tom Petty, and Linkin Park, while also helping to launch the careers of rising stars like Dua Lipa and Zach Bryan. Most recently, Sherwood served as Executive Vice President at Capitol Records, where he played a vital role in successful campaigns for artists like The Beatles, Katy Perry, Sam Smith, and Doechii. An ardent advocate for artists, Sherwood has dedicated his career to helping them realize their full potential.

Sparks Street Entertainment is a premier music management & consultancy company, boasting over 25 years of experience in the US Major Label system. Our deep-rooted expertise allows us to navigate the dynamic global music market, empowering artists and labels of all calibers to reach new levels of success.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Pete:

Pete Ganbarg is a 2X Grammy Award-winning record producer and A&R executive who is currently President of Pure Tone Music. Most recently President of A&R for Atlantic Records, Pete has spent the past 35 years as a senior A&R executive for major label groups, including Arista, Epic, and SBK/EMI. Some of the artists that Pete has worked with in his career include Santana (the 9X Grammy-winning album “Supernatural”), Lin-Manuel Miranda (the Diamond-certified “Hamilton” cast album), as well as contemporary stars (Twenty One Pilots, Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez), all-time classic artists (Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, America), and hit Broadway cast recordings and film soundtracks (Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, The Greatest Showman).Pete’s two GRAMMY Awards come from his role as producer on the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen and the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Jagged Little Pill. Additionally, he was named International Music Person Of The Year for 2023 by the music industry organization MUSEXPO and currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.As a music publisher, Ganbarg operates Songs With A Pure Tone and Margetts Road Music, joint ventures currently in partnership with Warner Chappell Music. Songs published by Pure Tone include 2024's Grammy-winning Record of the Year, "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus, as well as hits by Benson Boone, Charli XCX, Beyoncé, Lizzo, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, OneRepublic, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, and more.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Liam:

Liam James Ward is the Co-Founder & CEO of Something Something – a digital native-led content strategy studio that focuses on creative storytelling at the heart of every social media campaign. The London-based global agency works with artists, labels, and cultural brands to bring stories and in-person moments online. Trusted by stars like The Clash, Billie Eilish, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Declan McKenna and Disclosure, Something Something’s understanding of Gen-Z and utilizing fan accounts to supercharge strategies keeps their creativity high-level while remaining reactive in real-time. The company also is a creative strategy partner for the likes of Meta, TikTok, Google, Live Nation, and Soho House, among others.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Carolyn

Carolyn Ortiz has been carving out her own lane in music since 2009, blending publicity, brand partnerships, and live event curation with corporate stints at Chanel, Viacom, and Universal Music Group in business development roles. In 2021, she teamed up with her now co-founder, le’Roy Benros, to grow Big.Ass.Kids from a record label into a full-scale music ecosystem. This year, she spearheaded the launch of The B.A.K Play.Ground, a community platform connecting artists, agencies, and labels with a vetted network of music professionals. Most recently, she introduced The BAK Sandbox, a 501(c)(3) initiative raising funds to support music professionals affected by industry layoffs.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Bill:

An experienced veteran of marketing music across social platforms since the days of MySpace and Vine, Bill has worked music for artists at every major label group - starting in 2012 at Sony Music’s Columbia Records, where he worked digital marketing for artists such as Daft Punk, Jack White, MGMT, and Lil Jon. In 2018, he joined the senior digital team at UMG’s Republic Records, where he was fortunate to work award-winning campaigns for Pearl Jam and Glass Animals, as well as a rising artist named Noah Kahan. In 2021, he joined Warner Music’s social publishing division, leading campaigns and activations for artists ranging from Portugal The Man to Kevin Gates. Bill recently joined WMA as Head of Social, where he oversees the next generation of digital storytellers.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Donna:

Donna Budica is the Co-Founder & COO of TEN2, a Media & Content Marketing company specializing in maximizing YouTube growth for music artists.  With a degree in Finance from The Wharton School & an MBA from USC Marshall, she leads Corporate Strategy & Operations at the media company as well as its subsidiaries, including the martech platform, LaunchPadpro, which was recently announced.  Her career, which she started at CAA, spans 12+ years of multi-vertical industry experience & entrepreneurship at the intersection of media/entertainment, education, & social impact. 

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q. 3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Zach:

Zach Siegal-Eisman is a digital marketing leader with roots in social media and digital activations dating back to high school. While starting, he elevated the social media presence of numerous brands and entertainers, including working with the Syracuse University women's basketball and tennis teams and developing his music discovery site focused on emerging artists.
In 2017, Zach's career took off when he joined Artist Network Management, starting as a Junior Manager for Dirty Heads, Sublime with Rome, and Rome Ramirez as a day-to-day manager for a developing country artist. Zach honed his passion for marketing strategy, spearheading Artist Network Management's recording and marketing budgets in their JV label, Five Music Inc., with The Orchard, eventually leading him to a role as Account Manager at the social media agency Crowd Surf in 2019.
At Crowd Surf, Zach's leadership shone, quickly earning him promotions to Senior Account Manager and, later, VP of Marketing. He spearheaded 40+ projects, including work for Nickelback, John Fogerty, Jeff Dunham, Warner Chappell Production Music, UMG Catalog, Classic Motown, The Temptations, Eric Clapton, Steve Miller Band, Neil Diamond, Iron Maiden, and more.
Earlier this year, Zach launched Amplify Legacy, a marketing consultancy focused on audience growth and digital partnerships. His work with clients like Immediate Family, Songfluencer, Exploration, and others, combined with his business development role at Songfluencer, led him to his most recent position as VP of Digital & Viral Marketing at Big Loud Rock. There, he oversaw artist growth and boosting the digital presence of both upcoming and catalog record releases while focusing on audience engagement and retention for the Big Loud Rock roster which includes HARDY, Jagwar Twin, and more.