In this episode of the podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mimi Camara, an accomplished entertainment attorney known for her work with rising artists such as Soulja Boy, Gracie's Corner, and Young N' Ace. With a background in business and legal affairs at major labels like Atlantic, Warner Brothers, and Encore Records, Mimi has transitioned to focus on helping independent artists navigate the complexities of the music industry while building sustainable careers.

We kicked off our conversation by discussing the often misunderstood role of business affairs lawyers in record labels. Mimi emphasized that their primary responsibility is to protect the interests of the label, which can sometimes lead to a perception of them as the "bad guys." However, she explained that many lawyers genuinely strive to do the right thing for both the label and the artists, and her unique experience allows her to advocate effectively for her clients.

Mimi shared insights into the day-to-day realities of working in business affairs, revealing that it involves much more than just signing artists. From negotiating brand deals to mediating between artists and label creatives, the role is dynamic and requires constant relationship management.

We also explored the evolving landscape of music discovery, particularly the role of platforms like TikTok and YouTube. While TikTok has been a powerful tool for A&R research, Mimi pointed out that YouTube is increasingly becoming the go-to platform for music discovery, allowing artists to reach a global audience without the barriers of subscription fees.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Mimi Kamara

00:01:18 - The Role of Business Affairs Lawyers

00:03:30 - The Busy Life of a Label Attorney

00:06:25 - The Complexity of Artist Deals

00:09:10 - Trends in Artist Development

00:11:44 - Artist Management vs. Direct Artist Approaches

00:14:07 - Navigating Relationships with Artists and Managers

00:16:12 - The Importance of Trust in Artist Relationships

00:18:44 - Educating Artists on Business Matters

00:21:04 - Common Mistakes Artists Make

00:23:32 - The Role of Copyright in Music

00:26:43 - Songwriting Trends and Collaborations

00:30:10 - The Impact of TikTok and YouTube on Music Discovery

00:33:15 - Final Advice: The Importance of Community

00:34:20 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks

–

Connect with me:

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

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In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is Grammy-nominated producer/mixer/composer, Richard Tozzoli.

Rich may be the most prolific television composer anywhere, as his work has appeared in an astounding 1800 TV series, 20,000 episodes, in 40 countries. His unique style has been featured on CBS Sports, NBC Olympics, Counting Cars, Pawn Stars, Duck Dynasty, Trading Spaces, MLB, FOX NFL and many more. Artists he’s worked with include Al DiMeola, Ace Frehley, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Omar Hakim, and others.

Prior to turning his attention to composing, Rich was an excellent recording engineer and mixer, working on 5.1 surround sound projects for the likes of David Bowie, Carly Simon, Boston Pops, Blue Oyster Cult and Hall & Oates. He has also authored numerous articles on audio production and technology as well as the book Pro Tools Surround Sound Mixing.

During the interview we spoke about transitioning from engineering to television composition, how his engineering skills were important in gaining music supervisor attention, his annual writing trip to the Caribbean, expanding in to full orchestration, focusing on planetarium shows, and much more.

I spoke with Rich from his studio in Northern New Jersey

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 - The Importance of Reinvention

Discussing the necessity of reinventing oneself and the learning process involved.

00:00:22 - Introducing Richard Tozzoli

Overview of Rich's impressive career and accomplishments in television

composition.

00:01:50 - The Volume of Work. Rich shares the staggering number of cues and series his music has been featured in.

00:02:35 - The Role of Agents. Exploring how good representation can lead to opportunities in the industry.

00:03:29 - Transitioning to Composition

Rich discusses his shift from engineering to composing for television and the motivation behind it.

00:04:37 - The Unique Approach of Artists

Insights into how successful artists carve out their unique niches in the music industry.

00:05:29 - Ego and Confidence in Music

The balance of having confidence without letting ego take over in the creative process.

00:05:58 - Engineering Skills in Composition

How Rich's background as an engineer enhances his composition work.

00:07:21 - Speed and Efficiency in Mixing

The importance of quick mixing skills in the fast-paced world of television music.

00:08:14 - Simplifying the Process

Rich shares tips on simplifying music creation to enhance productivity.

00:09:08 - The Challenge of Live Performance

Discussing the differences between studio work and live performance experiences.

00:10:20 - The Use of Live Drums

Rich explains his preference for live drums and the benefits of using V-kits.

00:11:21 - The Evolution of Amplifiers

A conversation about the advancements in amplifier technology and their impact on sound.

00:12:43 - The Importance of Real Amps

Rich emphasizes the unique qualities of tube amps compared to digital simulations.

00:14:33 - The Pressure of Live Performances

Reflections on the challenges faced when returning to live playing after a long break.

00:17:13 - Reinventions in Richard's Career

Discussing Rich various career shifts and the importance of continuous learning.

00:19:35 - Composing for Planetariums

Rich shares his experiences composing music for planetarium shows and NASA.

00:21:25 - Exploring Immersive Sound

A discussion on the concept of immersive sound and its relevance in Rich's work.

00:23:13 - The Future of Television and Content

Rich's insights on the current state of television and the importance of adaptability.

00:27:32 - St. John Recording Retreat

Details about Rich's annual musical retreat in St. John and its creative benefits.

00:29:09 - Industry Trends and Observations

Rich shares his thoughts on the future trajectory of the music and television industries.

00:32:23 - Favorite Projects: Shark Week

Rich discusses his passion for composing music for Shark Week and the creative freedom it offers.

Learn more about Richard Tozzoli’s work: https://richtozzoli.com/

–

Connect with me:

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

—

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

#musicindustry #bobbyowsinski #composingmusic

My guest today is renowned musician, composer, and inventor of the groundbreaking Mutantrumpet Ben Neill. Ben’s Mutantrumpet is a hybrid electro-acoustic instrument that combines 3 trumpets and a trombone into one. It then incorporates interactive computer technologies that produces a sound that blurs the lines between acoustic and electronic music. 

Ben became interested in electronic music when he was the Music Curator of the N.Y.C. performance space The Kitchen from 1992 to 1999, and since that time he’s been incorporating electronic influences into his work. This includes thirteen albums, as well as exhibitions in museums and galleries in New York City and London. 

Ben began his teaching career in 2007 as a professor of music technology at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and was a Professor of Music Industry and Production at Ramapo College until 2024.

His new book is called Diffusing Music, and explores how technology is enabling new levels of creativity, and transforming how we share and experience sound.

During the interview we talked about why the Mutantrumpet was developed, using an AR headset during performances, the future of music collaboration, how music reflects society, and much more.

I spoke with Ben from his studio outside of New York City.

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

All about the Mutantrumpet (02:07)

Incorporating AR into performances 08:49)

Embracing electronic music (11:05)

Using proprietary plugins (23:50)

One last question (37:47)

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Ben Neill’s work: https://www.benneill.com/

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers. 

In this week’s episode, I sit down with the brilliant hip hop artist, producer, and designer James ‘Homebwoi’ Maddox.

Homebwoi’s work has been featured on 10 major label albums, 2 major motion pictures, and 3 commercially released video games.

Homebwoi is also the head of product design for his company Metro Southern Media, which specializes in creative services for artists, corporate branding, and film production services.

In this episode, he and I discussed how signing a record deal was the beginning of the end of his first band, the unique way he got established in the Atlanta music scene, his production process and why he likes to work with real musicians, how he became a multimedia service provider, and much more.

Homebwoi also shared his journey from starting as a young music producer navigating industry pitfalls to becoming a successful multimedia entrepreneur.

Are you ready for this?

Then run, don’t walk, and listen to this episode now!

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

The beginning of the end for Homebwoi’s first band (01:35)

Working as a producer (10:45)

Homebwoi’s producer tricks (19:56)

How Metro Southern Media started (27:03)

One last question (31:23)

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Homebwoi’s work: http://homebwoi.com, https://metrosouthernmedia.com/  

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with the amazing Norman Varney of AV RoomService.

Norman is an acoustic consultant who has designed over 500 critical listening rooms around the world, starting back to when he owned an audio retail store. 

After that, he became director of the Custom Installation and Home Theater divisions at Music Interface Technologies. There he designed the innovative and elaborate electrical system for the Scoring Stage of Lucas Film’s Skywalker Ranch.

Norman then became a senior engineer with the Acoustic Systems Business at the Owens Corning Science & Technology Center. He spent a considerable amount of his time there testing in anechoic chambers, reverberation chambers, and acoustic labs in general.

In this episode, Norman and I discussed some common acoustic myths, acoustic listening tests at Owens Corning, how extravagant home theaters can get, the difficulty in designing an immersive playback room, the built-in resonant point in American home construction, and so much more.

Are you ready for this?

Then tune in now!

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Let’s bust some myths (01:43)

Home theaters then and now (13:08)

Building immersive rooms (22:42)

Vibration protectors (31:02)

The worst spaces for good acoustics? (38:11)

One last question (41:02)

Additional Resources:

Follow AV RoomService on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avroomservice/ 

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Get 15 quick solutions to common mix problems with my Mix Fix Playbook: https://go.bobbyowsinski.com/mixfix

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on X: @bobbyowsinski

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Chandler Kinchla (commonly known as Chan), the guitar player for Blues Traveler and his new band W4RHORS3.

Born in Ontario, Canada, Chan moved to Princeton, NJ where he met his Blues Traveler bandmates. After graduating high school, the band moved to New York City where they gigged around town until they secured a record deal.

After they were signed, a bartender at one of the places they played at introduced the band to David Letterman. The band played his late night show many times over the years, which helped put them at the top of the music world.

The band has then gone on to record 15 studio albums that have sold over 10 million copies, and played over 2,000 shows in front of more than 30 million people.

In this episode, Chan and I talked about the “majesty of New Jersey,” what it’s like to play 300 dates a year in New York City clubs, the reasons for creating the H.O.R.D.E. tour, playing dates with W4RHORS3, and so much more.

Are you ready to meet this legend?

Then tune in now!

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

From Canada to New Jersey (01:59)

How Blues Traveler broke through (06:23)

Blues Traveler’s history with David Letterman (16:35)

Let’s talk about the H.O.R.D.E tour (18:15)

Chan’s work as a solo artist (20:33)

Last question for Chan (29:11)

Additional Resources:

Follow Chan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chankinchla/ and https://www.instagram.com/the_chan_gang/ 

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Get 15 quick solutions to common mix problems with my Mix Fix Playbook: https://go.bobbyowsinski.com/mixfix

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on X: @bobbyowsinski

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with singing coach to the stars, Eric Vetro.

Eric has a client list that’s a “who’s who” of music celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Rita Ora, John Legend, and Shawn Mendes, as well as the lead singers from bands like Haim, Weezer, Incubus and Muse. 

He’s also trained A-list actors for the movie musicals La La Land, Chicago, Judy, Mary Poppins Returns, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, Eurovision, In The Heights, Cinderella, and Wicked, among many others. 

Plus he’s worked with many Disney stars who went on to have great singing careers such as Vanessa Hudgens, Sabrina Carpenter, Ashley Tisdale, Olivia Holt, Laura Marano, and Dove Cameron.

In this episode, Eric and I spoke about his unique coaching style, how his background as a piano accompanist made him a better singing coach, how he gets a movie star ready to sing in a movie, why warming up your voice is so important, and so much more.

Are you ready for this?

Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Eric’s experience as a voice coach for the stars (01:47)

Is there a fast track to becoming a great singer? (06:02)

Eric’s unique coaching style (10:13)

From vocal coach to vocal producer (15:14)

How Eric became a vocal coach (21:04)

Eric’s first paid coaching job (25:37)

BBC Maestro (29:53)

One last question (35:36)

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Eric’s work: https://ericvetro.com/ 

Learn more about BBC Maestro: https://www.bbcmaestro.com/ 

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Get 15 quick solutions to common mix problems with my Mix Fix Playbook: https://go.bobbyowsinski.com/mixfix

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on X: @bobbyowsinski

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

Last week, I broke down every single important (and interesting) piece of music news for 2024. And today, like last year, I’ll be making my own predictions for music in 2025.

Listen in to learn all about them, from why I think young audiences will push back against AI-generated content to why indie artists will be dominating the mainstream music scene.

I’ll also be discussing the possible future of streaming platforms, which industry key players will be facing challenges, the indisputable adoption of lossless audio as a standard, and more.

Are you ready for this?

Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Let’s review my 2024 predictions (00:27)

2025, a bad year for AI? & other predictions (09:46)

Why Live Nation might lose their suit (19:02)

Additional Resources:

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Get 15 quick solutions to common mix problems with my Mix Fix Playbook: https://go.bobbyowsinski.com/mixfix

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on X: @bobbyowsinski

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with… myself. Yes friends, today, I go solo for this special episode of the podcast.

In it, I’ll be reflecting on the major stories that shaped the music industry in 2024. 

In this special year-in-review episode, I’ll be going over TikTok’s potential ban in the US—an event which will completely change the industry going forward, Japan's unexpected cassette tape resurgence, and Chechnya's surprising tempo regulations.

I’ll also be discussing how Spotify is adapting its royalty models, Live Nation’s issues with the US government, the sad death of some iconic music institutions, immersive audio’s struggle to gain traction, and so much more.

Whether you're a producer, artist, or industry insider, this episode is a must-listen if you want a detailed look at where the music world stands and where it's going.

Are you ready?

Let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Let’s talk about immersive audio (01:12)

Chechnya’s tempo ban (03:21)

The US TikTok ban (15:43)

Cassettes are making a comeback (22:16)

Live Nation is getting sued (28:06)

Some news about Taylor Swift (33:21)

Additional Resources:

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Get 15 quick solutions to common mix problems with my Mix Fix Playbook: https://go.bobbyowsinski.com/mixfix

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on X: @bobbyowsinski

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Constantine Roussos, the founder and CEO of the DotMusic top-level domain name.

Constantine is a Greek-Cypriot musician, songwriter, producer, engineer, and entrepreneur whose dream of having a “.music” domain name put him up against some of the most powerful tech companies in the world. 

As you’ll hear today, he was able to persevere and eventually garner the support from the largest music coalition ever assembled, with members representing over 95% of global music consumed.

Constantine has an interesting background, initially becoming a Cypriot Green Beret out of school, which unbelievably led to joining the military band. 

He later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Entrepreneurship with a minor in Music Industry at the University of Southern California, before continuing his education at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and becoming a certified music sound engineer.

He then went off to Pepperdine University where he earned his MBA. His last educational journey was graduating from Harvard Business School’s prestigious Owner-President Management program.

A pretty impressive background; and yet, this is only the beginning.

In this episode, Constantine and I talked about how top level domains work, why Facebook’s initial startup plan was brilliant, being a Cypriot Green Beret, why online privacy and verification are so important for musicians, and more.

Are you ready for this?

Then tune in now.

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

Meet Constantine (00:47)

The only thing you can control is your website (19:49)

Let’s talk about DotMusic (25:13)

How to apply for DotMusic (52:41)

Additional Resources:

Follow Constantine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dotmusic/ 

Learn more about Constantine’s work: https://constantinemusic.com/ 

Learn more about DotMusic: https://music.us/ 

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 

Get 15 quick solutions to common mix problems with my Mix Fix Playbook: https://go.bobbyowsinski.com/mixfix

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on X: @bobbyowsinski

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.