chartless with Melissa Mulligan

The music industry sets us up to seek approval from someone "in charge" rather than valuing our own ability to lead. I think it's time we change that.

I brought the topic of leadership to my Mastermind community, a group of professional and indie music makers at every stage of their careers, and asked them directly: 

Do you see yourself as a leader? 

Do you ever struggle to feel empowered, valued, or worthy in this field? 

What's the most disempowering advice you've ever been given about pursuing a career in music?

We captured one of the most honest conversations we've ever had in our community, and decided to share it with you.

We discovered that most of us were led to believe that leadership, influence, and worth were things you earned later, after the achievements, after the credits, after the recognition.

We talked about what it actually looks like to show up as a leader (even with limited experience), about networking from a place of genuine connection instead of quiet desperation, and about leading with empathy and service in a space that can feel deeply competitive.

What emerged surprised even me.

This one will change how you see yourself in every room you walk into. 

Enjoy!

Peter has worked with top-tier artists like Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne, Billy Porter, and Pixie Lott. He had his first professional song cut as a teenager. Sounds like a dream...

And.... not everyone is this honest about whether or not there might be a cost to a career trajectory that takes off this early.

Peter is a full-time actor now, doing award-winning work on stage at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and appearing in major TV and film projects. It's been amazing to witness his renewed commitment to a craft I didn't even know he was missing so deeply.

This episode is inspiring, it's thoughtful, and at times truly hilarious. I think you're going to love it.

Meet our guests:

Dr. Christine Gangelhoff

Free Artistic Readiness Self-Assessment for Young Musicians

SoundPath Consulting

Dr. Alaina Johnson

Parenting Talent (resources)

And your host, Melissa Mulligan

Music Career Mastermind 

Mel on IG 

100% of music makers that I polled reported that social media is making them miserable.

This is by design, because social platforms are built like casinos, not careers.

Social media was meant to deepen relationships, not create fans out of strangers.

Virality isn’t a strategy. It’s a slot machine.

And once someone follows you, there’s a good chance they won’t even see your work.

There is a better way to use this. Let's dive in!

In this episode, Melissa sits down with recording artist and songwriter Nanseera for a thoughtful conversation about artist identity, culture, and what it means to find a sense of belonging in the music industry.

Nanseera shares how growing up across Uganda, Ethiopia, and the United States, and now building her career in Nashville, has shaped the way she approaches music and creative spaces. As a multicultural, genre-blending artist, she reflects on what it feels like to walk into different rooms that don’t always know where to place you.

Melissa and Nanseera also explore a concept Melissa often teaches her artists: evolving beyond the word genre. Instead of trying to fit into a category, artists can learn to state clearly who they are and what they create, which often expands creative possibilities rather than limiting them.

The conversation also turns into some real-time coaching around music release strategy and touring, as Nanseera prepares for her upcoming shows.

Toward the end of the episode, Nanseera speaks candidly about her process of rediscovering her artistic voice after graduating from music school, and what she describes as healing “art scars.” She also shares thoughtful advice for younger artists navigating the transition from school into the real world of music.

Today, I’m joined by Chris SD, one of the most clear-headed voices in sync licensing today. Chris has helped songwriters and producers place music in major film and TV projects, including recent placements in the Oscar-winning film Anora! His work focuses on getting songs in front of A-list music supervisors in ways that are ethical, strategic, and grounded in how the industry actually functions.

BONUS for those listening right now! You can meet with me, Chris, and a panel of music supervisors on Sunday, January 11th. Join more than 10,000 songwriters and composers for the largest sync licensing conversation in our industry. I’m so excited to invite you to this: [register here]

In this episode: 

We talk about what music supervisors are really listening for, and why so many common beliefs about sync licensing are simply untrue. Chris breaks down myths like needing a massive catalog of hundreds or thousands of songs, or having to write music for sync rather than making honest, well-crafted work. He explains what tends to matter far more, and where songwriters often overcomplicate things.

We also dig into the legal side of sync, including copyright, ownership, and what artists should understand before their music is ever pitched. And yes, we go there, Chris answers the question that’s sitting in the back of a lot of people’s minds right now: what about AI?

If sync licensing has ever felt confusing, intimidating, or wrapped in misinformation, this episode will change everything for you.

This is a true story. Robin Tucker is a gifted vocalist, songwriter, and producer, and someone I’ve had the joy of coaching for the last 2 years. Here's what happened in that time: 

​​Robin...
- ​Went viral
- Received harmful DMs and online abuse
- Considered quitting social media forever (relatable)​
- ​Evolved his musical identity
- Developed a music career road map​ that doesn't rely on an algorithm
​- Built an amazingly dedicated fan base
- Is ​a featured artist on a Grammy nominated album for 2026!​

In this deeply inspiring conversation, Robin and I walk through how we worked together to live through the viral fall-out, build a real fanbase, and create something more grounded and sustainable.​​​​​

Robin also opened up to me about his years at a (very popular) music college, the parts that helped him grow, and the parts that left him untangling a lot of mixed messages about identity, genre, and what a young artist is “supposed” to create. He talks about how hard it was to be told, again and again, to make commercial pop music instead of exploring what made him unique. And he shares what changed when he finally began following his own voice.

This is a conversation about resilience, craft, identity, and the steady work of becoming who you are. Robin is thoughtful, open, and incredibly talented, and I think you’ll feel that from the moment he starts talking.

My friend and colleague Cheryl B. Engelhardt  is nominated for a Grammy this year for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album! According to the Moon is beautiful from top to bottom, especially if you love music that makes space for reflection and breath.

We talk about the path that brought Cheryl here, including her first Grammy nomination when she became the first person ever to record an entire album on a transcontinental train using only a laptop and a small MIDI keyboard. Cheryl shares what she learned from that experience and why this new nomination feels different, softer, and more communal.

One of the highlights is our shared admiration for my student Robin Tucker, who is a featured vocalist on one of the tracks. Cheryl introduced me to Robin (a longtime collaborator of hers) at her Amplify retreat for career musicians, and it is a joy to see the work recognized in this way.

We also dig into what draws Cheryl to this genre, how the new age landscape is shifting, the creative decisions behind According to the Moon, and what it means to her to share this moment with her collaborators.

As always, it is deeply grounding to walk beside Cheryl in this journey. I love all of our conversations and I'm grateful we get to share this one with you!

If you’re a music maker, a collaborator, or someone who just loves hearing artists talk about the real process behind their work, this one is a good hang :)

Kimi was born in Kosovo during the war, while his family hid in the mountains for safety. When they returned home they slept in barns and abandoned trucks, and rebuilt their house by hand. To soothe her children, his mother sang to them with her beautiful voice.

Now, more than twenty years later, Kimi is stepping onto the stage of Albania’s national FiK 64 festival, on his quest to qualify for Eurovision, with a song that reaches back to those roots. 

Prap Dielli Del (“The Sun Will Rise Again”) is a message of hope drawn from a childhood shaped by uncertainty and a young adulthood marked by resilience.

We talk about his move to New York seven years ago, the dark moments he fought through, and the choice he keeps making to lean into whatever hope he can find, even when it’s only one percent.

We also revisit his American Idol moment when Katy Perry had him call his mother in Kosovo and sing to her before handing him a golden ticket to Hollywood, and that fateful day I met him in a studio in New York City and became his vocal coach.

And, for the first time publicly, we share that I’ll be traveling with him to Albania to coach him during the festival!

To listen to Prap Dielli Del, visit the RTSH YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt5Ajfg1EJA

To follow Kimi's journey and connect with him directly, visit him on IG or TikTok @urboykimi

To connect with me, please visit http://mastermindroad.com

We've got stories and tea with Alexa Renee, Crew Lead for Sofar in NYC! Alexa joins me in my studio to trace the journey of SoFar from a modest idea in a London apartment to a global movement that’s redefining how we gather around music. She shares what makes these secret shows so magnetic, and why they're a first date trend in many cities.

Then, we get into how artists should (TRULY) submit for Sofar performances, and why thoughtfully curated, in-person shows still matter in a world obsessed with algorithms (sorry, AI enthusiasts)!

Alexa opens up about her lifelong bond with music, her creative projects on the horizon, and what it’s like to step into the spotlight for the first time, both on Good Morning America and now, here on Chartless.

This one feels like a late-night conversation between fellow travelers who believe deeply in the power of live music to connect us.

MORE ABOUT SOFAR FOR ARTISTS: https://www.sofarsounds.com/about/artists

CONNECT WITH MELISSA MULLIGAN: https://www.mastermindroad.com/melissa-mulligan