The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

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.

https://www.nogaerez.com/

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!

https://partisanrecords.com/ 

https://www.orcaformusic.com/

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. 

https://www.milkhoneyla.com/

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/

X: https://x.com/ropeadope

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.