This week Ari sits down with Katie Tucker, a double-platinum songwriter, vocal producer, studio owner, and the visionary behind Sharp Edges Records with its accompanying recording studio. As a songwriter, Katie has crafted hit songs for renowned artists like Namie Amuro, BoA, and Jota Quest. She has amassed millions of streams as a recording artist and her music has been featured on major platforms including ABC, USA, VH1, Fox, Disney, Peacock, and Hulu. A defining moment in her career came with "Do It For Love," featured on Namie Amuro's album Finally, cementing her status as a double-platinum songwriter.

These days, however, Katie spends most of her time in advocacy and running Sharp Edges Records. One of the main reasons Katie started her record label/studio was to create a safe space for her clients within the industry. Katie started No Creeps!, an event and movement advocating for mental health, safety, and inclusivity in the music industry as a further expression of her advocacy. This conversation goes deep into safety and inclusion in music and recording. In this conversation, Katie offers tangible resources for how we can all participate in making this industry a safer and more supportive place for everyone. 

Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiesharpedges/

Women In Music Safe(r) Spaces Resource Directory: https://www.womeninmusic.org/saferspaces

No Creeps! Digital Resource Zine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uk87S0hmxSsHaEXCTieSuz3AiwcaKs-x/view?usp=drivesdk

Chapters:

00:00 Creating Safe Spaces in the Music Industry

03:08 The Journey to Sharp Edges Records

05:56 The Importance of Vulnerability in Music Creation

09:06 Navigating Safety and Inclusivity in Recording Studios

11:52 Concrete Steps for a Safer Music Environment

15:11 Understanding the Spectrum of Safety Concerns

18:00 Educating for Change: The Role of Communication

20:50 Empowering Artists Through Advocacy

30:20 Addressing Abuse of Power in the Music Industry

32:11 The No Creeps! Initiative: Creating Safe Spaces

36:19 Empowering Voices: Sharing Experiences and Education

41:11 The Importance of Allyship and Advocacy

46:24 Navigating Imperfection: Learning from Experiences

52:35 Resources for Safety and Support in the Industry

56:21 Redefining 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Ari sits down with Heather Vassar, the Senior Vice President at EMPIRE—a fully independent record label, publishing company, and distributor. Heather’s career began at Universal Music Group Nashville, where she developed digital strategy for renowned artists such as George Strait, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban. In 2019, Heather joined EMPIRE where she now plays a pivotal role in operations, marketing, and strategy for a diverse roster of artists including Shaboozey, Wyatt Flores, Niko Moon, Sophia Scott, Don Louis, Reyna Roberts, Tenille Arts, and Randy Houser.

Heather and Ari discuss the incredible success of Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” which has been number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 19 weeks straight—the longest any song has held that position. Heather reveals how this hit (released on an indie label) became the biggest song in the world and how they have sustained its momentum. She shares the entire journey from signing Shaboozey, to putting out his initial singles, releasing his album, collaborating with Beyonce, all the way to his massive global success today. Thanks to her extensive experience at both major and independent labels, Heather has sharp insights to share about deal structures, ownership models, artist development, and how the industry has shifted (in the majors and the indies) over the last five years, all of which you’ll hear about in this episode.

https://www.instagram.com/hvassar/

00:00 The Hustle Behind Success

02:49 Empire Records: A New Era in Music

06:07 Shaboozey’s Journey to Stardom

09:12 Navigating the Independent Label Landscape

12:01 The Creative Process: From Songwriting to Release

14:50 Breaking Through: The Success of “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

18:07 The Role of Radio in Today's Music Industry

20:49 Building a Fanbase: The Digital Approach

24:02 The Importance of Flexibility in Music Releases

33:56 Navigating Legalities in Music Production

39:08 Strategic Album Rollout and Market Timing

45:51 Building a Global Music Infrastructure

50:02 Maintaining Momentum After a Hit Release

55:04 Balancing Art and Market Trends

01:00:10 Educating Artists in the Digital Age

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 AFSHEEN, an electronic artist, producer, songwriter, and DJ. Initially, AFSHEEN became well-known for producing music by Madonna, Janet Jackson, Selena Gomez, Chris Brown, Sia and other big-name artists. AFSHEEN was nominated for a Latin Grammy for his work on Natalia Jiménez's album Creo en Mi. He wrote "All We Have Is Love" with Sabrina Carpenter, wrote and produced "Sunny Days" with Armin van Buuren and Toby Gad, and has worked with other notable artists like Rebecca Ferguson and Lindsay Stirling. A song AFSHEEN wrote for Korean artist Taeyeon reached number one on the K-Pop Billboard charts for two consecutive weeks. 

AFSHEEN has had an incredibly successful career as a songwriter/producer, but he also recently released a new album, SMALL WORLD, under his namesake solo project. An Iranian refugee himself, AFSHEEN worked with artists from all over the world to bring this record to life. SMALL WORLD features prominent artists from Indian, Romania, Jamaica, Japan, Amsterdam, and beyond. 

AFSHEEN talks with Ari about transitioning from being the go-to producer/songwriter for superstars into being a self-released artist who releases his own music through DistroKid. AFSHEEN is also starting his own label, SOUNDISH. He shares insights about the process of building a label and his vision for the label’s future.

https://www.instagram.com/afsheenmusic/

00:00 Exploring Global Sounds: AFSHEEN’s Journey

09:55 The Power of Collaboration: Building a Diverse Album

20:07 Cultural Roots and Personal Stories: Music as a Reflection

30:03 The Indie Artist Journey: From Producer to Self-Released

32:00 Vision for the SOUNDISH label: A New Era in Music Production

38:24 Transitioning from Behind the Scenes to Artist

42:46 Expanding Global Reach through Collaboration

51:22 Breaking into the Music Industry

01:02:08 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 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.