The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

Talya Elitzer is the co-founder of Godmode, a GRAMMY-nominated artist development company whose label and management clients include genre-breaking artists like Channel Tres, JPEGMAFIA, and Yaeji. Prior to Godmode, Elitzer was a Senior A&R at Capitol Records (Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Beck), and a previous booking agent for WME (Britney Spears, Grace Jones) and Mick Management (John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan). 

At Godmode, Elitzer takes an unorthodox approach to artist development and marketing, with an unusually high track record for breaking artists who don't quite fit into pre-existing formats. She focuses on building sustainable operations for her artists, so they can maintain an uncompromising approach to their work. Learn more about Godmode: http://www.godmodemusic.com/

03:44 Welcome

04:43 Godmode’s inception story

08:47 The harsh reality of getting a record deal

11:17 How Godmode operates

15:42 Are 360 deals still common?

17:24 Licensing deal with a major label

20:54 Channel Trace’s artist development

23:54 Creating an artist world

28:08 Evolution of Godmode’s release strategy

33:21 Godmode’s marketing budget

35:15 Social media and online campaigns

41:39 Self-funding as an independent company

43:30 The Godmode team

44:26 Advice for independent artists

46:50 Is there still a place for major labels?

48:04 Godmode’s fanbase development

53:38 The most effective communication avenue

55:05 Final question

Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmb

Ari's Take Academy (use code NMB for 10% off): https://aristakeacademy.com

Watch more discussions like this: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc1Fatf4celK3kYoJ6FUdN7qtYSCvAAMY

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

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Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Tayla Elitzer (Godmode):

Website: http://www.godmodemusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godmode_music

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talyagodmode

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GODMODE_MUSIC

Twitter: https://twitter.com/talyagodmode

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Dan Mangan is a two-time JUNO award winning and two-time Polaris Music Prize listed musician and songwriter, based out of Vancouver, Canada. Mangan has released 5 studio LPs and has embarked on various worldwide tours, most notably performing at Glastonbury, Jimmy Kimmel Live and selling out Massey Hall. Additionally, Mangan has scored for feature film, as well as television for Netflix and AMC. As of 2017, Mangan co-founded the Side Door alongside Laura Simpson. The “any space is a venue” marketplace platform ultimately matches creatives with spaces to host shows anytime and anywhere they choose. To learn more visit: https://sidedooraccess.com

04:56 Welcome

06:26 How Side Door started

15:05 Connecting with your audience

17:45 How Side Door benefits artists

24:58 Tier ticketing integration

28:08 How artists are using Side Door

38:10 The state of performance venues post-pandemic

42:36 Protecting artists with an automatic pro-remittance

46:34 Average ticket prices and artist earnings

50:46 The future of Side Door: in-person or online?

57:07 Building artist communities by becoming hosts themselves

1:00:09 Dan Mangan’s music career

1:04:24 Final question

Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmb

Ari's Take Academy (use code NMB for 10% off): https://aristakeacademy.com

Watch more discussions like this: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc1Fatf4celK3kYoJ6FUdN7qtYSCvAAMY

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Dan Mangan (Side Door):

Website: https://sidedooraccess.com/home

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sidedooraccess

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidedoor.access

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmanganmusic

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

As we continue to honor Black History Month, we are re-airing one of our favorite NMB episodes with Vo Williams, an incredibly talented hip-hop artist based in Los Angeles. Vo is originally from Sarasota, Florida, and has been extremely successful in getting his music synced in film, commercials, TV shows, and video games. He has thousands of sync placements and makes a lot of money from them. He is also the beloved instructor for 'Ari's Take Academy's Advanced Sync Strategies' course.

We go in deep to discuss practical, tangible, actionable steps you can take to get your music synced. Break out your notepad because you’re going to learn a lot.

Quick links: 

2:00 - About Vo Williams

7:40 - When Vo thought he could pursue music professionally

11:41 - Vo’s focuses at his performing arts high school

14:27 - Vo’s next steps after he won a number of rap battles

23:47 - Vo’s ghost writing and first time seeing music get synced

28:15 - When Vo moved out of Florida and to Los Angeles

30:55 - When Vo started getting into sync licensing

35:06 - Vo’s first sync

38:24 - Breaking down Vo’s first sync deal, payment, and royalties

44:43 - The difference between a sync licensing company and a music library

49:54 - There’s a lot of money in the backend royalties for sync licensing

57:47 - How Vo went direct to various brands independently

1:02:10 - Thinking about emotions when writing music and how they can be placed in sync

1:03:43 - The production techniques that work really well in picture and why it works so well

1:11:53 - More on how Vo got syncs independently

1:14:14 - How to contact music supervisors and get started in sync licensing

--

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Vo Williams: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/18KIg6ST1nUjVUvAlEB6ak?si=Uw72k5GzRKGrLYQx07mJ5w

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisvo/

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

On this episode, Ari breaks down the whole Spotify issue of the moment and why the music industry seems to be up in arms. He discusses the discrepancy between streams and sales, why the per-stream rate is the wrong conversation to be having, how songwriters can get paid more from streaming, why everyone’s anger is misguided, how indie artists can monetize their audience, how many artists are actually earning $10,000+ from Spotify royalties.

Read the article, Should Artists Boycott Spotify Like Neil Young: https://aristake.com/neil-young-spotify/

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In honor of Black History Month, we’re re-airing one of our favorite NMB episodes with Brian Vickers. He is a music supervisor at Disney. He works in the in-house trailer department where he developed a number of trailers including The Avengers, Star Wars: The Last Jedi & The Rise of Skywalker, Black Panther, Soul, Hamilton, Frozen II, Black is King, and many, many more.

Ari and Brian dig into all things sync licensing. They spend a significant amount of time on how to become a music supervisor. And they touch on how independent artists can get their music synced in trailers.

3:11 - Working as a music supervisor for Disney since COVID-19 hit and quarantine started

12:38 - "Custom spots" and what the conversations look like between music supervisors and musicians

17:41 - How to find reputable trailer music production companies

20:13 - Do these trailer houses have in-house composers or producers that they work with? 

23:10 - Clearing tracks / staying away from samples and making supervisors' jobs easier

25:35 - Placing a song because it is perfect and then it doesn't work out when it 'goes up the chain'

28:39 - Breaking down the song placement process

33:59 - Brian's musical background

42:28 - Music supervisor and sync licensing community

45:40 - How to reach out to music supervisors

50:30 - How to become a music supervisor

58:00 - What it means to make it in the new music business

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Brian Vickers:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianvickers318/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChadTheCoolcat

IMDb: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianvickers318/

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Hilary Gleason is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Backline, a non-profit that provides free mental health and wellness resources to music industry professionals and their families. In this episode, Hilary breaks down Backline’s positive impact within the industry, and the various programs they offer such as weekly support groups over Zoom as well as therapy through their Case Management Program. Learn more about Backline: http://backline.care

3:55 What is Backline?

6:25 Programs offered by Backline

7:11 Music industry culture

13:23 Other mental health initiatives and programs in the industry

15:04 Touring resources

15:36 Practical advice for artists

20:46 Social media comparison

24:33 Black Mental Health Alliance, Asian and LGBTQ+ communities

32:04 Therapy within Backline’s Case Management Program

36:54 How Backline is funded

39:09 Final question

Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmb

Ari's Take Academy (use code NMB for 10% off): https://aristakeacademy.com

Watch more discussions like this: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc1Fatf4celK3kYoJ6FUdN7qtYSCvAAMY

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Hilary Gleason (Backline):

Website: http://www.backline.care/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/backline.care

Twitter: https://twitter.com/backline_care

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backline.care

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Griffin Haddrill is the co-founder and CEO of the leading viral marketing agency, VRTCL. Alongside business partner Sean Young, VRTCL was founded in 2019 providing marketing services for some of today’s most popular artists and record labels such as Universal Music, Warner Records, Sony Music, showing them how to best utilize TikTok and execute campaigns to optimize records performance and brand activity among its global user base.

Prior to VRTCL, Haddrill was a talent manager, signing songwriters and producers who worked with the likes of Karol G, Kevinho, Travis Porter, Riff Raff, among others. Haddrill also represented world-class DJs such as ATLiens and Tisoki who perform at major global music festivals, including Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Bonnaroo.

In this episode, Griffin breaks down how Glass Animals, Adele, Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X, and The Weeknd leveraged TikTok to crack the Billboard 100 with their new songs.

He also discusses the importance of indie musicians embracing TikTok, VRTCL’s approach to getting TikTok trends to catch, and how to get your music to go viral on the platform.

02:43 VRTCL's charting songs on Billboard

06:27 Influencers and viral marketing

09:23 Where VRTCL comes in

10:27 Working with Glass Animals

12:28 Business relationship with influencers

16:37 Influencers within VRTCL's network and rates 

20:09 Micro vs. macro influencers

21:51 User generated content (UGC)

23:18 TikTok's hook

25:49 Choreographic trends

29:10 Working with Labels vs. Management vs. Artists

31:00 How to inspire artists to embrace TikTok

35:11 How to get your music to go viral

38:23 Audio recognition, unauthorized "original sound" remixes and DSPs

44:32 Tech vs. music's intellectual property

46:41 Marketing investment and bridging success

48:59 Booking agents and touring artists

52:36 Geo-targeting vs. Ads

53:26 Tips for artist getting started on TikTok

55:45 Final question

Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmb

Ari's Take Academy (use code NMB for 10% off): https://aristakeacademy.com

Watch more discussions like this: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc1Fatf4celK3kYoJ6FUdN7qtYSCvAAMY

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Griffin Haddrill:

Website: http://vrtcl.video/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffin-haddrill-a2a3a6101

Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-music-marketers-explain-pay-rates-for-influencer-campaigns-2020-12

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

Justin Vibes is a multi-platinum songwriter, producer, vocalist, and vibraphonist. Over recent years, the Baltimore born and Trinidadian musician found success in Los Angeles writing songs for Eminem, Chris Brown, Tyga, and Kodak Black. With the alternative pop duo, Capital Cities, he has performed at festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza, as well as different world tours under his belt.

In this episode, Vibes discusses how he went viral on TikTok, the uniqueness of incorporating the vibraphone into mainstream music, his career as both a solo artist and collaborator, and much more. Welcome to season 3!

05:25 Justin’s Story

08:04 Taking Song Requests

13:18 Going Viral on TikTok (Nickelodeon and ESPN)

19:52 The Result of Going Viral

26:45 Brand Deals and Partnerships

30:09 How Much Justin Makes

35:05 Writing Jingles

36:43 Brand Deals and Partnerships (Continued)

40:53 If a Brand Video Flops

44:57 Ari’s Acting Career

46:42 Advice for Musicians on TikTok

1:00:46 Justin’s Career As a Songwriter and Producer

1:10:00 Ghost Writing and Publishing Deals

1:15:32 What’s Next for Justin

1:18:58 Final Question

Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmb

Ari's Take Academy (use code NMB for 10% off): https://aristakeacademy.com

Watch more discussions like this: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc1Fatf4celK3kYoJ6FUdN7qtYSCvAAMY

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Justin Vibes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjustinvibe

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamjustinvibes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7G9Ui8xI41mpqgDajLAdA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamjustinvibes

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

Marty is Head of Sync at Primary Wave, overseeing licensing activity for Primary Wave’s music publishing and management clients. With staff in Los Angeles and New York, the dynamic Primary Wave Sync team is a key part of Primary Wave’s proactive marketing approach, constantly creating new opportunities and driving big ideas for music in film/TV, advertising, video games, and other visual media.

In 17 years in music publishing, Marty has worked with and secured placements in film, TV and advertising campaigns for artists such as Kurt Cobain, Smokey Robinson, Def Leppard, Hall & Oates, Aerosmith, Collective Soul, Bruce Hornsby, Kenny Loggins, L.P. and Foy Vance.He was recognized as one of Billboard Magazine’s Top Branding Power Players in both 2018 and 2019.

Ari and Marty discuss how cover songs work in sync licensing along with how legacy acts get their music licensed. They also touch on what kinds of music brands are looking for at the moment. The two are joined by Ari’s Take Academy students for a Q&A at the end.

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Primary Wave

Website: https://primarywave.com/

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Ifiok Effanga, professionally known as Fiokee, dubbed as Africa’s No1 sensational Guitarist is a Nigerian talent who hails from Akwa Ibom. He is known for his treble guitar solos infused with highlife steeped guitar lines. Fiokee is associated with acts such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Patoranking, Reekado Banks, Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Simi, and Kiss Daniel, among others.

Connect with Ari’s Take:

Website: https://aristake.com

Academy: https://aristakeacademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.take

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTake

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aristake/

Connect with Ari Herstand:

Website: https://ariherstand.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstand

YouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstand

Facebook: https://facebook.com/ariherstand

Connect with Fiokee

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiokee/?hl=en

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