The No Love Songs Music Business Podcast

Hey, it’s episode fifteen of the No Love Songs Music Business podcast!

In this episode I speak with Clint Holley, Chief Mastering Engineer and owner of Well Made Music and The Earnest Tube in Bristol, VA. We talked about cutting lacquers for record mastering, direct-to-disk recording, and why the vinyl industry might be headed for consolidation.

Well Made Music is a true success story in American manufacturing, and in the music business generally.

The mastering studio originally started in Cleveland when, in 2010, Holley bought a vintage Neumann VMS 70 lathe (widely considered among the best machines on earth). Clint was previously a live sound engineer, and he set up the Neumann in his mother-in-law’s garage and taught himself how to use it. He soon became the go-to lacquer cutter for Gotta Groove Records, Inc.. Then, a few years back, Clint moved the operation to Bristol, VA.

Well Made probably has more cutting lathes than just about any other mastering house in the country, with 3 (soon to be 4) units in operation.

I hope you enjoy the conversation.

In this episode, ethnomusicologist Ryan Bazinet speaks with East Tennessee music historian Lonnie “Big Lon” Salyer. We talked about his work organizing a massive annual record show, his weekly radio show on Radio Bristol, and his upcoming book about the 1950s record label, Kingsport Records.

Enjoy the conversation.

This episode features John George, owner of George’s Song Shop in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. George’s is billed as “America’s Oldest Record Store,” having been founded by John’s father in 1932. John took over the store in 1962, and has kept it going ever since.

He says they’re selling more records now, in 2026, than ever before.

Enjoy the conversation.

This episode features Ilya of the Russian noise rock band Ersatz. The conversation touched on the heavy music scene in Moscow and the band’s upcoming live video EP with Friends & Aliens Records, out on April 10th, 2026. You can find Ersatz on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Or look them up next time you’re in Moscow.

This episode features AJ Tobey, founder of the Brooklyn record label Trash Casual and A&R Head at Rough Trade Publishing.

We talked about why he started his label and what independent artists need to know about record labels and music publishing.

Check it out.

The 10th episode of the podcast is a conversation with mastering engineer Fred Kevorkian. We talked about his love of analog gear, what he thinks about AI mastering, and why a second pair of ears might just save your recording project.

Check it out.

This episode is a special one. It features my band, the namesake of the show: No Love Songs. Listen in for a conversation between me, Gustavo, and Lui, on our plans for rock music success in the coming year.

Learn more about No Love Songs at nolovesongs.world.

This episode features Martin Bisi, renowned producer and engineer for artists from Sonic Youth to Herbie Hancock. Host Ryan Bazinet (lead singer of the grunge band No Love Songs) spoke with Martin about changes in the NYC recording business since the ‘70s, and why musicians push through the pain of a music career.

Learn more about No Love Songs on ⁠nolovesongs.world

This episode features Sam Sumpter, creator of the blog - and now book - “Bands Do BK.” We talked about the business side of the Brooklyn rock scene, based on Sam’s hundreds of interviews with bands in NYC. Check it out.

Learn more about No Love Songs on nolovesongs.world

In episode 6 of the No Love Songs Music Business Podcast, Ryan speaks with Blake Sandberg. Blake is the creator of ALIENS, a post-punk band from Brooklyn, NY. Blake talks to Ryan about how touring is like a political campaign, what has changed in the NYC music scene over the past decade, and Blake's strategy to promote his new EP on radio stations. Check out ALIENS at aliensnyc.com and No Love Songs at nolovesongs.world