What's the Key? with Broadway B

Producer, engineer, and session drummer Tom Rasulo joins us to break down his career coming up under Rob Cavallo and Doug McKean at Warner Brothers. Tom shares behind-the-scenes stories engineering for Dave Matthews, My Chemical Romance, Gary Clark Jr., and Regina Spektor, while laying out the psychological tricks engineers use during vocal sessions, how indie artists can stop wasting money in the studio, and how targeted ads built a 300+ person touring crowd in Europe from scratch.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb
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Connect with guest Tom Rasulo: https://www.instagram.com/patch.makes.music/

00:00 - Engineering for MCR, Dave Matthews, and Gary Clark Jr.
01:40 - Welcoming Tom Rasulo Back to LTE Studios
03:00 - The 5-Stage Gauntlet Interview at Warner Brothers
06:42 - Spending a Year in Seattle Engineering for Dave Matthews
08:38 - What Dave Matthews Taught Me About Creative Freedom
11:16 - Selecting the Right Collaborators in the Studio
13:34 - Networking at Writer Rounds: How to Find Your Community
16:20 - Session Stories: Gerard Way, Gary Clark Jr., and Regina Spektor
23:05 - Studio Psychology: The Pro Tools Hack for Stressed Vocalists
26:00 - Thrown Into the Fire: Stepping Up for a Bebe Rexha Session
28:11 - Preparation Meets Opportunity: Staying Locked In
30:33 - The Hard Reality of Professional Session Drumming
33:02 - Pros Practice Until They Can't Get It Wrong
37:15 - Embracing Growth Pains and Taking Strategic Breaks
43:04 - How DMing My Idol Led to a Week of Drum Lessons & Album Credits
47:16 - Using Targeted Facebook Ads to Build a European Tour Audience
53:43 - Why Musician-First Networking Means Showing Up at Shows
58:45 - The Budget Home Studio Setup for Independent Artists
1:01:35 - Master Your DAW: Removing Creative Roadblocks
1:03:25 - How Artists Can Save Money Before Entering a Paid Studio
1:09:48 - Where to Connect with Tom Rasulo

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Independent artist Anne Reburn joins the show to share the exact story of how her YouTube cover of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" was discovered by music supervisors and placed on the hit show The Boys three separate times. We dive deep into her strategies for building a highly engaged fan community, moving casual viewers from YouTube over to Discord and Patreon, leveraging data to choose which songs to promote, and her brilliant "fan theory twist" method for social media content.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whats_the_key/
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whats_the_key
Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://email.thebroadwayb.com/

Connect with Anne Reburn
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChyNJxSsIXh2KyY3VvLnI2g
https://www.instagram.com/hearanneroar/

Chapters
00:00 - The Boys Sync Effect on Streaming Numbers
01:39 - Welcoming Back Anne Reburn
02:26 - How The Boys Discovered My YouTube Cover
04:19 - Do Numbers Matter to Music Supervisors?
05:46 - The Spotify Aftereffect of a Major Sync Placement
09:07 - The "Fan Theory Twist" Social Media Strategy
11:56 - Content Marketing vs. Straight Self-Promotion
16:42 - Iterating Your Content Strategy Using Small Data Spikes
18:11 - The "Power Score": Using Retention Data to Pick Singles
21:26 - Be Prepared for Anything, Expect Nothing
26:17 - How an International Comment War Drove 4M Views
29:05 - Studio Break: LTE Studios LA
29:14 - A Musician's Guide to Building a Discord Community
34:12 - Using Discord Roles to Drive Patreon Memberships
41:56 - How to Start an Organic Community From Zero
43:43 - Moving Casual Fans From YouTube to Paid Tiers

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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How do you hit 6 million streams on Apple Music, land sync placements on Netflix, Hulu, and Lifetime, and tour internationally—all completely independently without a major record label?

In this episode of What's The Key?, award-winning singer-songwriter Jadea Kelly stops by the studio to break down the exact strategies behind her independent success. From utilizing digital distributors like ToneTree and leaning heavily into a monthly single release strategy, to multi-territory market swapping for international touring, Jadea shares actionable blueprints every indie artist needs to hear.

We also dive deep into a major "loophole" for Canadian artists: leveraging government arts council grants to fund records and tours without stacking up credit card debt. Plus, Jadea opens up about navigating the industry as an introvert, overcoming performance anxiety, collaborating with metal band Protest the Hero, and why delivering raw, stripped-down live performances is an artist's ultimate superpower in the age of AI.

Connect with Jadea Kelly:
Website: https://www.darthjadea.com/
Listen on Apple Music & Spotify: Jadea Kelly

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor:

Shot on location at LTE Studios in downtown LA. Get 10% off your first booking by emailing [email protected] or DMing them on Instagram @LTEStudios—tell them Broadway sent you!

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Chapters:
00:00 – Preview: The Single Strategy & Relearning the Fiddle
01:53 – Introduction: Welcoming Jadea Kelly to What’s The Key?
02:35 – Hacking Apple Music: 6 Million Streams & Playlist Curators
04:36 – Why Independent Artists Should Stop Dropping Albums (The Single Strategy)
06:43 – Managing Multiple Side Projects (Beverly & Baby Avocado Children's Music)
08:33 – Unpacking Sync Placements: The Terry Fox Paralympic Video & Sullivan’s Crossing
10:49 – The Real Secret to Sync: Why Personal Connections Beat Music Briefs
12:19 – Combating the AI Era: Why Your Live Performance is Your Superpower
16:38 – Breaking Down the Lifetime, Teen Mom, and Station 19 Placements
18:56 – Writing Authentically vs. Writing "For Sync"
21:20 – Singing on Metal Tracks: Jadea’s 20-Year History with Protest the Hero
24:32 – An Introvert's Guide to Overcoming Stage Panic
26:24 – LTE Studios Sponsor Break
26:52 – Territory Swapping: How to Tour Europe on an Indie Budget with Ryan O'Reilly
31:40 – Redefining Success: Why Selling 50-60 Tickets is a Major Win
35:54 – Focus on What You Can Control: Constant Creative Improvement
38:39 – The Power of the Toronto Open Mic & Indie Music Communities
41:43 – The Canadian Indie "Loophole": How to Get Government Funding & Grants
46:28 – Bandwagon Touring: Bringing the Power of Collaboration Back to the Road
51:29 – Final Thoughts: Letting the Soil Rest & Hobbies Outside of Music

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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On this episode of What’s The Key?, we sit down with the phenomenal India Carney—singer, songwriter, arranger, and vocal coach for The Voice and American Idol. India takes us behind the curtain of the music industry's biggest stages, from turning all four chairs as a contestant on The Voice to returning as a vocal coach. We dive deep into the technical adjustments of transitioning from an opera major to pop touring, how she managed chaotic monitor mixes in sold-out arenas with Olivia Rodrigo, the mindset required to arrange vocals for a legend like Brandy, and why she views Los Angeles as a "24/7 job fair." Whether you're an aspiring session singer, a touring musician, or a creative looking to protect your mental health and artistic authenticity, India drops endless wisdom on what it truly takes to sustain a career in the modern music industry.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Connect with India Carney: https://www.instagram.com/india_carney

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Turning 4 Chairs on The Voice
04:01 – Working Behind the Scenes with Christina Aguilera
06:46 – Classical vs. Pop: Learning Stage Monitors, EQ, and TV Call Sheets
09:02 – Dealing with Public Visibility & Reframing Online Critique
15:10 – The TV Circuit: Coaching on American Idol & The Voice
17:16 – Breaking into the LA Session Scene via Late-Night Jams
20:01 – Performing on SNL & Touring Arenas with Olivia Rodrigo
23:12 – The Technical Side: Dialing in In-Ear Monitors & FOH Communication
25:09 – Crashing the Stage with Shaka Khan & Leila Hathaway
27:14 – Vocal Arranging for Brandy: Navigating Creative Influence
32:48 – Music Business Reality: Why the Industry is a 24/7 Job Fair
33:43 – Authenticity over Algorithms on Social Media
36:51 – The Power of A Cappella & Vocal Harmony Roots
39:02 – Landing an American Express Campaign & Malleability in Sync
45:21 – Representing Heritage in the Trolls Movie Soundtrack
48:47 – Performing on NPR's Tiny Desk with Michael Mayo
50:00 – Masterclass: SOVT Vocal Warm-ups, Cord Closure, & Building a Mix
56:12 – Final Nuggets: Shifting Mindset from "Singer" to "Creative"

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/bccf21e9112a/joinbroadwayscrew

In this special highlight reel episode of What's the Key?, we are tackling the million-dollar question every independent musician faces: How do you actually make money from your music?

We’ve combed through our archive to bring you the absolute best, frontline-tested strategies from artists who have successfully unlocked multiple revenue streams. From building a sustainable, high-tier fan community on Patreon without burning out, to coding your way into a consistent live gigging circuit, to landing over 800+ television and film sync placements—this episode is a masterclass in treating your music career like a business.

Grab a notebook. It’s time to learn how to turn your songs into a sustainable, long-term income.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode:

The Patreon Paradigm Shift: How to price your tiers, pitch your story transparently, and generate low-lift bonus content (like acapellas and instrumentals) that fans actually want.

The Art of the Cold Call Gigger: How one artist used basic coding (Python and Yelp scraping) to completely automate their booking workflow, landing regular residencies and paying gigs across California.

The Truth About Sync & Licensing: What a "one-stop" split sheet is, why instrumentals and clean versions are mandatory, and how a song written six years ago can suddenly pay your rent for a year.

The Backend Royalty Long-Game: The difference between domestic and international royalty timelines and why you should never give up on your back catalog.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:20 – Monetizing with Patreon - Anne Reburn
09:57 – Paying the Bills through Bar and Restaurant Gigs - Will Breman
14:40 – Residencies and the Gigging Circuit - Chloe Bee
18:06 – Music Sync Licensing - Chelsey Coy
29:34 – Landing high paying sync placements - Juliette Irons
33:04 - 800+ Sync Placements! - BodaciousThang

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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What happens when you stop measuring success purely by numbers and start measuring it by connection? In this episode, we sit down with multi-faceted artist, actress, singer-songwriter, and coach Rainee Blake.

Rainee shares the incredible story of how a single house concert in the hills landed her a role on the hit TV show Nashville, and how she transitioned from a "hustle-at-all-costs" mindset to a more sustainable, grounded creative path. Together, they dive deep into Rainee's newly updated Four Pillars of a Healthy Creative Life (Career, Craft, Self-Care, and Connection) and explore the practical psychology of why artists stay stuck in "comfortable general desire" instead of committing to specific goals.

Whether you are trying to book independent showcases, wrestling with the vulnerability of dreaming big, or looking for practical vocal tips, this episode is a blueprint for building a resilient, holistic life in the arts without losing your soul to the machine.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The exact audition story that got Rainey cast in Season 6 of Nashville.
- The Four Pillars framework to balance creative output with mental and physical wellness.
- How to break through the fear of failure and vulnerability when setting concrete goals.
- The practical "Dos and Don'ts" of submitting to music showcases like Softspot.
- Why breath control is the ultimate fundamental foundation of great vocal technique.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Connect with guest Rainee Blake: https://www.instagram.com/raineeblake/

Chapters
00:00 – From House Concerts to TV’s Nashville
05:55 – The 4 Pillars of a Healthy Creative Life
11:53 – The Vulnerability of Clarity: Moving Past Vague Desires
16:12 – Diversifying Income & The Reality of the Modern Music Industry
21:20 – Controlling What You Can Control: Letting Go of the Outcomes
24:31 – Self-Generating Work: Writing Musical Comedy & Solos for Fringe
34:45 – Building Independent Communities & Rewiring Limiting Beliefs
41:34 – Vocal Technique Fundamentals: Surfing the Breath
45:27 – Showcases Dos & Don'ts: Insider Secrets to Getting Booked
53:00 – Redefining Success Outside of Capitalist Hustle Culture

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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Want to hear your music on Netflix, Hulu, or a massive nationwide car commercial? Music sync licensing is one of the most lucrative avenues for independent musicians today—but getting your foot in the door requires a lot more than just having great tracks.

In this episode, we sit down with Chelsea Coy, co-owner of the sync agency TwoOhSix (https://twoohsixmusic.com/), music supervisor, and accomplished indie artist. Chelsea breaks down the exact financial reality of sync (from $300 reality TV spots to $300,000 commercial placements), why music supervisors refuse to work directly with independent artists, how YOU can get involved in sync as an artist, and tells amazing industry stories like how a song she wrote six years ago just secured its very first placement. If you want to turn your music catalog into income-generating assets, grab a notebook—this episode is your roadmap.

Connect with Chelsey Coy: https://www.instagram.com/notsocoy/

Chapters
0:00 – Introduction: Meeting Chelsea Coy & Co-owning a Sync Agency
0:37 – The Landscape of Sync: Commercials, Video Games, Promos, and Sports Bumpers
1:52 – The Pay Ranges: Upfront Fees vs. Backend Royalties ($300 to $300,000+)
4:14 – The Reality of Movie Budgets: Why the Music Department Gets Squeezed
8:30 – How TwoOhSix Started: Turning an Online Course Connection into a Business Partnership
11:05 – First Steps for Independent Artists: Active Research & Listening
17:56 – Essential Tech Assets: Metadata, Instrumentals, Clean Cuts, and AI Rules
20:31 – Why You Need a Sync Agency (And Why Supervisors Won't Deal with Artists Directly)
22:15 – Understanding Briefs and Avoiding the "One Strike Against You" Pitfall
24:23 – What is "One-Stop"? Split Sheets, PROs, and Easy-Clear Contracts
28:11 – How to Network in Sync: Guilds, Events (FOGS, Honeypot, SCL), and City Chapters
36:50 – Character Over Talent: Being a Good Human in a "Relationship Game" Industry
38:58 – Behind the Scenes of a Placement: Quote Requests & "Pitch It and Forget It"
43:34 – Pitching to Agency 206: The Facebook Group Vetting Process
45:46 – Writing for Sync: Authenticity vs. Chasing Trends
53:35 – Treating Music as a Long-Term Asset: Reading Deadline & Keeping the Faith
56:52 – Outro: Where to Find Chelsea Coy & TwoOhSix

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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In this episode, we sit down with Will Breman, a Season 17 contestant on The Voice and a powerhouse on the California Central Coast music scene. Will shares behind-the-scenes stories of working with John Legend, Usher, and Taylor Swift (and the intimidation of her platform heels).

We dive deep into the "nerdy" side of the music business, including how Will used Python and web scraping to build a sustainable gigging circuit. He also opens up about being on the autism spectrum, the emotional story behind his hit song "Butterflies," and what it’s like to realize you’re opening for Willie Nelson while Paul McCartney watches from the crowd.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Connect with Will Breman:
https://www.instagram.com/willbremanmusic/
https://linktr.ee/willbremanmusic

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whats_the_key/
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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/bccf21e9112a/joinbroadwayscrew

In this episode of What’s The Key?, we sit down with Just Liv, an incredible vocalist who has performed with huge names including The Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Willow Smith, Duckwrth, Jessie Reyez, Inglewood SIR, and many more.

Just Liv shares the "faith-based" reality of her career, discussing the pivotal moments that took her from the intimate stages of Leimert Park to performing at Dodger Stadium, Madison Square Garden, and The Hollywood Bowl.

We discuss:
- The "Juice Joint" Incubator: How an LA open mic session became the foundation for her community and career.
- The Sunday Service Era: What she learned witnessing vulnerability and creative risks while working with Kanye West.
- Touring the World: Lessons in professionalism and endurance from the road with Willow Smith and the Jonas Brothers.
- Collaborative Chemistry: Her experiences recording with The Game on Born 2 Rap, Daniel Caesar on "Sins of the Father," and joining PJ Morton for his Cape Town to Cairo album.
- The Tiny Desk Experience: Navigating the unique, "no-hiding" environment of NPR’s Tiny Desk with Jessie Reyez and DCKWRTH.

Just Liv’s story is a masterclass in treating every "small" part with the respect of a lead role and understanding that "the gift will always make room for you."

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Follow Just Liv:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justlivmusic/
Listen: Find Just Liv on all streaming platforms.

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whats_the_key/
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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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How do you go from playing for free to performing on Jimmy Kimmel 5 times and amassing 1 billion views? In this episode of "What's The Key?", veteran guitarist and producer Joel Van Dijk (Aloe Blacc, Mystical Joyride) breaks down the reality of the music industry. We discuss his early days in LA, the "Three Things" rule for taking gigs, the chaos vs. execution of D’Angelo and Maxwell, and how his project Mystical Joyride went viral in a way no one expected. If you want to build a sustainable career in music, this is your roadmap.

What's The Key? is a podcast for musicians, powered by your peers who've unlocked some of the doors.

Connect with Joel Van Dijk:
https://www.instagram.com/joelvandizzle/
https://www.instagram.com/mysticaljoyride/
https://www.joelvandijk.com/

00:00 Intro: Meet Joel Van Dijk
03:20 The Aloe Blacc Origin Story: Before "I Need a Dollar"
05:40 Rehearsing in Living Rooms: The Early LA Hustle
07:00 Why Craigslist is Still a Goldmine for Networking
08:50 The "Three Things" Rule for Every Gig
11:40 Late Night TV: Kimmel, Letterman, and Beyond
13:30 Performance Analysis: D’Angelo’s Chaos vs. Maxwell’s Execution
16:20 The Anthony Hamilton "Drunken Excursion" Story
19:00 Surviving Salty Sound Guys & Live TV Disasters
23:10 Producing the Chappelle Outro & Mercedes Syncs
29:40 Building "Tribal Futurism": The Mystical Joyride Aesthetic
31:10 Why Being "Weird" is the Ultimate Marketing Hack
35:20 1 Billion Views: The Reality of Going Viral in Bangladesh
39:00 The Dark Side: Fraudulent Copyright Takedowns
47:20 The Truth About Writing for Sync Licensing
51:50 Live Performance: Keeping the Energy "Container"

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Connect with host Broadway B: https://linktr.ee/thebroadwayb

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