This week Ari sits down with Victoria Canal, a trailblazing singer-songwriter based in London. Victoria has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Later… with Jools Holland, and onstage with Coldplay at Glastonbury. She has won two Ivor Novello awards (including the Rising Star award) and recently released a new album, Slowly, It Dawns.

After ten hard-won years as a DIY artist, Victoria’s now signed with a major label, Parlophone Records (under Warner Music Group). In this episode, Victoria opens up about her journey as an artist and the varying pressures faced by both indie and label-repped musicians. Tune in to learn more about headlining the Troubadour, life as a touring artist, managing the pressures of social media, and how to attract the right kinds of fans.

https://www.victoriacanal.com/

Chapters

00:00 From Glastonbury to Stardom

03:11 The Journey of Victoria’s Career

05:49 Creating Intimate Connections Through Music

08:50 The Reality of Touring Economics

11:56 Balancing Artistry and Business

14:58 The Emotional Journey of Songwriting

18:07 Evolving Through Performance

20:55 The Impact of Social Media on Artists

24:09 Navigating Vulnerability in Performance

27:14 The New Album: Slowly, It Dawns

30:05 Reflections on Growth and Authenticity

36:23 The Inner Journey of Self-Acceptance

39:50 Meeting Idols: Reality vs. Expectation

40:45 A Dream Come True: Performing with Coldplay

45:04 The Importance of Energy in Performance

46:06 Navigating the Artist Lifestyle and People Management

49:03 The Weight of Fan Interactions

54:06 Social Media Pressures and Authenticity

01:01:19 Taking a Stand: Performing at the Kennedy Center

01:05:39 Defining Success 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 on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Sarah McTaggart from the hit alt-pop band Transviolet. Transviolet exploded onto the scene in 2015 with their breakout single “Girls Your Age” with Epic Records. The band moved between a couple labels throughout their career, but they’re now independent. Transviolet has played Late Shows with Colbert and James Corden; they’ve had notable syncs including the Pretty Little Liars theme song; they’ve played huge festivals like SXSW, Governor’s Ball and Firefly; and they recently released their fourth studio album, Softcore.

Sarah tells Ari about Transviolet’s experiences working with a major label and how things have changed since going independent. They talk about the ins-and-outs of touring (including Transviolet’s upcoming US tour), how the band got started, and a brilliant guerrilla marketing technique they used to promote one of their early releases. Transviolet also had the surprising experience of finding out they were big in China (hot tip: you might be too). Tune in to find out how they discovered they were big over there and how you can check for yourself, too.

https://transviolet.com/

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of the Music Business

02:53 Transviolet's Journey to Independence

06:02 The Creative Process Behind 'Softcore'

08:54 Exploring Vulnerability in Music

12:12 The Duality of Persona

15:09 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth

17:50 Marketing Innovations in the Music Industry

21:11 The Impact of Major Labels vs. Independence

36:13 Redefining the Artist's Team

39:34 The Evolution of Digital Marketing in Music

44:14 Navigating Social Media's Impact on Music

51:07 Exploring International Touring Experiences

57:21 The Dynamics of Touring and Band Changes

01:08:28 Creating Art: The Journey of Songwriting and Production

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 month, for Women's History Month, we are replaying some of our favorite New Music Business episodes featuring incredible women of the industry. This episode highlights star music supervisor Jen Malone. She has placed music and worked on Euphoria, Atlanta, Creed 2, The Resident, Boomerang, Baskets, Shelter, Lady Dynamite, Step Up, and more. Jen has over a decade of highly esteemed experience in the industry.

In this episode, Jen goes into depth about what music supervisors do and the business of sync licensing. She gives great advice on how independent artists can get their music synced and things to look out for in contracts and fee negotiations. If you want to know how to pitch your music to supervisors with the best chance of striking a deal, this is the episode for you.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Music Supervision

02:55 Navigating the Music Supervision Landscape

05:59 The Role of a Music Supervisor

08:55 The Evolution of Music Syncing

12:00 Tools of the Trade

14:59 Finding and Pitching Music

18:00 Understanding Music Ownership

21:08 The Process of Music Supervision in TV and Film

24:05 Collaboration with Composers

27:09 The Differences Between Film and TV Music Supervision

33:40 Managing Multiple Projects

35:21 The Role of Personal Taste in Music Supervision

37:22 Juxtaposition in Music Placement

42:26 Impact of Music Placements on Independent Artists

46:04 The Evolution of Sync Licensing

50:19 Workflow and Project Management in Music Supervision

51:59 Differences in Working with Streaming Platforms vs. Traditional Networks

54:30 The Importance of Fair Compensation for Artists

58:03 Protecting Artist Rights in Sync Licensing

01:03:42 Advice for Independent Artists in Sync Licensing

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 month, for Women's History Month, we are replaying some of our favorite New Music Business episodes featuring incredible women of the industry. This episode highlights award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer, Imogen Heap. Imogen Heap has released five solo albums, an album as one half of Frou Frou, and has collaborated with countless other stars including Taylor Swift, Nitin Sawhney, Deadmau5, Eric Whitacre, Jeff Beck and Jon Hopkins. Heap, recognized as an artist’s artist, has won two Grammys and an Ivor Novello award. She holds three honorary doctorates for her work on ‘MI.MU gloves’ and ’The Creative Passport’—two prominent music tech companies that work to empower creatives.

In this episode, Ari and Imogen discuss NFTs, metadata and payment transparency and how to properly credit (and pay) creators using the blockchain. Overall, how to make the future of music more equitable for musicians.

Chapters

00:00 The Fragmented Music Industry

02:52 Imogen Heap: A Pioneer in Music and Technology

05:55 The Creative Passport: Empowering Artists

09:11 Data Transparency and Royalty Distribution

12:04 The Role of DSPs and Data Integrity

14:52 The Future of Music Royalties

17:55 Building a Better Music Ecosystem

21:02 Blockchain and the Future of Music

23:46 Interoperability and Charitable Contributions

29:06 Navigating NFTs and Environmental Concerns

34:23 The Future of NFTs in Art

37:12 Building a Community Through Technology

46:58 AI as a Creative Partner

54:36 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.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are replaying some of our favorite episodes featuring incredible women of the industry. This episode spotlights Grammy-nominated, hit singer and songwriter Bonnie McKee. Since the early 2000s, McKee has written 10 singles that have reached #1 in the US and UK, which have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide combined.

McKee is particularly known for collaborating with Katy Perry, co-writing hits such as “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream”, “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)“, “Part of Me,” “Wide Awake” and “Roar” together. She also co-wrote “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, which became the second-best-selling song by a British artist in the digital era. Additional artists who she has worked with include Britney Spears, Kesha, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Mike Tompkins. Last year, she released her album Hot City featuring the hit single “American Girl.”

Chapters

00:00 The Art of Songwriting: Balancing Familiarity and Creativity

03:02 Bonnie McKee: A Journey Through Songwriting and Independence

06:06 Exploring the World of Film: From Music to Directing

08:59 The Dynamics of Songwriting Sessions: Collaboration and Creativity

11:52 Navigating the Music Industry: The Role of Songwriters

14:47 Contrasting Nashville and LA: Different Approaches to Songwriting

17:47 The Challenges of Being a Female Songwriter and Producer

21:31 Gender Dynamics in Music Production

24:44 Navigating Songwriting and Royalties

27:46 The Art of Songwriting: Balancing Authenticity and Popularity

30:48 Song Doctoring: The Business Side of Refining Songs

32:57 The Controversy of Song Credits

34:05 Creating 'Roar': A Triumph Over Misogyny

37:42 Shifts in the Music Industry: A Personal Perspective

40:32 Advice for Aspiring Songwriters

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 Simon Tikhman, the co-founder of The Core Entertainment and The Core Records. The Core Entertainment first made waves as an artist management company, guiding the careers of major country stars like Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith. After demonstrated success in management, The Core Entertainment partnered with Universal Music Group to launch The Core Records.

During this episode, Simon and Ari discuss the careers of The Core Entertainment’s breakout artists, Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith. Simon explains how both artists achieved success in drastically different ways—Nate landed his record deal at age 36 after grinding for many years in Nashville, while Bailey broke out on TikTok in his early 20s. Simon outlines the value in each of these paths and explains how Nashville treats artists differently if they have found success the traditional way versus through social media. This episode also goes into detail about what the Nashville country music scene looks like today, the nuances between Nashville labels and coastal labels, and the ins and outs of artist management. If you’re curious about how to break as a country artist in 2025, this episode is for you.

https://www.instagram.com/thecoreent/

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Country Radio

04:58 Simon Tikhman's Journey to Artist Management

16:19 Building The Core Entertainment and Nashville Connections

24:12 Nate Smith's Breakthrough in Country Music

33:53 Bailey Zimmerman's Rise as a New Artist

35:21 The Rise of Bailey Zimmerman

41:10 Navigating the Music Industry

44:47 The Importance of Labels in Country Music

52:08 The New Paradigm for Country Artists

56:51 Social Media's Role in Artist Development

01:06:42 Defining Success 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 Marc Caruso, the CEO and co-founder of Angry Mob Music, an independent music publisher based in LA. Aside from being an advocate for independent artists in the publishing world, Marc is a composer, producer, and Emmy-nominated music editor himself. He is also a board member and former President of the LA chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a member of The Recording Academy, and a member of The Motion Picture Editors Guild.

In this episode, Marc describes the evolving landscape of music publishing, particularly in the context of our streaming economy. He breaks down essential terms, like ‘music publishing’ itself, ‘copyright’, and ‘royalties’, before diving into the deeper complexities of the publishing world. Marc is incredibly transparent about how the money gets made at his publishing company—giving detailed accounts of how much sync licenses pay these days and what royalties look like for microsyncs on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Rounding out a more global view, Marc and Ari discuss Universal’s deal with Spotify, the MLC’s failed lawsuit against Spotify and what all this means for independent publishers and independent songwriters.

https://www.instagram.com/angrymobmusic/

Chapters

00:00 The Shift from Sales to Streaming Economy

04:07 Understanding Music Publishing

12:50 The Role of Angry Mob Music

16:55 Revenue Streams in Music Publishing

21:30 The Importance of Sync Licensing

22:00 Sync Fees and Their Variability

29:44 Sync in Film and Advertising

34:34 Micro Sync and Social Media Platforms

39:41 Navigating Music Licensing for Creators

45:24 The Complexities of Music Rights on Social Media

49:11 The Role of Music Publishers and Advocacy

57:02 Inequities in the Music Industry

01:10:30 Empowering Independent Artists and Publishers

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 Liz Pelly, a prominent music journalist and author of the new book Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist. Liz’s journalism has appeared in NPR, The Guardian, and Pitchfork among other prestigious publications. Preceded by an exposé in Harper’s Magazine, Pelly’s latest work, Mood Machine, pulls back the curtain on Spotify’s exploitative practices and uncovers how those practices impact artists and listeners.

In this episode, Liz gives the low down on research she conducted for the book and explains how Spotify has unfairly conspired with major labels since its launch. As she does in Mood Machine, Liz calls out Spotify’s Perfect Fit Content (PFC) program and explains how its use of ghost artists degrades the integrity of their model for all. Ari and Liz discuss the value of music and how that can differ in the eyes of major corporations and individuals. Whether you’re an artist, label, or listener who uses Spotify, this episode will help you understand the impact Spotify’s model has on your relationship to music.

https://www.instagram.com/lizpelly

Harper’s article: https://harpers.org/archive/2025/01/the-ghosts-in-the-machine-liz-pelly-spotify-musicians/

Chapters

00:00 The Inner Workings of Spotify

12:48 Ghost Artists and the PFC Program

37:50 Spotify's Launch and Major Label Relationships

41:26 The Evolution of Streaming Contracts

44:14 Valuing Music: A Cultural Perspective

49:43 The Impact of Streaming on Music Value

56:10 Algorithms and the Personalization of Music

01:01:20 The Role of Music in Society

01:07:23 Future Solutions for Musicians

01:19:38 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.