The Allison Hagendorf Show

What do you do when people in power don’t believe in you? When they tell you you’re wrong — or worse, ignore your vision completely? In this episode, I’m sharing the 8 biggest lessons from my A&R years in NYC: how I went from answering phones to signing artists, backing future superstars like Juliette Simms, Katy Perry, and Mark Foster, and learning to trust my vision before the world caught up. These are the moments that shaped me: the risks I took, the times I trusted my gut, and what I learned when the world said “no.” If you’re building your dream, creating your next chapter, or learning to believe in yourself again — this one’s for you. 👇 Let me know in the comments which lesson resonated with you most. And don’t forget to subscribe — this community is for people who want to live what they love. ✦ CHAPTER 1: How To Find Your Passion (When You Have No Idea Where to Start) → https://open.spotify.com/episode/2HHzAjf8lkRvrxdgnw3ibJ?si=d31b9bcb1b59417a 🔔 FOLLOW: https://open.spotify.com/show/45uodFpMnMvgvXDsqQSVbF?si=8ab6d7e3d07b473a ❤️ FOLLOW ALLISON ON SOCIALS ✅ YouTube: https://youtube.com/AllisonHagendorf ✅ Official Website: https://allisonhagendorf.com ✅ Instagram: https://instagram.com/allisonhagendorf ✅ TikTok: https://TikTok.com/@allisonhagendorf ✅ X: https://x.com/allihagendorf #confidence #trustyourself #allisonhagendorf #musicindustry #betonyourself 00:00 – Intro 01:58 – Lesson 1: There’s Opportunity in the Unglamorous 02:42 – Lesson 2: When the Door Opens, Walk Through 03:58 – Lesson 3: Believe Before There’s Proof 05:18 – Lesson 4: When Growth Stops, Move On 06:14 – Lesson 5: Champion Someone and Fight for It 07:23 – Lesson 6: Your Gut Is Wiser Than the Rules 09:04 – Lesson 7: The Next Chapter Is Already Inside This One 10:38 – Lesson 8: Trust Your Vision — Even If No One Else Does 11:32 – Outro + Final Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

If you’ve ever felt like your passion doesn’t fit in a box—or like you’re meant for something more but don’t know where to begin—this is for you. I didn’t have a master plan. Just a feeling. But that feeling changed everything. In this first episode of my new series, I share how I went from a music-obsessed kid to becoming the Head of Rock at Spotify—without connections, a roadmap, or any guarantees. 💡 This is a story about purpose. About choosing your path—even when it doesn’t make sense yet. About following what lights you up—and trusting it to lead somewhere real. 🎬 What you’ll take away: • What to do when you don’t know your purpose yet • Why passion is your compass (even if you’re multi-passionate) • How small steps can build a life-changing path • What it really takes to turn your spark into something lasting 📌 New episodes drop weekly—subscribe to join a community of people living what they love.👇 https://www.youtube.com/@AllisonHagendorf ❤️ FOLLOW ALLISON ON SOCIALS ✅ YouTube: https://youtube.com/AllisonHagendorf ✅ Official Website: https://allisonhagendorf.com ✅ Instagram: https://instagram.com/allisonhagendorf ✅ TikTok: https://TikTok.com/@allisonhagendorf ✅ X: https://x.com/allihagendorf #findyourpurpose #passiontopurpose #allisonhagendorf #inspiration #lifepath #purposedrivenlife #motivationalstory #originstory #womeninmusic 00:00 - Feeling stuck? You’re not alone 01:42 - Childhood signs you’re meant for more 03:06 - Dick Clark, dreams, and early ambition 04:47 - The Nirvana moment that changed everything 06:28 - When obsession becomes direction 07:25 - The role of connection over credentials 08:12 - Meeting your hero is just the beginning 09:21 - Real lessons about passion and purpose 10:08 - Your next step (starts now) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Sleep Token just made history with Even in Arcadia, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and redefining what it means to be a metal band in 2025. With zero interviews, masked identities, and a genre-blurring sound that fuses progressive metal, R&B, gospel, and ambient textures, they’ve become the most polarizing—and groundbreaking—band on earth. In this video, I break down how Sleep Token rose from a cult following to global dominance, why they resonate so deeply with fans, and what their success means for the future of heavy music. 🎧 Featuring breakdowns of “The Summoning,” “Caramel,” and more. 💬 Drop a comment: Did Sleep Token convert you—or are you still not sold? ❤️ FOLLOW ALLISON ON SOCIALS ✅ YouTube: https://youtube.com/AllisonHagendorf [https://youtube.com/AllisonHagendorf] ✅ Official Website: https://allisonhagendorf.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3hjejBFVWJ6NUZMU19VLVpPVGZtN3VQanZUQXxBQ3Jtc0tuejZiaU5kaVo3NjJ2YUZsa3R4dC1yU3JTYkxmeFRkeVJhcmtISWRqYWc3dzdwVUNjMy1yNkg5anVZTVlCTmFjalU4N1JHZGQwTEVCWGVCTXRaeUdvRW50NjlQLXZnSWhISkFTR3gzckNQVFNCSnpZUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fallisonhagendorf.com%2F&v=Tp6pjW2paHc] ✅ Instagram: https://instagram.com/allisonhagendorf [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1c3NGdwNFB4M2VZX2Q2cFY5RFpPQzBkdnJ4Z3xBQ3Jtc0tsMDZ6aE40YjJpMHJxY1E3ZnlFOVBNbVVLR05jYWdJaWNaY0JoZEtCWTFFQUFFN3h1WUJsME1UVnVlM003Z2M5bWNmcTcyV3ZfLWhyOUNraTNYZWRDaTF3QWZ5YjRha0U4Y2NFaU9YNENkWFJMU2lPMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fallisonhagendorf&v=Tp6pjW2paHc] ✅ TikTok: https://TikTok.com/@allisonhagendorf [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1hfUzlqalhFQklwSGxWa0g1NTdlVWRQSU5SQXxBQ3Jtc0tuZlE2R0RWUTZ0b2VSR2ViSzY0V3NlM0F0bmg4eUlqUURaYnFfZllXa2hxQ2RKbDc2b2dONWd4VGxYNmltQVpRYTNzaHlxZ0Z4MWNqSGpyZE0xelA3VjQ0RUc0OVh2VDFCUkhRY0lGY25zZFo2OTU4QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2FTikTok.com%2F%40allisonhagendorf&v=Tp6pjW2paHc] ✅ X: https://x.com/allihagendorf [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVVXTHBkSndKRldkQnB5ZV9HYVp0UUhYLVZOQXxBQ3Jtc0ttS3JkNWdDeWhZSlJhcHNvN3NwVnBGdmNHb3dxX2ROUmJMaVB4YXFHMi11WnlnYzdZXy1CQkJJeHFGekNYWlcxRkhjMWt3Q0tqZWMwVElmZTQ2b0c5OUVfUkRoVHprVWZ0VFN4d3J3bFRKZkNSeE91aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fallihagendorf&v=Tp6pjW2paHc] #sleeptoken [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sleeptoken] #eveninarcadia [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/eveninarcadia] #sleeptokenreaction [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sleeptokenreaction] #progressivemetal [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/progressivemetal] #heavymusic [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/heavymusic] #metalnews [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/metalnews] #rockrevolution [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rockrevolution] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame isn’t just about music — it’s about the artists who changed everything. In this special episode, I’m honoring the 2025 inductees who reshaped genres, broke boundaries, and defined entire eras — from Soundgarden and Cyndi Lauper to Outkast, The White Stripes, and more. These icons didn’t just top charts. They redefined what it means to be an artist — bold, fearless, original — and their influence still echoes through everything we hear today. 🎧 Subscribe for more deep dives into the artists who shaped us. 🛒 Use code THEGROOVE at Vinyl.com for 10% off your favorite albums. 👇 Who’s your favorite 2025 Rock Hall inductee? ❤️ FOLLOW ALLISON ON SOCIALS ✅ YouTube: https://youtube.com/AllisonHagendorf ✅ Official Website: https://allisonhagendorf.com ✅ Instagram: https://instagram.com/allisonhagendorf ✅ TikTok: https://TikTok.com/@allisonhagendorf ✅ X: https://x.com/allihagendorf #RockHall2025 #Soundgarden #CyndiLauper #Outkast #WhiteStripes #JoeCocker #AllisonHagendorf #VinylCommunity #MusicThatMovedMe #ClassicArtists #HallOfFame #Grunge #HipHopLegends #PopIcons #RockHistory #MusicCulture 00:00 – Intro: Why the Rock Hall Still Matters 01:21 – Soundgarden – Superunknown and Grunge’s Emotional Depth 05:08 – Cyndi Lauper – She’s So Unusual and the Power of Self-Expression 08:32 – Bad Company – Bluesy Swagger and Arena Rock Beginnings 11:02 – Chubby Checker – The Twist and a Cultural Dance Revolution 12:39– Joe Cocker – With a Little Help From My Friends as Gospel Soul 14:32 – Outkast – Stankonia and Southern Innovation 17:03 – The White Stripes – Elephant and Garage Rock’s Global Riff 20:01 – Outro: Which Album Defines This Class for You? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list has sparked endless debates. But beyond the rankings are the records that truly shaped the culture. In this special episode, I spotlight the albums that moved me, shaped me, and still live in me today — from Thriller, Purple Rain, and Faith, to Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, CrazySexyCool, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and more. These albums redefined pop, hip-hop, funk, R&B, and cultural storytelling. Some broke records. Others broke barriers. But all of them broke through. 🎧 Subscribe for more deep dives into the albums that made us. 🛒 Use code THEGROOVE at Vinyl.com [https://vinyl.com] for 10% off iconic records. 👇 What’s your favorite album from the Top 500? #RollingStone500 #Thriller #PurpleRain #LaurynHill #VinylCommunity #MusicThatMovedMe #AllisonHagendorf #ClassicAlbums #GreatestAlbums #MusicNostalgia #PopHistory #HipHopHistory 00:00 – Intro: Why Albums Still Matter 02:08 – Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack – Disco Goes Global 04:11 – Michael Jackson’s Thriller – The Album That Changed Everything 07:26 – Prince’s Purple Rain – A Genre-Defying Masterpiece 10:04 – Run-D.M.C. – Raising Hell and Breaking Down Barriers 12:40 – Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill and Hip-Hop Rebellion 14:30 – George Michael’s Faith – Pop Brilliance and Creative Freedom 17:27 – Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814 as Revolution 21:52 – Madonna – The Immaculate Collection and Pop Power 25:03 – TLC – CrazySexyCool and R&B Redefined 28:03 – Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation… and Unfiltered Truth 30:05 – OutKast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Changed the Game 32:38 – Outro: What’s YOUR Favorite Album on the List? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]