Pop School

Justin Cook On What It Takes To Make It In The Music Business

Justin Cook, former A&R executive for China Records, discusses the 1990's British rock scene, industry changes, and how Spotify's algorithm's really work. He discusses the future of the music industry and the changing ways artists are getting discovered.

The Current State of Media Sync Licensing with Steven Evanne Heinstein

Steven Heinstein joins Pop School today to educate us on the current state of music sync licensing for film, television, and video games in 2024. He is the founder of Xtraordinary Songs, a publishing and management company, and The Audio Stable, an innovative production music library and composer management. He discusses both his career, and how AI can both help and hurt the licensing industry in the coming years, as well as, the best ways a musician can get their music licensed for movies and tv.

How To Spot A Hit Song with Former Sony VP of A&R, Jim Vellutato

Jim Vellutato drops by to discuss his illustrious career in music publishing and A&R at Sony/ATV where he found hit songs for artists such as Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Eddie Money, and a number one hit for Martika with Toy Soldiers. He talks about how to identify the key components of a hit song, what it takes to make it as a songwriter today, and how song crafting has changed since he started out in the industry.

Music Publishing & Licensing in 2024: What To Know

On this week's episode, Sheppard and Jonas explore what to expect when seeking a publishing deal, the latest on royalty structures, and alternative avenues to secure deals in 2024.

Collaboration with Grammy Winner, Itaal Shur, Co-Writer of Santana's 'Smooth'

Itaal Shur drops by to discuss collaborating and co-writing with Maxwell, co-writing the Grammy Award-winning song, 'Smooth' with Matchbox 20's, Rob Thomas, and starting the seminal world, jazz, and R&B band, Groove Collective. In addition, he reminisces about the vibrant 1990's New York City music scene and the state of the current music industry.