The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with indie artist Michael Seyer, who’s spent the last decade shaping his artistic identity through immersive, nostalgic albums like Ugly Boy and Bad Bonez. His latest release, Boylife, blends dream pop and indie-folk into a heartfelt coming-of-age soundtrack, written between LA and tour stops across Asia and North America. Self-released through his new label, Seyerland Records, Boylife marks a new chapter—one where Seyer deepens his artistry while uplifting fellow independent musicians. Ari and Michael dive into the making of Boylife, collaborating with a young producer, shooting music videos guerrilla-style in Japan, and staying fully independent—from DIY vinyl runs to self-funded tours. Seyer also shares how he’s building immersive worlds around his music, launching his label, and navigating the tricky balance between art and promotion. https://www.instagram.com/michaelseyer/ [https://www.instagram.com/michaelseyer/] Chapters 05:20 – Getting Started with Internet Music & Early DIY Releases   08:15 – Collaborating with Producer Christian Taylor on Boylife   12:10 – How Making Boylife Reignited His Passion for Music   14:45 – Staying Fully Independent in a Label-Dominated Industry   16:50 – Seyer’s Licensing Deal with Virgin Records Explained   22:05 – Pressing Vinyl & Distributing Music Through DistroKid   25:50 – Behind the Scenes of Filming “Fiend” on the Streets of Japan   35:40 – Launching Seyerland Records to Support Local Artists   42:30 – What Artist Development Means & How He Approaches It   52:30 – Navigating Social Media, Burnout, and Self-Promotion   57:10 – Defining Success & What It Means to “Make It” in Music 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 [https://book.aristake.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Justin Gammella, a hit songwriter, producer, top liner, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. With over a billion streams to his name and more than 100 released cuts, Justin’s catalog includes Bella Poarch’s viral hit “Build a Bitch” and collaborations with artists like Benson Boone, Lennon Stella, Steve Aoki, and FINNEAS. A true “working class” pop songwriter, Justin brings a decade of professional songwriting experience to the table and is also the host of the Producer Points podcast. In this episode, Ari and Justin dive into the realities of professional songwriting in today’s music industry. They explore how songwriters get paid, how publishing works, and the controversy around non-writing artists receiving songwriting credit. They also touch on newer developments like songwriters earning master points and how the industry continues to evolve in the streaming era. This episode also takes on the growing role of AI in music—how Justin uses it in his workflow, the ethical questions it raises, and the need for safeguards across the industry. https://instagram.com/justin_gammella [https://instagram.com/justin_gammella] http://instagram.com/producer_points [http://instagram.com/producer_points]  Chapters 00:00 The Role of Songwriters in the Music Industry 05:12 Journey to Becoming a Professional Songwriter 10:04 Understanding Publishing Deals 17:30 Monetization in the Streaming Era 23:15 The Songwriting Process and Collaboration 31:54 Vocal Production: The Heart of Music Creation 39:08 The Art of Pitch Songs: Collaboration and Emotion 42:17 Navigating the Modern Music Landscape: Major Labels vs. Indie Artists 45:57 Songwriting Credits: The Controversy of Co-Writing 50:11 The Evolving Role of Songwriters in the Streaming Era 54:56 AI in Music: Opportunities and Ethical Considerations 01:01:36 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 [https://book.aristake.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week on the New Music Business [https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/] podcast, Ari sits down with Oscar Höglund, the co-founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound. Epidemic Sound is a leading music and soundtracking platform for content creators. They have garnered attention for its digital rights model and soundtracking tools that help creators to elevate their content with music, while simultaneously supporting artists financially. Oscar shares insights from his journey launching Epidemic after working with Sweden’s renowned Zodiak Television. In their episode, Ari and Oscar unpack critical issues impacting independent artists, including royalty structures, streaming economics, and the evolving landscape of music licensing. They explore Epidemic Sound’s unique approach to artist compensation, discuss how digital streaming has pushed music toward playlist-driven consumption, and tackle the creative tension artists face when making commercially viable music. This episode offers an in-depth look at one of the industry's most influential platforms shaping the future of music in content creation. Chapters 00:00 The Changing Landscape of Music Royalties 06:00 Epidemic Sound: A New Model for Music Distribution 12:14 Artist Compensation and Ownership Rights 17:46 Innovative Approaches to Music Licensing 24:09 The Impact of Epidemic Sound on Independent Artists 29:53 Future of Music in the Digital Age 42:16 The Evolution of Music Consumption 46:21 Negotiating with DSPs and Licensing Rates 49:52 The Rise of Epidemic Sound 55:31 The Artist's Identity Crisis 01:08:01 Future Innovations and AI in Music 01:21:12 Becoming a Full-Service Music Platform 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 [https://book.aristake.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Jaclyn O’Connell, a digital marketer, creative strategist, artist manager, and founder of Bittersweet Media and Good Grief Management. Jaclyn has provided creative marketing solutions and hands-on artist management for artists and labels of all scales and sizes—from emerging artists to well-established acts and both indie and major labels. They have supported gold and platinum records and worked with artists including Wild Rivers, Cavetown, Julian Baker, and Cold War Kids. Drawing on experience in both marketing and artist management, Jaclyn offers a sharp, insider perspective on what it truly takes to build a sustainable career in today’s music industry. In this episode, Ari and Jaclyn dive deep into the realities of modern music marketing — from navigating ever-shifting social media algorithms to building effective fan funnels that turn casual listeners into ticket buyers and lifelong fans. They also unpack the current touring landscape, direct support deals, and the hot-button issue of tour buy-ons. Whether you're an artist, manager, or just curious about how fan engagement really works, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. http://instagram.com/jaclyn_oconnell [http://instagram.com/jaclyn_oconnell] Chapters 00:00 Building Direct Relationships with Fans 03:09 Navigating the Social Media Landscape 05:49 The Importance of Mental Health in Artist Management 09:05 Innovative Monetization Strategies for Artists 11:55 The Role of Community in Artist Growth 14:58 Understanding the Fan Journey 18:05 Challenges in Touring for Emerging Artists 21:03 The Evolution of the Live Music Industry 36:21 The Ethics of Tour Buy-Ons 39:09 Navigating the Challenges of Touring 43:05 Building Artist Relationships and Mental Health 46:04 Defining Success in Artist Campaigns 48:02 The Role of Social Media in Driving Streams 51:01 The Nuances of Going Viral 55:29 The Fragmentation of Viral Success 57:23 Conversations with Labels and Ownership 01:01:23 Balancing Management and Business 01:10:25 Setting Boundaries in Artist Management 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 [https://book.aristake.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Danny Ross, a producer/songwriter, columnist at Forbes, professor at Berklee NYC, and the founder of the largest songwriting camp in the world, Anti Social Camp. Now in its 5th year, Anti Social Camp brings together over 250 songwriters, producers, and artists, including Cigarettes After Sex, Beach Bunny, Bryce Vine, Walk the Moon, Taja Kumari, Evan Giia, and Louis Cato, for 200 recording sessions across 40 studios in 5 days. If you are a songwriter or producer who’s ever wondered what goes down at songwriting camps or how to get involved, you’re going to learn all about that and more in this episode with Danny Ross. Get $100 your Anti Social Camp Badge by using the code: ARIANTISOCIALVIP at antisocialcamp.com [http://antisocialcamp.com] Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Reputation in the Music Industry 03:02 Understanding Songwriting Camps 05:48 The Structure and Dynamics of Songwriting Sessions 08:47 The Evolution of the Anti Social Camp 12:01 Building Community in New York's Music Scene 14:54 The Anti Social Camp Experience 17:54 Diverse Genres and Collaboration 20:54 The Future of Songwriting Camps 31:11 Creative Collaborations in Music Production 32:26 Success Stories from the Camp 33:44 Understanding Major vs. Indie vs. Self-Releasing Artists 38:33 The Financial Landscape of Music Production 44:53 Navigating Splits and Royalties in Music 47:01 The Ethics of Publishing in the Music Industry 52:39 Teaching the Next Generation of Music Creators 56:40 The Importance of Community in Music Creation 59:01 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 [https://book.aristake.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.