The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

• Michael Seyer is All Vibes Running a DIY Music Career

  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 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 worlds around his music, launching his label, and navigating the tricky balance between art and promotion.https://www.instagram.com/michaelseyer/Chapters05:20 – 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 MusicEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder 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.

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• We’re Hiring A Podcast Editor!

  Apply here: https://aristake.io/apply Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Hit Songwriter/Producer on Publishing Deals and Artists Taking Credit for Songs They Didn't Write

  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_gammellahttp://instagram.com/producer_points Chapters00:00 The Role of Songwriters in the Music Industry05:12 Journey to Becoming a Professional Songwriter10:04 Understanding Publishing Deals17:30 Monetization in the Streaming Era23:15 The Songwriting Process and Collaboration31:54 Vocal Production: The Heart of Music Creation39:08 The Art of Pitch Songs: Collaboration and Emotion42:17 Navigating the Modern Music Landscape: Major Labels vs. Indie Artists45:57 Songwriting Credits: The Controversy of Co-Writing50:11 The Evolving Role of Songwriters in the Streaming Era54:56 AI in Music: Opportunities and Ethical Considerations01:01:36 Defining Success in the New Music BusinessEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder 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.

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• Epidemic Sound Removes Rights and Royalties From the Equation

  This week on the New Music Business 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.Chapters00:00 The Changing Landscape of Music Royalties06:00 Epidemic Sound: A New Model for Music Distribution12:14 Artist Compensation and Ownership Rights17:46 Innovative Approaches to Music Licensing24:09 The Impact of Epidemic Sound on Independent Artists29:53 Future of Music in the Digital Age42:16 The Evolution of Music Consumption46:21 Negotiating with DSPs and Licensing Rates49:52 The Rise of Epidemic Sound55:31 The Artist's Identity Crisis01:08:01 Future Innovations and AI in Music01:21:12 Becoming a Full-Service Music PlatformEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder 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.

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• How This Artist Manager Deepens the Fan Relationship and Prioritizes Mental Health

  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_oconnellChapters00:00 Building Direct Relationships with Fans03:09 Navigating the Social Media Landscape05:49 The Importance of Mental Health in Artist Management09:05 Innovative Monetization Strategies for Artists11:55 The Role of Community in Artist Growth14:58 Understanding the Fan Journey18:05 Challenges in Touring for Emerging Artists21:03 The Evolution of the Live Music Industry36:21 The Ethics of Tour Buy-Ons39:09 Navigating the Challenges of Touring43:05 Building Artist Relationships and Mental Health46:04 Defining Success in Artist Campaigns48:02 The Role of Social Media in Driving Streams51:01 The Nuances of Going Viral55:29 The Fragmentation of Viral Success57:23 Conversations with Labels and Ownership01:01:23 Balancing Management and Business01:10:25 Setting Boundaries in Artist ManagementEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder 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.

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