Modern Musician Podcast

Ken Kobori, CEO of SURF Music, is a successful songwriter and producer in Japan as 2SOUL. He achieved early success with "Story" by AI in 2005, which charted in Oricon's top 10 for 73 weeks. He's worked with Earth Wind & Fire and Little Glee Monster, guiding the careers of many artists. He's also a former executive and startup member of Breaker, Inc.Ken shares insights on how to sell your unreleased music globally. He also discusses the impact of AI on music creators and the rapidly evolving music industry.Here’s what you’ll learn: How Surf Music can help you sell your unreleased music to buyers across the global entertainment industry.How music creators can navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in the music industry.How Surf Music can be a 24-hour pitching machine for your music and how you can benefit from the new wave of music tech. Find opportunities for exclusive placement opportunities in Japan and Korea and keep 100% of your royalties and track fees. You can sign up to the monthly subscription at https://discover.surf inclusive of a 30-day trial period and use the special promo code, SURFVIP50, for 50% off 6 months of the monthly plan at 25 USD / month OR the annual plan at 250 USD / Year.Sign up for Surf Music here: https://discover.surfWant to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

Nigel Sparkes is an accomplished Music Business professional who started his career as a talent manager while studying at Penn State University. He has worked with top-tier superstar talent and executives, managing clients who have achieved Grammy Nominations and #1 Charting Billboard Singles and Albums. In 2017, he noticed a shift in music promotion and began dabbling in Spotify playlisting, eventually founding PlaylistStreams in 2020. The company has serviced thousands of artists, major and indie labels, and uses data to help artists reach their target audience.Nigel shares his insights on playlisting, consistency, and stepping outside your comfort zone to achieve success in the music industry. He also discusses his company PlaylistStreams, which uses data to help artists reach their target audience on Spotify. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in staying ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving music industry.Here’s what you’ll learn: How to get your music in front of the right audience and how to use data to your advantage.Insights on what to look out for when using playlisting services to grow your streams and not get scammed. The importance of consistency and perseverance when setting out to achieve your goals.Check out PlaylistStreams here: https://playliststreams.com/get-massive-streams-lp/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

Judy Stakee is a world-renowned artist development specialist, author, and speaker. With over four decades of music experience, Judy has earned an industry reputation as the champion of the songwriter. During her 20 years as Senior VP of Creative at Warner Chappell Music, Judy signed, developed, and managed their star roster including Grammy-award winner Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Jewel, Gavin DeGraw, John Shanks, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Scott Cutler, and Anne Previn, Julian Bunetta, Kevin Kadish, and Franne Golde. In 2009, Judy shifted with the music industry and started an independent artist development company. Her book “The Songwriters Survival Guide “, has been adapted into the music curricula of renowned music institutions in the US and beyond. On today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Judy Stakee, a seasoned songwriter and industry expert who will be sharing invaluable tips and insights on the art of songwriting. Tune in to learn from her wealth of experience and elevate your own songwriting skills.Here’s what you’ll learn: Perseverance, reaching out for help, and building a supportive team in songwriting to establish a solid framework for successEnhance your storytelling and lyricism skills to connect with your audience and share your unique perspective in your songsThe importance of finding the right mentor and guidance in laying the groundwork for success in whatever category you need help withVisit Judy’s website for more info: https://www.judystakee.com/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

Ashley Neumeister went to Columbia College Chicago for Music Business and finished with a semester in LA focusing on Music Supervision. She quickly got an opportunity to work at music library, True Music, headed by legendary composer Kurt Farquhar. For years, Ashley was in charge of acquiring talent, managing music licensing, pitching songs and eventually moved over to Farquhar Productions (the parent company of True Music) as their music supervisor and music editor. Ashley has played a key role in all aspects of music production, clearance, and music curation on numerous series and was nominated for Guild of Music Supervisor's Award (Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama) for her work on Seasons 1 & 2 of "American Soul”. In 2012, Ashley's love of music expanded into the world of frequency healing (aka sound healing) and contemplative breathwork. Since 2013, she has been facilitating breathwork & sound healing sessions designed for stress-relief. These healing sessions are currently facilitated in-person, online, and on apps like Insight Timer. Her clients include musicians, composers and producers from the entertainment industries all over the world.In this episode, Ashley provides insider tips on the secrets of sync licensing, along with her thoughts on the future of sound healing and the role of AI in the industry. Her unique perspective on the intersection of technology and spirituality offers listeners a fresh and insightful take on these topics.Here’s what you’ll learn: The importance of a “one-sheet” and having the conversation upfront about how the splits will be handled.How to handle the clearance of your music correctly to avoid any issues in the future.The power of frequency and music for healing and it’s profound implications for the future of wellness and holistic medicine.Register for Sync Secrets Free Masterclass here: https://www.syncsecrets.biz/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

Kevin Breuner is a musician, educator, and advocate for independent artists. He is best known as the former Vice President of Marketing at CD Baby, one of the largest distributors of independent music in the world. During his tenure at CD Baby, Kevin played a critical role in helping independent musicians distribute their music online and build successful careers in the music industry. He also hosts the popular podcast "DIY Musician" and has written extensively on the subject of music marketing and distribution. Today, Kevin continues to champion independent artists and help them navigate the ever-changing landscape of the music industry.He emphasizes the importance of email lists, as they offer a more effective way to convert fans and build deeper relationships with them compared to social media platforms. In this episode, you learn:How to build and maintain an email list that effectively converts fans and builds deeper relationships with them.Ensure that your social media profiles direct fans to your email list and that the digital presence is streamlined to avoid confusion and lost conversions.Focus on creating visually engaging and memorable content on platforms like TikTok that highlight the catchiest parts of their music to create anticipation for future releases.Connect with Kevin on his Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kbreunerLearn more about CD Baby at their official website: https://cdbaby.com/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

John Raso is the CEO of Audiam, a division of SESAC Music Group, that collects digital music royalties for music publishers, writers, and hitmakers using innovative technology and music publishing experience. Prior to Audiam, John spent over a decade at The Harry Fox Agency as the head of client services and has over 15 years of experience in record label marketing, publicity, and product management.John shares how Audiam's innovative technology and music publishing expertise can help self-published songwriters collect digital music royalties, ensure clean and up-to-date song data, and provide a platform for easier royalty collection. Here’s what you’ll learn about: How to utilize Audiam's innovative music publishing technology to locate and enhance metadata, ensuring clean and up-to-date song dataRecover unpaid past royalties and collect those owed in the future through Audiam's platformHow Audiam empowers self-published songwriters to focus on creating music by providing a seamless solution for digital music royalty collectionGet started with Audium here: https://www.audiam.com/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

Martin Sutton is a successful songwriter, producer, and musician with over 20 years of experience in the music industry. He has sold millions of records worldwide and worked with many famous artists. Martin runs his own publishing company, teaches songwriting at Tech Music School in London, and shares his knowledge through exclusive workshops designed to help aspiring songwriters craft great songs.Martin Sutton shares his expertise on songwriting, including tips on how to craft a great song and keep your listeners engaged. He also discusses the psychology of songwriting, offers advice for those new to songwriting, and emphasizes the importance of embracing collaboration. Here’s what you’ll learn about: The importance of creating a strong emotional connection with the listener through a song's lyrics and melodyThe benefits of co-writing with other musicians to create the best possible end result for your songsLearn how to tailor your songwriting approach to meet the demands of today's marketJoin the Songwriting Academy here: https://thesongwritingacademy.co.uk/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

Michael Laskow has been a prominent figure in the music industry since 1974, working with well-known artists and agencies. In 1992, he founded TAXI, the world's first independent A&R company, which has helped countless songwriters, artists, and composers succeed in the music business by securing deals and placements in various media.Michael discusses his vast knowledge of the sync licensing industry. Using real-world examples, he reveals what music supervisors look for and how to interpret their needs to provide them with what they actually want.   Here’s what you’ll learn about: Behind-the-scenes insights on the terminology and mechanics of music sync placementsValuable insights and practical advice for musicians looking to succeed in the world of sync licensing How to create music that fits the emotional and mood of a scene, rather than just selecting songs you likeSign up to join TAXI here: https://www.taxi.com/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

In this episode, Modern Musician Vice President Stephen Warner interviews Rick Barker, a renowned music industry expert and President/CEO of the Music Industry Blueprint. With extensive experience as a manager, entrepreneur, author, and consultant, Rick shares his best advice for independent musicians and how to multiply Instagram engagement using InstaChamp.Here’s what you’ll learn about: Why building an authentic relationship with your fans is crucial for success in the music industry, and how to do it in a genuine and effective way.Practical tactics for engaging with your fans on social media and beyond, including how to create content that resonates with themDiscover how to leverage InstaChamp for automating Instagram interactions to free up more time doing what you love - making music!Get Lifetime Access to InstaChamp here: https://rickbarker.com/insta/otoConnect with Rick Barker here: https://rickbarker.com/Want to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching

In this episode of The Modern Musician Podcast, we chat with Dan Mangan, a successful musician and songwriter who started out playing house concerts as a DIY artist. Dan's experience and success led him to create the Madic Records House Concert Series, which ultimately inspired the creation of Side Door - a platform that helps musicians achieve a healthy living wage by connecting them with hosts and venues.Dan shares how Side Door's vision is to create an industry-adjacent marketplace that empowers musicians to take control of their careers. Here’s what you’ll learn about: The benefits of intimate house concerts and how they can create a special experience for both artists and audiencesHow Side Door's platform provides a clean and transparent way for artists to get paid directly for their performancesThe tools and resources available to hosts and artists to ensure a successful and enjoyable show for everyone involved.Sign up for Side Door here: https://sidedooraccess.com/homeWant to Fast Track Your Music Career? Try MusicMentor™ Pro For Free: https://link.modernmusician.me/MusicMentorApply for Gold Artist Academy: https://link.modernmusician.me/apply-for-coaching