Billboard On The Record

Andrew Spellman, artist manager and co-founder of Chaotic Good, and Jesse Coren, music manager and co-founder focused on digital trend campaigns, unpack TikTok virality. They discuss trend simulation, volume-driven account networks, niche content strategies, scaling narratives beyond singles, platform risks and ethics. Short, fast, and tactical takes on how songs get traction in today’s streaming era.

Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and investor behind Broadcast.com and the Dallas Mavericks, shares an investor’s view of today’s music world. He talks about music as an asset class and why catalogs attract buyers. He explores AI’s role in streaming and marketing. He urges artists to think like entrepreneurs and predicts live shows and new platforms will reshape how music breaks through.

Mikey Shulman, CEO and co-founder of Suno, an AI music startup that generates songs from text prompts. He talks about Suno’s rapid growth and controversies, songwriting camps and VIP workflows, the Warner Music deal and licensing stance. They explore new features like Hooks, how AI changes songwriting pace, and why Suno aims to stay independent while shaping music’s future.

David Israelite, NMPA leader fighting for fair royalties and songwriter rights. Ryan Tedder, hitmaking songwriter/producer and Runner Music founder. They discuss why songwriting pay has eroded, how streaming and social media reshaped writing and pitching, the rise of large writing rooms and courtesy credits, K-pop’s songwriting boom, and emerging AI tools and back-office opportunities.

Bozoma Saint John, a marketing exec who led music and brand deals at Pepsi, Apple Music and Uber. She pulls back the curtain on booking icons like Beyoncé and negotiating 360-degree halftime packages. She explains production logistics, sponsor dynamics, political risks and the tight choreography behind those 13 minutes.

Michael Nash, Chief Digital Officer and EVP at Universal Music Group, navigates tech, platform deals and AI’s impact on music. He recounts the TikTok standoff, AI risks to royalties and anti-dilution protections. Conversations cover platform negotiations, fraud and discovery overload, plus how UMG balances innovation with artist rights.

What does it really take to cover, analyze and predict the biggest moves in the music industry at Billboard? Dan Rys, executive editor of business, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, senior finance correspondent, and Bill Donahue, senior legal correspondent, sit down with Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to give listeners a peek inside the newsroom that tracks the stories shaping music today. They share their biggest coverage moments of 2025, from Taylor Swift reclaiming her catalog and Shaboozy tying the Hot 100 record to Diddy’s legal battles and leadership changes at Island Records. The team also weighs in on what’s next for the industry in 2026, including AI’s role in songwriting, major catalog sales, evolving marketing strategies and predictions for lawsuits, acquisitions and chart-topping hits. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at how Billboard decides what matters, what’s trending and how the team interprets the moves that will define music in 2026. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really take to write a Christmas song that lasts forever? Singer, songwriter and producer Charlie Puth sits down with Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to unpack the magic behind holiday hits, from the one chord that seems to appear in nearly every classic to the ’60s influences that continue to shape today’s festive favorites. Puth shares how he once wrote a Christmas song in just an hour, why some tracks become seasonal standards almost by accident and how artists balance tradition with originality when creating holiday music. He also takes listeners inside piano sessions, highlights his favorite Christmas albums and songs, answers rapid-fire holiday questions and reflects on how the craft of songwriting has evolved, all while offering a sneak peek at what’s next for his own music. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas music may only dominate a few weeks a year, but its impact on the music business lasts for decades. Guy Moot, CEO and Co-Chair of Warner Chappell Music, and Carianne Marshall, COO and Co-Chair, join host Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to break down why holiday songs are some of the most valuable assets in any music catalog, why writing a timeless Christmas hit is so difficult and how industry traditions around holiday albums have shifted from mandatory releases to strategic singles. They discuss the evolution from cover culture to artist-driven branding, the role of songwriter camps, and why evergreen holiday songs often travel further than the places they were written. From December chart freezes to the renewed push for trusted brands and long-term fan connection, this conversation explores how Christmas music continues to shape careers, catalogs and the modern music economy. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging chat, Michael Huppe, CEO of SoundExchange and a prominent figure in music licensing, dives into the unique landscape of artist royalties in U.S. radio. He unpacks the historical laws preventing artists from earning when their songs play on FM/AM radio and discusses the advocacy behind the American Music Fairness Act. Huppe also explores the evolution of radio, from payola scandals to the rise of AI DJs, shedding light on the future of artist compensation and digital music rights.