This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Matt Graham, founding manager partner of Range Media Partners and head of Range Music. Range Music represents artists like Jack Harlow, Shaboozey, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Pentatonix, Rita Ora, Saweetie, Noah Cyrus, Midland, and Dylan Gossett—as well as emerging talent. Originally launched as a management company, Range has grown into a multi-division operation spanning music, film, TV, publishing, composing, and sports. Matt was named to Billboard’s 40 Under 40 list and recently recognized as one of Billboard's Country Power Players.

In this conversation, Ari and Matt take a big-picture look at how Range is structured, how the music team works together internally, and how artist management continues to evolve. They touch on deal structures—both traditional and emerging—and discuss how representation models are shifting across the industry. Matt also shares insights into his work in country music and how he’s thinking about developing both established names and new talent. If you're interested in the business of management, this conversation offers a thoughtful look behind the scenes.

https://www.instagram.com/itsmattgraham/

https://rangemusic.com/

00:00 - Introduction to Matt Graham and Range

03:05 - Building Range Media Partners’ collaborative management model

08:14 - Partnering with Big Loud and Mercury on Dylan Gossett

13:20 - The role of management in structuring label partnerships

17:45 - Global strategy for country and genre-fluid artists

21:55 - How Range Media supports career development beyond music

26:10 - Composer division and expansion into scoring and sync

31:05 - Why AI music is disrupting the music industry

35:45 - Labeling and regulation for AI-generated content

40:28 - How AI could reduce artist costs for visuals and production

45:50 - Blockchain’s missed opportunity in music

48:15 - What it means to "make it" in today’s music business

51:00 - Final thoughts and Matt’s outlook on the industry

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/

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

Hosted on Acast. See 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

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

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

Hosted on Acast. See 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

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

Hosted on Acast. See 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

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Dan Melnick, the General Manager of Bandcamp. One of the earliest direct-to-fan platforms, Bandcamp empowers listeners to support artists they love directly. They have enabled fans to pay over 1.49 billion dollars and 193 million dollars directly to artists last year. Over 75k records get sold on this superfan platform every day and over half a million fans buy at least one thing on Bandcamp each month.

In this episode, Dan explains to Ari how and why Bandcamp is still growing after 17 years. He shares where the company’s headed, and why its download model has continued to thrive, despite the fall of downloads on platforms like iTunes. Dan also highlights how artists can use Bandcamp to bolster their release strategies, and Ari shares some of his favorite, lesser-known features of the site. Take a listen to find out how Bandcamp’s direct-to-fan platform can help you connect with fans and monetize your fan relationships.

https://bandcamp.com/

Chapters

00:00 Building a Sustainable Music Career

05:00 The Power of Bandcamp

09:59 Understanding Bandcamp's Growth

15:06 Direct-to-Fan Relationships

19:53 Innovations in Bandcamp

24:45 Community and Engagement on Bandcamp

30:03 Best Practices for Artists on Bandcamp

36:25 Merchandising Beyond Music: The Power of T-Shirts

39:28 Navigating the Streaming Landscape: Bandcamp vs. Spotify

48:25 Building a Sustainable Career: Strategies for Artists

56:11 Understanding Bandcamp's Business Model: Fair Trade Music

01:02:36 The Evolution of Curation: Bandcamp's Editorial Approach

01:05:20 The Future of Bandcamp: Building Sustainable Careers

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode of the New Music Business podcast, Ari untangles the complexities of royalties, registration, and publishing. After his social media video with the same message (“Don’t cut your drummer into publishing”) went viral for the wrong reasons, Ari wanted to come on the show and break down the nuances of this advice. Tune in to get clear on the differences between publishing royalties and master royalties, which royalties session musicians are legally due, the importance of one-stop agreements, and how to fairly (or, more so, generously) compensate your session musicians.

Read the article on Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com/publishing-royalties/

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Music Publishing and Royalties

02:55 The Role of Session Musicians in Music Creation

05:55 Differentiating Between Master Royalties and Publishing

09:09 The Importance of One-Stop Agreements

11:59 Fair Compensation for Session Musicians

15:12 Changing Industry Standards

17:46 How Publishing Royalties Work Within Bands

20:13 Why Session Musicians Are Not Considered Co-Writers

22:20 Legally Entitled Radio Royalties for Session Musicians

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.