The New Music Business with Ari Herstand
**WEBBY AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC PODCAST**“#1 music industry podcast to help keep you in the loop” -Spotify“The 10 Best Music Business Podcasts of 2022" – VarietyAri Herstand is the best-selling author of How To Make It in the New Music Business. Forbes calls him “The poster child of DIY music.” In this show, he deconstructs the brightest minds in the music industry, digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and strategies that listeners can use to run successful careers of their own. Ari offers straight talk with no fluff and doesn’t let his guests off easy. If there is a way, Ari will find...
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Is This The Future of Superfandom?
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Matt Jones, the CEO and co-founder of Medallion, a platform helping artists own their fan relationships and build new revenue models. Matt previously founded Songkick, another direct-to-fan platform that was acquired by Warner Music Group. He’s now developing new economic models for artists to own their fan relationships.</p><br><p>In this episode, Matt and Ari discuss the direct-to-fan experience and why it’s beneficial to give artists full ownership of their data. Matt explains why traditional models like Patreon and Substack don’t fit the cr...
How Classical Pianist Chloe Flower Collabed with Cardi B, Meek Mill, Babyface and Built Her Career
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with acclaimed pianist and composer, Chloe Flower. Born in Pennsylvania, Chloe began playing piano at age two, later studying at the Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege and London’s Royal Academy of Music. A classically trained pianist turned genre-bender, she calls her unique style “popsical” (a fusion of classical, pop, and hip-hop). She has collaborated with major artists like Céline Dion, Babyface, Nas, and Cardi B (whose 2019 GRAMMY performance she helped elevate). Beyond performing, Chloe is a passionate advocate for music education.</p><br><p>In this epis...
How a Mastering Engineer Works With (and Without) AI
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Daniel Rowland, a rare combination of audio engineer, producer, tech executive, and educator. The music he’s worked on has amassed over 15 billion streams, earning Emmy and Oscar wins, Grammy nominations, and multiple platinum certifications. His credits span an eclectic range of artists and projects, including Nina Simone, Nine Inch Nails, Thundercat, Star Wars, Pixar, and John Wick. Beyond the studio, Daniel serves as VP of Strategy and Partnerships at LANDR Audio and a longtime professor at MTSU, where he champions ethical, AI-driven tools that empower creators.</p>...
How A&R at Publishing Companies Work
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ralph Torrefranca, Executive Director of A&R at Angry Mob Music. With nearly two decades of experience, Ralph has championed emerging songwriters, artists, and producers, working with talents like Jake Scott, Bailey Bryan, and Joe Pepe. He is also the founder of Angry Mob’s New Normal Writing Camp, a diversity-driven initiative, and a respected voice on equity in the music industry. Beyond his A&R work, Ralph fronts the post-punk band Cuffed Up and is an award-winning filmmaker.</p><br><p>In this episode, Ralph offers a...
GRAMMY Winning NYC Jazz Singer/Songwriter/Arranger Makes It Work
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Nicole Zuraitis, a GRAMMY-winning New York-based jazz singer, songwriter, pianist, and arranger. Her 2023 album, How Love Begins, won Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 66th GRAMMY Awards in 2024. She has performed all over the world from Birdland and Dizzy's Club to Lincoln Center China. She first earned GRAMMY attention in 2019 for her arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" with a GRAMMY nomination for Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals. She most recently won a GRAMMY in 2025 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.</p><br><p>In this episode, Nicole...
Finding Accidental Streaming Success in a Niche Market
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Sol Rising, a producer and DJ whose eclectic blend of electronic, downtempo, and lo-fi has inspired millions. Born in Vancouver and raised in Iowa, he went from a childhood rooted in meditation to becoming one of America’s top scratch DJs before evolving into a prolific producer. With over 20 albums, 225M+ streams, and international tours across the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia, Sol Rising shares his journey of artistry and growth.</p><br><p>Sol shares his journey from a turntablist to a successful artist with mi...
Suno and Udio SUED By Indie Musicians - The Lead Attorney Tells All
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Top Music Attorney, Miss Krystle. Miss Krystle is an entertainment attorney, independent artist, musician, and CEO of Delgado Entertainment Law. She hosts the Top Music Attorney podcast and popular YouTube channel, and has sold tens of millions of dollars in music catalogs. As leader of the class action lawsuit against A.I. generative companies Suno and Udio on behalf of independent artist, producers, & songwriters; she continues to champion creators’ rights while teaching artists how to think like major labels and build six-figure careers on their own terms.</p>...
This Music Publicist Has Upended the Entire PR Model
<p>Enrollment for Ari’s Take Academy CLOSING SOON: https://aristakeacademy.com (use code NMB for 10% off!)</p><br><p>Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business here: https://book.aristake.com</p><br><p>This week on the New Music Business, Ari is joined by the founder of Purple Bite PR, Mikel Corrente. In the last few years Corrente adapted a “Zero-Risk” guaranteed or money back system that is very uncommon in the PR industry but it’s more transparent and fairer than the traditional PR system. Some examples of artists and companies that Cor...
The FTC Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster - NIVA Responds
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which represents over 1,500 venues nationwide. Together, they discuss the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which alleges deceptive pricing practices that have enabled scalpers to exploit both artists and fans for billions of dollars.</p><p>Ari and Stephen break down the logistics of the case, its potential impact on the future of ticketed events, and the incriminating evidence pointing to Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s complicity. They also explore the broader issu...
This Merch Company Has Paid Artists $30+ Million
<p>This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Seamus Menihane, CEO and Co-Founder of the merch company, Downright Merch (now known as Armada). This merch company has paid out over $30 million to clients and they currently manage over 250 merch stores for artists including Thrice, Tom Morello and Death Row Records, as well as clients such as Grillo’s Pickles, Every Day Astronaut and Matty Matheson. </p><br><p>In this episode, Ari and Seamus dig into all things merch. They discuss online versus touring merch sales, fanclubs, pre-sale campaigns, and large-scale transparency issues that come up...
