The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Molly Neuman, President of CD Baby, one of the largest independent music distributors in the world. Molly has spent decades advocating for independent artists and labels, helping shape the modern music industry through leadership roles at CD Baby, Downtown Music Holdings, and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM). In this conversation, Ari and Molly dive into some of the most pressing issues facing musicians today, including artificial intelligence, streaming fraud, artist compensation, customer support, and the evolving role of music distribution. They discuss whether AI-generated music should exist, how streaming platforms are responding to generative AI, why artists are increasingly being affected by fraudulent streams, and what distributors like CD Baby are doing to protect independent musicians. Molly also shares her perspective on artist ownership, independence, and what success in the music business looks like in 2026.Follow Molly Neuman:https://www.instagram.com/mollydneuman/https://cdbaby.com/Check out Ari’s Take:https://aristake.com03:45 – Molly Neuman's Journey to Becoming CD Baby President11:32 – Is CD Baby Still Independent?18:04 – Universal Music's Acquisition & What It Means for Artists27:41 – The State of Independent Music Distribution in 202639:18 – What Artists Get Wrong About Distribution49:07 – AI Customer Support: Does It Matter if It's Human?52:11 – Should AI-Generated Music Exist?1:03:47 – Streaming Fraud, Bot Plays & How Artists Get Penalized1:12:56 – What "Making It" Really Means in Today's Music IndustryEdited and mixed by Ruben ZarateMusic 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.

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.In this episode, Ari and Chloe dive deep into Chloe’s artistic journey. They discuss everything from her rigorous classical training to the lessons she’s learned from merging two distinct musical worlds. In this episode, you’ll learn about label strategy, collaboration with big-name artists and producers, and maintaining authenticity while scaling. Chloe shares invaluable insights on building a personal brand (both musically and visually), empowering women in the industry, and how she sees the future of genre-fluid music.https://www.instagram.com/misschloeflower05:00 – The Holiday Album and Women Composers10:30 – Understanding Public Domain and Classical Music Rights15:45 – YouTube Covers, Metadata, and Going Independent19:00 – Meeting Babyface and Blending Genres25:00 – The Viral Grammy Performance with Cardi B29:30 – Evolving Sound and the Role of Collaboration33:00 – Running an Independent Label and Revenue Streams36:00 – Pros and Cons of Major vs. Indie Labels47:00 – Music Education and Inspiring the Next Generation54:00 – Performing with Orchestras and ConductorsEdited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic 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.

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.In this episode, Ralph offers a candid look at the realities of A&R and independent publishing. He and Ari discuss signing and developing new talent, navigating the politics of song splits, and the growing importance of diversity in writers’ rooms. Ralph also sheds light on the challenges songwriters face in today’s industry and the ongoing fight for fair representation, making this conversation invaluable for anyone seeking an inside perspective on the business of songwriting and publishing.https://www.instagram.com/rhymeswithralphhttps://www.instagram.com/angrymobmusic00:00:00 Introduction to A&R and Publishing00:03:00 The Role of A&R in Independent Publishing00:09:00 Challenges in Signing New Talent00:15:00 The Politics of Song Splits00:21:00 Diversity in Writers' Rooms00:27:00 Advocating for Songwriters' Rights00:33:00 The Evolving Music Industry Landscape00:39:00 Songwriting Camps and Collaboration00:45:00 Defining Success in the Music BusinessEdited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic 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.

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.Sol shares his journey from a turntablist to a successful artist with millions of streams, discussing the challenges and triumphs of navigating the music world independently. They delve into the impact of streaming platforms, the role of AI in music, and the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about creativity, perseverance, and the evolving landscape of the music business.05:40 – Introduction and Niche11:10 – Early Journey17:40 – Shift to Yoga Music24:25 – Streaming Platforms30:55 – AI in Music37:40 – Creativity and Motivation45:40 – Future Plans53:10 – Reflections and Advicehttps://www.instagram.com/solrisingEdited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic 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.

Enrollment for Ari’s Take Academy CLOSING SOON: https://aristakeacademy.com (use code NMB for 10% off!)Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business here: https://book.aristake.comThis 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 Corrente has worked with are: Sony Music, Kat Graham, Red Light Management, Mix Master Mike, Elohim, Jesse Jo Stark, Lauren Ruth Ward, BIIANCO, and many more.05:52 Welcome / background10:20 PR model ten years ago, shifting from publications to playlists15:55 What PR is and what a publicist does25:21 Evolution of press rates and artist feedback31:24 Relationship with fashion and music publication Lady Gun41:58 Pay-to-play PR model47:03 What is the point of music press right now?53:21 Purple Bite’s business model01:05:03 How Purple Bite guarantees placements01:09:50 What it means to make it in the New Music BusinessSubscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmbWatch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpaConnect with Ari’s Take:Website: https://aristake.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/aristake_TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@aris.takeTwitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeYouTube: https://youtube.com/user/aristake1Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandTwitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandConnect with Mikel Corrente:Website: http://purplebite.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/mikelcorrenteTikTok: https://.tiktok.com/@mikelcorrenteTwitter: https://twitter.com/MikelCorrenteEdited and mixed by Maxton HunterMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s Take#MusicPR #MusicPress #MusicMarketing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.