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Today's episode is a masterclass in copyright law and protecting your music assets. I'm chatting with attorney Cynthia Katz, and she is a wealth of knowledge on how the system works, and what you need to do to protect yourself. If you're writing original music, getting hired for sessions, writing songs, or playing covers, you need to hear this episode.  How to Reach Cynthia:  https://www.foxrothschild.com/cynthia-l-katz https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-katz-goldfrach-544bb810/ How to Reach Us: Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com If you want to help us out without a financial commitment, please share this episode and rate us on Apple or Spotify.

Today I'm talking to professional musician turned financial planner. Justin Powell.  Justin is a classically trained musician who discovered rock music and went on to perform with some of the best musicians in the improvisational jam band rock scene. He was a core member of The Mantras for many years, helping them run their festival. and he's also very active in the Asheville music scene, setting up cool events like the Soul Jazz jam and playing with Blue Bop, a Bela Fleck and the Flecktones tribute band. Justin and I talk about entrepreneurship, planning festivals, being alcohol-free, tips on how to control anxiety, financial management, songwriting, and even more. ** This episode is dedicated to the memory of Kofi Burbridge. As you'll hear in the episode, Kofi gave Justin a piece of advice that changed the course of his life, and without him, this podcast episode wouldn't be here. Kofi was an absolutely brilliant musician who played with more soul than the stage could handle. I have so many fond memories of dancing barefoot in the field of a festival while Kofi poured it all out on stage. To honor his legacy, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi created the Kofi Burbridge Music Matters Fund in partnership with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to increase access to instruments and music programs for thousands of youth across the country.  To support this cause, please click here:  The Kofi Burbridge Music Matters Fund Key Moments:  06:27 - Finding balance in work and music 15:44 - Festival planning - plan for the unexpected 22:22 - Building a musician's musician community 27:03 - "Don't be afraid to engage with people who are further along in their career" 34:26 - If you don't think you own business, you won't grow like you own a business. 40:00 - An ode to cover songs.  44:28 - You're in the business of throwing a party 54:23 - How to plan ahead in such an unstable industry How to Reach Justin:  Valor Private Wealth, LLC www.valorwealthadvisors.com How to Reach Us: Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com If you want to help us out without a financial commitment, please share this episode and rate us on Apple or Spotify.

Today I am chatting with Rasha Shaker, a music marketing professional living in Nashville. Rasha has worked with brands, bands, music festivals, venues and more to design strategic marketing plans, and she's currently pursuing an MBA in Music Business at MTSU. She has helped a touring artist generate over a million dollars in sales, and she lead a marketing campaign with a 14x return on ad spend. But as impressive as these things are, she's so much more than that.  As is usually the case with my podcast, we ended up talking about the human stuff - fitting in to a complicated world when you're neuro-divergent, VR and music in the metaverse, race and gender diversity in country music, and much more. Rasha is an incredibly bright mind with a huge heart for empathy and I strongly encourage everyone to hear what she has to say about neurodiversity in music and making room for people with disabilities at your table. As always, feel free to reach out via email if you want to chat about any topics in this episode.  Key Moments:  02:48 - Neuro-diversity, what does that mean?  09:34 - Calling out microaggressions and flight vs fight vs freeze 17:13 - Passion for music meets passion for diversity inclusion 24:07 - People can exist in these spaces and it doesn't need to threaten your identity. 36:19 - VR as a technology that helps people with disabilities enjoy music 42:50 - What Rasha's been listening to lately (with an interlude - Ode to Lady Gaga) 57:14 - Why companies should hire neuro-diverse individuals to solve their problems 1:01:32 - Turn yourself up to 11 and be unapologetic Follow Rasha:  Website - rashaker.com Instagram - @ra_sha_ker Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashashaker/ Books mentioned:  How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie Dare to Lead - Brene Brown How to Reach Us: Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com If you want to help us out without a financial commitment, please share this episode and rate us on Apple or Spotify.

Today's episode is so full of incredible production and recording and songwriting information from my friend Jake Rye. Jake owns a recording studio in Michigan called Social Recording Company and was a member of the Grammy nominated band Sanctus Real for several years. We talk about his path into music and all the things he learned along the way, from being in a publishing deal to self-employment, parenthood, and much more. Buckle in - this is a long one and there's a lot of good stuff in the back half of the episode, so try to stick around till the end. Key Moments:  2:30 - The grow-up story 14:30 - 150 shows a year 19:41 - Losing a pub deal: "it was like we never existed" 25:27 - I never thought I'd have a basement studio but I love it 27:49 - Jake's songwriting process 39:00 - Inspiration comes whenever it wants to 51:00 - What tracks to include in a demo 58:15 - Audio recording is a process of stacking bricks 1:04:30 - Thom Yorke didn't use auto-tune 1:14:21 - Listening to a final mix 1:26:08 - Sync licensing - the money is in advertising 1:29:55 - You don't have to change who you are to be successful How to Reach Jake:  Personal website: https://www.jakeryemix.com/ Studio website: https://socialrecordingcompany.com/ How to Reach Us: Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com If you want to help us out without a financial commitment, please share this episode and rate us on Apple or Spotify.

Today i'm talking to Senaida Ng, a Toronto native who is studying music at NYU. Senaida is a sound architect, creative entrepreneur and futurist. Through her work as a conscious artist and thinker, she explores the intersection between art and emerging technologies. Classically-trained in piano, she has performed at prestigious concert halls and music festivals across North America including Carnegie Hall and has won multiple national and international music competitions. She currently attends the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU where she founded the Gender Equality in Music Club and is a DJ on WNYU 89.1 FM. She is the founder and CEO of MiSynth, a music-tech startup revolutionizing music creation with the brain. SENAIDA has released two EPs and is currently working on her first full-length NFT album, The Nothing In Between. Senaida's Website: https://senaida.ca/​ Music Streaming: https://audius.co/senaida MiSynth: https://misynth.io Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senaidaxoxo/​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senaidaxoxo/​ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/senaidaxoxo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@senaida_xoxo​ How to Reach Us: Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com If you want to help us out without a financial commitment, please share this episode and rate us on Apple or Spotify.

Welcome to Season 2! Today's episode is about marketing and how you can use your authentic story to create a really tight knit community of fans who buy everything you put out. Connecting with your fans on a deeper level means being vulnerable about the things you've learned, the mistakes you've made, and how you've changed throughout your life. For the first time, I share parts of my story that lead me to where I am today. Music marketing starts with vulnerability, so click play on this episode if you want to learn how to be more open with your fans or clients while building your business.  Key moments:  04:58 - The magic in the human element 07:25 - Examples of authentic storytelling 12:34 - The bad things that happen to you do not define you 20:42 - Storytelling on stage and in songwriting 25:14 - Using your story to build your fanbase - the 1000 True Fans Theory 29:23 - How to use a digital marketing funnel in music 35:44 - Creating customer avatars for your 1000 true fans Resources from this episode:  Brene Brown Ted Talk on The Power of Vulnerability: https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o Cyper PR - How to Identify Your Ideal Fan: https://www.cyberprmusic.com/ultimate-fan/ The Marketing Funnel: https://stephbelcher.com/marketing-funnel How to Reach Us:  Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com If you want to help us out without a financial commitment, please share this episode and rate us on Apple or Spotify. 

Today i'm talking to Judeanne Armenti. Judeanne is a 20-year veteran of the music business who has worked in ticketing, finance, and administration at multiple live music promoters on the east coast. During the pandemic, Judeanne started a company called JA Creatives Consulting, where she educates creatives about basic accounting and finance, as well as counseling them on music business practices. Her goal is to dispel the myth that creative people aren't good with math, money, or business. I love this mission so much and it's something I try to teach as well. Judeanne and I both believe that ALL creatives have the skills to navigate the intersection of art and commerce. Judeanne says that with just a bit of knowledge, careers and lifestyles can be improved. All that stands in the way is mindset and practice. Key Moments:  04:37 - The Box Office: hub of the venue 13:29 - Judeanne's favorite show ever 16:28 - The myth of the starving artist 23:21 - Taking care of your finances is like learning an instrument 25:55 - Income vs profit and professional or hobby? 30:46 - Doubling your fanbase again and again 35:59 - The musician's musician 38:05 - Using numbers to negotiate your door deals 42:48 - Pricing and selling merch at gigs 54:14 - Judeanne's first musical loves 1:01:00 - How to work with Judeanne Follow Judeanne:  Website: www.jacreativesconsulting.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JACCLLC IG: https://www.instagram.com/jacreativesconsulting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ja-creatives-consulting-llc Over on Patreon, Steph is thoughtfully curating a community of financially sound and successful musicians. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com

Due to a loss in my family, I'm taking this week off from editing, and instead, I'd love for you to hop over to Ari's Take and check out his most recent podcast episode. In that recording, Khloe Churko and I tackle the entire range of business management topics - from how to set up your LLC, to whether or not you need a DBA, bookkeeping, tax prep, and much more. Here's the link, enjoy! https://aristake.com/handling-your-music-finances/

This week I'm interviewing Nelson K. Johnson, a music producer and songwriter for film and TV. His credits include Netflix, Fox, CBS, AllBlk, WeTV, Facebook, VH1, OWN, NICK + More.  Nelson teaches music creators the best practices to get their music on TV & in Film, using unique strategies and smart approaches that cut through the noise & increase placement opportunities. He's the music supervisor for "Deadly Sexy", the composer for seasons 1-3 of Monogamy, he wrote the theme song music for Notorious Queens, and he runs a film and TV sync licensing education program called the super sync squad to help people break into sync licensing. This conversation is packed with valuable business lessons. Key Moments: 02:35 - Sync licensing is perfect for introverts 10:40 - Poetry, beats, and Tupac 17:13 - Trying, Experimenting, and Learning 21:45 - The difference between sync licensing and composing 29:34 - Hard lessons learned Follow Nelson and the Super Sync Squad - https://msha.ke/supersyncsquad/ Over on Patreon, Steph is thoughtfully curating a community of financially sound and successful musicians. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com

Today's conversation is fun and full of laughter and joy. My guest is Erin McLendon, a songwriter and vocalist from Nashville who runs a studio called Music on the Move. Erin is an absolute joy, and our conversation is all about REAL LIFE. Stick around till the end of the episode to hear Erin's single, Shakin in my boots, and check out the show notes below for more info on how to follow Erin.  Erin McLendon is a walking, talking poster child for “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” She believes in love, magic, frolic and play, and she dreams BIG. Her Americana style combines her many musical influences (everywhere from Reba to Queen to Lin Manuel Miranda!) with her wit & wisdom earned by years of honing her artistry in Nashville. In 2020, she launched Music on The Move Studios, with business partner & bandmate Caitie Thompson. The company combines their love of music education and championing the independent female artist through an all-female live concert series, a podcast Paradox Jukebox, and virtual music education studio. Socials: Instagram.com/erinmclendon instagram.com/musiconthemovestudios Facebook.com/erinmclendon Facebook.com/MOTMstudios Websites: https://www.erinmclendon.com https://www.musiconthemovestudios.com Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ZtymA0mVWALR8wVOYf5qz?si=PLyST-MqTuSuxtx6xNjQKA Over on Patreon, Steph is thoughtfully curating a community of financially sound and successful musicians. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com

Today's episode features a lovely business-centric conversation with Ashley Maietta, a singer and songwriter from Los Angeles. Ashley works in artist management, A&R and publishing, and she has a wealth of knowledge on artist development and marketing for emerging musicians.  You'll hear us chatting about songwriting and artist development, including her songwriting process, co-writing with others, how to be vulnerable and authentic in a songwriting session, the importance of publishing deals, her involvement with Lullaby Club on Clubhouse, and so much more. Key moments:  05:20 - Starting with dancing  07:35 - What it's like working for a boutique publishing and management company 10:09 - What A&R even means these days 15:36 - Addiction, songwriting, and vulnerability 22:44 - Ashley's songwriting process (with advice from Max Martin) 26:00 - The Triangle of Strengths in a co-writing session 33:06 - 70% Familiar, 30% weird 38:50 - JP Saxe and Lullaby Club 44:20 - Keeping tabs on NFTs and Web3 48:20 - When to sign a publishing deal Hear the music mentioned in the episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1tHqqvPQ4hIZhErvRxhF2T?si=f4a807cbbf10445e Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymaietta/ Check out Luci on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lovelucimusic Over on Patreon, Steph is thoughtfully curating a community of financially sound and successful musicians. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com

Part 1 of 2 - Dutcher Snedeker is a full-time professional musician, working as a keyboardist, session musician, freelance writer, and podcast host on the west side of Michigan. Playing dozens of weddings a year and gigging with a handful of touring bands, Dutcher stays busy and has a lot of spinning plates. In this episode, Dutcher and Steph discuss pricing strategies, creating boundaries around how much you earn, how to raise your rates and you'll hear how to use your own free copy of the Musician's Pricing Workbook.  Download the Workbook: bit.ly/musicpricing Hear Dutcher's Music:  Blushing Monk: https://blushingmonk.bandcamp.com/ Earth Radio: https://earthradiogr.bandcamp.com/ Normal Mode: https://n0rmalm0de.bandcamp.com/ Follow Dutcher:  https://www.dutchersnedeker.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dutchersnedeker/ Over on Patreon, Steph is thoughtfully curating a community of financially sound and successful musicians. Check it out at patreon.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Follow WSMB on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/whensongsmeanbusiness Join our Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/whensongsmeanbusiness Learn more about Steph at stephbelcher.com