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How OpenStage Is Changing the Artist–Fan RelationshipWhat if artists could build a direct relationship with their fans — rather than relying on social platforms, streaming services and other third parties? In this episode of The Music Business Buddy, Jonny Amos speaks with Rob Sealy from OpenStage about the gap between having an audience and actually knowing who your fans are. The conversation explores why follower counts and streaming numbers don't tell the whole story, why consented fan data matters, and how artists can build deeper relationships with the people who genuinely support their careers. In This EpisodeRob’s financial services background and how it shaped his approach to music.How his son’s band highlighted the disconnect between artists, fans and audience data.Why artists may know their follower numbers without knowing their most valuable fans.The financial reality facing artists and why gross income doesn't always mean sustainable earnings.Why streaming, social media and mailing lists can create a false sense of audience ownership.Why genuine fan relationships can be more valuable than raw reach or follower counts.How OpenStage helps artists capture consented fan data and build direct relationships.How personalised access, rewards and tiered experiences can build loyalty.How fan insight can improve touring, ticketing, marketing and campaigns.Timestamps00:00 — Introducing Rob Sealy and OpenStage 01:12 — Rob’s background in financial services 03:18 — How his son’s band sparked OpenStage 05:42 — The disconnect between artists and fans 07:15 — Why artists don't always know their real fans 09:03 — The 7–10% revenue reality for artists 11:26 — The problem with streaming and social platforms 13:48 — Reach versus genuine fan relationships 15:32 — How OpenStage works 17:41 — Consent, fan data and audience ownership 19:56 — Creating personalised fan experiences 22:14 — Rewards and building loyalty 24:36 — Fan insight, touring and ticketing 27:02 — Understanding engaged fans 29:18 — Turning data into meaningful relationships 31:42 — Examples of OpenStage in action 34:05 — The future of the artist–fan relationship 36:12 — Why direct relationships matter Key TakeawaysReach Isn't the Same as Relationship Followers, streams and views don't necessarily mean an artist has a meaningful relationship with their audience. Understanding and engaging with fans directly can be far more valuable. Artists Need Greater Ownership Social platforms and streaming services provide huge reach, but artists don't control those platforms or necessarily have direct access to their audiences. Consented, first-party fan relationships can provide greater control and insight. Data Should Create Better Experiences Fan data is most valuable when it leads to better engagement — from personalised access and rewards to smarter touring, ticketing and marketing. The Future Is More Personal As technology makes it easier to reach huge audiences, genuine artist–fan relationships may become even more important. The question isn't simply: “How many people can I reach?” It's: “How well do I know the people who genuinely care about what I do?” About OpenStageOpenStage helps artists build stronger, more direct relationships with their fans through consented audience data and tools designed to create meaningful fan experiences. https://openstage.live

Phil Simpson on Independent Music Publishing, Sync and the Power of Human TasteJonny Amos speaks with Phil Simpson, founder of First Original Music, about independent music publishing, sync, and why human relationships and taste remain at the heart of the business. Phil explains how First Original Music works with songwriters across publishing, administration and sync, what he looks for in a writer, and why a strong first approach can make such a difference. The conversation explores what makes a song genuinely useful for sync, how production and arrangement can affect opportunities, and why metadata, stems, instrumental versions and good presentation can improve a songwriter’s chances of being discovered and placed. In This EpisodeFirst Original Music’s approach to publishing, administration and sync.What Phil looks for in songwriters beyond simply making great music.Why personalised emails get attention while generic industry outreach is often ignored.What makes a song sync-friendly, including production, pacing and lyrical flexibility.How recording and arrangement choices can make a great song harder to place.The role of publishers as sounding boards in a writer’s long-term development.The growth of streaming content and the increasing competition for sync opportunities.Why metadata, stems, lyrics, instrumental versions and clean presentation matter.First Original Music’s move from global administration towards a network of independent international publishing partners.Why human taste and relationships remain crucial as technology and AI develop.Timestamps00:00 — Introducing Phil Simpson and music publishing 01:00 — First Original Music’s deal models and sync focus 03:06 — What Phil looks for in a writer 05:36 — Why personalised emails get read 07:52 — What makes a song work for sync 08:22 — Production, pacing and lyrical ambiguity 10:44 — When recording choices affect sync opportunities 11:14 — Publishers as sounding boards 12:30 — More opportunities, but more music competing 13:26 — Metadata, stems, lyrics and codes 15:12 — Using stems for an editorial brief 16:34 — Specific songs for brands and shows 17:26 — Taste, timing and interpretation 19:54 — Why First Original moved away from global administration 21:48 — Building international indie publishing relationships 23:11 — Why smaller publishers can respond faster 24:44 — The future of independent publishing 26:09 — Human judgment and the limits of search tools 27:50 — AI, taste and human connection 28:31 — AI, attribution and provenance 29:36 — Building genuine publisher relationships 31:17 — Alignment, values and the importance of a strong first email Key TakeawaysDon’t Write “For Sync” — Write Great Songs The strongest sync opportunities often come from authentic songs that are emotionally flexible and can be interpreted in different ways. Independent Publishing Is About Adding Value Great independent publishers bring taste, relationships, industry knowledge and hands-on support — not simply rights administration. Presentation Matters Good metadata, lyrics, stems, instrumental versions and organised assets make music easier for publishers and music supervisors to discover and use. Human Taste Still Matters Technology can improve discovery and attribution, but human judgment, instinct and relationships remain essential. Notable Quotes“What can we do to add value here?” “The fatal flaw in AI that will always be there is taste.”

This episode delves deeply into the evolving role of music supervision, exploring its historical context, current challenges, and future trends. Jonny Amos discusses the dual nature of music supervisors as both creative and business-oriented professionals, the impact of social media and AI on music discovery, and the increasing importance of independent artists in the sync landscape. The discussion also highlights the rise of production music and the need for music supervisors to act as cultural tastemakers in a rapidly changing media environment. Keywords music supervision, future of music, music licensing, AI in music, social media impact, independent artists, sync placements, production music, cultural tastemakers, music industry Key Topics History and role of music supervisors Impact of social media on music discovery AI's role in music licensing and search Changes in sync licensing economics Independent artists and media opportunities Future trends in media and immersive experiences Sound Bites "Music supervisors can break an artist's career" "Music is crucial for storytelling in media" "Independent artists can influence media discovery" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to music supervision and its importance 01:47 Historical evolution of music supervision in film and TV 03:53 Key partnerships: Directors and music supervisors 05:59 Economic factors influencing sync licensing fees 07:59 Social media's role in music discovery and culture 10:00 AI's impact on search, clearance, and creative prompting 12:04 The shift towards independent artists in media use 13:57 Proactive relationships between artists, managers, and supervisors 15:59 Production music and new media experiences 18:08 The future of music supervision in immersive and interactive media 19:58 The human element and integrity in music supervision 21:54 Understanding the evolving role of music supervisors 22:49 Conclusion: The future of music supervision and collaboration

I speak with hit producer Jamie Sellers about how music creation has changed now that artists can get a demo most of the way there on their own, but still need experienced ears to finish a record. Jamie explains why his role has shifted from building songs from scratch to acting more like a finisher and exec producer, and why that experience gap is still the difference between a good demo and a release-ready record. We also get into Jamie’s new label, Caledonia, including why he started it, what kind of artists he signs, and how he is thinking about ownership, licensing, publishing, and building a catalogue of assets for the long term. Key topics Jamie argues that technology and tutorials can get artists about 60 to 70 percent of the way to a solid record, but the final 30 percent still comes from experience, instinct, and nuance.He describes his production role as becoming more like a finisher or exec producer, helping artists bring projects to release-ready standard.The conversation covers the shift in artist economics, where a more efficient model is to let artists build a strong demo first and then bring in experienced help to complete it.He says a senior label contact encouraged him to stop waiting for a label job and instead build his own imprint, using his producer background and network.Caledonia is designed to feel artist-first and music-first, with the values of older label eras but a 21st century approach.He shares that he has signed two artists so far and both came through existing creative relationships.Jamie and Jonny talk through deal structures, including licensing versus assignment, and the long-term goal of building a catalogue of assets through both Caledonia Sound and Caledonia Songs.They finish on the importance of trust, artist motivation, and making sure the label relationship works both creatively and commercially. Timestamps (00:00) Demo-to-record mindset (01:15) Why experience still matters after the first 70 percent (03:11) The final 30 percent only comes from time in the studio (04:36) Why Jamie is moving toward a more selective, finishing role (06:50) Why starting a label made sense (09:12) Interviews, A and R conversations, and the advice that changed everything (14:01) Why Jamie chose to start his own thing instead of chasing a label job (15:26) The need for infrastructure after the studio session ends (17:12) Caledonia’s ethos - heritage label values with a modern approach (19:09) Working artist-first without big advances or big marketing budgets (20:38) Imposter syndrome, then confidence from experience (24:18) Signed potential versus evidence of momentum in modern music (26:46) What Jamie looks for in artists he signs (28:27) Producers as early-stage investors in artist development (30:13) Why trust and work rate matter before signing (31:09) How Dia Day became a key example of the label’s direction (33:34) What her independence and momentum proved (35:46) Balancing artistic instinct with market reality (37:09) Why Jamie still thinks like a producer first (38:08) Picking battles and keeping artists excited enough to promote (40:30) Artists as CEOs of their own careers (41:43) The future shape of the label and possible scaling options (44:20) Assignment deal versus licensing deal (45:19) Why one release was licensed and one was assigned (47:16) Building a catalogue and the Caledonia Sound and Caledonia Songs structure (49:22) Why the name Caledonia felt right (51:13) Scotland, the song Caledonia, and the label identity (52:43) Legacy, ambition, and what comes next (53:16) Closing praise and plans to revisit the label in future

In this episode, Jonny Amos explores the ins and outs of music publishing, focusing on what songwriters should know about choosing the right publisher, deal structures, and long-term relationships. Perfect for songwriters looking to understand how to navigate the complex world of music publishing. Keywords music publishing, songwriters, publishing deals, royalties, sub-publishing, music rights, music industry, publishing contracts Key Topics Role of music publishers in a songwriter's career How to identify suitable publishers Differences between admin and control deals Importance of understanding royalty rates and splits Global collection and sub-publishing nuances Long-term relationships and partnership strategies Negotiating advances and deal terms Metadata and catalog management for songwriters Sound bites "A music publisher is like a songwriter’s best friend." "Choose a publisher that fits your genre and goals." "Know your songs and their metadata." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Music Publishing and Its Role 01:17 What Do Music Publishers Actually Do? 02:15 Long-Term Relationships and Developing Songwriters 04:38 Choosing the Right Publisher: Major vs. Independent 06:22 Genre-Specific Publishers and Niche Markets 07:48 Understanding Collection and Royalties Worldwide 12:05 Admin Deals vs. Control Deals 13:50 Deal Terms: Advances, Term, and Retention 16:38 Royalty Rates and Income Streams 17:35 Legal Aspects and Contract Clauses 19:04 Co-Writing Opportunities and Relationships 20:07 Managing Expectations and Communication 22:01 Preparing Your Catalog for Publishing 25:11 Investing in People, Not Just Songs 26:36 The Language of Songs and Metadata 27:30 Summary and Final Thoughts Resources Kobalt Music Publishing - https://www.kobaltmusic.com True Love Music - https://truelovemusic.com Ralph W Peer and Peer Music - https://peermusic.com

In this episode, Chordal CEO Grayson Sanders joins me, Jonny Amos, for a discussion on the complexities of music licensing in the digital age, the potential of AI in rights management, and the future of micro-licensing for the creator economy. We explore how technology is transforming the industry and what it means for artists, rights holders, and content creators. Keywords music licensing, AI rights management, micro-licensing, digital content, creator economy, rights clearance, TikTok music, music industry innovation Key Topics Music licensing complexities in the internet age AI's role in rights management and licensing Micro-licensing as a scalable revenue model The future of music licensing by 2035 TikTok's music licensing innovations The role of human curation vs algorithms in music discovery Challenges faced by independent artists in licensing The impact of AI on music rights and discovery Takeaways Music rights are owned by multiple parties, making licensing complex. AI is used for rights cleaning, matching, and discovery, not for generating music. Micro-licensing is becoming essential due to internet content volume. Traditional blockbuster licensing will coexist with micro-licensing. Platforms like TikTok are pioneering scalable licensing solutions. Human curation remains vital despite AI advancements. Independent artists often lack knowledge about licensing requirements. AI can help manage rights more efficiently and fairly. Guest Name Grayson Sanders - CEO of Chordal Sound bites "Music licensing is more complex than ever." "AI helps manage rights, not just create music." "Community curation will outpace algorithms." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to music licensing challenges in the digital age 01:57 How music rights are owned and the complexity of licensing 03:53 The impact of the internet on licensing speed and scalability 06:10 Chordal's platform and its role in licensing and rights management 07:57 Expanding licensing to independent artists and creators 11:02 The rise of micro-licensing and its importance 13:58 The influence of AI in rights management and licensing 17:04 Future of licensing in 2035: human vs. platform transactions 20:00 The cultural shift back to human curation and community-based discovery 22:52 The role of AI in managing rights and enhancing discovery 25:56 The impact of platforms like TikTok on licensing and music use 33:01 The importance of fair remuneration and rights holder control 36:00 Final thoughts: coexistence of traditional and new licensing models Resources Chordal Platform - https://chordal.com Music Ally Article on TikTok Commercial Music Library - https://musically.com/2026/05/11/chordal-got-5bn-tiktok-views-for-commercial-music-library-tracks/

In this episode, I am joined by Hekta Music Group CEO Lucas Rizzo who also operates as a Fractional Partner Across Brands, Tech and Capital. Lucas shares insights from his unique journey through music, tech, and startups, highlighting the interconnectedness of these worlds and how they shape his approach to artist development and catalog management. Keywords music industry, startups, artist development, catalog acquisition, authenticity, creator economy, music tech, AI in music Key Topics Interconnection of music, tech, and startups The importance of authenticity in music Data-driven artist development strategies The role of catalog acquisition in music Balancing passion and business in music Takeaways Cross-industry experience provides a unique edge in music. Authenticity remains crucial despite industry pressures. Data and intuition together inform artist strategies. Catalog management is a key to sustainable success. Embracing being lost is part of finding your true path. Guest Name Lucas Rizzo Sound bites "The interconnectedness of it all." "The DSP element is part of market fit." "Getting lost is part of the process." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lucas and His Journey 03:08 Interconnectedness of Music, Tech, and Startups 05:55 Realising Success vs. Fulfilment 09:00 The Transition from Artist to Business 11:52 Goals in Catalogue Acquisition and Artist Development 16:01 Navigating the Creator Economy 20:07 Wisdom from Parallel Lives 22:59 Authenticity in the Age of Social Media 25:59 Finding Your True Self Through the Journey Resources Hekta Music Group - https://hektamusicgroup.com Chartmetric - https://www.chartmetric.com/ Ovo by Drake - https://www.octobersveryown.com/

Your music can be playing in thousands of real-world places right now: cafés, shops, gyms, pubs, restaurants, clubs and grassroots venues. The uncomfortable truth is that public performance royalties are still often calculated from surveys, proxies and best guesses, not from actual usage. That means creators can be underpaid or overpaid, and a lot of value ends up drifting into the black box instead of reaching the people who wrote and performed the work.  I’m joined by Ryan Edwards, CEO of Audoo, a company building audio meters that help rights organisations measure what is really being played in venues. Ryan shares the moment he heard his own band’s track in a department store and realised he had no practical way to verify it on a royalty statement. We unpack the scale of the problem, including how limited sampling can distort distributions, and why accurate public performance reporting matters more than ever now that music catalogues are treated like investable assets.  We also get properly technical. Ryan explains how Audoo creates a digital fingerprint in real time, matches it against a massive catalogue, and stays GDPR compliant by never storing or transmitting raw audio. We talk about adoption barriers, why some collecting societies move fast while others resist change, and what accurate play data unlocks beyond payments: touring strategy, marketing timing, cultural campaigns, and clearer insight into where music actually lives in the world.  If you care about music licensing, PRO reform, royalty transparency, metadata, and fair pay for songwriters and performers, this one is for you. Subscribe for more deep dives into how the modern music industry works, share the episode with a creator who needs it, and leave a review telling me what part of royalty accounting you want decoded next. https://audoo.com Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

Sync is meant to be simple: a great track, a clear brief, a fair fee, everyone gets paid. In reality, it can be weeks of chasing split sheets, conflicting PRO records, missing contacts and approvals that arrive too late to matter. I’m joined by hitmaker and builder Nathan Duvall to talk about what happens when the modern pace of content collides with a licensing system that still struggles to answer one basic question: who owns what, and where? We get into what Nathan is building with SyncIt, including the unglamorous but essential work of collating rights ownership data at scale and reducing the friction that slows down music licensing for adverts, TV, film, games and social campaigns. We also explore why big brands like L’Oreal cannot wait for endless back and forth, how licensing terms can price music out of the market, and why AI is already part of the toolkit whether the industry feels ready or not. Then we zoom out to sport and fan culture. Nathan explains Fanthem, an AI-powered fan engagement platform that lets supporters generate chants and anthems, and why FIFA is trialling it for the Under 17s World Cup. From there we move into artist strategy: building an audience while creating a licensable body of work, the shift towards visual-first music discovery, and the practical reality that expertise still matters when brands need cut-downs, mixes, masters and fast delivery. We close with a straight-talking look at masters ownership, multiple income streams, and the contract details artists overlook, especially retention period and consent clauses. If this helps, subscribe, share it with someone navigating sync licensing or label deals, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. https://syncit.ac Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

You can feel it happening: a quiet revolt against the feed. When music becomes something we scroll past, count, and optimise, we lose the part that actually nourishes us. So I sit down with Keith Jopling, former Spotify global head of strategy and one of the UK’s sharpest music industry thinkers, to talk about the surprisingly radical idea at the heart of his book Body Of Work.   We start with the album and why it refuses to die. Keith breaks down what campaigns like Charli XCX’s Brat reveal about culture, timing, and the return of album-era moments, especially among younger fans. From Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish to Olivia Rodrigo, we explore why cohesive projects still matter even when “album consumption” is difficult to measure in the streaming era, and why physical formats like vinyl and CDs can be part fandom, part merch, and part a genuine route back to attention and meaning.  Then we get practical for creators: what constitutes a hit record in 2026? We look at how charts have become more industry-facing, what streaming numbers can and cannot tell you, and why the most honest metric might be the song your crowd sings back the loudest. We also challenge the obsession with measurement, including the growing pressure to treat music as a set of financial metrics, and land on the real antidotes: live music, better craft, and rituals like listening parties that make music communal again.  If you care about the future of the music business, the creator economy, and the health of music culture, press play. Subscribe, share this with a music obsessive, and leave a review with the last album you listened to front-to-back. https://www.songsommelier.com https://www.songsommelier.com/body-of-work Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

A song can be great and still miss its audience, simply because nobody knows where to place it. That problem sits at the heart of my conversation with Zotz - the strategist, music executive, and CEO of Rocketship Music, a new platform built to help artists understand exactly where their track fits before they spend money promoting it.  We talk about the practical reality of modern music marketing for independent artists: choosing a “single”, defining genre and mood, writing targeting, and making decisions with tiny budgets while the industry often waits for TikTok or streaming algorithms to pick winners. Maxwell explains how Rocketship compares your music to similar releases across decades, then uses that historical context to point towards likely audiences and smarter next steps. The goal is not to replace taste or creativity, but to stop creators shooting in the dark and to reduce wasted spend on the wrong channels.  We also go deep on what responsible AI in the music industry looks like. Rocketship is not an AI music generator, and Zotz breaks down the legal and ethical hurdles of building “AI that listens” without training on copyrighted recordings in the way most people assume. From there we explore where AI genuinely helps musicians today: saving time on workflows, improving planning, and freeing artists to focus on writing, recording, and performing.  Finally, we look ahead to a market where AI increases the volume of new music and raises the stakes for human artists. Our shared takeaway: fandom, live connection, and knowing who truly resonates with your work becomes even more important. If you enjoy these deep dives into A&R, artist development, and music tech, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What’s the one question you wish you could answer about your audience right now? https://rocketship.music Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

AI music tools are moving fast, but one issue keeps poisoning the well: models trained on copyrighted songs with little or no visibility into what went in. When creators cannot see the training data, they cannot consent, negotiate, or get paid, and we end up stuck in a bleak loop of scrape first and litigate later. I want a better outcome, and I think we already have a blueprint hiding in plain sight. I unpack how legal sampling works through TrackLib and why it is more than a niche producer tool. It is a rights and provenance system: pick from a cleared catalogue, create, clear before release, and ensure credit and compensation reach the right people. Then I map that logic onto generative AI in the music industry with a licence-first approach: opt-in training catalogues for labels, publishers, artists, and other rights holders; a training provenance database that shows what was included; revenue participation through royalties or usage-based payouts; influence reporting; and clear commercial rights so users know what they can release. We also face the tough questions head-on: scale, value allocation across millions of training tracks, the difference between influence and copying, and the competitive pressure that makes unlicensed scraping tempting. I point to early proof-of-concept signals, including companies pursuing licensed training and partnerships with major rights holders and organisations, and I explain why moving beyond a flawed declaration model matters. If you care about music copyright, AI training data transparency, and building fair royalties for creators, listen through and tell me where you land. Subscribe, share with a creator friend, and leave a review so more people can join the conversation. Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

You can feel it happening: people are watching less legacy television, and the internet is filling the gap with an endless stream of short-form video, livestreams, indie games, podcasts, and creator-led brands. That shift doesn’t just change how audiences consume media, it changes how music needs to be licensed. I’m looking at micro licensing, a model that could become a major force over the next five to ten years as the modern music industry scrambles to match the speed and scale of the creator economy. We unpack what micro licensing actually means in practice: moving away from a slow, negotiation-heavy sync licensing process built for rare, high-value placements, and towards instant clearance for thousands (or even millions) of smaller uses. I talk through why the pricing model matters, why creators sometimes default to AI-generated music when licensing is too hard, and how a long-tail revenue economy could create meaningful income for rights holders if the infrastructure is right. Then we get honest about the risks: value dilution, messy global rights, and the growing chaos around AI ownership and attribution. I also explore what could make this workable at scale, including strong metadata, smarter rights databases, and API-driven licensing that distributors could potentially plug into. Finally, I share a standout early market mover I’ve been researching, and why I’m pushing for independent artists, songwriters, and producers to be included rather than left behind. If you want to understand where music licensing is heading and how to prepare your catalogue for what’s next, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a fellow creator, and leave a review with your take: does micro licensing empower independents, or does it risk making music feel disposable? Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

Most artists don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they rush, chase the wrong signals, or hand over control before they understand what they own. I’m joined by John Hart, A&R consultant and artist management specialist, for a straight-talking look at what sustainable artist development really means in today’s music industry. We get specific about what a good manager looks for and it’s not “who might get a hit”. John explains why he backs long-term career potential, why songwriting still sits at the centre of modern revenue, and how authenticity is built through clear identity rather than rigid genre rules. We also dig into audience thinking: who your fans are, what they value, and how that should shape everything from your visuals to your live strategy. From there we go deep on deal structures and rights. We talk publishing deals that fund recording, working with producers as true creative partners, and why keeping control of masters can open up options later through licensing deals, catalogue value, and smarter investment. We also cover the unglamorous money: neighbouring rights, mechanicals, and metadata, plus the mistakes artists make by releasing too early and treating Spotify like a shop instead of a discovery platform. We finish with the big shifts ahead, including AI, market fragmentation, and the resilience you need to survive rejection and keep moving. If you’re building a serious independent music career, hit subscribe, share this with an artist mate, and leave a review. Which part of your career needs a clearer plan right now? Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com

Most music producers spend years trying to be louder, faster, and more impressive in the room. Tenroc argues the opposite;l the real edge is knowing what the song needs, then doing only that. Jonny Amos sits down with the New York songwriter-producer behind work connected to artists like Jon Bellion, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers and Julia Michaels, and pulls back the curtain on how modern sessions actually function. We dig into the messy, practical question every producer faces - am I here to write, to build tracks, to programme drums, to play instruments, or to get out of the way? Tenroc explains how he reads the room, protects the creative flow, and builds relationships that last even when the song never gets released. He also shares a personal turning point: moving from behind-the-scenes work into putting out an album as an artist, driven by a clear sense of purpose. If you love craft, you will enjoy the nerdy details. Tenroc breaks down how he learned “commercial” sound through chart study and reverse-engineering, why emotion is often innate, and how tools like GarageBand, Logic Pro and FL Studio shaped his workflow. We also tackle the underrated skill that gets producers paid: finishing songs, using song structure to hold attention, and understanding when a verse, pre-chorus, hook, or bridge should appear. Finally, we talk music publishing in plain language - what a good publisher actually does, and why taste and collaborator fit matter more than chasing the biggest name on paper. If you want practical music production advice, major label session reality, and a clearer path for artist development, press play, then subscribe, share with a producer friend, and leave us a review. Reach out to me ! Support the show Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters. Join The Music Business Buddy Brief for exclusive weekly insights on the future of the music industry. Subscribe: https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com Websites www.jonnyamos.com https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/ Email [email protected] Newsletter Sign Up https://themusicbusinessbuddy.beehiiv.com