Music Minds Podcast

Tony and Jon continue their discussion on “360” deals, focusing on the different rights an artist may be asked to give up in such a deal; the risks associated with giving those rights up; and the steps an artist can take to maintain some – or even total – control of certain rights under these deals.

Tony and Jon revisit the ongoing saga between Taylor Swift and her former label Big Machine. The drama is ratcheting up again, and the battle lines are being drawn as recording artists and other celebs take sides in this very public feud.  Will Big Machine let Taylor perform her old songs on TV and use them in a documentary on her career? Will Taylor re-record all of her old songs and render a major portion of Big Machine’s catalog virtually worthless? Settle in, because it looks like this is going to be a long and bumpy ride.

Tony and Jon touch on the pros and cons of advances and 360 deals when signing with a record label or publisher. There are plenty of pitfalls that can come with that check, and it is critical for you and your attorney to have a plan for dealing with each one so you can negotiate a smart deal that gives you as much control, freedom and opportunity to make more moolah as possible in exchange for your music and talent.  We all dream of getting the big record deal, but it’s up to you to make sure you’re not getting screwed. As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for – you just might get it!

Tony and Jon take a look at performing rights organizations (PRO’s) and the work they do to help you make money from public performances of your music, as well as what can happen if you decide to take your business elsewhere!

Tony and Jon talk about what it takes to make a great song. 4 chords? 2? Or maybe the words? Melody? Arrangement? That one-in-a-million “sound”? One thing’s for sure - everybody’s got a favorite song, and they all started somewhere.

Tony and Jon check out a new series of charts being put out by BandsInTown and Billboard that rank the popularity of artists based on ticket sales and fan engagement globally, by country and even by specific cities/markets in the US. How can an artist use these new metrics – along with tour planning and support service companies like IndieOnTheMove – to break out of their local scene and go national and beyond, while avoiding the bad actors that promise the world but deliver nada? We’ll find out!

Tony and Jon take a look at the various ways you can try to make money with your music today – from performance to streaming to selling vinyl and merch to licensing for synch. Each revenue stream has its own challenges, but with a solid plan and a LOT of hard work, you can take that next step up from playing in the basement to “playing the big room” – and making a living from it!

Tony and Jon get down to brass tacks on the subject of making contacts in the music business and turning those contacts into key connections that will help advance your career. From trade orgs to performing rights societies to “on the ground” pros like concert promoters, managers and music supervisors, there are many ways you can breakthrough in this industry – but it’s not just the “who” that you need to know, but also the “how” of getting their attention and turning that attention into action that matters.

Tony and Jon continue their discussion on synchronization licensing, focusing on the process for clearing music rights for different media, and the costs that come with it. They are joined by music supervisor Erik Masone (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2461311/), who provides his insights on working with big songs and small music budgets in the independent film world.

Tony and Jon take a look at privacy rights through a lawsuit brought by Ariana Grande against the fashion retailer Forever 21. Basically, nobody but you has the right to use your face, voice, signature, photos and “likeness” for any reason – including selling clothes – without your permission, and Ms. Grande has a bone to pick with F21 after they used a look-alike model in an online campaign to imply she’s promoting their brand without her permission! But, like all rights, it’s up to you to defend your privacy, and Ariana says her unique look, style - and 163 million Instagram followers – should be worth some major cash to a brand like F21. Is she right?

It’s your kids latest obsession: Short videos they make of themselves dancing or singing or just goofing off to some of today’s hottest music. Innocent enough, right? Well... with artificial intelligence following every move they make, and a system designed to make videos go viral to potentially millions of viewers - with little to no money (surprise!) going to songwriters and labels - Tik Tok may not be so “innocent” after all...

Tony and Jon start a series of podcasts focusing on synchronization licensing and getting your music used in TV shows, films, commercials and more. In this first episode, Jon breaks down the process of licensing music for synch, including the terminology, the rights, and the money to be made and the exposure your music can get – and sometimes can’t – from getting used in a big-time TV show. Does placing a song on Teen Mom really make you an overnight sensation? You might be surprised.  

Tony and Jon take a look at some pending lawsuits – Eminem VS Spotify and Ed Sheeran VS Seemingly Every Other Songwriter in the World – that are each potentially worth millions and could have major impacts on the music business going forward. Em’s publisher Kobalt says Spotify isn’t paying enough royalties for some of his biggest hits, and two other songwriters are saying Ed Sheeran ripped off parts of their songs in some of his biggest hits.  Plus Kobalt says the Music Modernization Act is unconstitutional. Who knew copyright law could be so dramatic?

Tony and Jon discuss the age old practice of payola - where record labels bribed radio DJ’s to play their latest releases to spur record sales - and how the evolution of media and consumer attitudes have ushered in the next wave of pay-for-play - corporate partnerships between brands and artists.

Tony and Jon – who didn’t go to music school – talk about why you probably shouldn’t, either. Drawing from their experiences that led to them becoming music “lifers” despite no formal training (Jon went to school for acting), T&J discuss the pros and cons of getting a higher education in music – and the arts in general –, the challenges musicians and writers face while trying to make a living in this business, and how a degree from Berklee likely won’t help.

Tony and Jon take a look at the world of “fair use”, where the rules of copyright apparently need to be “reformed” (*cough* “eliminated”), and the right to “use the full body of human culture and knowledge for the common benefit” means that anybody should be allowed to use your work however they like without your permission or paying you. Wanna guess what T&J think about that?

Tony and Jon talk about the influence of social media platforms on the industry – both positive and negative – and how the idea of compensating “creators” somehow skipped songwriters and artists. There’s definitely loads of money to be made out there in YouTube-land and the like, but if you’ve got your songs being streamed on those platforms, don’t plan on buying a house just yet with all those “micro-pennies” you’re earning.

Tony and Jon introduce themselves and talk about Music Minds before delving into the hot topic in the music business this summer: Taylor Swift VS Scooter Braun, Scott Borchetta and The Big Machine! Tony and Jon discuss the particulars of this very modern feud – or “debacle”, as it is being called in some corners of the internet – and how it may play out, as well as how it shines a light on some of the darker corners of the biz – from lousy record contracts to backroom wheeling-and-dealing over huge piles of cash to artists and writers fighting just to have some control over their own music. So strap yourselves in, ‘cause it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!