YOU CAN Make a Living In The Music Industry Podcast

This week we are wrapping up season 5 with two amazing guests! I'm talking with Eric Knight & Ritch Esra of MUBUTV (Music Business Television) in Los Angeles, CA. These guys have a combined goldmine of knowledge and advice that covers the whole gambit of the music industry. Ritch worked at two record labels; A&M in radio promotion and Arista in A&R where he had the privilege of working with the legendary Clive Davis who has signed some of the biggest artists in the world including Whitney Houston and Kelly Clarkson. Eric has opened for such acts as KISS, Dave Matthews Band, Aerosmith and Kid Rock. He started his own artist management company Persistent Management™ not only for his own career as an artist but also to create a vehicle for other artists to achieve their artistic vision and integrity. Their MUBUTV Insider Series and Insider podcast is similar to my YOU CAN Make A Living In The Music Industry podcast as they have guests from all over the industry sharing knowledge that will help you make a living in music no matter what area you are pursuing. We are a companion series to each other and I can't recommend them enough to check out (after you listen to this episode of course!) We are discussing the importance of being educated about your chosen career path. Why you no longer need a record deal to be successful. Why you have to be a jack of all trades AND a master of all. Plus, learning who your audience is, finding where they are, then going after them. And we discuss how MUBUTV's goal is to educate, empower and engage your music career. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *The importance of internships. *The Music Business Registry. *Become educated about your chosen career path. *MUBUTV (Music Business Television) is a companion type podcast to YOU CAN Make A Living In The Music Industry. *How to listen to songs for A&R. *The criteria of the kind of artists today has changed because of a copy model (CDs, tapes, etc.) to an access model (streaming for free). *Artists signings today are not just about who is successful or about their music. Today its about who they are, where are they from, what do they represent? What are their values?  *You no longer need a record deal to be successful. *The real challenge today is the ability to get someone's attention. *You must find an audience for your music before A&R or labels will put time, energy and effort   into you. *We are no longer just artists. We are business leaders. *A&R was a faith based business. That model changed with technology. *Today technology allows us to ask if there is a market for my music without A&R. *Who is my audience? *If you don't know who your audience is at the beginning of your career, start making a serious commitment to learning who they are. *Being an artist who has been signed to a label and also an indie. *Find where your niche is, that narrow world where you can build your career. *Major labels are amplifiers to a career. *Adapting is the key. *A booking agent won't sign you as an indie unless you can sell at least 300-500 seats on your own. *You have to be a jack of all trades and a master of all. *Learning who your audience is, finding where they are and going after them. *The more you know, the more valuable you become to companies. *MUBUTV's goal is to educate, empower and engage your music career. *Study the lives of other successful people in the industry. *www.mubutv.com *www.youtube.com/mubutv   BIO: Ritch Esra | Co-Founder I started my career in 1978 at Record World, a leading trade magazine and have spent my entire career in this industry.  From 1980 - 1987 I worked at two record labels; A&M in radio promotion and Arista in A&R where I had the privilege of working with the legendary Clive Davis. In 1986, I began teaching several music business courses at various schools including Trebas Institute of Recording Arts, UCLA Extension, SAE (School for Audio Engineering) and Musicians Institute where I continue to teach today. In 1992 I formed the Music Business Registry with my business partner Stephen Trumbull. For the last twenty years, we have published the music industries leading contact directories for personnel in A&R, Music Publishing, Film/Television Music, Music Law and Artist Management. MUBUTV™is a blend of my passion for music as well as educating artists and others who have a strong curiosity about music, technology and the new emerging models within the business. Eric Knight | Co-Founder As an independent recording artist, I have taken the contemporarily appropriate “do-it-yourself” attitude to a whole new level; Having opened for such acts as KISS, Dave Matthews Band, Aerosmith and Kid Rock, I have worked tirelessly to introduce my original music to the masses. Throughout my career, I have worked on both the performing and business sides of the music industry. Besides being an accomplished musician with a strong D.I.Y. work ethic, I started my own artist management company Persistent Management™ not only for my own career as an artist but also to create a vehicle for other artists to achieve their artistic vision and integrity. My band Rock act Disciples of Babylon has put everything I've learned throughout my career to the test in order to build a self sustaining career that is totally autonomous and completely independent.   My current and most ambitious project, Symbiotic Nation™ is a new entertainment company startup with a mission to reinvent the entertainment industry completely. “Think Google of the new entertainment industry.” I am a voting member to the National Academy of Recording Arts & Science [NARAS] and The Latin Recording Academy [LARAS] Grammy Awards. I've always had a strong passion for teaching and sharing my experience with other aspiring artists, musicians and industry professionals. As a result, I have lectured and conducted several workshops over the years with students at the Berklee School of Music in Boston as well as my alma mater Musicians Institute [MI] in Los Angeles. MUBUTV™ is the ultimate vehicle where I feel there is a genuine opportunity for artists and musicians like myself to empower themselves in order to survive as well as thrive in this new era.

This week I'm talking with Julie Klinger who is the executive director of the Christian Festival Association. Julie oversees 25 festivals around the country. We are discussing what the CFA does, the importance of volunteers to make music festivals of any genre successful, how to start your own local festival and what artists who want to perform at music festivals need to do to make sure they are invited back. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Honoring volunteers. *Volunteers make festivals happen. *What an executive director does for a festival association. *Maintain and support the efforts of all the festivals. *Putting showcases together to listen to new talent for the festivals. *Networking and education. *Working with national sponsors to bring into different festivals. *Every festival needs to engage in the community. *Getting the local community involved to make your festival successful. *Festivals should find partners to have mission trips through the year or local shows to keep people engaged and serving. *How to get involved working as a volunteer at a festival. *How to work your way up in a festival. *How artists and speakers get booked at festivals. *Have a servant heart. *Give a festival 3 years to even get noticed. *How to start a local festival. *As an artist, don't ignore your promoter.  *Engage with the festival fans and promote the festival to your fans. *Bad attitude artists usually won't get invited back. *Honor who has brought you there. *www.christianfestivalassociation.com BIO: Julie began her career in Christian music as a volunteer for a small start-up free festival called LifeLight in Sioux Falls, SD.  While volunteering, she worked full-time as an adoption social worker receiving her Master's Degree in Social Work in 2005.  She then became the Adoption Program and Grants Director.  Over her nine years as a volunteer, the festival grew from a small one-day festival on a church lawn to the largest free outdoor Christian Music Festival in the nation.  Julie left her career in social work in 2007 and joined the LifeLight staff full-time as the Festival Director.  Eventually, Julie was promoted to the Vice President of Events and Operations at LifeLight.   During her time at LifeLight she became an at-large board member for the Christian Festival Association (CFA) and eventually became the Vice President of the CFA Board. After leaving LifeLight in 2016, Julie returned to nonprofit management work.  Julie was offered and accepted the position as Executive Director of the CFA in January of 2019, while also continuing her nonprofit work.  Julie started her own consulting firm, The Tricycle Group, in August of 2021 and currently works full-time for various organizations helping them accelerate their momentum in the areas of program development, grant management and strategic planning.  Julie's vision for the CFA is to see the love of God spread across the country and globe through Christian music festivals and to inspire festival attendees to get involved in serving others in their communities. The Christian Festival Association was formed in 2006 and is comprised of North America's largest Christian music festivals united by a common goal: to bring glory to God.  We meet regularly via conference calls and at an annual meeting in Nashville to discuss matters such as talent development, spiritual content, event production and marketing, national sponsorship acquisition and much more. The mission of the Christian Festival Association is to promote positive communication and synergies between the nation's top Christian festivals. Our goal is to see these member organizations grow both spiritually and fiscally so that more lives can be changed for glory of God. Our vision is to provide and facilitate an open communications environment to link Christian festival organizers together for: encouragement, shared information and resources, and addressing common business circumstances and goals, all for the purpose of increasing the success and professionalism of participating festivals so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be advanced and glory brought to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

This week I'm talking with writer, producer and composer Brian Steckler in CA. Brian has made a successful career for himself producing albums, composing for sync and library production music with NBC, CBS, Netflix and more. Brian has won a Clio award for helping create the audio and star in one of the most famous Super Bowl ads of all time as a certain frog who liked to say “er!” We are discussing working for a jingle company and creating world famous ads, writing production library music used on countless shows, finding your niche to work in a field of music that only you can provide and how you need to decide what success looks like for you. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Working for Hummingbird Productions in Nashville. *What a jingle company does. *Creating the voices of the Budweiser Frogs commercial soundtrack. *The difference in studio budgets from the 1980s and today. *Working in sync music. *Writing library production music. *Writing to briefs on a deadline. *Writing for a children's preschool curriculum program. *Making the right connections. *Having a breadth of knowledge to do many things. *Writing custom cues for Netflix. *Putting favorite sounds into a template for speed. *Align yourself with people who are good at things you aren't. *It's a long term numbers game. *Send it, forget it. *Tear tracks apart to learn how to create them. *Making your first instinct sound good. *https://www.briansteckler.com/ *@briansteckler on IG. BIO: I have made a career of creating music in a wide variety of forms and genres. The scope of my experience includes collaborations with directors, editors, and ad agencies for commercial musical purposes as well as working with individual artists, and bands to create and hone unique musical styles.This range of experience has given me a broad musical basis to draw from. I enjoy learning what people want and need musically, and then bringing even more than they expect to both the process and the result. After receiving my BFA (piano performance) from Western Michigan University in 1993, I moved to Nashville and began my career at Hummingbird Productions, one of the leading jingle houses on Music Row at the time. It was there I co-produced the audio and lent my voice to one of the most recognized, Clio-winning Super Bowl commercials of all time: Budweiser “Frogs.” I wrote and produced national, regional, and local spots during my years at Hummingbird and it was there that I learned how to deliver great sounding audio on very tight deadlines. I moved to Los Angeles in 1997 in order to pursue songwriting and production and began working with artists and bands crafting songs, producing tracks, and mixing my own work, as well as other producer's songs. I wrote songs for Sony ATV Music Publishing, including co-writing with Billy Porter, Gary Barlow (Take That), Paul Stanley (KISS), 2Gether (an MTV boy band spoof series), and many others. With artist Angela Via, I co-wrote and produced a song that landed in Pokemon: The Movie and on the multi-platinum selling soundtrack album. It was also during this time I had my first taste of film scoring, working closely with Keith Forsey (Billy Idol's long-time record producer) to create the score for Wisegirls, a film starring Mira Sorvino and Mariah Carey.  As the record industry underwent significant changes during the Napster era, my wife and I chose to move our young family to Northern California. While maintaining my relationships in LA, I was able to work with independent artists and bands, as well as grow my skills and experience scoring, working for Universal Pictures on trailers and promos, as well as regularly placing cues in TV shows.  Recently, I've written the score for the Netflix series The Day I Met El Chapo, provided the bulk of the music, including the Main Title theme for a number of other series: Hunted (CBS), S.T.R.O.N.G. (NBC), Ultimate Beastmaster, Awake, Cooked with Cannabis (Netflix). I also had the opportunity to score the award winning documentary Hand Rolled: A Film About Cigars, as well as Sun, Soil & Water, which is currently being screened at a number of film festivals.   My wife and I live in Granite Bay, CA  which is situated between Folsom and Roseville, about 30 minutes from downtown Sacramento, and 90 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Living somewhere beautiful, outside the “rat race,” certainly helps my creative flow. I work in my well sound-proofed custom recording studio called “The Stickhouse,” which is an ideal place for creating and mixing music. My studio is built around the Slate Digital VRS8 system, running Pro Tools Ultimate and Logic Pro, depending on the functionality I need for each project. I have a substantial library of Virtual Instruments and samples which cover any genre, from orchestral to hip-hop.

This week I am talking with Richard Casper of CreatiVets in Nashville, TN. Richard is a military veteran that suffered a brain injury in the war and has since found healing through music. He co-founded the non-profit CreatiVets to help other veterans write songs with hit songwriters that help them communicate their thoughts and feelings to start the healing process. Richard also co-founded the songwriting app We Should Write Sometime that allows writers from all over to connect with other songwriters.  We are discussing learning to write music to cope with trauma, starting multiple music related companies, changing the way music is accessible and how your anxieties and depression have to be outweighed by your excitement when writing. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Being in the military and guarding the President. *Losing friends in combat and suffering a brain injury. *Taking art and creative writing in college to help with the brain injury. *Learning to write music to cope. *Connecting with Nashville writers at a songwriter's round in Chicago. *Meeting and writing with songwriter Mark Irwin and how that began the healing process. *Bringing vets to Nashville to write with pro writers who can help them communicate their thoughts and feelings to help the start healing. *Bring in people around you to be successful. *Starting the non-profit CreatiVets. *CreatiVets helps wounded veterans heal through arts and music. *The importance of networking with people in the industry. *Creating a partnership with Big Machine Records to release music. *Starting We Should Write Sometime app. *Changing the way music is accessible. *We Should Write Your Song - custom songs for people. *weshouldwritesometime.com *How writers can write for We Should Write Sometime or We Should Write Your Song. *CreatiVets' goal is trying to end veteran suicide. *Your anxieties and depression have to be outweighed by your excitement. *www.creativets.org *You need to be in a music town to do this professionally. *Have one person who will champion you. *https://creativets.org/ BIO: RICHARD CASPER | Co-Founder & Executive Director Richard co-founded CreatiVets and currently serves as the CreatiVets organization's executive director.  Richard served four years as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps, with a combat deployment in Fallujah, Iraq.  During his deployment, he was hit by four IEDs in just four short months, causing him to suffer from a traumatic brain injury.  Upon returning home, Richard found it hard to adjust and suffered from PTS until he discovered the healing power of music and art.  After experiencing firsthand the impact music and art had on his own recovery, Richard co-founded CreatiVets to help other veterans who are suffering. CreatiVets' goal is to offer opportunities for relief and healing for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country.  Our purpose is to use various forms of art, including songwriting, visual arts, music, and creative writing, to help disabled veterans cope with service-related trauma (i.e., post-traumatic stress, or PTS) by fostering self-expression in a way that allows them to transform their stories of trauma and struggle into an art form that can inspire and motivate continued healing. Through compassion, we are helping veterans live again. Veterans suffering from PTS re-experience traumatic events years and even decades later, reliving the helplessness, fear, and horror associated with their traumatic event. Such strong, negative reactions often lead to anxiety, sadness, anger, depression, guilt, shame, irritability, behavior changes, and thoughts of suicide. These feelings can cause the individual to avoid environments that trigger reminders of the trauma, resulting in isolation and withdrawal from society and often leading to marital problems, difficulty in parenting, job instability, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, and even suicide. CreatiVets has served veterans from 49 states!   According to the Department of Defense, one in five veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are diagnosed with PTS – over 300,000 veterans by the end of 2012. The social and economic costs of PTS are immense, and a study posted by the Military Times in 2015 found that the veteran suicide rate in the United States is 20 suicides per day and 14 of those don't seek help from the VA. Veterans now account for 20% of suicides in the United States. Creative art forms like those offered by the CreatiVets' programs have shown tremendous effectiveness in reducing PTS symptoms, reducing the severity of depression that often accompanies PTS, and improving the quality of life for veterans and their family members. Over the last two decades, researchers and clinicians have found the relief and healing provided by expressive writing, music and art is possible because these forms of expression do not necessitate exposure to the facts of the trauma, and also allow the individual to avoid the stigma of receiving mental health treatment. In modeling the CreatiVets programming, we have structured our sessions in a way that allows the participating veterans to express their thoughts and feelings without having to verbalize or directly confront the trauma. Our artistic outlets focus on creating an environment in which the veteran feels safe, providing an expressive medium that does not threaten that feeling of safety and helping veterans live again in turn.

This week I'm talking with Adam Taylor, president of APM Music. APM is the world's leading creative music house and production music library. With placements in network tv, Netflix and Disney +  to tons of blockbuster films, it's no wonder APM is at the forefront of the sync and music production library world. Crazy thing about Adam, he has no musical bones in his body, yet he runs the largest music production library in the world! We are discussing how someone with no musical background can become the leader of music related company, the key to the music library business and what APM looks for when hiring new staff members. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Leading a music company with no music background. *Going beyond the job description. *The mission of APM. *Understanding what people are looking for. *wanting artists and composers who have their own style. *Having your own voice. *What APM looks for in new writers and producers. *Representing 3rd party libraries. *Success is based on the quality of music. *Indie artist centric. *Genres that are not used often in sync. *The more popular the music style, the shorter the shelf life may be. *Exclusive vs. non-exclusive representation. *The key to the music library business. *How APM pays artists and songwriters. *Come prepared. *Understand how you might want to fit into a company. *What APM looks for when hiring new staff members. *Be open to new ideas and ways of thinking. *www.apmmusic.com *https://form.apmmusic.com/composer-submission/   BIO: For over two decades, Adam Taylor has been helping intellectual property companies, organizations and individuals manage and extract value from their copyrights, trademarks and patents. As president of APM, Adam continues to reinforce the company's standing as an innovative creative house and production music library with one of the most diverse collections of original music for every type of media.  Prior to taking the helm at APM, Adam was president of Taylor/Fox Enterprises, where he partnered with doctors, scientists and inventors to direct market and deliver their unique, patent-protected inventions to consumers. Before that, as founding partner of Goldman/Taylor Entertainment, he developed numerous properties including the television series "Confessions of Crime" for Lifetime Network, and the PBS series "Joseph Campbell - Mythos" hosted by Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon in partnership with the Joseph Campbell Foundation.  Adam began his career at Caswell-Massey, the oldest chemists and perfumers in the U.S. established in 1752, where he served a ten-year post as president and CEO.  Adam currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Santa Monica College Academy of Entertainment and Technology, the Board of Directors for CreatiVets, a not-for-profit that uses music and the arts to help veterans heal, the advisory board of the Zelikow School of Jewish Non-Profit Management and the advisory board of Creative Community for Peace.

This week I'm talking with Rehya Stevens. Rehya is a very successful indie pop artist who also makes a great living in the sync world. She's had placements on Lifetime, Peacock, Disney +, ABC, Hallmark and more, plus, multiple commercial ads. We are discussing filling a hole needed in the sync industry with Christmas music, how to reach out to outlets who review music and how to take the next best step when things don't work out the way you hope. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Making Christmas music for sync. *Learn what you need to learn, then throw it away. *Find a way to marry your artist self with your crafting self. *Keep making music you believe in. *Being a priority on someones list. *How to be your own PR agent as an artist. *Bloom where you are planted. *https://www.submithub.com/ *How to reach out to outlets who review music. *What's the next best step when things don't work out? *Be genuine and do your research in sync. *Not hearing anything, doesn't mean something's not happening. *Show appreciation for your team. *Don't abandon your authenticity. *https://rehyastevens.com/ BIO: Rehya Stevens is not only a gifted and highly praised singer-songwriter, she's also an insightful observer when it comes to a vast spectrum of human emotions. Granted, it's a rare artist who can fully plough through the tangled web of feelings and experiences encountered during the often confounding journey that encompasses life's entirety, but Rehya has been given the gift of not only perception, but also sensitivity, and with that - the ability to make music that is readily relatable to everyone fortunate enough to find it.  Rehya is especially adept at writing music that enhances the joys of the holiday season - and in so doing, rekindles the sentiment and kinship that's so integral to that precious time of year. It's especially important now, given the distancing, distrust and trepidation that have become so commonplace of late. Thankfully, Rehya's music provides a formidable space to reinforce the bonds of brotherhood and fellowship that are so essential, not only at Christmas, but every day of the year.

This week I am talking with Benjamin and Kassie Wilson of the Americana duo Goldpine. Formerly called My One and Only, Goldpine is cathartic, moody, raucous, and relevant all wrapped into one package as they tour the U.S. playing for audiences large and small. We are discussing changing band names and how it affects you, starting over from an audience perspective and The process of booking shows as an indie artist. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Changing band names and how it affects you. *Starting over from an audience perspective. *Starting from zero. *The benefits of going to school for audio engineering. *The process of booking shows as an indie artist. *How to create a great booking email. *Being persistent in booking. *Make an excel spreadsheet to keep track of booking. *How far out to book a tour. *Getting into the house concert circuit. *How to play downtown Broadway in Nashville and use it to your advantage. *Don't let “NO” control you. *www.goldpinemusic.com BIO: Americana act Goldpine was built by married couple Benjamin and Kassie Wilson (formerly called “My One and Only”).  From festivals like 30A Songwriting Festival and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion to listening rooms throughout the United States, Goldpine has been offering their own brand of raw Americana to audiences large and small.  Finalists in the Kerrville Folk Fest 2021 New Folk Competition, the duo's bold harmonies are clearly a channel for their highly charged songwriting.  Exposing the pains of severed relationships and unearthing the pursuits of love and purpose, Goldpine is cathartic, moody, raucous, and relevant all wrapped into one. Touring since 2015, they have been lessening the gap between music and the audience by disclosing their stories behind the lyrics at every venue along the way. 

This week I am talking with Doug Gould of Worship MD. Doug is tech consultant who works with venues all over the country, helping train them in running their sound equipment and getting the best sound out of their gear and room. He specializes in working with houses of worship and getting sound teams and worship teams to work together and create the best environment for people coming to worship services. Doug is also the artist relations rep for different musical companies. We are discussing training volunteers to run sound in churches, what a Worship MD weekend training event looks like and the difference in communicating with people in various types of venues. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  Show Notes: In this episode we discuss: *Training volunteers to run sound in churches. *Being the artist relations rep for different musical companies. *Supply products to award shows. *The difference in communicating with people in various types of venues. *Moving from teaching for other companies to becoming an independent marketing specialist. *Worship MD refers to. *Logos and branding. *Consulting for retail music stores. *What a Worship MD weekend training event looks like. *Live mix vs broadcast streaming mix. *The cost for Worship MD to do a training event. *www.worshipmd.com *Artist and musician endorsement deals. *Get networked. *Be a servant.   BIO: Doug has been a veteran of the Pro Audio and Music Technology Industry for nearly 30 years, serving in management roles at Shure, Tascam and E-Mu Systems and also serves as a worship leader, musician and tech at various churches throughout his esteemed career.

Over the last twelve years Doug has been a very effective presenter at hundreds of worship conferences all over North America and beyond, focusing his experience to consult and teach others.

This week I am talking with recording artist Mac Powell live from Lifest Music City just outside of Nashville, TN. Mac is best known as the frontman for the Christian rock band Third Day who released 13 albums in 21 years and received 4 Grammy Awards and 25 Dove Awards. He has been building his solo career over the past few years and is not shy to talk about starting over as a solo artist after being in a successful band for many years. We are discussing being stuck in a contract you want out of, the difference in being on an indie label vs. major label and not being afraid to play in front of smaller audiences.   Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Being stuck in a contract you want out of. *Major labels buying out an indie label contract. *The difference in being on an indie label vs. major label. *More doors open up when being on a major label. *Starting over as a solo artist after being in a successful band. *Don't be afraid to play in front of small audiences. *Enjoy where you are but have this dissatisfied contentment. *www.macpowell.com   BIO: Mac Powell grew up in a small town in Alabama. His love for music began at an early age as both of his parents would sing and play guitar around the house. Mac soon began to sing in the local country church by day, and listen to his Dad's record collection by night. When Mac was a sophomore in high school, he moved to Atlanta, GA where his passion for music and faith found an outlet in the band THIRD DAY. Over the past 25 years THIRD DAY has helped transform Christian music and built a devoted fan base while traveling the world many times over, selling 10 million albums, earning 4 Grammy awards, 1 American Music Award, 24 Dove Awards, and by being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Since Third Day's farewell tour in 2018 Mac released a country album “Back Again” under the banner “Mac Powell And The Family Reunion” and he has just released his debut solo Christian album “New Creation.” Mac is on staff at Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, GA where he lives with his wife Aimee and their five children.

This week I'm talking with Chris Bragg and Travis Michaud of Ghostwriter Music here in Nashville and in L.A. Ghostwriter is one of the most sought after companies that creates exciting and emotional music put to the trailers we love to watch when anticipating the release of a new tv show or movie coming to theaters. Their music has been used in trailers for Thor: Love and Thunder, Sonic The Hedgehog, She-Hulk, Star Wars: Andor and so much more! We are discussing when Ghostwriter gets involved to write music for a trailer, how you get paid when creating music for trailers and the number 1 rule of writing music for trailers. These guys should know, they are some of the best in the business! Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Prepping audio for trailer mixes. *What kinds of sounds to stay away from when adding sound design. *Practical effects vs. sound design. *When Ghostwriter gets involved to write music for a movie trailer. *Trailerizing Music. *Trailers get cut to the music, not the music to the trailer. *The Three act progression. *How many versions of songs can be used in a series of movie trailers. *Levels of approval needed. *When you get paid for making music for trailer. *You're competing against multiple vendors for the same project. *How long it takes to complete a track for trailer. *Have pre-made templates ready in your DAW. *Save versions every time you make changes. *Print stems for every version to be safe. *Be consistent and organized. *The dark side of the trailer industry. *You're on call 24/7. *Matching projects to composers. *How you get paid when creating music for trailers. *What Ghostwriter is looking for in composers. *Why you can't always talk about the trailers you make music for. *The number 1 rule of writing music for trailers. *Never end a cue feeling satisfaction. *www.ghostwritermusic.com BIO: Ghostwriter, since its inception has been an industry innovator and to some of our fiercest competitors, a disruptor. We strive to bring audio excellence to all our clients, big and small. The music we make is what separates us from our competition and the music you choose is what will make your project stick out from the rest. Whether you're working on one of the most anticipated film campaigns, advertisements, video games, and TV promos, we are ready to work with you, so let's make something special. Ghostwriter is, as the name suggests, the ones working behind the scenes to elevate a project to the next level.

This week we end season 4 with recording artist, producer, and songwriter Galen Crew in Nashville, TN. Galen's music is known for its dream-like quality which often features deep yet whimsical themes and seems to emanate from a different world. He is a huge fan of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and other fantasy writers and if you imagine the mysterious Grimm Brothers fairy tale collections being somehow transformed into modern pop songs - you'll start to get idea of the imagery, depth and layers within Galen's music. Although an American artist, Galen's music went viral in China and he has become a major pop star in that country. We are discussing writing music more like fairytales than mainstream music, working with legendary songwriter Roger Cook and building a huge fanbase and touring in China as an independent artist. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Working with legendary songwriter Roger Cook. *Writing music more like fairytales than mainstream music. *Going viral in China. *Building a fanbase and being able to tour exclusively in China. *Touring with and producing music for Phil Joel from Newsboys. *Authenticity. *Value relationships.
 *Having integrity as a producer. *Demo and master recording rates. *Have identity and security in yourself, not the industry. *Diversification of skillset. *www.galencrew.com *www.music.163.com in China. BIO: Galen Crew is an American recording artist, producer, and songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. His music is known for its dream-like quality which often features deep yet whimsical themes and seems to emanate from a different world. At his core, Galen is a storyteller. He crafts stories that pull from various art forms….citing fantasy authors such as Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Herman Hesse as having inspired him just as much as the Beatles, Coldplay, and John Mayer. Imagine if the mysterious Grimm Brothers fairy tale collections were somehow transformed into modern pop songs – and you'll start to get idea of the imagery, depth, and layers within Galen's music. Having played in various bands throughout his life, Galen had always been primarily the songwriter and guitarist. But at age 19, he began writing unique material that didn't fit with any of the bands he was playing with, and he tentatively stepped out as a vocalist himself. The first few demos he recorded as a solo artist immediately caught the attention of Roger Cook, legendary British songwriter (“I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing”; “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress”). Galen and Roger have now written over 100 songs together. One of them, titled “Sleepyhead” – a unique story song that is something of a medieval myth or fairy tale – organically went viral in China. Upon discovering that his music was gaining millions upon millions of streams on Chinese music platforms, Galen toured the country twice – and found that although he had never been to Asia before, his fans knew the words to his songs in every city he performed in. Galen describes the experience as being simultaneously surreal and inspiring. In fall 2016 he teamed up with Hover Coalition Music.

This week I'm talking with Peder Eide from Lifest 2022. Peder has been the main stage host at Lifest for over 20 years as well as a successful independent artist. We are discussing what it takes to be a host/emcee for music festivals, how to interact with an audience and having venues to trust you to bring what they need.    Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Opportunities come because of relationships. *Having a successful career as an indie artist. *Being a product of great people. *Venues trusting you to bring what they need. *Be willing to do whatever the venue needs you to do. *Serving the event. *Being a host/emcee for music festivals. *Getting into the festival circuit as a host/emcee. *What it takes to be a host/emcee for music festivals. *Let people know you're paying attention to them. *Be available. *Surround yourself with great people. BIO: Peder Eide - Peder has spent the last 25 plus years as a singer/songwriter, speaker, worship leader, trainer and an advocate for orphans and children in poverty. His deep passion for the life-changing power of The Father's love can be heard throughout the music of the songs and records he has written and recorded. Peder also has heart for helping youth and families draw closer to God and closer together through music and experiential worship. Peder's critically acclaimed music has been described as playful yet spiritually challenging and it puts the fun back into contemporary Christian music…straightforward and relevant…, The creator of Taste Worship, a family connection event, Peder's music and ministry has been highlighted by such groups as USA TODAY, Focus on the Family, Christianity Today and Worship Leader Magazine.  Peder was selected as a “Top Ten Young Minnesotan” by the MN Jaycees and in 2013 was honored by his high school, Oak Grove Lutheran High School with its most prestigious award, Living The Mission award. More recently Peder has been using his years of experience to serve churches and ministries as a consultant for their Sunday worship experience. He helps worship leaders and their teams to connect and engage their congregation by equipping them with some unique creative skills that go beyond just the music. Peder and his wife Sherri live in Farmington MN.  They have 5 children, Taylor, Allison, Ethan, Makenzie and Teshome.  

This week I'm talking with five-time GRAMMY Nominated and platinum-selling songwriter and recording artist Dante Bowe at Lifest 2022. Dante made history as the first artist to have the greatest number of simultaneous GRAMMY nominations in both Gospel & Christian genres with 3 solo and 2 group award nominations for the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards. We are discussing why hearing “no” repeatedly helps to perfect your songwriting, the process of putting a live show together and that if you don't have a vision for yourself as an artist, your label will give you one. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Getting “no” helps to perfect songwriting. *What it's like to co-write. *The process of putting a live show together. *Pros and cons of being a solo artist vs. being part of a group. *How to keep a label happy. *Know who you are. *If you don't have a vision, they will give you one. *Know your core values. *https://www.dantebowe.com/   BIO: Dante Bowe is a five-time GRAMMY Nominated and platinum-selling songwriter and recording artist from Rockingham, NC, now based in Nashville, TN.  Known for his distinctive raspy vocals, Dante made history as the first artist to have the greatest number of simultaneous GRAMMY nominations in both Gospel & Christian genres with 3 solo and 2 group award nominations for the 64th GRAMMY Awards including Best Gospel Performance/Song twice for “Voice of God” and "joyful,” Best Gospel Performance/Song for “Wait on You” with Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music; Best 5 Gospel Album with Maverick City Music for Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition, and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album with Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music. Dante's independent debut Son of a Father (2017), rose to No. 21 on the Billboard Charts establishing a sound that was uniquely Dante - an infectious mix of soul, gospel, and R&B. In 2018, after spending time on the road as a backing vocalist, Dante left the security of steady employment to take center stage--His star was on the rise. He was a co-writer on the platinum-selling track “In Spite of Me [feat. Ciara]” for Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Maverick City Music's biggest hit to date, “Promises."   With his familial roots in his heart, and an optimistic future in his sights, Dante released his sophomore album and Bethel Music label debut circles earlier last year. circles debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart, and the chart-topping GRAMMY Nominated single, ‘joyful,' debuted No. 1 on the Billboard's Gospel Chart, and No. 3 on Hot Gospel Songs. The introspective album which reflects on the death of his grandfather and the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart, making it the highest solo charting position of Bowe's career. He closed out the season with top ten placements on three different Billboard Year End Charts, hailed as the Top New Gospel Artist of 2021--No. 9 overall for Top Gospel Artist, No. 4 for Top Male Gospel Artist, and No. 4 on Top New Christian Artists. Last year, Bowe won his first Dove Award at the 52nd GMA Dove Awards for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for “joyful." The award-winning songwriter made history with “joyful” again and became the first artist to have his song chart on both the Billboard's Gospel Airplay and Christian Song charts, bridging the gap between Gospel and CCM formats.  In June 2019, Bowe joined the Bethel Music Collective as a worship leader and songwriter, and also appears on Maverick City Music Volumes I & II as a songwriter. Dante believes that raising the level of authenticity in worship will cause cultures, generations, and denominations to unite in a worship movement by merging gaps and removing all boundaries. The chart-topping artist has been featured on the Tamron Hall Show, Variety, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, Vogue.com, and BET. Bowe is set to embark on his first Spring 2022 tour, ‘What Are We Waiting For? – The Tour," as a solo artist with four-time Grammy award winners & Pop Sensations, For King + Country. Dante Bowe's dominance in both the fashion and music industry is just beginning, and he is unstoppable.

This week I'm talking with Rebecca St. James at Lifest 2022. Rebecca is a GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter, best-selling author, speaker and among the most defining artists in Christian music history. She also comes from a family that is firmly rooted in the music business, with a father who is a successful manager and brothers who make up the duo for KING & COUNTRY. We are discussing being part of musical family that works together in the industry, the role of a producer and a label and not letting yourself buy into what people say about you. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Mentoring artists. *The co-writing process. *The role of a producer and a label. *Structuring songs. *Don't buy into what people say about you. *Being part of musical family that works together in the industry. *Bloom where God plants you. *Be faithful with the little things. *Practice your art. *Rebecca St. James: Friends and Family Podcast. *https://www.accessmore.com/pd/Rebecca-St-James-Friends-and-Family *www.rebeccastjames.com   BIO: Among the most defining artists in Christian music history, GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter, best-selling author, speaker and actress Rebecca St. James rocketed into the global spotlight following the release of her self-titled ForeFront Records debut in 1994. The Australian native's modern pop sensibilities and uncompromising lyrics set a benchmark in Christian music, leading a new generation of artistry in the genre.     St. James has earned multiple Dove Awards, nine #1 Christian radio singles and two GOLD®-certified recordings, and her discography includes such iconic albums as Pray, God and Transform. Author of the best-selling titles Wait For Me (Thomas Nelson) and Pure (Hachette/Faithwords), among others, she starred in the 2009 film Sarah's Choice; portrayed Mary Magdalene in the groundbreaking rock opera !Hero; and voiced "Hope, The Angel" in VeggieTales' best-selling DVD The Easter Carol, in addition to other diverse roles. An award-winning songwriter, St. James co-penned multiple selections on for KING & COUNTRY's blockbuster 2019 recording, Burn the Ships, and she is also the host of Rebecca St. James Friends & Family, a new weekly podcast on marriage and parenting available on K-LOVE Radio's Accessmore platform.

This week I'm talk with Matt Roberts and Joe Piver from Jeff Roberts & Associates in Nashville, TN. JRA is a booking agency that works with some of the biggest names in Christian music including We The Kingdom, For King and Country and Skillet as well as breakout artists Anne Wilson, Katy Nicole, CAIN and many more. We are discussing the process of booking an artist into different types of venues, the cost of touring and the differences in booking new artists vs. established artists. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *What a booking agency does. *The process of booking an artist for a venue. *What the vision of the artist is for the year. *The process for booking new artists vs. established artists. *The long range goals for touring artists. *Investing in people. *The cost of touring and taking care of your team in the road. *The price range of bringing artists into venues. *Every artist is a small business owner. *The benefits of internships with different music business companies. *https://jeffroberts.com/   BIO: Matt Roberts - General Manager Originally born in Lansing, MI, Matt has lived in Nashville since Jeff moved the family in 1983. While pursuing a childhood passion to compete in stock car racing, Matt was afforded a unique experience to learn about corporate sponsorship acquisition. This interest evolved into a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Western Kentucky University. After graduating, Matt felt called to be involved more deeply with the family business and transition his passion for business to JRA. He has now been involved with JRA for over 20 years, representing the rock bands of the early 2000's, to the artists of today. He finds one of the most rewarding experiences to be the relationships created through the support of so many artists touring careers. Matt enjoys spending time with his wife Heather, their two French Bulldogs, mountain biking, and what little time is remaining, dabbling in automotive projects in his shop. Joe Piver - Senior Agent Originally from Southeast North Carolina, Joe has spent over 25 years in the music business. He has toured as an artist, worked as an agent and manager, promoted dozens of shows and artists, and even started a festival. He has a degree in percussion performance from Wingate University and a Masters in Religion from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. For the past 10 years, he's served as an adjunct professor at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. He is currently in his 16th year at JRA. Joe has been married for 16 years to his wife Amanda and they have one son named August. They currently reside in Hendersonville Tennessee. In the spare time he has, he loves to travel and spend time with his family. You will almost never see Joe not wearing his Red Sox cap.

This week I'm talking with Mike Gowen, president of Milestone Publicity in Nashville. Milestone teams with clients to generate awareness in the media to effectively promote their brands, singles, albums, tours and much more. We are discussing educating potential customers, how to deal with nightmare situations with clients and the difference in repping an emerging artist vs. an icon.   Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Scouting for talent. *A scout for PR is similar as A&R for a label.  *Finding what type of artists are getting coverage and how we can fill those slots for our company. *You are educating potential customers. *PR assistant is watches PR campaigns. You are supporting the publicist.  *Working with Kiefer Sutherland, Billy Idol, Tommy Emmanuel, Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics and more. *The difference in repping an emerging artist vs. an Icon. *Working with emerging artists you are trying to get them more exposure. You're a cheerleader. *Working with Icons you are trying to manage exposure. You're a security guard. *How to deal with nightmare situations with clients. *You pitch interviews for magazines 4-5 months before. *PR introduces new potential fans to emerging artists. *Booking late night tv is similar to pitching for a magazine article. *Say “yes” to every opportunity. *https://www.milestonepublicity.com Milestone Publicity—founded by industry professional Mike Gowen and now headquartered in Nashville—is a full-service public relations firm built to represent the needs of our music and lifestyle clients in the modern age of media. We team with clients to generate awareness in the media to effectively promote their brands, singles, albums, tours and much more. With a combined 25 years of experience, Milestone Publicity delivers well-executed campaigns in the current media landscape for its eclectic roster of clients. Every campaign is built around client goals and Milestone has the experience, relationships and tools to attain those goals.  BIO: Already possessing a prior decade of earned experience in the music industry, with a bulk of that time specializing in public relations and identifying the key elements to successful promotion, Mike founded Milestone Publicity in 2019. Specifically, he has worked with icons such as: Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Andy Grammer, Billy Idol, Brian Setzer, Dada Life, Dream Theater, Dwight Yoakam, Godsmack, Heart, Jerry Douglas, John Fogerty, Kiefer Sutherland, LIVE, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sex Pistols' Steve Jones, System of a Down's John Dolmayan, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tommy Emmanuel and Wynonna Judd, to name a few. Utilizing his close relationships with the full-spectrum of media, Mike strategically designs campaigns to deliver results and meet client goals. Whether he's consulting or spearheading a national press campaign on behalf of a client, Mike's vision at Milestone is to ensure that every client feels a wealth of value is being provided.

This week I am talking with music industry icon Jason Davis. Jason is an entertainment industry executive with a broad range of titles including award winning songwriter and author, independent record label president, executive TV producer, entertainment consultant, former Senior VP of A&R for Dolly Parton's CTK management company and more. We are discussing when and why to hire an entertainment lawyer, the difference in managing a producer vs. an artist and what happens when you reach the top of the music industry and are still empty.    Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *Once you make a human connection, if you keep the bar high, that relationship is always there. *When and why to hire an entertainment lawyer. *The amount it costs to hire an entertainment lawyer. *Learning how to develop an artist. *Learning how to coach artists well. *Find the treasure in an artist. *Finding an artist's sound. *the difference in managing a producer vs. an artist. *How to get people's attention as a writer. *Listening for tone of voice. *Having shared vision with an artist. *Have real love and care for people. *What can I bring to someone to help them along. *Honor your agreements. *Sandcastle empires. *What happens when you reach the top and are still empty. Websites:  - http://www.noble-management.com/  - https://oneone7.com/  - https://www.higherlevelagency.org/jasondavismasterclass.html BIO Jason Davis has spent his entire two decade career in the music industry and worked with many worldwide stars, including Boyz ll Men, Sugar Ray, P. Diddy, Alabama, Lonestar, Dolly Parton, among many others before working in Christian music.  Davis is an entertainment industry executive with a broad range of titles including award winning songwriter, award winning author, independent record label president, executive TV producer, entertainment consultant, former Senior VP of A&R for Dolly Parton's management company CTK management and a serial entrepreneur.  He has also secured record deal offers with CEO's from the largest music companies in the world, including Capitol Records, Sony, Interscope, Island / Def Jam, Epic, Atlantic, RCA, and J Records.  Traveling between New York, London, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville, he built a reputation working with the top songwriters, producers, and recording artists in the entertainment industry on a global level.  Over the span of his career, he has not only pioneered new approaches to the signing and development of some of the world most successful recording artists and songwriters such as Anne Wilson who recently was nominated for Christian song of the year in the 2022 Billboard Awards. He has consistently championed innovative business models and partnerships with a wide range of companies around the world.  His career began as a songwriter when he was discovered by Grant Cunningham, the former VP of A&R for Sparrow Records. Davis went on to write a #1 Billboard hit, received several ASCAP songwriting and publishing awards, and was nominated for a Latin music award.  Davis has also co-founded other cutting edge entertainment companies such as: One One 7, Noble Management, and Awaken Records. He is also co-president and partner of Christian booking agency Higher Level Agency.

This week I'm talking with Korey Hicks from Visible Music College. Korey Hicks is the Head of both the Music Theory and Guitar Divisions globally at Visible Music College, one of the premier Christian institutions of higher learning in the country. In addition to being a professor and guitar teacher, Korey spent years playing in the House Band at Billy Bob's Texas (aka, the World's Largest Honkytonk) and has opened for Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty and dozens of other big artists. We are discussing what it's like to teach 70 guitar students a week, the difficulty of auditioning for large scale music venues as a house band musician and learning to love the process of practicing on a regular basis. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *What it's like to teach 70 guitar students a week. *Journaling your practicing regiment. *Cycle 4 ( the Circle of Fifths backwards). *How to learn 600 songs in a month. *Using the mind, the ear and the hand. *A musician is only as good as the number of songs they can play. *The difficulty of auditioning for large scale music venues as a house band musician. *Think like an arranger, not a guitar player. *If you want to make music for a living, you have to work at like a full time job. *Working for Visible Music College. *Be efficient. *Perfect pitch vs. relative pitch. *The Performance Gap. *What students learn from Korey at Visible College. *Be fearless, say yes to as many gigs as possible. *Play music you don't particularly like. *Work on your ear training. *Learn to love the process of practice. *Use a practicing journal. *Cover bands make more money that artists who write original music as a whole. *https://visible.edu/ BIO: Korey Hicks is the Head of both the Music Theory and Guitar Divisions globally at Visible Music College, one of the premier Christian institutions of higher learning in the country. On his way to creating a sustainable career in the music industry, Korey has played over 4000 live performances in the last 25 years and has been blessed to share the stage with some of the biggest names in contemporary music. A stylistic chameleon, he has played in a wide variety of genres, including Country, Worship, Pop, Rock, Jazz and Blues on some of the most iconic stages in the country. Venues include playing for years in the House Band at Billy Bob's Texas (aka, the World's Largest Honkytonk), and opening for Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty and dozens of other big artists. He is an Alumnus of Berklee College of Music, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from McNally Smith College of Music with a Bachelor's Degree in Guitar Performance. 

  This week I'm talking with Pam Lewis of PLA Media in Nashville. PLA is a Public Relations company that gets their clients in front of audiences and consumers through public appearances on tv and in print.  Pam has an amazing history of being one of the people who launched MTV in the early 80s and also helped launch the careers of Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood. We are discussing the abilities you need to have to work for a PR firm as well as what it takes to start your own PR company.  Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *A publicist (Public Relations) is the glue that holds it all together. *Helping launch MTV. *A publicist's job is to listen to the artist, hear your dreams and take them to the next level and make you a household name. *Publicists do press releases, promote concerts, booking events, finding endorsements, etc. *Publicists have to go through more levels of bureaucracy with major label artists. *Helping launch Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's careers. *Starting an independent PR company called PLA Media.
*A good publicist helps connect the dots. *Looking for unique opportunities for clients, not the obvious ones. *Be Tenacious. *First thing to ask a publication is if they're on deadline. If they are don't bother them. *Find common ground with whoever is on the phone with you. *Our job is to create a buzz. *Rates to hire PLA Media start at $2000-2500 a month and go up from there. *It's best to do at least 3 months with PR to do as much as possible. *What it takes to start your own PR company. *Can you provide a valuable service to clients? *You have to have boundaries. *Learn how to work a room. *Be a good listener. *Learn how to talk on the phone. *www.plamedia.com   BIO: Pamela Lewis, a native of upstate New York, is an entrepreneur, preservationist, philanthropist and author. A graduate of Wells College with a B.A. in Economics/Marketing and a minor in French and Communications. Lewis spent a year in Paris studying at COUP (Center of Overseas Undergraduate Program) affiliated with The Sorbonne University. In New York City, she did additional graduate course work at Fordham University, The New York School for Social Research, The Publicity Club of New York and Scarritt Bennett. Lewis is also a graduate of University of Tennessee's Institute of Public Service Local Government Leadership Program (third level), of the Belmont University College of Business Administration's Scarlett Leadership Institute Mini Executive MBA program, of Leadership Music, of the Citizen's Police Academy and of the Leadership Middle Tennessee 2020 program. From 1980 to 1984, Lewis was part of the original publicity/marketing team of WASEC (Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company), a joint venture of Warner Communications and American Express, that launched MTV to the world. She also worked with MTV's sister cable channels Nickelodeon, The Movie Channel, and the Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E). Lewis was relocated to Nashville from New York City to accept the position of National Media Director at RCA Records helping to shape the careers of top country stars such as Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, The Judds, and Alabama. In 1985, Lewis opened her own PR firm, Pam Lewis and Associates (which later became PLA Media). In 1987, she formed award-winning Doyle/Lewis Management with partner Bob Doyle. The first client Lewis agreed to represent was an unknown Oklahoma crooner named Garth Brooks, who she worked with until 1994. Lewis also managed Trisha Yearwood‘s early career, landing her a record deal at MCA Records. Under Lewis' guidance, Yearwood released her debut self-titled album in 1991, becoming the first female country musician to sell one million records off her first single “She's In Love With The Boy.” The album went on to be certified double platinum, and Yearwood went on to win the Academy of Country Music award for Top Female Vocalist later that year. The two enjoyed a successful partnership which broke new ground in music winning all of the following: Performance Magazine's “Country Music Managers of the Year” two consecutive years '92 and '93, Pollstar Award “Personal Manager of the Year '92, Country Music Association's “Artist Manager of the Year”, SRO Award '01 (The first female executive to win this award), Nashville Business Journal's 40 Under 40 listing in '95 & '96, Who's Who in Executives, International Society of Poets Distinguished Member, Franklin Police Department Order of Excellence '15 & Tennessee Association of Museums Award in recognition of superlative achievement for publications PR kit. Eventually, Doyle and Lewis parted ways, and Pam turned her focus solely to PLA Media. In 2003, Lewis made her first foray into the world of politics running for office of alderman-at-large in Franklin, Tennessee. She won a four-year term, and was the only female on the board for two years. She also served as Vice Mayor for one year, and was elected to the Franklin Planning Commission and Historic Zoning Commission. In 2016, she was voted as a one of the top Female Entrepreneur by Your Williamson Magazine, and was invited to be part of the 2017-2018 class of Leadership Franklin. Lewis has served on or chaired multiple committees, including: The Tennessee State Museum, Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte's You Have The Power, BRIDGES Domestic Violence Center, Sister Cities of Franklin, Battlefield Commission, mayor-appointed Franklin Housing Commission, Nashville Historic Commission, Historic Cemetery Commission, ARC Board and the Tennessee Preservation Trust. Her other community outreach efforts include historic preservation and green space causes, women and children's advocacy, educational scholarships, fair housing and environmental and animal rights protection. Since its inception, the Pam Lewis Foundation has given away a million dollars to numerous charities. She has been recognized for her business success/entrepreneurship, community outreach and preservation efforts by the Metro Nashville Historic Commission, Franklin Tennessee Heritage Foundation, African American Heritage Foundation, Tennessee State Museum and Tennessee Preservation Trust. In 2017, she produced a documentary of African American remembrances and contributions and was honored to give the commencement address at her alma mater Wells College, Aurora, New York in May 2017. She is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Middle Tennessee.

  This week I am kicking off season 4 talking with my hero, mentor and dear friend Steve Curtis Chapman. Steven is celebrating 35 years in the music industry this year and is celebrating by releasing a brand new album called “Still.” He is the most awarded artist in Christian music history with 49 No. 1 singles, 59 GMA Dove Awards, multiple GRAMMYs and much more. He's also one of the most down-to-earth people you will ever meet. We are discussing our history together, both being from Paducah, KY and his dad Herb Chapman being our guitar teacher and the impact he's had on our lives, following where the music takes you in the songwriting process and struggling to put out new music and feeling relevant in today's culture and his new album “Still” being the result of that struggle. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we discuss: *SCC's autobiography “Between Heaven and the Real World." *The impact that Herb Chapman had on Steven's career as a guitar teacher. *Teaching his son's how to navigate into the music industry. *Follow where the music takes you in the songwriting process. *Deciding which songs will end up on an album. *SCC's brand new album “STILL.” *Struggling to put out new music and feeling relevant in today's culture. *Writing music from a new perspective. *Bloom where you're planted. *www.stevencurtischapman.com   BIO: Steven Curtis Chapman has spent the last 35 years writing and performing genre-defining songs that shaped a generation. With a staggering 49 No. 1 singles in his catalog, he is the most awarded artist in Christian music history, winning 59 GMA Dove Awards, five GRAMMY Awards, an American Music Award, and selling more than eleven million albums with ten RIAA-Certified Gold or Platinum albums. In short, he is synonymous with contemporary Christian music. After so much success, some might think recording a new album would be second nature. But for Chapman, starting a new chapter wasn't so easy. The ever-present inner critic whispering “can he do it again?” made him question whether making new music was the right move. He says, “It's a two-edged sword. At some point, you walk in with a bunch of new songs hoping people are ready to hear something new. The hard part is people don't always want that. They want to hear the hits.” But he found he still had stories left to tell. “I finally gave myself permission to say, don't question if this is relevant or where it's gonna fit or will it work in the current landscape of Christian music. I had to silence the voices, sit down with my guitar, and write whatever was stirring in me, let it come out however it came out.” It's Chapman back to his glory days, recalling mega-hits like “The Great Adventure,” “Dive,” and “More To This Life,” but don't mistake familiarity as a re-hash....Still is filled with entirely fresh, life-giving songs for the masses. His gift for writing tear-stained lyrics about serving a God he doesn't always understand but always, always trusts is on full display. Chapman holds nothing back, his full-voiced cries of praise echoing God's faithfulness in days gone by and trust in His mercy for the days ahead. “That's what I'm trying to do with this project,” Chapman says, “remember where I've been and where I'm going.” With lead track “Still,” to “Don't Lose Heart,” “I'm Alive,” “Kindness,” and “A Desperate Benediction (Peace On Earth),” Chapman's willingness to shine a light on his pain, struggles, and faith, but also his joy, redemption, and hope infuses Still with universal goodness. 

  This week I'm talking with Christian music artist Tom Golly. Tom is a successful independent artist who has had a lot of success touring and working the festival circuit on his own initiative. We are discussing how to reach out to churches and music festivals as an indie artist when booking tours and how to have the best chance to make it on the main stage of festivals. Plus, the importance of hiring band members who will become like family to you, not just employees. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *The state of the Christian music scene. *You're only as good as the people you surround yourself with. *the process of hiring players to tour with you. *Have a servant's heart. *Dealing with other's limitations. *Treat your players better than you treat yourself. *Give your musicians the space to do what they are great at. *Build a family, not employees. *Booking festivals as an indie artist. *Learn how to craft an email for booking shows. *Beware of scammers who claim they can get you gigs. *How to make a booking agent want to hear more. *Perspective is everything. *The Tom Golly Official podcast on You Tube. BIO: Tom Golly is a Christian singer/songwriter from Nashville Tennessee. Born and raised in Long Island New York. Since 2010, Tom has immersed himself in music and has never looked back.  Following his move to Nashville, TN he recorded his first EP "Not Going Back".  The project was written with Jake Jones and Justin Forshaw of As We Ascend at RMS Studios. Much of the music reflects Tom's life experiences and journey through of faith. Tom's music is a unique energetic blend of Christian Contemporary Pop & Worship with a little bit of rock edge that has seen much success on streaming platforms .His last 3 releases have done well on Spotify seeing his music added to major playlists and has had as much as 40,000 monthly listeners. His first radio single " Let Your Heart Be Found " made it to the Billboard  " Most Added " Charts. Tom has found much success touring nationally and sharing the stage with some of Christian music's biggest acts such as, Matthew West, Mandisa, Matt Maher, Tauren Wells, NEWSBOYS, Matthew West,  Francesca Battistelli, For King & Country, Danny Gokey, JJ Weeks, Zealand, Chris August, Jordan Feliz, Zach Williams, We Are Messengers, Carrolton & many more.  In May of 2019 Tom released a new single " KEEP FIGHTING " which has rocketed to over 150,000 Spotify streams in less than 4 months. Following the success of the single, Tom has since launched The " Keep Fighting Movement " Which is not only a website aimed to be a place for those in need of prayer and encouragement, but a resource page for those seeking help.

This week I'm talking with Alex Whiten of The Stable Collective in Franklin, TN. Alex is on the team that handles artist management and brand development for Steven Curtis Chapman, Mary Beth Chapman and Jillian Edwards.  We are discussing how living where you want to work and making yourself known to people will help you when opportunities become available. Plus, how the look and feel of a project, website and social media should be intertwined and cohesive. And we talk about the importance of having skills that are transferable to a lot of different roles in the industry. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *Be in the community and someone people think of when jobs become available. *You need to live the town where you want to work. *Works for the artist management company The Stable Collective. *Artist Management is where you wear a lot of different hats. *Marketing, social media, brand identity, project management. *Being a manager is like bike wheel with the artist at the center. *Branding is looking at the bigger picture of what you want the audience to feel. *Everything should be intertwined and cohesive - the look, sound, feel of a project, website, tour, etc. *Knowing how to cater to the audience of an artist with very different styles. *Having a strong vision for how to reach different audiences. *Everyday in management is very different. *Be relational. *Be someone people enjoy spending time with. *Be diligent. *Have skills that are transferable to a lot of different roles. *Road manager is a great place to start. BIO: A 28 year old Phoenix native currently living in Nashville, TN, Alex is an artist manager with roots in photography, design, and social media marketing. He was inspired at a young age to serve and grow the careers of musicians and artists who are passionate about the art they feel called to create. After studying music business in 2012, he joined forces with Mark Mattingly and Steven Curtis Chapman to launch management company The Stable Collective in February of 2017. Social links:  alexwhiten.com Instagram and Twitter at @alexwhiten

This week, I am talking with Natasha Owens in front of a live audience at Lifest music festival in Osh Kosh, WI. as she shares how her first ever concert she performed was opening for Michael W. Smith as well as touring and learning life lessons from Jason Crabb. We discuss what is like to tour with a full band and the costs and challenges of owning your own production and tour bus and paying a large crew on the road. Plus, when doing music ministry, God does not call the equipped, He equips who He calls. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Working through depression and anxiety.  *Overcoming adversity. *The reality of touring on a bus. *How to find venues to perform for. *The importance of having a website. *Having your own band and crew on the road. *The cost of putting on a show.  *The bus driver's schedule. *Having sponsors for a tour. *Have music recorded to show people. *Have video to sell yourself to venues. *Record labels sign artists based on their You Tube and social media. BIO: “There's something intrinsic about humanity and a survival instinct. Most of us will do whatever we can to keep our head above water, to take one more breath in and out…to keep breathing and keep our heart beating. But God's intent for His children, His creation, wasn't limited to survival. He intends for us to thrive. “I have come that you may have life to the full.” (John 10:10). For Natasha Owens that verse isn't merely a comfort or a pick-me-up… It's a decree. A mantra for life…and it is the very thing that has turned her darkest days into a light that is too bright not to share. “Life is hard and heartache, tragedy and loss aren't selective or rare. But for many people, as soon as they make it through the given crisis, they stop there. They stagnate,” she says, reflecting on her own season of loss and the dark days when all she could do was breathe in and out. A few years ago, Natasha's father, 58 at the time, was doing a simple task he'd done hundreds of times before. There was no drama. There was no build up. There was no warning. While cleaning his guns one day, one misfired, placing a bullet in his chest. He died soon thereafter. “After the shock wore off, the depression set in,” she shares. “For some reason, our pastor came to me and said he thought I should be the music minister at the church.” After a lot of time in prayer, alongside her husband, Natasha accepted the position. Soon, the music, the mission and the ministry captivated her heart. It stole away the listlessness and confusion and hopelessness. Week after week, as she poured herself into the music of the church, thereby pouring herself into the lives of all who comprised that church body, the Holy Spirit poured into her a peace, a reassurance and a drive to take this opportunity even further than she could have imagined. Unbeknownst to Natasha at the time, those songs lent more than strength. They laid the foundation for what would become the next chapter in her heart, her healing and her ministry. Vacillating between the church platform and a writer's room, Natasha soon had another collection of songs; songs of restoration, hope and peace. At the prompting of a friend she took her music into the recording studio and created her first full-length project. It didn't take long for the album to circulate within the music industry, opening doors left and right. The brand-new recording artist landed an opening slot for CCM icon, Michael W. Smith and she was invited to tour with Dove Award Artist of the Year recipient, Jason Crabb. With each new opportunity came another chance for Natasha to share her heart, her message and her hero. The songs that had been her healing, her comfort and her restoration were becoming that very thing to people around the world.  Following the success of her last project, industry heavyweight and iconic producer Ed Cash agreed to produce her next project and was as excited as Natasha about the message that was about to emerge. Each track, while beautifully unique in their own right, illuminated the idea of rising. With lyrics that are inviting, melodies that are compelling and delivery that drives home the truth within, these songs allow listeners to be honest and vulnerable in the most challenging and intimidating circumstances. “He doesn't call the equipped. He equips who He calls,” she says with stalwart conviction. “That has stuck with me and given me the courage to do what He's called me to. If God is with me, I can do all things. I can do more than survive. I can thrive. If others can see the power of God to do such a work in my life and then translate it to their own…to really believe that they can do more than just get by, I've done my job.”

This week I'm talking with a live audience at Lifest in Osh Kosh, WI sharing my story and answering questions from the audience about the music industry. We are discussing the pros and cons of streaming platforms, the importance of having other writers critique your songwriting and what I believe is the definition of success for anyone pursuing a career in the music industry. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *Building a touring schedule on your own as a new artist. *How to build relationships with people in order to writing songs professionally. *Recording albums with today's technology. *The pros and cons of streaming platforms. *What record companies look for in signing artists in today's climate. *How to hone your songwriting skills. *Have 3 other writers to give you honest feedback about your songs. *How to find venues that play your style of music. *The pros and cons of going to college for music vs. bypassing college. *When others quit, you keep going. *The definition of success. *www.johnmartinkeith.com *www.edenbrookeproductions.com BIO:
 John Martin Keith is a singer-songwriter with Edenbrooke Music in Nashville, Tennessee. He is passionate about God and music and has over 20 years of experience in the music industry. John Martin, better known as Marty, has performed in front of thousands from the stage along with artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, Jaci Velasquez, and NewSong, among others. Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, Marty began learning to play the guitar at the age of four from Herb Chapman Sr., father of GRAMMY and Dove award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Throughout his early life, Marty played talent shows and county fairs in Kentucky, sharpening his skills and preparing for the day he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue his dream of a music career. During his college years in Kansas and Missouri, he shifted into music ministry, working with youth camps, which shaped his style of music into what it is today. In 2006, Marty became an ordained worship pastor and was dubbed a “musicianary” by one of his pastors. Since then, he has spent years touring the country, sharing the gospel of Jesus through his music in churches, camps, youth conferences/retreats, and colleges. “When I lead worship, my goal is not to become the focus, but to turn the focus to the throne of God. I want worshipers to look inside themselves and at their relationship with Jesus. To understand that apart from Christ there is no hope in the world and through Christ alone can salvation, peace, and joy be found,” says Marty. He adds, “These songs fit into every category of life. They are about real life, real joy, real love, real struggle. Being a Christian does not mean we won't have struggles. Christ told his disciples, ‘in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33) Even in the struggles, there should be worship. Everything we do in life should be an act of worship to the Lord.” Marty's music strives to be a reflection of that. As a songwriter, Marty writes multiple genres, including Pop, Country, Praise & Worship, Americana, Rock, and Dance with some of the top hit makers in Nashville including Mark Irwin (Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw), Nicole Witt (George Strait, Lee Brice), Brady Seals (Little Texas, Hot Apple Pie), Lindsay McCaul, Farewell Angelina, Luke Brown (American Idol), and Shay Watson (Sidewalk Prophets, The Young and the Restless). Marty also writes and produces songs for tv/film and ads with artists from all over the world.  He currently has music placed on CBS, FOX Sports, Discovery Channel, History Channel, The Smithsonian Channel and more. Marty takes every opportunity given to him to create great music with the hope of enriching peoples live through it. In upbeat songs of praise to our Creator, heartfelt love songs for his wife, or heartbreaking stories of despair he has personally encountered, everyone can find something they are looking for in John Martin Keith's music. Marty is the owner of Edenbrooke Music. Edenbrooke Music strives to improve the quality of musical entertainment by improving talent though teaching, by improving sound through production, and by improving the career of the musician through performance and recording opportunity. Edenbrooke Music offers guitar lessons, live sound for special events, booking for touring artists and music production services. Learn more at www.edenbrookemusic.com.

photo by jasonwaitephotography.com This week, I'm talking with Ben McDonald of the band Sidewalk Prophets in my first ever live recording with an audience at Lifest music festival in Osh Kosh, WI. With three major studio albums, five #1 hits, and eight top 5 songs under their belt, Sidewalk Prophets has solidified their place among the elite artists in Christian music. As a founding member, Ben has been one of the leading songwriters and guitar players in the band. We are discussing how to handle to hardships and successes of getting a band off the ground as well and the ever changing involvement Ben has in the band as he has recently stepped off of stage but continues to be a driving force behind the bands songwriting, creativity and success as the band's manager.  Plus, we talk about the importance of being resilient in this industry to be successful. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *You have to write a lot of bad songs to find the good ones. *The importance of choosing a band name. *When starting out, play where you can as much as you can. *It's a long term commitment. *How to contact artists to play your venue. *Working your way up the rung in the industry. *Resilience. *When things are hard, you can choose to quit or choose to go forward. *Practice your craft. *Write with people who are better than you. *Learn how to take criticism. BIO: Sidewalk Prophets is more than just music, and more than just entertainment we are family.  The band has a strong desire to make everyone feel loved and valued and the goal of this new on-line store is to make sure each person feels special. Dave Frey and Ben McDonald had no idea what was in store for them when their paths crossed at Anderson University years ago, but one listen to their hugely anticipated major label debut, These Simple Truths, confirms the band's undeniable talent. The fact that they have been on the road for 150+ dates per year for the years and show no signs of slowing down attests to their tenacious work ethic.  But while there are tons of bands with talent and tenacity who never progress beyond the garage, Sidewalk Prophets insist it is the ever-present hand of the Lord that has lifted them to the next level of their career.  With three major studio albums, five #1 hits, and eight top 5 songs under their belt Sidewalk Prophets has solidified their place among the elite artists in Christian music.  Their goal is simple: Authentically sharing Christ. Creatively inspiring Hope. Joyfully making everyone feel like someone.

    This week I'm talking with my friend, co-writer, co-producer and fellow worship pastor Chris Clayton. Chris is one of the top worship music producers in Nashville. His track record includes some of my favorite artists including Shane and Shane, Big Daddy Weave and Phillips, Craig and Dean and his songs have been featured in Lifeway, Word and Integrity Music. We are discussing the differences you will find as a producer starting out compared to the bar that Nashville sets for you to rise to and what it takes to hit that bar. Plus, we discuss the differences in recording a live album vs. a studio album and what the role of a producer should play in an artists life. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *Song Capture Podcast - www.songcapture.com *Do a great job so artists will spread the word about you. *The Nashville Bar. *Learn to track, edit and pocket a vocal the best you can. *Training your ear to tune vocals properly. *The big picture of production. *Produce masters, not demos. *Produce the demo so well, the label will want you to produce the album. *Differences between recording a live album vs. a studio album. *The Process of recording a live album. *Capturing a moment from the audience. *Costs of having a song produced.
 *What true producers are looking for. *The hardest part for producers working with artists. *The biggest investment you can do for your music is bring in a producer. *Artists: surround yourself with people better than you and find a producer who's the right fit for you. *As a producer: just start and just do. *Serve the people you're given. *www.chrisclaytonmusic.com BIO: Chris Clayton is an award-nominated Worship/CCM producer, songwriter and mix engineer. He has worked on projects with a variety of independent artists and churches as well as national artists like Big Daddy Weave, Phillips, Craig, and Dean, Shane and Shane, Christine D'Clario, Kristene DiMarco (Bethel Music) and Prestonwood Worship just to name a few. As a songwriter, his songs have been featured by many artists and organizations including Worship Leader Magazine, LifeWay Worship, Word Music and Integrity Music.   “Burn Bright,” co-written and produced by Clayton, and recorded by Will Walker, was nominated for the 2018 GMA Canada Covenant Award for Pop Song of the Year. Clayton's heart is for the Church and the artists he works with. Serving also as the worship pastor at Gateway Church in Franklin, Tennessee, he credits his grounding in the local church as one of the keys to his success. After all, it's not just about the music. “It's about investing in the artist as a person,” he says. “It truly drives everything I do.” Those relationships shine through the music, creating a lyrical and musical landscape out of intimate conversations and trust.” Chris resides in the Nashville, TN area with his beautiful and amazing wife Kara and their five awesome kids.

This week I'm talking with John Clinebell of Sync It! Music and Licensing Basecamp which teaches artists and producers to get their songs and production up to standard for sync pitching. John has tons of sync placements including Fox, Disney/ABC, CBS, Starbucks and more. We are discussing the best ways to approach making music and pitching music in the sync world, plus what genres of music are being asked for currently in sync. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *A music supervisor is tasked with the creative and legal aspects of putting music to picture in tv or film within the budget they are given to work with. *Sync It Music and Licensing base camp teaching people to get the songs and production up to standard for pitching, providing encouragement and accountability and strategies for success with different workshops by bringing in experts in different areas and providing pitching opportunities as well. *Sync It Music partners with different licensing agents so the clients can pitch their music and hopefully get signed by the agent for representation. *Things to consider between exclusive and non-exclusive deals. *If it's confusing who reps your music, you can lose deals. *Follow music supervisors on social media to see what they are posting about types of music they are pitching for. *Genres needed for sync currently. *Your music needs to be soulful in a fun way for ads. *Most agencies want to support actual artists, not made up artists just for sync. *Music that works great for sync, but also fits what you do as an artist is best. *Create alt endings to your songs that ring out the the last chord instead of a sting ending. *Control Camp is a great place to learn what is needed in licensing. *Be polite to the people you want to work with. *Ask for what you want but do it in a way that is respectful. *Go through proper channels when pitching to supervisors. *www.johnclinebell.com *www.syncitmusic.com BIO: John is originally from the mid west, was based in Los Angeles for 15 years, and moved to Nashville in 2022.  John has placements with Fox, Disney/ABC, CBS, BET, ESPN, MTV, Nick jr, Lifetime, Netflix, Hulu, Oxygen, USA networks, Facebook/Instagram corporate, Starbucks commercials, CBBC, Microsoft corporate, Ring training and promo videos, CBC's q radio, Sky, Spotify playlists, in-store at major UK retailers and many other places. music repped by Sky, 411, Lyric House, So Stereo, Koze Music, Protunes, Think Music, Crucial, Atrium, Heavy Hitters, Song & Film, Imaginary Friends and other sync partners.

John has pro studio locations in Nashville, Tennessee and Los Angeles (Koreatown). He and production partner / manager Billy Lefler produce together under the name Bacon Shake. John is the founder of make moves in music, a community for music entrepreneurs and also a podcast. Also co-founder of sync it! music with Sonnet Simmons. They have an exclusive sync licensing education community called Licensing Basecamp where they give indie artists, songwriters and producers the encouragement, accountability and success strategies they need to start earning money licensing their music to tv, film and ads. From 2019-2021 John served as director of music at catch the moon music, a music licensing education company founded by Cathy Heller. They mentored talented indie artists, songwriters and producers on how to go about getting their songs onto tv shows, films, ads, video games, in-store and into music production libraries and helped connect the dots between students/alumni and decision makers in the industry.

Photo by: @kathryntbyrd This week I'm talking with my friend a fellow guitarist Jason Brooks. We met while working on the tv show Nashville together a few years ago. Jason has toured all over the world and played on multiple talk shows as a guitar player for some of today's most popular country artists including Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton and more. We are discussing how to play to the strength of your amp, how to go about getting an endorsement deal and the importance of being available in order to get gigs. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *Know when to grab an opportunity. *Availability is essential. *When you find success, continue to grow it. *Don't oversell yourself. *If you're not keeping up with people in your network, you're actually removing them from it. *3 main types of amps to work from. *Play to the strength of the amp. *Understand your voice on your instrument. *Endorsement deals. *Pursue a deal from a smaller company first. *How busy you are and where you are in your career help determine endorsements you get. *Establish a relationship with endorsement people. *Tag companies you want endorsements with on social media as you use their gear. *Venues vs. TV. *Create your own success vs. just being an employee. *Saving your money and have emergency funds. *Charts vs. memorizing. *Always learn the music. *Make sure your instruments are well maintained. BIO: Jason Brooks is a Nashville based guitarist. Born in South Korea, Jason grew up just outside Washington DC in Herndon Virginia. At 20, Jason made the move to Nashville to pursue a degree in Music Business at Belmont University. 
Since moving to Nashville Jason has had several high profile performances on The Today Show, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show feat David Letterman, Today with Megyn Kelly, The Kelly Clarkson Show, ABC/CMT drama Nashville, CMT, CMC Australia, CMA Fest Nissan Stadium. 
When not touring with The Voice Season 3 winner Cassadee Pope, Jason splits his time between other major label acts and local Nashville gigs. Additionally Jason owns a small production company which specializes in remote tracking sessions and end to end production for commercial compositions which have been featured on Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. Jason has worked with Grammy nominated artist Cassadee Pope, Grammy nominated artist Ashley Monroe, Season 4 The Voice Winner Danielle Bradbery, Gone West feat. Colbie Caillat, Maddie & Tae, Mickey Guyton, Jana Kramer, Lainey Wilson, Chord Overstreet and many others. Jason is endorsed by Gibson Brands, Fender Musical Instrument Company, Daddario Strings, and Lollar Pickups. You can connect with Jason on his Instagram at @iisjasonbrooks.

This week I'm talking with my friend and co-writer Ross King. Ross is a hit songwriter with Centricity Music in Franklin, TN with cuts by Jordan Feliz, Newsboys, JJ Heller and more. In addition to writing songs for himself and other artists, Ross is a successful sync music writer with multiple placements on tv. We are discussing the value of building a loyal fan base, the pros and cons of having a publishing deal as a songwriter and three things that will help you be successful in music. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *Be part of a musical organization that people are coming to hear to help learn your craft. *Writing for artists from American Idol, etc. *True fans who tell others about is more important than Spotify streams. *Artist vs. Songwriter. *Establish a tribe of true fans. *Understanding what publishing is. *Understanding what a PRO is. *The reasons for changing publishing companies. *Payout from deep album cuts vs. sync cuts. *What do you want from your career? *Does a pub deal accomplish what you want?  *3 ways to be successful in the music business. *Make relationships with the people in the middle. *“Tools Not Rules” Songwriting curriculum on www.rosskingmusic.com. *Creating awareness and authority. *Collaboration and critique are everything. BIO: Since 1995, Ross King has been a full-time songwriter, worship leader, performer and and producer. Many of the songs he's written have been recorded by Jordan Feliz, Newsboys, We Are Messengers, JJ Heller, North Point Worship, Jason Gray, Jonny Diaz, Carrollton, Micah Tyler, Coby James, Joel Vaughn, Cade Thompson, Jimmy Needham, Michael English, and many others. In addition to writing CCM and worship, Ross crafts songs for the film/tv world. His songs have been heard on an NBC promo for the Today show, a SEC Football promo and a SmileDirectClub commercial. Outside of primarily writing for others, Ross has recorded several independent albums of his own music throughout the years. In addition to all of that, Ross spends a decent amount of time teaching other songwriters and creatives how to grow in their confidence and in their craft.

This week I'm talking with my friend Tony Wood who is one of the most successful songwriters in music, period. He currently has 34 #1 songs across multiple genres and over 900 songs recorded by various artists like: Michael W. Smith, Zach Williams, Reba McEntire, for KING & COUNTRY,  Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Scott Krippayne and Bill Gaither and so many more. We are discussing how to know if you are ready to approach a publisher about a songwriting deal, writing with people who are better than you and the importance of the radio single vs. full albums in today's market. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *The hardest meeting to get with a publisher is the second meeting, not the first. *How to know if you're ready to approach a publisher. *Working temp jobs while building your career. *There's no guarantee of sustaining success once you have it. *Do it for the love of it. *The single is everything now. *You need to find a relationship with an artist to write with. *Aspire to write with people ahead of you. *Write songs that can become your calling card. *Getting through the terror. *Finding ways to connect. *It's never been a level playing field. *Be mindful of the marketplace when writing. *Work on your theology.   BIO: Tony Wood is a staff writer for CURB/Word Music in Nashville, TN. He has won multiple Dove Awards over his career. Currently, Tony has written 34 #1 songs and has over 900 songs recorded  by artists across multiple genres like: Michael W. Smith, Zach Williams, Reba McEntire, for KING & COUNTRY, Steven Curtis Chapman, CAIN, PASSION, Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, Scott Krippayne, Jessica Simpson, Bill Gaither and many more.

This week I am talking with my long time friend John Dougherty who is the director of Lifest Music Festival in Osh Kosh, WI and Nashville, TN. We are talking about his rise through the ranks from a stage hand to the man in charge of one of the largest Christian Music Festivals in the country.  Also, we are discussing the importance of being kind to festival workers when you are an artist performing at a festival and the steps you can take if you are interested in working at a festival. PLUS: Lifest is back in business this summer after having to take 2020 off.  I will be performing, hosting a stage, interviewing artists and hosting a LIVE version of the podcast and you can be there! WI - July 8-11, 2021 and TN - July 29-31, 2021. you can get a $5 discount on Adult Full Event Tickets by using the coupon code: JMK at checkout. Go to www.lifest.com for details. I hope to see you there and meet you in person! Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Being the director of Lifest Music Festival, one of the largest Christian music festivals in the country. *The Christian Festival Association.  *The importance of becoming a member of the CFA if you run a festival. *Owning your own gear, lighting and sound system so you can run shows for you and other bands. *Having a business mindset even as a teenager. *Reinvesting in your gear to build a better set up. *Working your way up the ladder working at a festival. *www.lifepromotions.org *The job description of a stage manager at a festival. *What a production manager does. *What “buying” production means. *Making sure the attendee gets the best experience. *Check your ego at the door. *Keep your attendee in mind. *You can make a living outside of a major music city as an artist, producer and/or festival. *The promoter books bands to play the main stage.  You won’t get a main stage slot by sending an email. *Personal connections are so important. *Promoters are checking out your social media to see if you are talking positive or negative about your previous venues. *Be positively engaging your audience. *How you get paid to play a music festival. *What determines if you get to play again the following year. *Stage managers are the gate keepers. *The importance of being kind to lower level workers. *Everything you do can make or break you. *If you want to work a festival, take any job that is offered to you. *How to get a job working at a festival. *www.lifest.com BIO John Dougherty grew up in Appleton Wisconsin and has stayed a home town boy. He has played drums most of his life and has toured with various bands around the region while building his production company, Welcome Place Productions, which offers sound and lighting for bands and other shows.  He also works for Life! Promotions which envisions a place where youth can express and celebrate their faith in a positive and safe environment. John is the director of Lifest, an outdoor music festival, which allows the entire family to come together for worship, fellowship and teaching with more than 100 Christian artists and speakers. Lifest is one of the largest Christian music festivals in the nation. 

This week I am talking with composer Catherine Joy.  Catherine is the founder and CEO of Joy Music House, which is a full service score production company in L.A.. She is also the Vice President for the Alliance for Women Film Composers. Her music has been featured on projects for Netflix, Amazon and HBO to name a few.  Today we are talking about the importance of having a mentor when starting your career, the difference between, composing, arranging and orchestrating a project and the importance of how you represent yourself when connecting with clients and other composers you want to work with. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Networking with composers. *Joining different composer organizations to meet people in your field. *You have to become a part of that community. *Mentors get you in the door but you have to be able to do the work. *Ask mentors to help open doors for you. *Joy Music House is her production company that does score producing for tv/film. *Orchestrating means taking someone’s midi string files and breaking them out to make sure every note is arranged correctly for a live orchestra. *Composing means creating your own arrangements. *Arranging means taking a concept or music and adding elements or changing things around to complement the picture. *How production companies get to know our work. *How to market yourself on social media. *If you cold call anyone, be thoughtful about how you reach out.  Do your research. *Be careful how you represent yourself. *Ask “how can I help you?” *If you’re good, you’re going to find work. *Get someone to check your work. *When you make mistakes, take ownership and say “I’m sorry.” *Be persistent but polite. *https://www.joymusichouse.com/ Catherine Joy - Music For Media With a passion for music and collaboration, Catherine Joy is a composer for film, media and live performance. She won Best Documentary Score for the uplifting feature documentary Gold Balls. She recently scored the multi-award winning documentary The Augmentation of Douglas Engelbart (now streaming on Amazon Prime), the supernatural thriller The Parish and documentary Naughty Books which features narration by Aisha Tyler and Allison Tolman and premieres at Cinequest Film festival, March 2020.  Catherine is the founder and CEO of Joy Music House, a full service score production company. She is also the Vice President for the Alliance for Women Film Composers. Catherine has scored a number of series, starting with Capitol Hill which began on youtube and is now televised throughout Canada and Europe. More recently she scored the sci-fi dramady Abby and Tabby Alone in the Desert (now streaming on Seed and Spark) the documentary series Women of the Island, and No Matter What, which released on youtube September 2019. She contributed additional arrangements on the Emmy-award-winning Netflix doc series Wild Wild Country. Most recently Catherine worked on the History Channel 3 night miniseries event WASHINGTON, premiering Feb 16, 2020. Catherine also lead Joy Music House team in score producing Homecoming Season 2.  Catherine is currently scoring the video games The Endless Mission and Beyond Blue. She is also working on a Ballet in collaboration with choreographer Rival Tribe which will premiere end of 2020. Catherine & Joy Music House worked on notable feature projects. Catherine score supervised and orchestrated on Minari which one the Grand Jury and Audience award at Sundance 2020 along with the emmy-nominated scores RBG and Love, Gilda. She also score supervised the HBO documentary At The Heart of Gold and the feature Son of The South executive produced by Spike Lee and directed by his long-time editor Barry Alexander Brown. Catherine was also the orchestrator on the animated series High Guardian Spice, set for release in 2020.  She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music at Cornish College of the Arts. She then completed her Masters of Music from Boston University and also went through the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring program in 2011.Catherine is from Tasmania, Australia. She moved to the United States in 1998 to pursue a career in music and plays many instruments including violin, piano, and guitar.

This week I am talking with my friend Steven Scharf from Rhode Island. His company, Steven Scharf Entertainment, works with independent artists and producers to get their music licensed in tv and film projects. Steven also served as Senior V.P. Creative for the publishing company Carlin America,  and oversaw the licensing of songwriters and artists like AC/DC, The Turtles and James Brown. Plus, he has worked in the studio with The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and Lynyrd Skynyrd and you are going to hear some amazing stories of how he was able to step into that world in the first place.  We are discussing the importance of networking, having a special “voice” in your writing and making sure you know who the people are that you are trying to reach out to and what their companies are all about before contacting them. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Getting to watch legendary rock & roll and R&B studio sessions recorded live. *Always go with your gut instinct. *Honing your craft. *Networking is the biggest part of everything. *It’s about the songs. *You’ve got to have great songs. *New composers need to work with young film makers. *Finding internships to work in the industry. *Take every opportunity that comes your way. *Find people that can help you grow. *Building deep, long lasting relationships with good people. *Composers need to have a special “voice” in their writing. *Producers need to have a vision when making a record. *Exclusive vs. non-exclusive deals *Never sign to a licensing company that asks you to pay them to pitch your music. *Networking at conferences. *How to send the right kind of emails to agents and supervisors. *Make sure you know who people are, what they do and what their companies are about. *http://www.stevenscharf.com/ BIO: Steven Scharf Entertainment was formed in 1991 to manage and develop the careers of independent record producers and recording artists. At that time, Steven aligned himself in a joint partnership with Freddy and Caroline Bienstock of Carlin America, Inc. - one of the most prestigious independent music publishers in the world. Today, Steven Scharf currently serves as Senior V.P. Creative for Carlin America, and oversees the licensing of well established songwriters and artists such as AC/DC, Jim Steinman (Meat Loaf), The Lovin' Spoonful, The Turtles, James Brown, Bobby Darin, and Billie Holiday. Prior to the creation of Steven Scharf Entertainment, Steven Scharf spent nearly  30 years working in the recording industry as a record producer, head of A&R, and talent manager. His career began in 1969, when he was privileged to apprentice at the famed Muscle Shoals studio in Sheffield. Alabama. While there he worked with legendary artists as The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Boz Scaggs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, R.B. Greaves, and with such producers and engineers as Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Steve Smith.   As his career progressed, Steve moved on to work at GSF Records in the early 70's and held a staff editorial position at Cashbox Magazine.  In 1976 Larry Uttal tapped him to become Head of A&R at Private Stock Records, where he oversaw A&R for such artists as The Mighty Pope, Blondie, Robert Gordon & Link Wray, Benny Mardones, Rupert Holmes, The Dirty Angels and Samantha Sang.  Steve produced many artists during the late 70's, early 80's such as Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, Bob Halligan and Duke Jupiter (Motown). In recent years Steven Scharf Entertainment has become an LLC, and evolved to include the film and television licensing of many new independent artists. Following the trend of major television shows which prefer "one-stop shopping", Steven began representing a diverse range of artists who control their own publishing and masters. This approach created an advantage with music supervisors who require music on short deadlines; removing the need to negotiate at length with publishing companies and record labels. 

This week I am talking with hit songwriter, composer and producer Alex Geringas from the company Rare Behavior. His songs have been recorded by Snoop Dogg, Jessie J and Cher to name a few and his music is used in multiple movies including Pitch Perfect 3 and The Lego Ninjago Movie and the tv shows Beat Shazam and Trollstopia. We are talking about what it’s like to produce major artists who are recording your songs, the differences in scoring music for film vs. tv and the reality of professionals having to prove themselves with every new project even when you have a list of successes in the business. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Composing for tv shows and movies. *Working with artists in the studio as a producer. *Scoring film is completely different from a tv show. *The hardest genre to score is the one that is not yours. *The difference between scoring music for live action vs. animated shows. *Learning what the producers and directors want. *Building relationships. *The best way to network. *Keep yourself updated and learning. *You have to invest in yourself. *How music is created for tv shows. *How to get your foot in the door working for a composer. *Professionals have to prove themselves with every project. *Focus on one goal. *www.rarebehavior.com BIO: Multi-award-winning Songwriter / Composer Alex Geringas has garnered international acclaim for both his songs and scores.  His music has earned him awards and recognition on several continents including a Grammy award, BMI Awards,Emmy and Annie nominations for his Scores and two Echo awards (the German equivalent to a Grammy). In 2019 Alex was nominated to be a Judge at the Annie Awards. Before Geringas relocated from Hamburg,Germany to Los Angeles in 2011 he had eighteen #1 Hits worldwide, as Songwriter including eleven # 1 hits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, six #1 hits in Japan, two #1 in South Korea.His songs were performed by music icons including Snoop Dogg, Jessie J, Timbaland, Cher, Kelly Clarkson, Ben Schwartz, Dove Cameron and many more. Also Alex scored some of the most successful films in Germany in the last years “I’m Off Then” for Universal Germany and the highly acclaimed Family Trilogy “Hanni & Nanni 1-3” for Warner Bros. Germany. Alex has currently 12 Theme Songs on TV with Disney, Dreamworks, Henson and Nickelodeon. For example FAST AND FURIOUS : SPY RACERS, WORD PARTY, RAINBOW RANGERS and VOLTRON, LEGENDARY DEFENDER and the upcoming Shows TROLLSTOPIA and THE CHICKEN SQUAD. Additionally, he contributed songs for the PBS Show SPLASH AND BUBBLES, SUPERMONSTERS and many more. In the Game Show Category, Geringas has written themes for BEAT SHAZAM (FOX) , SING YOUR FACE OFF (ABC) and most recently he did all the Music for CHRISSY'S COURT on Quibi. Alex Geringas Music for the big screen includes end title songs for ICE AGE 5, THE NUT JOB 2, WOODY WOODPECKER (theme and all songs) and for THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE where he also contributed additional music. Other original song contributions include the TV series’ THE MUPPETS (ABC), TRAINING DAY (CBS) and CSI (CBS).  Alex also contributed additional music for PITCH PERFECT 3 and UNCLE DREW. He also contributed Original Songs for the Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman film THE WAR WITH GRANDPA (D : Timothy Hill) and wrote Additional Music for the Melissa McCarthy film HAPPYTIME MURDERS. Besides that he just worked with Hans Zimmer and with Director Timothy Hill on the upcoming THE SPONGE BOB MOVIE : SPONGE ON THE RUN for Paramount Pictures. After completing the score for TROLLS THE BEAT GOES ON for DWA/Netflix in 2020, Alex is currently scoring the new Trolls TV Show TROLLSTOPIA and the Disney Jr. Show CHUGGINGTON (Season 6).  He has teamed up with Mike Himelstein as the Episodic Songwriter of the upcoming Disney Jr. Show THE CHICKEN SQUAD.  He also is scoring and writing all songs for an upcoming Netflix Animation TV Show.  Additionally, Alex is scoring two unannounced projects, a Netflix Animated Feature and a Nickelodeon Animated Feature.

This week I am talking with Daryl Berg who is the music supervisor for Crown Media which owns The Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.  He has also worked with Fremantle Media as head of music and worked on various game shows. We are talking about the kind of music Hallmark is looking for and the kind of music composers need to create if they want to get into game show music. Plus, the importance of knowing who your audience is when creating music for tv. Show Notes:    Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Doing music supervision for Crown Media: The Hallmark Channel, etc. *Music for game shows should be short, sharp and shocked. *Game show music composers should make friends with production company people. *The kind of music needed for Hallmark movies and shows. *Budgets decide if the music used is major label or indie artist. *Being on a music supervisors list is a privilege. *Don’t call me, email me. *You have to understand what your audience is. *Find an agent who works with Crown Media to rep your music. *Be polite. *Follow up once a month, not once a week. BIO: Daryl Berg currently is the Vice President, Music Strategies and Licensing for Crown Media; parent company of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries where he overseas all music strategy and supervision.  Prior to that he re-launched Sound Canyon in Fall of 2015 after serving as Vice President, Head of Music for FremantleMedia North America, where he handled music supervision and licensing, oversaw and grew their publishing assets, and worked with both television and digital departments on the developmental sides. Prior to that he served as Vice President of Music for Shine America from 2011 to 2013, where he was responsible for Shine America's music strategy, expanding the company's music portfolio, helping to develop music-based productions and building licensing properties across scripted, unscripted and digital productions.

Prior to joining Shine America, Berg served as Director of Music for FUEL TV, where he spearheaded the overall music strategy for the network. His responsibilities at FUEL ranged from music supervision to licensing and booking bands to overseeing the network's music marketing campaigns.

Before FUEL TV, Berg was Director, Business Development for EMI Music, developing business opportunities for the company and creating new media licensing proposals, including digital music subscriptions, internet radio, online video and set-top box content deals. Previously, Berg co-created Crusty Old Timer, Inc., a music supervision and placement company based in Los Angeles. He also formerly served as founder/Vice President, Strategic Planning for The Orchard, an independent music and video distribution company.  He’s a graduate of University at Albany and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and lives in Los Angeles with his wife Nina and their daughter Lennox.

This week I’m talking with Glory Reinstein who is the owner of the sync licensing agency Song and Film which I am honored to work with.  We are talking about the day to day aspects of running a sync licensing agency, what to know when starting your own sync agency and the importance of the music needing to enhance, not distract from the story. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *Being the owner of Song and Film sync licensing Agency.
 *You need great production. *I look for great Americana music and great hip hop artists. *Music Supervisors want songs to breathe, not too wordy.   *Supes want stems as well as instrumental. *I work non-exclusively. *Licensing fee percentages. *Different genres of Christmas music that are requested. *The amount of briefs sent. *The song has to fit like a glove in a scene.  *The process of songs getting placed.
 *Building trust with supervisors. *Day to day aspects of running a sync licensing agency. *Starting your own sync licensing agency. *The e-book “Thinking in Sync” by Amanda Kreig Thomas on Amazon. *Knowing what Music Supervisors really want. *www.songandfilm.com *“How To Make It In The New Music Business” by Ari Herstand on Amazon. *“Making Music Make Money” by Eric Beall *“All You Need To Know About The Music Business” by Donald S. Passman on Amazon. *Sync music needs to enhance, not distract from the story. BIO Glory Reinstein received her B.S. in Music Education at the University of Vermont and her M.S. at Central Connecticut State University. She taught music at the high school level in three different high schools over the course of 38 years. While teaching, she was a guest conductor for a few high school music festivals and served as President for one term for the Vermont Chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association as well as President for one term for the Vermont chapter of the Music Educators Association. Ms. Reinstein garnered four awards during her teaching career including Vermont Music Educator of the Year.  As a result of her son pursuing a singer/songwriter career, Glory got interested and involved in not only helping him with promotion and publicity, but also other local artists. After taking online courses at Berklee College of Music (Boston), she started her own business, Malletts Bay Music, and ran it while still teaching. In 2015, when she retired from teaching, she began working with the founder of Song And Film and eventually took over the business. Since then she has signed many new artists and has licensed several songs on their behalf. 

This week I’m talking with my good friend Christian Sancho. Christian is a professional touring bass player who is currently working with country artist Ashley McBryde. We are discussing the dos and dont's when auditioning to be in a band for a major label artist plus, the differences in playing small venues vs. large arenas and late night talk shows. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *The difference in playing for academic purposes vs. playing with people. *What the audition process is like for a major touring band. *Making sure to learn songs note for note when auditioning for a tour and being prepared. *the touring band usually knows who they want to audition to be in the band. *looking the part. *Touring with country artist Ashley McBryde. *Playing late night talk shows.  *Self editing. *The differences in opening for an artist and headlining your own show. *Tricks for playing in dark venues. *In ears vs. wedge monitors *Do your homework. *Where you spend your time networking is hopefully where you end up working. *Have a clear picture of what you want to do. *Be open to learning. *Pay scale for playing on different tours. *being the star of an Eric Church music video -   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_CksCHnooM *https://www.ashleymcbryde.com BIO: Christian Sancho is a professional touring bass player. Originally from Milwaukee WI, Christian has worked with country acts such as Hailey Whitters, Maddie and Tae and Ashley McBryde. He grew up playing in church and came to Nashville to study at Belmont University. He has toured ever since with cover bands as well as working with various churches until 2017 when he started touring with country artist Ashley McBryde full time. 

This week I am talking with digital strategist Michael Sloane who works musicians, management, labels, and entertainment brands, building successful and profitable relationships. His company Streaming Promotions helps grow audiences for artists on Streaming playlists. We are talking about how to connect with streaming services and get your music in front of the people who can get you in front of an expanding audience. And we talk about coming up with a strategy to reach your audience and demographic. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.  In this episode we talk about: *Streaming Promotions which helps grow audiences for artists on Streaming playlists. *Make sure your artist profile is up to date on Spotify. *connecting with over 3000 curators to get your songs on playlists. *Matching music to appropriate playlists. *Networking and building relationships with people in the industry. *Find out who works behind the scenes and make connections. *Be solution driven. *Project management for Zac Brown Band and Taylor Swift in the digital market. *Social media marketing. *The importance of being a great hang. *What the audience wants. *What demographic are you trying to reach? *What is your strategy to reach your audience? *How are you telling your story? *www.streamingpromotions.com  contact  -  slone@streamingpromotions.com BIO: Michael Sloane is an executive leader and digital strategist with a proven ability to develop and increase revenues while building a loyal consumer base in the ever-changing digital space.   As a digital strategist he has worked with Musicians, Management, Labels, and Entertainment brands, building successful and profitable relationships.  After pursuing a finance degree from the University of Kentucky, and an MBA in Music Business and Negotiation from Belmont University, he cut his teeth in entertainment with echomusic (later acquired by Ticketmaster) and later Live Nation Artists.  In these roles he saw the digital revolution unfold for artist such as The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, John Mayer, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, and Brooks & Dunn, among many others.  He later focused on digital strategy and ecommerce optimization with Taylor Swift (13 Management) followed by a jump to a record label, as Director of Digital Marketing for Big Machine Label Group (Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw, etc.)  He is currently the owner and CEO of Streaming Promotions, focused on growing audience for artists on Spotify.  While also acting as VP of Operations for Wonderful Union specializing in fan club and VIP ticketing.   Over the last 8 years he has acted as an adjunct professor at Belmont University teaching digital strategy and marketing.  Through the management of software development, client management, ecommerce optimization and digital strategy, Sloane has been able to build and grow the digital footprint of some of the largest entertainment brands in the world. 

This week I am talking with my friend Kristina Benson of the sync licensing agency Sweet On Top who I have the privilege of writing for. We are talking about what she does as a sync agent, what it takes to start your own sync agency and making sure you understand how the business works before you reach out to get an agent. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about: *The Four word secret to the music industry. *Right place, right time. *Recommending not going into music journalism.  Go into PR and do similar work. *How and why she started her own company. *Seeking out and negotiating opportunities for artists to license their music for placement in audio/visual media and the details of doing that. *Keeping in contact with your agent every 3-4 months to see how things are going and ask if there is anything they need specifically. *DO NOT ask your agent if there is any feedback from music supervisors. They don’t give it. *How pay rates work on Netflix and Facebook shows. *Sweet On Top is looking for any music that is produced well and easily cleared. *Sweet On Top needs happy songs about “home” or “time passing.” *What you need to know to start your own sync licensing agency. *Signing with an agent as an artist and making sure you educate yourself about sync music and how the business works. *www.sweetontop.com BIO: Sweet on Top was founded by Kristina Benson, a lifelong music professional who began her career with a degree in opera from UCI and piano lessons in her spare time under Miles Davis sideman Kei Akagi. After stints as a promoter and DJ, she segued into a role as a branding specialist for DoStuffMedia, where she spearheaded engagement initiatives for brands such as Goose Island, Grey Goose and Pabst Blue Ribbon, working closely with local influencers produce interactive brand experiences. She went from there to acting as Music Director for Lip Sync, where she managed all day to day operations, including creative pitches, clearance, and custom music, working closely with top flight talent such as the Violent Femmes, Charles Bradley, Lindsey Stirling, Hanni el Khatib, and Steve Aoki. Custom music she has produced (and written!) in her role as Director were successfully integrated in national campaigns for brands including Coach and Bridgestone Tires, and placed on primetime shows such as Pitch, Orphan Black, and Bones.  She also was directly involved in placing music in national campaigns with brands like Bulova, Michael Kors, Acura, and on shows that include  Vampire Diaries, Sneaky Pete, the Blacklist, Riverdale, Cameron Crowe’s Roadies, and more. After many successful placements and two wonderful years at Lip Sync, she decided the time had come to start her own agency, and she uses her years of experience in the industry to find the perfect song for any project.

This week I’m talking with banjo picker extraordinare Matt Menefee who has worked with Ricky Skaggs, Mumford and Sons and Bruce Hornsby as well as other artists from all genres of music.  We discuss the importance of being around the people you want to work with and making your presence known. Plus, how the internet can be your best tool as an indie artist or musician.Show Notes:Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about:*Working with Ricky Skaggs, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Meatloaf, Big and Rich,  Bruce Hornsby, Mumford and Sons, Steven Curtis Chapman and more.*Go to industry parties, etc. and meet people that are plugged in. That is how you get work.*You have to be in the scene to be seen.*The internet is your biggest and best tool. *Procure as much of as a presence as you can.  *If you’re going to live somewhere else you need to focus on content for the internet.*Attending jam sessions and writer’s rounds, etc is the best way to plugged in.*Learn to record music and get around in a DAW if you want to keep up with everyone else.*Be present in the moment.* Contact Matt at https://www.facebook.com/matt.menefee.79BIO:Matt is one of the freshest and most interesting voices on any instrument I’ve heard in a long time. What a blast listening to him and playing music together. - Warren Haynes, The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule Matt,TheBanjoPlayer’s name might be simple but the music of the man that wears the moniker is anything but. Rare is the musician that possesses such a strange ability to blend and intersect the complicated nuances of the head with the passionate sways of the heart. And somehow incorporate them with subtlety and power. Transforming an age old instrument into something more like a five string version of Doc Brown’s time-traveling Delorean. Seamlessly dancing back and forth between traditional sounds and future-seeking modern motifs. Lauded by Grammy award-winning banjo player Winston Marshall of Mumford and Sons as his ‘‘biggest inspiration on the banjo'“, MATT’s other-worldly banjo playing has received praise from all corners of the musical universe. His unique approach to the 5-string has led him to record and perform with such luminaries as Béla Fleck, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, and Mumford And Sons; just to name a few.  First introduced to the banjo through his grandpas love for bluegrass music, Matt connected quickly with the instrument. And at 17 his coming out party included winning the prestigious Winfield National Banjo Championship. From there he co-founded two  critically acclaimed bluegrass-acoustic super groups Cadillac Sky and Chess Boxer and circled the planet with his banjo in hand.  Around the same time that Matt was studying the works of Earl Scruggs and Béla Fleck, Matt was also falling in love with the music in video games. Before long Shuckin’ the Corn was cross breeding with Sonic the Hedgehog and in 2018 he decided to combine his most powerful musical influences - video game music and bluegrass - and recorded a record under the name The Hit Points of which Higher Plain Music called The Hit Points debut the ‘Biggest surprise of 2018 to date’ and Gamasutra recognized that The Hit Points gave listeners ‘the album they never knew they needed’.  As FiveSpeedbanjo.com put it, ‘Clark Kent climbs into a phone booth and transforms into The Man of Steel, Matt Menefee climbs into a banjo case and becomes MATT, TheBanjoPlayer.’  Whether it’s carving out sonic spaces within genres as diverse as hip hop, rock, EDM, Jazz, or classical music, or colluding with former C-Sky bandmate Bryan Simpson to create the Alt-bluegrass sounds of The Golden Age or continuing to integrate the compositions of video games with the sounds of bluegrass, MATT, TheBanjoPlayer is just beginning to come into his own. Whether it’s as MATT, TheBanjoPlayer or MATT, TheBanjoPlayer Plays Video Games he is changing the colors and sounds that have for so long ear-marked the banjo. Be on the lookout for MATT, TheBanjoPlayer.Matt is technically one of the best musicians I have ever worked with. Yes, he is very gifted, but also he works non-stop at his craft. - John Cowan, founding member of New Grass Revival

This week I’m talking with Scott Dudley of the sync music house Push.Audio. We are discussing developing your sound and being yourself when creating music for sync. Plus, the importance of creating songs with a similar “vibe” as the reference track, but not “sound a likes” when it comes to sync music as well as being able to write and be creative under a deadline.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.In this episode we talk about:*His sync music house Push.Audio.*Connecting with music supervisors.*Working with Hip Hop music for sync.*Music being a commodity.*Taking feedback with a grain of salt.*Developing your sound.*Being yourself.*Creating songs with a similar “vibe” as the reference track, not a “sound a like.”*Push.Audio is a creative house, one stop shop.*Creating music for ads, tv and trailers.*Having a 24-48 hour turnaround to turn sync music in.*Be able to write and be creative under a deadline.*This is a numbers game.*No song is wasted.*Exclusive vs. non-exclusive agencies.*Push.Audio looking for outside artists to work with.*submissions@push.audio*www.push.audio*Having metadata correct.*Making sure your song is mastered.*Have session files available.*Networking.*Keeping it professional.BIO:Scott Dudley is the Creative Director @ PUSH.audio. PUSH.audio is a full Post Audio Agency with offices in Los Angeles, California and Roanoke, Virginia. Notable clients include Apple, Nike, Universal Pictures, etc. Scott Dudley is also a writer/producer who adapts the artist-driven company mindset to all creative operations @ PUSH.audio.

This week I am talking with my friend James Shotwell. James works with the company Haulix where he focuses on digital music distribution and their music industry job board which is an ever-growing list of music industry job openings all over the country.  If you are looking for a job in the music industry, this is a great place to start! Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.This week we talk about:*Working for the company Haulix doing digital music distribution.*Writing for music publications, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, etc.*Radio promotions.*Working with major labels and artists as well as indie artist.*Haulix can be used as press kit to connect with labels and managers.*Come across like you know what you’re doing.*Finding music jobs for free on The Music Industry Job Board. www.haulixdaily.com.*Doing concert promotions as a teenager in the local town and how you can do that.*How to get money from your local town to promote concerts.*Creating and selling your own blog/website.*Building relationships with publicists for artists to write for publications.*Side hustles.*How you can work VIP packages at concerts.*www.cidentertainment.com or www.vipnation.com*Look for ways to solve problems for people.*Create solutions for people.*Only chase the things you are passionate about.*Contact James on twitter at @jamesdshotwell, You tube at music biz,  podcast - Inside Music, podcast - High Notes, www.haulix.comBIO:There are a million stories about people from the Midwest rising above their humble beginnings to leave a mark on the world, but this one is mine. A childhood spent in a Southwest Michigan farming town under the guidance of parents who loved the arts as much as one another led me to appreciate all forms of creative expression from an early age.The only thing I ever wanted to do was connect people with great entertainment, but it took a while to find my calling. I successfully petitioned my hometown for funding to open a music venue at fifteen, and by seventeen I was traveling the countryside performing songs I wrote. College brought an opportunity to study the entertainment while moonlighting as a radio DJ and blossoming critic. It was during that time that I created a music blog known as Under The Gun Review, which I later sold to a media company shortly after graduation.  The choice to build a career on the merit of my skills led to industry recognition and bylines at some of the biggest publications on the planet, including Rolling Stone and Alternative Press. It also led to marketing work at a music startup, tour management with artists on Van’s Warped Tour, the launch of a record label, and my current role as Director Of Customer Engagement at Haulix. Throughout my journey, the power that entertainment possesses has been a focus of my work. The right words, images, and music can transform someone’s life and make them see things from a fresh perspective. My goal is to help creative people reach new fans and better engage with their audience. The world needs great art now more than ever, and together, we can help people find the next thing that changes their life.

This week I am talking with my friend Lauren Light who is a fellow singer-songwriter and sync artist. We are talking about booking for festivals, fairs and conventions and the importance of working with The Association of Festivals and Events to get in that market as well as touring in the college market and what you need to do to be successful in that area.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.In this episode we talk about: *Co-owning the sync licensing agency Two Oh Six Music.*Booking for bands and artists.*Booking for festivals, fairs and conventions.*Buyers come to conventions once a year in different states to buy acts.*The Association of Festivals and Events.*When you’re booking, calling the venue is the most effective.*Working multiple streams of income in music.*Touring in the college market.*The importance of showcasing to book shows in the college market.*Have an agent already if you want to be successful in the college market.*www.naca.org*Conventions for booking house concerts.*Artist age range to perform in the college market.
*Networking is key.*www.twoohsix.com*Lauren’s podcast called http://theenlightenedmusician.com*www.laurenlight.comBio: Pop Singer-Songwriter, Lauren Light is a force to be Reckoned with.  The Berklee grad has played over 800 shows, in over 30 states across the US.  Playing a mix of Festivals, Colleges, music venues, and many more.  On stage, she artfully crafts the perfect blend of pop, rock, and powerfully soulful vocals.
After a trip to CA in 2018, she co-founded a successful Sync Licensing company based in Los Angeles specializing in custom music for placement in TV, Film, Trailers, and Advertisements. You can hear her music on a range of projects from a roller coaster in TN to the newest episode of Marvels hit show “Runaways”.   The company also likes to give back to the music community hosting bi-yearly workshops in LA to teach others how to get started in the Sync world and pair producers/writers and artists together.   In her free time, you’ll see Lauren drinking insane amounts of coffee in NC, co-writing as much as possible and releasing content on her Music Business Podcast “The Enlightened Musician.”

This week I’m talking with my dear friend Carl Cartee who is the worship pastor at my home church Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, TN. We are talking about the importance of being discipled by a mentor when you are starting out as a worship leader and how you are a communicator using music as a means to encourage people.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.In this episode we talk about:*Being a worship pastor.*The importance of being discipled by a mentor when you’re a young worship leader.*Learning to transition from song to song.*Using communication and language to earn trust and build bridges.*People mirror what they see happening on stage.*If you’re not having a good time, they’re not having a good time.*You are a communicator using music as a means to encourage people.*Hustle beats talent every day.*To sign a pub or label deal nowadays you have to have a strong social media presence.*Relationships.*Most songs that get cut now have the artist involved as a writer as well.*Be a great track producer.*Fellowship Worship Residency - http://fellowshipworshipresidency.org/ BIOCarl Cartee is a Dove Award and Covenant Award winning songwriter and recording artist. His songs have appeared on records across a broad spectrum of music from The Oak Ridge Boys to Elevation Worship. Carl is the Pastor of Worship And Arts at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, TN where he directs the team that leads worship and releases music for the church as Fellowship Songs. Carl is married to Heather and they have four sons, Oak, Ezra, Abe and Ike.

This week I’m talking with Songtradr CEO Paul Wiltshire. Paul founded Songtradr which is the largest online sync agency platform in the world. We are discussing how Songtradr works if you are looking for an agency to rep your music, the benefits of being on their playlists, why it is essential to upload WAV files and the necessity of having instrumental versions of your songs on Songtradr’s platform.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.In this episode we talk about:*Founder and CEO of Songtradr*The difference in American and Australian music.*How Songtradr works.*How cover songs work on Songtradr’s platform.*The benefits of being on a Songtradr playlist.*Metadata issues.*You MUST upload WAV files.*You will not get a license with an MP3 file.*The best ways to get your music noticed on Songtradr.*The value of creating momentum.*The quality of production.*The importance of uploading instrumental files, stems and lyrics.*Ways to improve your chances of getting your music heard on Songtradr.*Make sure there’s an instrumental version.*www.songtradr.comBIOPaul is a music and technology entrepreneur with over 30 years experience across the music and media industries. An award winning record producer and songwriter having produced and/or composed music with sales in excess of 15,000,000 records including twelve number #1 albums and singles. Paul founded Songtradr in 2014 and after 2 years of development, the Songtadr platform officially launched in March 2016 and has since rapidly grown to service 250,000+ artists and music creators around the globe, licensing music to advertisers, brands, films, TV and other media. Extremely passionate about democratizing the music industry for all creatives, Paul works tirelessly on providing the tools, opportunity and access for the Songtradr community of artists, songwriters and composers.

This week I’m talking with my friend Mark Miller from the company Brave Enough which does concert booking for the college market.  We are discussing what it takes to get booked at colleges across the country and the importance of showcasing at either NACA or APCA which are the campus activities associations you have to use to get into this market.  Plus, we talk about the best music genres for the college markets.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com.In this episode we talk about:*Being an artist touring in the college market.*NACA - National Association of Campus Activities is main way to get booked for colleges.*You must submit audio or video samples to get a showcase.*Audio submissions have no chance of getting a showcase.*Student activities boards from all colleges come to NACA to book artists.*Create an atmosphere to set yourself apart from other acts.*How to help your sponsors make money.*Creating the booking agency Brave Enough for the college market.*Learning how to showcase for the college market through NACA.*Your submission video needs to be of cover songs that have been released in the last 5 years.*There are more opportunities for solo or duo acts on college campuses than bands.*Bands, duos and solo artists pay basically the same.*Standard base rate is $1250 + travel for the college market.*Rate can go up to $2500 once you’ve been around a while.*APCA - is similar but a for profit company.*If you’re not creating new content, you’re falling off the map.*You have to have some investment cash to get going.*You have to think of yourself as a business.*You have to be invested in yourself.*What Brave Enough is looking for when signing artists.*You have to be relevant to 18-24 year olds.*The best practices when booking shows with venues.*Be strategic in building your fanbase.*Don’t take any shortcuts.*The best music genres for college markets.*www.braveenough.comBIO:Mark Miller is the lucky guy married 10 years to Heather Miller, and proud dad of Rockwell and Juliette.  He also has the honor of serving over 400 colleges and universities and more than 50 artists and speakers through the two companies he founded and directs, Brave Enough Entertainment and Taikai Esports.  Prior to starting Brave Enough, Mark was a touring artist for more than a decade (half of that with Heather as the duo So Long Solo.) 

 This week I’m talking with my buddy Brent Barcus. Brent is one of my favorite guitar players that I have followed for many years. He’s toured with Shania Twain, Steven Curtis Chapman and DC Talk just to name a few. We are discussing the importance of getting the same sounds as the artists you want to play for and having a humble confidence when going in for an audition. Plus, we talk about his new company, I-65 Music where he creates custom commercial music for ad agencies and tv promos for various networks.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about:*Ups and downs of being a guitar tech for touring artists.*Playing guitar for Cindy Morgan, DC Talk, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Kenny Loggins and Shania Twain.*The importance of getting the same sounds as the artists you want to play for.*Take something from every artist you play with.*The audition process for major label artists.*Learn the music inside and out.*Know the sounds of the instruments you are trying to emulate.*Have a humble confidence.*Research the artist to know their style.*Look the part.*Have a simple setup for auditions.*creating custom commercial music for ad agencies.*Using Linked In for connecting with companies.*Work flow of mixing tv promos for Viacom (CBS, CMT, MTV, VH1, etc.)*Engross yourself in the music community.*Open your mind and learn the skills.*Connect with Brent at www.i65music.comBIO:Brent Barcus is an Audio Producer, Content Creator, Immersive Mixer & Sound Designer with a depth of music expertise, networking, and over 20 years producing commercial media for all platforms including podcasts, publishers, songwriters, labels, radio, TV, mobile and social media. He has worked with ViacomCBS, Volvo, Sony, AT&T, Nashville Predators, Purina Brands, Philips Healthcare, Republican National Convention, Warner Chappell, Griffin Technologies, Nashville Wine Auction, Permobil, Hex Bug Toys and Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis.Brent has been a touring and studio producer and musician for artists such as Shania Twain, Kenny Loggins, Elton John, dcTalk & Steven Curtis Chapman performing on David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey & The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno. Brent has performed on the Super Bowl Halftime show and The Grammy Awards.

This week I’m talking with my friends Ben and Lauren Johnson. We are talking about the pros and cons of being married and both working as professional musicians in different aspects of the industry. As well as discussing how connecting with the right people in the industry who can mentor you can help launch your career and open doors that might now otherwise. Plus, the benefits of having an good online presence.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about:*Being a married couple in the music industry. *Multiple streams of income.*Learning to improvise. *The importance of learning to transcribe music at an early age.*Reach for “unattainable things.”*The benefits of being on X Factor and similar shows.*Always be learning.*Every setback is just a setup for a comeback.*The real music industry vs. reality tv talent shows.*Creating a sound and identity as an artist.*Learn to be happy for other people’s success.*Having a good online presence.*Instagram is the new business card.*Post consistently so you show up in Instagram’s algorithms.*Post things you care about.*Showcase what you do in a consistent way so people quickly know who you are, what you care about and what you do.*Lauren’s instagram for consulting is @lalalauren678.*If you can make tracks you are more valuable in co-writes.*The value of having a mentor who is already successful.*To be competitive as a writer: write more songs, find a great mentor, take constructive criticism, find great titles, co-write, study songs and find out why they are successful.*Write with the artist to have a better chance of getting songs cut. Just write parts of the song and ask the artist to write another section to make it their own.*Being married and both in the industry works because of not competing with each other.*Having goals planned out before getting married.*Supporting your spouse’s career and being intentional with each other.*Take time for yourself, remember to have fun, it’s okay to say “no.”*Love you what you do.*Contact Ben at @theonlybenjohnson2 or @track45.*Contact Lauren at www.laurenconklin.com or @lalalauren678.BIO:Ben Johnson is a songwriter and producer living in Nashville, TN. He is signed to a worldwide co-publishing deal with Tape Room Music (Nashville) and Artist Publishing Group (Los Angeles), and has written songs for artists such as Charlie Puth, Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown, Ava Max, Lee Brice, Meek Mill, Justin Timberlake, Lauren Alaina, and more. Originally from Meridian, Mississippi, Johnson grew up surrounded by music. He is a classically trained pianist and cellist, and grew up performing in orchestras as well as in bluegrass groups. From a young age, Johnson has written and produced music with his two sisters in their band Track45 (now managed by Missi Gallimore and Gary Borman, and in the process of completing their first label deal). In 2012, Johnson moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University on a cello scholarship, and it was at this time that he began co-writing. Johnson also made many connections in the country world singing BGVs for the CMA Awards each year- heʼs had the opportunity to perform with artists like Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Reba, and many more. Johnson met Ashley Gorley of Taperoom Music through a co-writer and they began working together, leading to Johnsonʼs eventual signing at Tape Room Music in 2018. His first major cut was “Patient” with multi-platinum pop artist Charlie Puth on his 2018 album “Voicenotes”. Since then, heʼs had dozens of cuts in both the pop and country worlds, as well as success as a producer, notably with artists Hunter Phelps and co-producing Kylie Morgan with Shane Macanally. Currently, Ben spends most of his time writing and producing at his studio on Music Row, and working with his band Track45 on new music set to be released later this year. Lauren BIOLauren is a composer and multi-instrumentalist living and working in Nashville, TN. She began her musical career as a fiddle player, and has performed on stages from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to the Royal Albert Concert Hall in London and has worked with artists and productions such as Miley Cyrus, Lonestar, Florida Georgia Line, ABC/CMTʼs Nashville, The CMT Awards, Jools Holland, Montgomery Gentry, Josh Thompson, Kix Brooks, Little Big Town, Andra Day, Lee Ann Womack, as the featured artist for Bonafonteʼs international advertising campaign, HighRoad, Matt Maher, and many others. Lauren is a graduate of Belmont University with a degree in Commercial Music. Her background in bluegrass and Celtic music lends a unique sound to her compositions and recordings. Her sound is full of lush strings, cinematic world- music inspired percussion, and draws musical elements from her time traveling and performing in Scandinavia, the Middle East, and Latin America. She recently released her second solo EP, “Water Music Part II”, available now on all digital streaming platforms. Currently, Lauren lives in Nashville, TN, where she works as a composer, recording artist, and touring musician. In her free time, Lauren loves to paint, read books, and play with her Bernedoodle, JuJu. 

This week I’m talking with Centricity Music Publishing songwriter and producer Justin Morgan.  Justin shares his experience going from a struggling indie band to charting on Billboard all without a label. Plus, we talk about what it’s like signing your first publishing deal and what the first year will probably be like for most newcomers. Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about:*Taking the initiative to connect with industry people.*Don’t be scared to ask but you can’t be annoying. *Don’t be afraid to send a couple of songs to a publisher. Don’t send them 50 though.*There’s persistence and there’s over persistence.*Persistence is key to obtaining any level of success in the music industry, over persistence will kill any level of success in the music industry.*Anytime an indie artist starts getting Billboard traction, labels started noticing and we were playing showcases in Nashville.*Exploit your contacts and ask people to meet and get coffee and ask questions, etc.*Ask people to a breakfast meeting.*You’re not going to get signed from your first meeting. *If you’re a good hang, they will listen to your songs.*When you sign a pub deal, you will spend the first year writing with everyone they can put you with. They have to figure out who you work well with and what you do best.*Be a sponge and learn as much about co-writing as you can from seasoned writers for that first year.*You can be a great writer and a horrible co-writer.*If you’re going to email a producer or publisher, etc., find out what they’re excited about and working on and who they’re working with.*When you approach a publishing company you want to work with, try to find a mutual friend who is working with them already.  That’s the best way.* www.pearlsnapstudios.comBIO:Justin Morgan is a producer, writer, and artist from Nashville TN. Justin grew up in the great state of Texas and feasted on a diverse selection of music from Glenn Miller to George Strait and The Eagles to The Wallflowers and everything in-between. That may be the reason Justin can't sit still in one genre for long. As a songwriter and producer Justin has had cuts in Country, Christian, Rock, and Pop and has had over 50 songs placed in TV and Film. As an artist, Justin has had over 10 million streams across his various artist projects and streaming platforms. 

This week I’m talking with producer and engineer Gary Gray in L.A. Gary was mentored by music legends Quincy Jones, Jermaine Jackson and Phil Collins. He’s also become an in demand producer for Disney and 20th Century Fox. We are discussing the importance of networking and being a professional producer out of your home studio and Gary also shares a some tips and tricks to get your music to sound like the hits you hear on radio from his online teaching course The Lucrative Home Studio.Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. In this episode we talk about:*Being mentored by heavyweight Motown players as a kid.*Anything you can do to enhance the human factor of your career by dealing with other people face to face is a good thing.*Playing drums for Motown with Barry Gordy and Suzanne de Passe.*working for Music Connection Magazine selling advertising.*Protocol is communication and coordination.*Don’t open your mouth unless you know what you’re talking about or have researched.*Believe in people.*Prepare yourself and know what you’re talking about.*You’re either networking or not working.*Go above and beyond for another human being.*Being mentored by Quincy Jones, Phil Collins, Chick Corea, Jermaine Jackson and more.*Working with Disney as a one stop shop.*Producing from a home studio.*Disney connected me with 20th Century Fox.*1/3 of the formula is quantity, but 2/3’s of the formula is quality.*Being a mentor and teacher to.*The Lucrative Home Studio course - www.newartistmodel.com/lucrative-home-studio/*https://youtu.be/73XN0jhx6oE  music composed for a commerical.*Checkerboard A/B ing.*Use a reference track to compare with from the beginning in your DAW to create radio quality recordings.*Mix your track while comparing to a mastered track.*Shave a little bit of the low and the high end and pull the volume of that reference track down to the volume of your mix. Now you’ve reverse engineered that master recording pretty close to what the mix sounded like before it was mastered. Now compare it by ear to your mix.*You’re comparing, not matching.*Writing articles for Tune Core.*The quality of work is the most important thing.www.howtolicenseyourmusic.com *Licensing is a marathon race.*Use your ear, not your gear when you mix and master.*Balance your life.*Styles and genres being asked for by music supervisors.*www.aboveandbeyondmusic.net for music briefs. BIO:Gary Gray is an award winning composer, producer and engineer. He’s produced multiple projects for 20th Century Fox, Disney, Hollywood Records, A&E, EMI, CBS and many others all in a home studio that cost him less than $2,000 to build.Gary grew up in Cleveland, Ohio as a prodigy drummer and was raised on symphonic classical music, R&B, rock and roll and big band jazz. Gary’s first job was playing drums for Berry Gordy at Motown Records in Los Angeles.Gary himself has been mentored by Phil Ramone, Quincy Jones, Jermaine Jackson and Phil Collins. Gary honed his marketing savvy as the advertising and promotions manager for Music Connection Magazine. He has always enjoyed “both sides of the desk” in the music business.Having taught music since the age of 16, Gary not only walks the walk, he is also widely regarded as an exceptional mentor for composers, songwriters, musicians, producers, vocalists, and engineers. Gary brings you real solutions to real problems that home studio owners all over the world have benefited from.

 This week we are wrapping up season 1 of the YOU CAN Make A Living In The Music Industry Podcast! I am saying “thank you” to all of my listeners and asking for some interaction from you about this season as we prepare for season 2.Show Notes:Sponsors: Edenbrooke Productions - We offer consulting services and are offering listeners a 1-hour introductory special. To request more info on consulting services, email Marty at contact@johnmartinkeith.com. Talking Points:*Thank you all for listening and supporting this podcast and it’s mission! I hope you are encouraged by it and now have some hard evidence to know that YOU CAN make a living in the music industry.I want to thank all of my season 1 guests: Gordon Kennedy, Mark Irwin, Elizabeth Chan, Jared DePasquale, Doug DeAngelis, Keith Everette Smith, Jeremy Quarles, Hope Thal, Eric Kalver, Nate Sousa, Philip Peters, Lauren Lucas, Brent Milligan, Ben Phillips, Blaine Barcus, Jordan Childs, Eric Horner, Chad Segura, Eric Hurt, Jared Ribble, Wes Cole, Dave Cleveland, Bobby Rymer and my wife Keely Brooke Keith for helping me with the pilot episode!I want you to interact with me by commenting on this episode through one of my Facebook pages: YOU CAN Make A Living In The Music Industry, Edenbrooke Music, John Martin Keith or Marty Keith, on instagram OR email me at contact@johnmartinkeith.com regarding the following:Tell me your 3 favorite guests/episodes.*1 thing you learned from that guest.*What is 1 episode you have not listened to yet but are looking forward to checking out?*I look forward to your answers!*Let me know if you have certain guests you would like to hear from or certain topics you would like to know more about for season 2.*Season 2 is well underway and will release before too long. I will post on all of my pages before it releases so you can be ready.*Thank you all again for listening, learning and supporting this podcast! I am forever grateful.