You Had to Be There

Welcome to another episode of You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg. I'm so thrilled to introduce Katie Garcia as this week's guest. Katie is the Co-Founder of Bayonet Records, an independent music label that she founded with her husband, Dustin Payseur, who also happens to front one of my favorite bands of all time: Beach Fossils.Katie has been a major inspiration to me since the early days of my career. If I had to sum her up in one word, it would be cool—but that barely scratches the surface. As the Co-Founder of Bayonet, she's not only built a successful, indie label from the ground up, but she's also been instrumental in launching the careers of artists like Japanese Breakfast and Phoebe Bridgers. All of this while balancing motherhood and holding things together as her husband, Dustin, goes on the road with the Beach Fossils boys.Be sure to check out Katie's curated playlist alongside this episode, which you can find in the show notes. Thanks so much for listening, be sure to follow along on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod, and I'll catch you next time.Bayonet Records IGKatie's Curated Playlist

Welcome to another episode of You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I'm thrilled to have Leah Lu, Senior Social Media Manager at Rolling Stone. Leah is a social media master, having honed her skills since her early Tumblr years, and now spearheading social media for Rolling Stone. We talk about her close relationship with music throughout her life, her impressive career path, and how it all came together. Be sure to check out Leah's curated playlist alongside this episode, which you can find in the show notes. Thanks so much for listening, be sure to follow along on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod, and I'll catch you next time.Rolling Stone IGLeah's Curated Playlist

Welcome to back toYou Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I'm joined by Jack Cash, frontman of the alt/goth rock band Vesper Rose.Jack is an impressively seasoned musician with a creative edge for musical themes of punk, goth, horror, and metal. He considers himself to be fairly negative, but I found his perseverance and passion for music to be uplifting and inspiring (with a side of grim). He shares his experiences throughout the years, from moving to LA, to all the ups and downs in between, that have shaped his career into what it is today.Be sure to check out Jack's curated playlist alongside this episode, which you can find in the show notes. Thanks so much for listening, be sure to follow along on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod, and I'll catch you next time.Vesper Rose IGListen to Vesper RoseJack's Curated Playlist

I'm very excited to introduce this week's guest, London-based artist, Dirt Flirt. Her music has been described as 'dirty alt-pop'—a genre she's making entirely her own. We discuss Dirt Flirt's impressive musical background, including playing guitar for Bimini while opening for MUNA on their UK tour…no big deal. Lately, she's already surpassed 70,000 streams for her catchy pop hook, Boyfriend, on Spotify alone. Her new single, Necklace, is out today, so you know what to do right after finishing this episode: listen to it! Duh. Be sure to check out Dirt Flirt's socials and her curated music playlist alongside this episode, which you can find in the show notes. Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to follow along on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod. Dirt Flirt's IG Dirt Flirt's music Dirt Flirt's curated playlist

Welcome to another episode of You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I'm joined by pop singer-songwriter Jenna May. Jenna is such a brilliant songwriter and artist, and each of her songs act as a new page in her personal sonic journal. It was really inspiring to learn about her songs' themes and where she draws her unique creativity and inspiration from. Be sure to check out Jenna's curated playlist alongside this episode, which you can find in the show notes. Thanks so much for listening and I'll catch you next time.IG: @uhadtobetherepodJenna's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7EG2hjheA4TuK8JLXqJhw1?si=28ad5e7156904251Jenna's Instagram: @mayroseandmagic

Welcome to another episode of You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of the music industry. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg. This week, I'm joined by Hugh McIntyre, a Senior Contributor at Forbes who specializes in writing about the music industry and the global music charts. I've long admired his work, and in this episode, we go into the numbers behind success in the music industry. If you've ever been curious about what gets a song to #1, music charting is a secret formula that I walked away having learned a lot about, so I think you will, too! Be sure to check out Hugh's curated playlist alongside this episode, which you can find below. Thanks so much for listening and I'll catch you next time.Hugh's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4AdQ90BG7rkxZSsk7qQQUH?si=76a06654740343aaFollow You Had To Be There on IG: @uhadtobetherepodLinktree: https://linktr.ee/uhadtobetherepod

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with Brittany Spanos, a Senior Writer at Rolling Stone, about her knowledge of music, fandom, and what it's like to have a career covering some of the biggest artists in the world. Her cover stories have featured Dua Lipa, Chappell Roan, Adele, Cardi B, and many more. Brittany also teaches NYU's first-ever course on Taylor Swift's cultural and musical influence. Brittany curated a playlist with this episode that is a must-listen, which you can find in the episode show notes.Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to follow along on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod. Catch you next time.

Welcome to You Had To Be There—the podcast where we dive deep into the world of concerts, musicians, and the music industry. Today, I'm thrilled to welcome a special guest: Riiza, the lead singer of Strawberry Launch, a dynamic, female-fronted pop-rock band from New York. With their hit single Sweet Basil surpassing a million streams on Spotify, the band has an exciting year ahead, including a national tour and their debut festival performance at Governors Ball this June.Our conversation was a blast, and I can't wait for you to hear it. Be sure to check out Strawberry Launch's music on your favorite streaming platform, and as a bonus, don't miss Riiza's curated playlist of her current favorites. You can also follow the band on Instagram at @strawberrylaunch.Riiza's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0jRvFCSWjBcUszQArLP7d9Follow You Had To Be There: linktr.ee/uhadtobetherepod

Welcome to Season Two of You Had To Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the world of concerts, musicians, and the music industry.I'm excited to kick off a new and improved season of You Had To Be There. This first episode features a good friend of mine, Laura Nicaise. Laura gives us a backstage pass to the world of concert photography and her passion for sustainability in live music and events. At the end of every episode, I throw my guests a curveball question: If your music career had an album name what would the title be? Laura had a great one: "I Did It Out of Spite." And trust me, you had to be there to fully understand why. So let's dive in and uncover the story behind her impressive career.Follow You Had To Be There: linktr.ee/uhadtobetherepod

Welcome back to Episode 12, the SEASON ONE FINALE of You Had To Be There!! This week's guest is one of my favorite people I've had the opportunity to work with. Daniela Romero is a seasoned marketing expert with over 7 years of hands-on experience. She is the marketing manager at the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and manages events & partnerships with Amplify Her Voice. Daniela is particularly dedicated to advocating female empowerment and sustainability within the music and entertainment industries.I have some exciting things in store for season two, so be sure to stay tuned and follow us on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod to stay updated on the latest announcements and more.Daniela's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7tBFspHC5vjMnaSj1b7Ol9?si=de0f3c6691674b9fFollow Daniela on IG: https://www.instagram.com/_freyree/Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/uhadtobetherepod

Welcome to Episode 11 of You Had to Be There! I can't believe we've hit double episode digits! Working on this podcast has been such a rewarding experience— it never gets old getting to chat with some of the most interesting people in the music world. And today's guest is no exception.Joining us this week is the incredibly talented singer-songwriter, Sinead Angele, based in St. Louis. Over the past decade, Sinead has collaborated with artists across multiple genres. Her latest project has been fronting one of the only Taylor Swift tribute bands in the country, TaylorVille! Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod to see just how spot-on she is as Taylor when she's up there with the band.You can also check out Sinead's most recent solo project, titled "Finally", on all streaming platforms. Sinead has also put together an incredible playlist for this episode, featuring some of her musical inspirations and a few of her own tracks, below:Follow You Had To Be There: @uhadtobetherepodFollow Sinead Angele: @sineadangeleFollow Taylorville: @taylorvillebandSinead's Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6L8tt8tZRP7Fbrsca5pRBM?si=3e17b2fa5b764736

Hi! After a month hiatus I am so glad to be back in action, and getting to interview some amazing trailblazers in the music world. This week's guest is no exception. I'm so excited to have bree-on-uh on the pod! bree-on-uh started songwriting at the age of nine and soon after gained a love for performing. She has since dedicated herself to her craft by discovering her unique sound and who she is as an alternative, rock, and pop artist, from lyrics to stage presence to personal style and image. Her featured single "How Does It Feel?" found viral success, gaining her over 47K streams and 41K TikTok followers. She has created the full artist package that is "bree-on-uh." bree-on-uh's episode playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24u5OYldg8T9pdoCPzORd1?si=14862101287a40d4FOLLOW BREE-ON-UH:https://bree-on-uh.com/https://www.instagram.com/breeonuh/https://www.tiktok.com/@breeonuhhttps://www.x.com/breeonuh1https://www.youtube.com/@bree-on-uh5858

Hello, and welcome back to episode 9 of You Had To Be There! Today I'm super excited to release this week's episode because you're getting two amazing guests for the price of one.What's better than one Samantha? Two Samanthas!! Samantha June is an amazingly gifted singer-songwriter and creative artist who shares an unspoken kinship with her talented producer, Samantha Montana. Both Sams are incredibly well-spoken and passionate about making more space for women on the stage and behind the scenes. This was a really special episode to record, both as a podcast host and a female in the music space. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!As always, check out Sam Squared's You Had To Be There Playlist which you can find below: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6OkjpOZ4Ip1qvq6djT4dTc?si=36835fd9a0074952Last but not least, Samantha June's upcoming single, Hotel June, produced by Sam Montana, comes out next Friday, August 2, and her debut EP (also called Hotel June) will be out on August 16. So be sure to follow both Samanthas on Instagram: @samanthaaajunee and @samproduces .Thanks so much for listening as always! Catch you next time.

Welcome back to another episode of You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the crowds of concerts, festivals, the music industry, and more. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg.I'm thrilled to announce this week's guest, Zoe Salvucci. Zoe is a jack of all trades in the music industry. She works as an artist manager by day, a concert photographer and videographer by night, and a music enthusiast 24/7.After graduating from Boston University in 2020, Zoe is now based in Philadelphia, working full-time with incredible artists like Coral Moon and Bermuda Search Party to develop their identities and reach out to new listeners and fans. Don't be surprised if you catch her at the merch booth at your favorite band's next tour, too. She really does it all and has the insight to prove it.Be sure to also check out her You Had to Be There curated playlist for the podcast, which you can find on our Instagram, @uhadtobetherepod which features some of her all-time favorite bands and jams.Hope you're locked in, because Zoei is about to take us on a journey through the coolest corners of the music industry. As always, thanks so much for listening!Zoe's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jyfGqivR4FpXKZHvLMeUR?si=12c2b73d8a534db9Zoe's MGMT IG: https://www.instagram.com/sevenhillsmgmtZoe's Photog IG: https://www.instagram.com/zoesalvucci/

Bonjour and Bienvenue to another episode of You Had To Be There! I'm extremely excited to have my good friend Martha Betubiza as this week's guest!Martha is a seasoned music and entertainment professional with extensive experience across industry leaders like Spotify, iHeartMedia, and Amplify Her Voice. Martha is especially passionate about fostering fan engagement and artist relations strategies, specifically for non-anglophone artists breaking into anglophone markets--especially French-speaking artists in the global music scene. We discuss her favorite French artists and her impressive background, including interviewing "your artist's favorite artist", Chappell Roan at the start of her success. Thanks for listening, I hope you're ready for a fun one!Martha's Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/08wAs5K60FXWaML8SzfgYJ?si=a2c46aa6f6bb444cFollow the pod: https://www.instagram.com/uhadtobetherepod

Welcome to another episode of You Had to Be There, the podcast where we deep dive into the crowds of concerts, festivals, the music industry, and more. I'm your host, Julia Gomberg.This week, we're thrilled to have not just one of the industry's best, but also a dear friend and former colleague – Alyssa Byrne! Alyssa is a pro's pro regarding music publishing and rights management. She's the Senior Publisher Relations Manager at TuneCore, a powerhouse in the independent music distribution scene. We talk about all things publishing but also deep dive into her love for metal, pop punk, and emo music, so be sure to also check out her You Had to Be There curated playlist for the podcast, which you can find on our instagram, @uhadtobetherepod.You can find Alyssa on Instagram at @alyssaxbyrneAlyssa's playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ZiBrGXQtUwXwRmcKER6qc?si=fbebaac8e2d94b49Song outro: Dull by Microwave

We're back! I'm so excited to release the second episode of my new podcast series, featuring one-on-one interviews with some of my favorite people in the music world.Jess George is among the most effortlessly cool people I've met in the industry and had the chance to work with. She is a highly experienced project manager at Live Nation with a proven track record overseeing touring programs, festival operations, backstage hospitality, and venue operations.Be sure to check out Jess's personally curated Spotify playlist which you can find on the You Had to Be There Instagram, @uhadtobetherepod. I have been listening to it nonstop since she made it so I highly recommend checking it out. Thank you so much for the love and support, and I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did!

You Had To Be There is entering a new era: the interview series. We're so excited to kick things off with Kristina London (Amplify Her Voice founder, Live Nation Women, Forbes 30 Under 30). Join us as we dish on her career, plus we talk Coachella, her love for Dave Grohl, and partying it up with Blu De Tiger

Welcome back to another episode of You Had To Be There. Today we're turning back time to the turn of the century to talk about one of the most historically chaotic music festivals of all time: Woodstock ‘99. What started off as a powerful 60s movement of peace, love, and music for Woodstock turned into a firey, toxic waste site decades later that was filled with violence, rage, and some of the biggest bands of 1999--including Limp Bizkit, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DMX, Alanis Morissette, and more.Buckle up, because this is a true “you had to be there” story.

Thanks for tuning into part two of the first official episode of “You Had to Be There”!This is part two of the previous episode, so if you haven't listened to that one yet, I'd go do that so you have an idea of what the hell I'm talking about. If you did listen, thank you, and this episode will uncover the chaos of Electric Zoo, the electronic music festival that was acquired by the greedy people behind Brooklyn's Avant Gardner music venue.I'm also extremely excited to have my first-ever podcast guest, Sam Morris, featured on this episode. I was super grateful that my friend Sam not only agreed to come on the episode, but he delivered! And he'll be back for another episode where he'll talk even more about his festival and concert journeys.Thanks for listening- please share, like, follow, and listen!

Today we're diving into the beats, the bass, and a bit of the bizarre with the story of Avant Gardner – the music haven that's been rocking Brooklyn and making headlines.Frankly, I feel like it was an ambitious choice to start off with a topic so multi-faceted, but it's one that I'm personally very passionate about and have been impacted by. Some episodes will be light hearted, and some won't be. This one lands more on the heavier side, but like I said, it's about a venue that is near and dear to me, so I feel obligated to share what is happening behind the curtain of one of New York's most popular music venues. Let's get started.