TOPICS: Ryan and Zak Sloan talk about the “Velvet Sundown” fake AI band and how Spotify is allowing them to proliferate; the HITS Act has passed as part of the latest budget bill; our guest this week is acclaimed music publicist and Cyber PR founder Ariel Hyatt. Ariel’s latest book, “From Buzz to Bond: How to Stop Chasing Hype and Build a Lasting Music Career,” is available now. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visitingcyberprmusic.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Busin...
Jul 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min
TOPICS: Ryan shares a story about whether AI will replace lawyers; Ryan and guest co-host Jasmine Ortiz talk about the latest crop of allegedly AI-generated artists popping up on streaming platforms; Ryan answers a listener's question about registering trademarks; our guests this week are indie folk artists aibai & vinny. Their self-titled EP is available now, and you can follow our guests on TikTok @aibaiandvinny. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud...
Jul 06, 2025•1 hr 1 min
TOPICS: CNBC is reporting that Google is using YouTubers’ content to train its Veo video platform; Katie Zaccardi’s engagement hacks; we interview Jeremy Sirota, CEO of indie music licensing network Merlin. You can find out more about the Merlin Connect platform and about our guests’ work by visiting merlinnetwork.org. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ thebtbpodcast...
Jun 29, 2025•1 hr 2 min
TOPICS: ElisaRockDoc co-hosts this week and discusses the “mental health gap” that creators are dealing with; Ryan answers a listener's question about copyright ownership of a track they recorded with a producer; ElisaRockDoc career update; our guest this week is musician Jeff Michaels. Find out more about our guest’s work by visitingwww.jeffmichaelsband.com Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Br...
Jun 22, 2025•1 hr
TOPICS: Gideon King and Ryan talk about how AI is disrupting the entertainment industry and the impacts that it will have on creative professionals; the Congressional Creators Caucus has been launched, but is it positioned to actually help creators? Our guest this week is artist, radio host, and entrepreneur Jasmine Ortiz. Check out The Jasmine Ortiz Show on iHeart Radio and follow our guest on Instagram @iamjasmineortiz. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCl...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min
TOPICS: Ryan is podcasting from the APME Conference in Memphis; artists are pretending that their videos are AI-generated; Taylor Swift bought her original master recordings back and Ryan and Zak Sloan discuss; our guest this week is Kate Sheeran, the Dean of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting esm.rochester.edu Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play....
Jun 08, 2025•57 min
TOPICS: Ryan and Katie Zaccardi talk about innovative ways that artists can promote their music; Ryan answers a listener's question, registering copyrights in CD releases; we interview Cat Henry of Live Music Society about the Society’s “One Night Live” touring project. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.livemusicsociety.org. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the...
Jun 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min
TOPICS: We interview artist Lana Love about her experience on the Nathan Fielder HBO program “The Rehearsal”; we interview indie artist Talia Keys about her latest album being released as part of the “Buy Before Your Stream” initiative. Check out Lana’s latest single, “Antidote,” and find out more about Talia’s work by visiting www.taliakeys.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Busi...
May 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min
TOPICS: Break the Business guest Lana Love was tricked into competing in a fake reality singingcompetition on Nathan Fielder’s “The Rehearsal” program; the Copyright Office issued a report onwhether using copyright works to train AI platforms is considered fair use; we interview Doug Martin(Doug Martin Quartet) and Chris SD (Sync Songwriter), two music professionals who were valuedcontributors to the soundtrack of Best Picture Oscar winner Anora. Visit wwwsyncsongwriter.com Rate/review/subscribe...
May 18, 2025•1 hr 3 min
TOPICS: Sam Smith is the latest victim of copyright litigation run amok; Ryan and Zak answer a listener's question about “cancellation fees”; we interview Dynamic Talent International CEO Trevor Swenson about his company’s recent expansion into K-pop and what artists can learn from that genre of music. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.dynamictalent.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Rya...
May 11, 2025•1 hr
TOPICS: Ryan is upset at Mariah Carey’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snub; tips for managing stress as a creator; we answer a listener's question about copyright ownership and working with freelancers; we interview artist, producer, and theramin product Clara Venice. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting claravenice.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podc...
May 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min
TOPICS: Ryan is obsessed with @tampa_bre’s real estate videos; Ryan and ElisaRockDoc talk about the new CGA rider that has protections for creators when they do brand deals; ElisaRockDoc career update. We interview music industry legend Ralph Tashjian. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.interceptmusic.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ ...
Apr 27, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Why don’t we see garage bands anymore? The Creators Guild developed a rider agreement for brand partnership deals; we interview Harvard Business Review Senior Editor Kevin Evers about his new book “There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift.” Kevin’s book is available now wherever books are sold! Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ thebtbp...
Apr 20, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Ryan is obsessed with TikTok artist Antronsongs new track “For You”; the Senate re-introduces the NO FAKES Act; Utah passes a new law to protect child influencers; we interview artist and copyright advocate Lana Love. You can follow our guest on Instagram @lanalovemusic. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ thebtbpodcast . Like Break the Business on Facebook an...
Apr 13, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Ryan and Katie Zaccardi speak about the “All I Want for Christmas is You” copyright lawsuit getting dismissed and what it means for creators; “One Night Live” creates a sustainable model for indie musician touring; we interview recording artist Nicki Richards. You can find out more about our guests' work by visiting www.nickirichards.com. Check out her new single “Tether Me” Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow R...
Apr 06, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Doechii’s2019 song “Anxiety” hit the Hot 100 Top 10 this week, and how it got there is an amazing story of music promotion in 2025; Ryan breaks down the Miami Music Tech Summit; ElisaRockDoc career update; we interview Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Idania Valencia(Charli XCX, Benson Boone). You can follow our guest on Instagram @idaniava. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break th...
Mar 30, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Ryan, Gideon King, and Lauren try to figure out what state Creighton University and other NCAA Tournament teams are in; Ryan and Gideon talk about theLiving Wage for Musicians Act; we interview music and social entrepreneur Rudy Love, Jr. of Wichita-based band 2lot. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting 2lot.com and somewhere-fest.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and th...
Mar 23, 2025•1 hr 6 min
TOPICS: Ryan continues to be frustrated with the lack of “transparency” from the President and TreasuryDepartment about the Corporate Transparency Act and its impact on indie artists; Spotify has released its latest “Loud and Clear” report and Ryan and Zak Sloan talk about how the report continues to traffic in misleading statistics; our guest this week is blues singer-songwriter ZZ Ward. She talks to us about creating a blues album about being a mother of two and gives us an intriguing window i...
Mar 16, 2025•58 min
TOPICS: Do artists still need to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act?: how to avoid copyright lawsuits when you work with music collaborators (split sheets and releases are important!); we interview entertainment lawyer Mimi Camara. You can follow our guest on Instagram at@itsmimimartine. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ thebtbpodcast . Like Break the Busine...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 2 min
TOPICS: ElisaRockDoc gives her thoughts on the Chappell Roan Grammy’s story; Facebook and Twitchare both limiting the amount of videos that creators can store on their platforms;ElisaRockDoc career update; we interview musician John Modell of Casa Del Sol. Casa Del Sol’s debut album “Strange Angels” dropped on January 24th and you can find out more about our guest’s work by visitingcasadelsolmusic.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and G...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
TOPICS: Original Break the Business Co-host Metal Dave is joining us to talk about entertainment industry news (and other silly stuff); we interview acclaimed singer, songwriter, and educator Regina Sayles. Her latest single “Quiet Room” was released on January 30th off her new EP “This Love”. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting http://www.reginasayles.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @...
Feb 23, 2025•1 hr 6 min
TOPICS: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees; songwriter Kay Hanley stops by to talk about herHollywood Reporter editorial about Chappell Roan’s Grammy speech; our guest this week is musician and author Ben Neill. Ben’s new book is “Diffusing Music: Trajectories of Sonic Democratization”, which explores the role that technology is playing today in making the production, performance, and distribution of music more accessible and democratized. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visitin...
Feb 16, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Chappell Roan gave a powerful speech at the Grammys about how record labels should do more to support artists, but at least one editorial writer had some issues with her approach to activism; we interview Gaelen McCormick, the Director of the Eastman Performing Arts Medicine Center at the University of Rochester, an organization that aims to leverage the potential of the performing arts in the healthcare environment, while also supporting the medical needs of artists. You can find out mo...
Feb 09, 2025•58 min
TOPICS: BTB Guest Bill Teck is nominated for a Grammy; Ringo Starr has never ate pizza; we talk about why influencers should not be afraid of supplementing their income as a freelancer; our guest this week is Daniel Brindley, co-founder of venue operator Union Stage Presents. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.unionstagepresents.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the B...
Feb 02, 2025•59 min
TOPICS: Gideon King talks to Ryan about the economics of music festivals; are people drinking less at concerts?; how the HITS Act would help musicians save money on their taxes; TikTok is saved (for now), but its long-term prospects are uncertain; our guest this week is Tim Walther, co-founder of the AllGood Now Music Festival. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visitingallgoodpresentslivemusic.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitc...
Jan 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min
TOPICS: Ryan and Elisa answer a listener question about whether artists still need to file their Beneficial Ownership Information Reports; Nintendo launches a new streaming service; we interview Marc Caruso,CEO and Co-Founder of LA based indie publisher Angry Mob Music. Ryan and Elisa talk to Mark about his80s cover band and Marc’s recent op-ed in Billboard about why indie publishers should unite to level the playing field against the major publishers in the music industry. You can find out more...
Jan 19, 2025•1 hr
TOPICS: Ryan talks to entertainment lawyer Mark Jaffe about the “Success Kid” copyright lawsuit and the copyrightability of internet memes; we are also joined by law professor Alexandra Roberts about her recent article talking about kid fluencers being able to revoke their consent to using their names for trademarks created by their parents. Our guest this week is country musician and veterans advocateJessica Lynn. Jessica talks to Ryan about her music and her work with Armed Forces Entertainmen...
Jan 12, 2025•58 min
TOPICS: “Ghosts in the Machine”: Is Spotify pumping up royalty-free tracks to drive money away from indie artists?; legal things that you need to do when making a documentary; our guest this week is show favorite Bill “Downupright” Boulden. We talk to Bill about the Spotify story as well as Bill’s new“Tartarus” EP. Find out more by visiting downupright.bsky.social Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and ...
Jan 05, 2025•1 hr 3 min
TOPICS: Ryan and Gideon King discuss possible new trends in the music industry in 2025 and what they mean for indie artists; our guests this week are Channing Moreland and Makenzie Stokel, the co-founders of gig booking platform EVA. You can find out more about our guests’ work by visiting www.bookwitheva.com. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ thebtbpodcast . Like B...
Dec 29, 2024•1 hr 5 min
TOPICS: An appeals court has kept the TikTok ban in place, but will the Supreme Court save the app?; we break down The Game Awards; ElisaRockDoc Career Update; we interview Joseph Perla, founder and CEO of music social listening platform Hangout. Find out more by visiting www.hangout.fm. Rate/review/subscribe to the Break the Business Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Follow Ryan @ ryankair and the Break the Business Podcast @ thebtbpodcast . Like Break the Business on Fa...
Dec 22, 2024•1 hr
