The music industry is constantly changing, so today we shine a light on a few important topics developing in the business. First we discuss the recent YouTube “adpocalypse” and how it affects artists’ revenues with Gray Gannaway of Quarterlab Consultancy. Then we hear from Mike Huppe, President of SoundExchange about their recent acquisition of CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency). Finally, The Recording Academy’s Daryl Friedman gives us an update on what’s happening with issues a...
Jul 21, 2017•55 min
Episode #86: In the early 90’s, Chapel Hill was dubbed “the next Seattle” after producing acts that got noticed beyond its state lines. Twenty-five years later, a lot has changed in the local and national music landscape but the core ingredients that comprise any music scene remain the same: venues, record stores, press, and radio. While in North Carolina, Portia spoke with local mainstays Chaz Martenstein (Bull City Records), Mark Connor (Cave/Slims), Allison Hussey (Indy Week), Sarah Schmader ...
Jul 14, 2017•55 min
Episode #85: A lot of money is spent in the music industry developing new tools and platforms, but today we spotlight a nonprofit committed to providing artists with educational and professional resources -- all for free. In 2008, CASH Music started out of a desire to create a sustainable music industry. Since then, the platform has offered everything from download code generation and redemption to social feeds. We hear more from executive director Maggie Vail and Throwing Muses’ Kristin Hersh. ...
Jul 07, 2017•56 min
Episode #84: Making great music is only one part of the equation; equally important is making sure you reach an audience and cultivate them as fans. As more and more musicians release their own music, the onus is on the musician to also navigate the marketing process. Almost every musician has access to the same marketing resources….and knowing your options and utilizing them effectively can make the difference between making music your hobby or making music your career. And what does a successf...
Jun 30, 2017•1 hr 18 min
Episode #83: Most indie label owners didn’t go to business school, and never expected to get interest from venture capitalists. What are the steps they can take to grow their business smartly using investment tools? This live discussion from A2IM’s Indie Week focuses on the fundamentals of investing – the basics, the intricacies, the best partnerships, and the pitfalls. When should you look for investors? What should you be aware of when an investor approaches you? Do you understand the differen...
Jun 23, 2017•47 min
Episode #82: Since talking with Portland’s new record pressing plant, Cascade, in 2015, more and more vinyl pressing plants have opened up. New manufacturers can mean more opportunities for small labels, job creation and better quality products and customer service. We revisit the ups and downs of pressing records with Third Man Records’ Ben Blackwell, Cash Carter and Ryan Lewis of Athens, GA based plant Kindercore Vinyl and New Jersey’s Independent Record Pressing general manager Sean Rutkowski...
Jun 16, 2017•59 min
Episode #81: How many "likes" did you get today, and does it even matter? On this episode, Portia leads an Upstream Summit keynote panel talking with Run The Jewels manager Amaechi Uzoigwe and RCA Records’ Tunji Balogun, two industry insiders who have effectively mined the vast quantities of data and analytics available. Artists, managers and labels have all begun using data to amplify albums, sell out shows, and launch careers; and at May’s Summit in Seattle, Portia and her panel of experts gav...
Jun 09, 2017•58 min
Episode #80: On this episode we spotlight two people making change in the music industry. You might know Meredith Graves from her band Perfect Pussy, or from her work as a full time MTV News host. She also freelances and runs her own label. Meredith discusses her various jobs, the state journalism, hot takes and PWR BTTM. We also hear from musician Simon Tam about his groundbreaking Supreme Court case dealing with the trademark of his band’s name, The Slants. Subscribe to The Future of What on i...
Jun 02, 2017•57 min
Episode #20: On the front page of Pandora’s website, there’s a statement that says “It’s a new kind of radio — stations that play only music you like.” How can it be that Pandora knows what you’ll enjoy? Isn’t liking music purely up to personal taste? Pandora, like many other digital music platforms, uses a complex algorithm to predict what their listeners want to hear. Other services employ human beings to curate their music discovery systems. So who’s the more effective tastemaker? Man, or mac...
May 26, 2017•57 min
Episode #79: Music supervisors aren’t just responsible for picking great songs for movies, TV shows, ads and video games, they also have to be savvy negotiators and know the ins and outs of music licensing. So how does someone become a music supervisor? And how can artists better connect with music supervisors when the opportunity arises? We discuss these questions and more with supervisors Jen Malone (Atlanta, Baskets), Sue Jacobs (Big Little Lies, Silver Linings Playbook) and Bryan Turcotte (B...
May 19, 2017•58 min
Episode #78: People have been declaring the end of radio for years, yet stations continue to pop up and even thrive today. While many stations have been swept up by corporations, community and college low-power FM and internet stations still serve their communities. On this episode, we sit down with LPFM and college stations to discuss the role of community radio today, how college stations serve as a “pipeline for the music industry,” and how authenticity in media is more important than ever. J...
May 12, 2017•57 min
Episode #77: With more and more music flooding the internet, artists, labels, and entrepreneurs are looking for new ways to engage fans. Many look to a subscription model as a way to provide listeners with a unique, niche experience. On this episode we hear from Patreon's Jack Conte, Vinyl Me, Please founder Matthew Fiedler, Kevin Duquette (Topshelf Records) and Karl Hofstetter (Joyful Noise Recordings). Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http:...
May 05, 2017•1 hr 15 min
Episode #33: “Young people [are an] underserved population when it comes to the music industry.” That’s the point our guest Andre Middleton drives home on this episode of The Future of What. In our discussion with Middleton (Friends of Noise) and Todd Fadel (The Meow Meow), we look at the logistics and pitfalls of starting and sustaining an all ages venue. Like many cities with rising rents and strict liquor laws, Portland has seen a slew of beloved all ages venues close in the last decade. Many...
Apr 28, 2017•59 min
Episode #76: Licensing a song may have once come with accusations of selling out, but today, getting a song on a movie, TV show or commercial can be one of the most lucrative moves for a musician. It can make paying for a tour or album that much more feasible, and can even break a band to a new audience. So how does licensing work, and how can an artist up their chances of making a deal? On this episode we talk with Kat Olsen, music supervisor at boutique licensing agency Marmoset, and Ritchie Y...
Apr 21, 2017•55 min
Episode #75: On this episode we’re sharing interviews with three of our favorite artists from Treefort Music Fest! First, Portia talks with Catherine Harris-White of SassyBlack and THEESatisfaction about turning music into a living, then joins Seattle band Thunderpussy to talk about their upcoming album and collaboration with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready. We also hear from Luz Elena Mendoza, the core of Portland group Y La Bamba, who tells us about the first time she held a guitar and more. Find ou...
Apr 14, 2017•55 min
Episode #74: The Future of What looks deeper at recent immigration issues surrounding SXSW and Trump's travel ban with Matthew Covey of international musicians' group Tamizdat and Kevin Erickson of artist advocacy organization the Future of Music Coalition. Cherine Amr of Massive Scar Era shares her story of being turned away at the border, and Baltimore musician Ami Dang discusses her concerns over the rise in xenophobic attitudes. More on: FMC: https://futureofmusic.org/ Artists from Abroad: h...
Apr 07, 2017•57 min
Episode #73: Treefort Music Fest is a 5-day music and arts festival in Boise, Idaho. This year’s festival was one of the most successful yet, and bolstered Treefort as a great alternative to SXSW. We headed to Boise to talk with performers and host a panel on the current state of the music industry. Hear the panel with Sharlese Metcalf (KEXP), Jess Caragliano (Terrorbird Media), Zeke Howard (The Brigade) and Karl Hofstetter (Joyful Noise) on this episode. Find out more about: KEXP: http://kexp.o...
Mar 31, 2017•53 min
Episode #24: Independent labels have long been at the forefront of bringing great music to the public, especially lost gems and overlooked greats that went out of print or were never pressed on any other format than vinyl. Today we talk reissues with the labels Yep Roc and Light in the Attic, as well as talking to one of the bands whose output is receiving the reissue treatment: seminal pub rock band Eggs Over Easy. Yep Roc’s General Manager Billy Maupin discusses reissues in general, and Light ...
Mar 24, 2017•56 min
Episode #72: As long as there’s been music, there have been music critics. Like many professions, music review has been indelibly changed by the Internet. For a while, a numerical rating on Pitchfork could make or break a band. Blogs and social media emerged, and suddenly, truly everyone was a critic. On this episode, we hear from music critics about their role today and more. We’re joined by Sound Opinions’ (WBEZ) Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd (Jezebel), Bob Ham (Paste)...
Mar 17, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Shane Told (Silverstein, River Oaks), joins us to talk about his podcast, Lead Singer Syndrome, making it in the music business and more. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl
Mar 14, 2017•19 min
Episode #71: Podcasts have surged in popularity over the last few years, and have proved to be a great way to connect with your audience — so why don’t more musicians take advantage of the format? Today we talk with three musicians making their mark on the podcast charts, Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of Song Exploder, Joe Pug, host of The Working Songwriter, and Silverstein’s Shane Told, host of Lead Singer Syndrome. PLUS: We've joined Jabberjaw Media! Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: ht...
Mar 10, 2017•53 min
Like many creative cities, Portland is growing rapidly, but is the vibrant music scene that bolstered its reputation benefiting? The city is known as one of the nation’s hottest music spots, so how can we make sure that its beloved music industry thrives as Portland changes? On this episode we delve into these questions and more with local industry leaders, Pat Rice (Old Town Music), Larry Crane (Tape Op Magazine, Jackpot Recording Studio), Terry Currier (Music Millennium), Sierra Haager (Public...
Mar 03, 2017•57 min
When people talk about “making it” in the music industry, it’s usually in reference to making a living writing or playing original songs in a popular band or as a solo artist. Today we explore alternative career paths playing music. We’re joined by Phil Hernandez and Chris Maxwell, who make up production duo The Elegant Too. They’re also the composers of some of your favorite musical moments on Bob’s Burgers. We also talk with successful children’s (or “kindie” rock) band, The Not-Its. Finally, ...
Feb 24, 2017•58 min
Episode #37: When recording engineer Larry Crane started Tape Op Magazine in 1996, he printed the first issue on legal paper and Xeroxed 500 copies to send to his friends. Branded as “the creative music recording magazine,” that first issue set Tape Op up to be one of the best resources for new and established engineers, gaining a readership of over 60,000. On this episode of The Future of What, we celebrate Tape Op’s 20th anniversary with an extended interview with Crane. We talk about what it ...
Feb 17, 2017•59 min
Larry Crane runs Jackpot! Recording Studio and Tape Op Magazine. He's also the archivist of Elliott Smith's catalog. Larry talks with Portia about his time working with Elliott and putting together the upcoming 'Either/Or: Expanded Edition.' Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl
Feb 16, 2017•19 min
Episode #68: From Prince to Sharon Jones, too many musicians have passed away in the last year. What will happen to their music, and who will control their legacies? These losses remind us that, while difficult, planning for the inevitable is vital as a musician of any level. On this episode, we look at recent cases of musicians’ estate planning gone awry with attorney Andy Mayoras. We also hear from Conrad Rippy, who represents the estate of Jeff Buckley. Larry Crane, archivist for Elliott Smit...
Feb 10, 2017•58 min
Episode #67: Over the last decade, the music industry has become increasingly difficult to navigate -- especially for emerging artists. As the Internet has developed, it’s introduced a slew of new issues for creators, but has also provided valuable tools. Some artists are taking things into their own hands by using crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter to launch albums and more. We discuss the trend with Kickstarter's new head of music, Molly Neuman, and hear from Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck, a grou...
Feb 05, 2017•55 min
What does it take to progress as a performer? Chanticleer Tru (Chanti Darling), Travis Labbe (True West) and Peter Clark (What The Festival) discuss. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl
Feb 03, 2017•9 min
Episode #66: You probably remember the best concert you’ve ever been to -- and the worst. Live shows have always been a core component of a musician’s job, and as the music industry’s economy has changed over the last decade, touring has become essential. Performing live isn’t for everyone though, so we’re joined by an experienced group who walk us through turning a concert into an engaging experience. In this roundtable discussion, we hear from musician Chanticleer Trü (Chanti Darling), Travis ...
Jan 27, 2017•53 min
Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) talks candidly about what the Trump presidency could mean for musicians and America. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl Find out more about Lower Dens: lowerdens.com
Jan 27, 2017•12 min
